Reviews Webcams

OBSBOT Meet 2 Webcam Review

FI_OBSBOT Meet 2

The OBSBOT Meet 2 is a compact 4K webcam for content creators and professionals. Building on the original Meet series webcam, the Meet 2 aims to provide excellent visual clarity and high-quality recordings at an affordable price. OBSBOT claims the Meet 2 ‘stands out in its ability to deliver an exceptional AI-powered 4K webcam experience’. We’ve rigorously tested the Meet 2 webcam to see if OBSBOT’s claims are accurate.

The OBSBOT cameras’ AI-powered features are why they’re so popular. However, our experience testing previous models has shown that these AI features can interfere with video recordings, resulting in corrupted audio and video when using the OBSBOT software. For this reason, we’re curious to see if Meet 2 has since buffed out these issues or whether they’re still prominent.

In this webcam review, we’ll examine the OBSBOT Meet 2 in detail, delving into its specs, design, features, and recording quality to determine its value, especially compared to other webcams on the market.

Buy the OBSBOT Meet 2 on:

$129.00 at Amazon
Last updated: 2024-11-06 04:50:59 ET

Specification

Specs-wise, the OBSBOT Meet 2 is pretty similar to the Tiny 2 Lite. The significant difference between them, however, is the size. The Tiny 2 Lite has an integrated webcam mount and a gimbal to rotate around and stabilise itself. The Meet 2 is a small box with a lens on the front. It measures 44mm long, 36mm tall, and 22mm wide. Because of its incredibly compact size, it can easily be carried around in a bag.

The aperture and CMOS are the same as those of the Tiny 2 Lite. With a half-inch CMOS and an f/1.8 aperture, the Meet 2 is designed to excel in challenging lighting conditions. The Tiny 2 Lite easily adjusts to different lighting conditions, so we expect the Meet 2 to offer similar performance.

MPI_OBSBOT Meet 2 Close Up

Regarding the megapixel count, the Meet 2 has 48 effective megapixels, the same as the Tiny 2 Lite. A higher megapixel count generally leads to improved visual quality, so it’s great that this compact design can still offer solid visual clarity.

Key SpecsOBSBOT Meet 2
Dimensions (L x W x H)45mm x 22mm x 36mm
Image Sensor1/2″ CMOS
Effective Pixels48M
Aperturef/1.8
Resolution Support4K30, 1080p60
Digital Zoom1-4x
Focus TypeAF/MF
Built-in MicrophoneYes
InterfaceUSB Type-C

The Meet 2 supports 4K at 30FPS or 1080p at 60FPS for video recording. 4K30 is noticeably more sluggish, but with the benefit of more detail, it’s often worth recording at this resolution. There’s plenty of versatility here for content creators looking to record high-quality footage or professionals who need an affordable webcam for Zoom calls.

As we continue down the specs list, the Meet 2 looks similar to its sibling, the Tiny 2 Lite. This can be viewed as a pro or a con. As a pro, the Meet 2 is a compact and less expensive version of the Tiny 2 Lite. It lacks some of the features the Tiny 2 Lite offers, but it is generally the same. As a con, for $50 more, prospective buyers can pick up the Tiny 2 Lite, which uses a gimbal and can be controlled with a remote, so the feature set is arguably better.

OBSBOT Meet 2 Design

The Meet 2 is one of the most sophisticated-looking webcams we’ve reviewed. It comes in three gorgeous colours: ‘ Space Grey’, ‘ Cloud White’, and ‘Aurora Green’. The chassis is primarily plastic, but the colouring is consistent across all sides of the webcam.

This webcam has a slight heft, making it feel more premium. OBSBOT have kept things simple with the Meet 2, catering to those who prefer a minimalist style. I’m a massive fan of the colour options. They provide prospective buyers with a unique way of spicing up their setup. Most manufacturers tend to stick to a black webcam chassis, so it’s nice to see some alternative choices with the Meet 2.

MPI_OBSBOT Meet 2 Colour Ranges

Unlike the Tiny 2 Lite, the Meet 2 webcam does not sit on an axis gimbal and does not feature an integrated stand or internal mechanisms that allow it to move. This means it is incredibly small and will easily fit in the palm of your hand.

OBSBOT provides a monitor mount for the Meet 2 to sit on. This webcam magnetises to the top of the stand, allowing it to be easily adjusted if it isn’t facing the right way. I have also tested the magnet with a shake test, and it is powerful. There’s a very low likelihood that the Meet 2 would fall off the webcam mount due to how strong the magnet is.

MPI_OBSBOT Meet 2 Webcam Mount

Alternatively, professionals can use the quarter-inch thread on the bottom of the Meet 2. This allows you to attach it to a tripod for a more versatile setup.

MPI_OBSBOT Meet 2 Tripod

In the accessories box, you’ll find a privacy cover, a USB Type-C cable, and a USB Type-C to A adapter. The privacy cover is a solid value add, ensuring protection from potential cyber attackers. It simply magnetises to the lens of the Meet 2.

MPI_OBSBOT Meet 2 Privacy Cover

The Type-C cable plugs into the back of the webcam, allowing it to be easily hidden away from sight. It’s worth noting that the Meet 2 interfaces over USB 2.0, so using a higher-speed USB-C port isn’t necessary.

MPI_OBSBOT Meet 2 Rear USB-C

Conveniently, this is also where the adapter comes in handy. It converts USB-C to USB-A, allowing you to free up these ports for other devices.

MPI_OBSBOT Meet 2 USB-C Adapter

Recording & Sound Quality

The OBSBOT Meet 2 is versatile in its recording capabilities and offers the choice between 1080p at 60FPS or 4K at 30FPS. There aren’t many 4K webcams on the market at an affordable price point, so we’re curious to see if there are any significant caveats to the microphone or recording resolutions the Meet 2 offers.

1080p60 Recording (Windows Camera)

Our first video recording was at 1080p60 using the Windows Camera application. No extra settings were enabled other than ensuring that the camera was recording at 1080p and that we were also using the microphone of the Meet 2.

On the whole, 1080p feels and looks great. Movement is very smooth and fluid. There’s no stuttering, and the camera doesn’t shift out of focus if you move around too much. I also felt that 1080p looks excellent too. The image quality looks clear and solid.

I’m surprised at how good the microphone sounds. Ultimately, it won’t blow you away like a cardioid or shotgun mic would, but everything sounds clear, and there’s minimal background noise. If you can’t access other microphones, the Meet 2 webcam microphone will suffice for a streamer or professional.

4K30 Recording (Windows Camera)

When the resolution is bumped up to 4K, this webcam’s excellent recording capabilities persist. While the movement is slightly sluggish due to the reduced framerate, everything feels smooth. The lighting in the background isn’t incredibly balanced, but the recording looks great overall.

4K30 Recording (OBSBOT Center)

Much like the Tiny 2 Lite, recording using the OBSBOT Center application at 4K was fantastic. While the controls are slightly finicky, it was smooth sailing from there once I started the recording. Motion feels and looks marginally slower than the 1080p recording, but there’s no significant loss besides this. Overall, the 4K recording with the OBSBOT Center software looks excellent.

Features We Like

OBSBOT webcams feature a range of unique features, such as autofocus and auto framing, alongside a series of AI-powered settings useful for content creators and professionals. Below are the features we like and don’t like.

AI-Powered Settings

One of the major drawbacks of the Tiny 2 and Tiny 2 Lite cameras was their compatibility with the AI features. For some reason, we couldn’t get them to work. They caused the recording to lag significantly, and it corrupted the audio. This time around with Meet 2, the AI settings now seem to work. Turning on ‘Bokeh’ lags the recording slightly, but not to the point where the video footage is unusable, and it blurs out the background quite nicely.

The background filters provide some interesting colour changes, which can be helpful for content creators looking to change some settings quickly. However, we encountered some issues when using the ‘beauty filters’. From about 1:34 in the video, the audio is inaudible. We’re not sure why this happens. I would guess that the AI features are too much at 4K, which the OBSBOT Centre application struggles to process.

From 2:08, the audio and recording returned to normal once these beauty filters were turned off. I’m glad improvements have been made to make the AI settings usable. While it’s a shame that not all of them work, the ones that do are fairly versatile.

Portrait Mode & Auto Framing

One of the Meet 2’s unique features is that it supports portrait mode. The Tiny 2 Lite technically supports this, but it requires a tripod or an alternative way of mounting the camera so that it can be rotated 90 degrees.

However, with the Meet 2, switching to portrait mode causes minimal hassle. Change the settings in the OBSBOT Center application and turn the camera sideways. This is ideal for content creators, specifically those recording videos for mobile-based devices.

Additionally, in this recording, I switched on auto-framing mode. This changes the framing to ensure that whoever is in focus is centred and composed. It works in landscape and portrait mode and is suitable for shooting with multiple people.

Comes with a Privacy Cover

Security is always something we should consider when buying new hardware. While targeted cyber attacks on individuals aren’t as common, a hacker can access your webcam relatively easily if your PC is compromised.

However, the Meet 2 has a privacy cover, restricting an attacker from peering into your office. This is an excellent value add and a small attention to detail that more webcam manufacturers should pay attention to.

MPI_OBSBOT Meet 2 Privacy Cover Offset

Features We Don’t Like

OBSBOT Center Application Needs Work

Unfortunately, the most significant caveat to the OBSBOT Meet 2 is the proprietary software required to use all the additional features. Firstly, I’m not a fan of the application’s restriction to portrait mode. It feels unintuitive to navigate, and using the entire screen instead of a portrait window makes more sense. I pointed this out during the review of our Tiny 2 Lite, and it’s a shame this hasn’t been changed. Even a setting to change the window to landscape would be appreciated.

I think the OBSBOT Center application would also benefit from some instructions on how to use it. After returning to use the software around a month after reviewing the Tiny 2 Lite, I still get confused about the buttons and what they do. A quick tutorial would make the user interface much easier to understand, increasing the value of OBSBOT webcams and the software.

Conclusion

OBSBOT Meet 2
Value Green JPG 200px

Product Name: Meet 2

Brand: OBSBOT

  • Features
  • Design
  • Performance
  • Value For Money
4.3

Summary

The OBSBOT Meet 2 is a sophisticated webcam with a gorgeous design. It offers exceptional recording quality and valuable features for content creators and professionals, such as background blurring, autofocus, and auto framing. But its primary selling point is that it is incredibly affordable. At $129, the OBSBOT Meet 2 is one of the cheaper webcams we’ve reviewed. It is excellent for those looking for a high-quality option that won’t break the bank. Across our testing, we were impressed with the recording capabilities, and most of the features are easy to enable.

The two caveats to consider are the price compared to the Tiny 2 Lite and the OBSBOT Center software. The Tiny 2 Lite is $179, a $50 price bump compared to the Meet 2. Ultimately, this won’t apply to those on a budget, but prospective buyers who need body and face tracking should consider the Tiny 2 Lite for $50 more. Additionally, the software is not particularly intuitive to use, and users would benefit from a tutorial or video that teaches them how to utilise all of the features. However, I feel these cons aren’t deal-breakers, and the Meet 2 is still worth considering if you’re looking for a high-quality and affordable webcam.

Pros

✅ Highly affordable

✅ Sophisticated design

✅ Strong recording quality

Cons

❌ Not all AI features work

❌ Unintuitive software

❌ Recording lags with AI features

editor
Jay Harris is an expert in everything PC hardware! With a degree in Cybersecurity, and a PC hardware background Jay has all of the technical knowledge required to make informed recommendations. Jay is an avid keyboard builder and gamer, with a major passion for tech. In fact, Jay's personal rig boasts a white RX 7900 XTX graphics card, inside of the Lian O11D Mini - a true enthusiast's dream!