YoloCam S3 Webcam review

REVIEW – By now, everyone knows how much I love cameras and new devices that can enhance either my work video conferencing or my passion for creating social media content. Years ago, I was fortunate enough to test a device from Yololiv and loved it. So I was very excited about the opportunity to take the YoloCam S3 Webcam for a spin.

⬇︎ Jump to summary (pros/cons)
Price: $199
Where to buy: Yololiv website, Amazon

What is it?

The YoloCam S3 is a premium 4K streaming webcam designed for high-quality video production, live streaming, and professional meetings. It features a large 1/1.3-inch CMOS sensor, lightning-fast phase detection autofocus (PDAF), AI-enhanced image processing, and advanced DSLR-like controls, setting a new standard for webcam performance and versatility.

What’s included?

• 1 x Yolocam S3
• 1 x Camera Mount
• 1 x USB-A to C Adapter
• 1 x USB-A to C Adapter
• 1 x User Manual

Tech specs

• Sensor: 1/1.3″ CMOS sensor
• Effective pixels: 50 MP
• Maximum resolution/frame rate: 4K at 30 fps, 1080p at 60 fps, 720p at 60 fps
• Video formats: MJPEG, H.264, NV12 at 4K; YUY2 at 1080p and below
• Aperture: f/1.85
• Field of view (FOV): 82°
• Equivalent focal length: 24 mm (full frame)
• Digital zoom: Up to 4x
• HDR: 12-bit
• ISO range: 100 – 12,800
• Exposure compensation: EV ±8
• Shutter speed: 1/6400 – 1/25 s
• White balance: 2000 K – 10,000 K
• Autofocus: PDAF (Phase Detection Auto Focus)
• AI-powered auto-exposure, white balance, and noise reduction
• Plug & play USB-C 3.0 (3.2 Gen 1) connection
• Mounting: Magnetic mount with integrated 1/4″-20 thread for tripods; vertical/portrait mode supported
• All-metal (aluminum unibody) build, heat-dissipating structure
• Power supply: 5V, 1A via USB-C
• Dimensions (without bracket): 47.5 x 60.5 x 32.5 mm

Design and features

• Mastered-Tuned 4K: Supports video streams up to 4K at 30 fps and 1080p at 60 fps.
• 1/1.3’ Sensor: Sensor size is the ultimate factor in image quality. Featuring possibly the largest sensor ever in a webcam
• PDAF AutoFocus: Phase Detection Auto Focus (PDAF). Zero Lag, No Blur, Never Miss a Close-Up Moment
• Software for Camera Settings: It delivers superb images straight from the camera, while still offering complete manual DSLR-like controls for personalized fine-tuning. Precisely adjust contrast, sharpness, saturation, exposure, white balance, autofocus, and color grading with ease.
• Adjust Dynamic Ranges like DSLR: Perfect exposure in any light: our compact webcam masters dynamic range like a DSLR.
• Pro Color Grading: Get precision color grading like DaVinci Resolve with an extremely easy-to-use interface.
• 4x Digital Zoom: A crisp 1080p output even in 4x Digital Zoom. No blurring, no cropping.
• Image Processor: Experience 2.5x better & enhanced face visibility with finer image details in difficult light, with AI automatically-tuned auto-exposure, auto white balance, and noise reduction.
• Zero Compression(Uncompressed): Supporting up to 4K 30 fps (1080p60) through a USB-C 3.0 (aka 3.2 Gen 1) connection, YoloCam S3 preserves every detail while recording with minimal latency.
• Foldable Magnetic Mount: A stable magnetic mount offers you greater flexibility when choosing where to set the camera up.
• HDR Support: Experience true-to-life imaging with HDR, perfecting both shadows and highlights in any light.
• 1/4″-20 Interface: An integrated 1/4″-20 interface is compatible with most tripods.
• Plug & Play Versatility: Simply rotate YoloCam S3 vertically on the magnetic mount. Then enjoy your moment in portrait.

The YoloCam S3 Webcam features a compact and sturdy all-metal aluminum body designed for durability. This material also helps dissipate heat during prolonged use. It measures 47.5 x 60.5 x 32.5 mm without the bracket, and 47.5 x 74.4 x 48.5 mm with the bracket. The webcam comes equipped with strong magnets on two sides, allowing flexible mounting in either horizontal or vertical orientations, as well as a 1/4″-20 threading for tripod use. Its mount is also made of metal and can be tilted or swiveled, ensuring sturdy attachment to monitors or other surfaces.

Performance

The YoloCam S3 Webcam delivers great performance, mostly related to its large 1/1.3-inch sensor and precision optics. Image quality is fantastic and provides sharp detail and impressive clarity. The autofocus is fast and reliable, and it works well for streaming, podcasting, or video calls, especially when people are moving around. The YoloCam S3 webcam features AI-enhanced auto-exposure, auto white balance, and noise reduction technologies that ensure professional-looking footage in various lighting conditions. There are also manual controls that allow me to finely adjust contrast, saturation, sharpness, exposure, and colors. ​

The ability to output 4K at 30 fps or 1080p at 60 fps via USB-C works seamlessly with my high-end streaming setups and my content creation workflows.

Overall, the YoloCam S3 is a very good webcam and is now the camera of choice for my daily videoconferencing sessions that I conduct via MS Teams. It is small, compact, durable, and very convenient, and performs well with great resolution and stability.

YoloLiv Composer Software (For manual adjustments)

Final thoughts

The YoloCam S3 Webcam is the perfect webcam for my daily video conferencing and on-the-fly streaming. It is well built and produces great video quality.

What I like about the YoloCam S3 Webcam

• It is well built
• Produces great quality video
• It is sleek and compact
• It easily integrates into my video and content creation use cases
• The built-in magnetic mount

What needs to be improved?

• It works for me

Price: $199
Where to buy: Yololiv website, Amazon
Source: Yololiv provided a free sample for this review. Yololiv did not have a final say on the review and did not preview it before it was published.

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