Microsoft has finally revealed its long-awaited Modern Webcam, an affordable 1080p camera that will provide those now working from home with another competitive option.
Microsoft's Modern Webcam Upgrades to 1080p
Although 1080p webcams are nothing new, none of Microsoft's existing webcam options deliver this resolution, all maxing out at 720p. Which, for a company of Microsoft's stature, is more than a little odd.
That situation is set to change in June 2021, when the Modern Webcam will arrive on shelves around the world.
The Modern Webcam can record at 60FPS but has a maximum live transmission rate of 30FPS, which is absolutely fine for most video chatting purposes. It comes with a 78-degree field of view, along with an HDR mode that should help the sensor adjust quickly to changing light levels.
There are also other features, such as auto white balance, auto light adjustment, and facial retouch. The Modern Webcam includes a new mode, called True Look, which incorporates all three features into a single option, presumably making it easier to give yourself a visual boost as and when required.
Some users will be disappointed to find that the Microsoft Modern Webcam doesn't support Windows Hello, which does seem like an oversight on Microsoft's behalf. It is, however, certified for use with Microsoft Teams.
Furthermore, the Modern Webcam has an integrated privacy shutter that switches a video stream on or off directly (and an LED light to show activity), but it doesn't have a physical microphone switch.
Microsoft's Modern Webcam will begin shipping in June 2021, retailing for $70.
Microsoft's New Modern Accessories Pushing Teams
Microsoft has released a handful of new accessories, all with a focus on Microsoft Teams integration.
For example, the Microsoft Modern USB-C Speaker has a "quick-access control panel for Microsoft Teams calls," while the Microsoft Modern Wireless Headset enables you to "join meetings at a touch of a button."
The new accessories come at a time when some people are being given the opportunity to return to workplaces as the threat of COVID-19 begins to reside (very much on a country-by-country basis, of course), but where many will make the work-from-home switch permanent or at least part of a hybrid work routine.
Microsoft wants Teams to remain at the center of any workplace. Integrating easy to access buttons into its hardware products is a way of keeping everyone within Microsoft Teams growing ecosystem.