REVIEW – Even though I’m using my webcam more than I ever thought I would, I can’t bring myself to invest in better lighting for my frequent video meetings and chats. Further complicating the problem is my cramped work area which doesn’t have much room for additional equipment like a large ring light. Fortunately, I got the chance to try out the SANNCE 2K 4MP Super HD Webcam. Along with some other cool features, the SANNCE has an integrated light, a magnetic base that allows you to switch quickly from portrait to landscape, and exceptional video quality. Even with a few shortcomings, the SANNCE is priced reasonably at $129 considering you’d pay more for a webcam of this caliber and light separately.
What is it?
The SANNCE 2K 4MP Super HD Webcam is an external webcam that can process video at 30 fps at 2560 x 1440 (4MP) or 60 fps at 1920 by 1080 (2MP). The SANNCE has two integrated omnidirectional microphones, a magnetic adjustable base, an included tripod, and a built-in LED with five brightness settings.
The SANNCE webcam arrives in a very cool box within a box that details all of the features of the device.
What’s in the box?
- SANNCE 2K 4MP Super HD Webcam
- Magnetic Privacy Shutter
- Magnetic Base
- Tripod
- USB-C to USB-A Cable
- User Manual
Hardware specs
- Maximum Resolution / Frame Rate: 1440p 16:9 30fps
- Photo Quality: 3.7MP 16:9 2560p x 1440p
- FoV: 90°
- Focus: 2cm Macro-Focusing
- Microphone: 2 Integrated Omnidirectional Noise-Cancelling Mics
- Microphone Coverage: 5m/16ft
- Privacy Shutter: Yes
- Mounting: Adjustable Monitor Base with 1/4” Thread Tripod Socket
- USB Cable: USB-C to USB-A 2.0 Cable 6ft (1.9m)
- Supported Systems: Windows, MacOS, Linux, and Android
- Mounted Dimensions: 1.89″ (47.9mm) x 2.36″ (59.9mm) x 1.89″ (47.9mm)
Design and features
The SANNCE 2K 4MP Super HD Webcam is well designed with a few caveats. Overall, the look, shape, and feel of the webcam are great. I like the rounded square form factor and the camera feels well built.
The lens of the SANNCE is protected behind a piece of clear plastic as is the LED that surrounds the lens. There’s a light sensor located above the lens and two omnidirectional mics on either side.
On top of the SANNCE is the brightness control for the LED. The LED has five brightness levels which can be increased or decreased by tapping the corresponding symbols.
The controls are incredibly sensitive though, so any manipulation of the webcam will invariably change the LED setting. This is particularly frustrating when adjusting the angle of the webcam. The controls are lit when the webcam is plugged in making them easier to see in low light.
On the back of the SANNCE is a USB-C port for connecting the webcam to your computer.
The SANNCE comes with a six-foot-long USB-C to USB-A cable which is a perfect length, especially if you’re mounting the webcam on a separate monitor or tripod.
One of the innovative features of the SANNCE webcam is its magnetic base. The base can be used to secure the webcam onto pretty much any laptop or monitor.
There’s also a standard 1/4″ thread on the bottom of the base for connecting the included tripod.
The SANNCE snaps right on the magnetic base with a satisfying click. The sides and bottom of the webcam can be secured to the base in this way allowing you to rotate the webcam.
There’s a tiny ledge on the back of the mount to keep the webcam from sliding backward.
The magnets are really strong, while they do hold the webcam securely to the base, they also make it difficult to remove it without dismounting the whole base from the laptop or monitor.
The base has three hinges that allow you to mount the webcam onto a monitor or laptop and adjust the angle to your liking.
The lowermost hinge acts as a support to hold the base tightly to the screen of a laptop or a monitor.
The SANNCE doesn’t have an integrated privacy shield, it ships with a separate J-shaped shield that can be affixed over the lens when the webcam isn’t in use.
The shield isn’t a great solution to this problem and I worried about misplacing it. My solution was to keep it attached when not in use by flipping it to the side so that the privacy shield extends away from the lens, it just looks kind of weird that way. You can also attach it to the back of the webcam, but part of it will obscure an entire LED side.
Another way to mount the SANNCE webcam is with the included tripod.
The tripod has telescopic legs which work well if you have the space for it.
The mounting base connects easily to the tripod and still allows you to remove or rotate the webcam when needed.
The swivel allows you to place the webcam at pretty much any angle and lock it in place.
The tripod makes the SANNCE perfect for atypical webcam use like makeup tutorials or product reviews.
This is a nice addition to the webcam and the tripod adds a lot of functionality to the SANNCE.
Setup
Setting up the SANNCE webcam is incredibly easy and it’s one of the major plusses for this device.
The SANNCE is literally plug-and-play, once you connect the USB cable to your computer it’s good to go.
The only other part of setting up the webcam is securing it to your laptop or monitor and adjusting the angle. Depending on the lighting in your space you may want to turn on the LED as well.
Performance
I used the SANNCE for about a month and I was really pleased with the way it performed. Below I have some comparison shots and a video of the SANNCE versus my laptop’s internal webcam. The few design flaws I mentioned previously like the sensitive LED controls and the strong magnetic base were annoying but not deal breakers. Overall, the quality of the video and audio of the SANNCE was really impressive. I like that there is little setup for the webcam but do wish there were more options for controlling features like the focus or cropping without using third-party software. The LED is really bright as well and I never used it past the first setting. If there were more than five levels of brightness it might be more useful.
For a baseline comparison, the shot above was taken using the internal webcam of my 2017 Razor laptop.
I took the same shot using the SANNCE and you can see the difference in clarity, field of view, and color.
When objects are brought close to the SANNCE it quickly adjusts focus and the background focus softens. The adjustable focus definitely adds a level of quality to your video chats and recordings with the SANNCE.
Being able to physically change the orientation of the webcam is a great feature, even though the strong magnets make it a bit of a pain. Of course, you still have to rotate the image afterward using an image editing program.
The comparison video between the SANNCE webcam and the internal webcam of my 2017 Razor laptop really highlights the strengths of the SANNCE. This webcam is a significant upgrade from internal or lower-priced external webcams even though it has a few design flaws.
What I like
- Video quality is excellent
- Built-in light is a great feature
- Easy to set up
What needs to be improved
- Switching from landscape to portrait and using Privacy Shutter is cumbersome
- Built-in light should have more levels
- No way to adjust focus or crop image without third-party software
Final thoughts
The SANNCE 2K 4MP Super HD Webcam is a cool little device and the included tripod is a nice bonus. I like the webcam’s design and functionality, especially the ability to physically change the aspect from landscape to portrait even though doing so is a bit cumbersome. The integrated ring light is great but should be a bit more configurable as should the focus and crop. Taking all of that into account, for $129 the SANNCE still delivers exceptional video and audio quality, a pain-free setup, and a few cool unique features.
Price: $129.00
Where to buy: SANNCE or Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by SANNCE.
