Introducing the NexiGo Iris — The Webcam with the 1/1.8-inch Sensor

As the global pandemic led to a surge in working from home, video conferencing became the new normal. So even if you’re not there in person, you still want to make a good impression — and your laptop’s webcam may not cut it.

Many people have been seeking out advanced webcams for professional video calls, but that’s not their only purpose. Whether you’re hosting a business meeting, streaming on YouTube, or making long-distance calls to your grandma, a quality webcam vastly improves the experience.

Here at NexiGo, we understand the importance of presenting your best self, which is why we are proud to announce our newest 4K webcam: The Iris. In this article, we will break down its novel features and explain why it represents a step forward for the webcam industry.

The 1/1.8-inch Sensor

For those who are looking for higher resolution and video quality are turning to digital cameras with larger sensors to meet their needs. Often these are DSLR or mirrorless cameras designed for professional photography that cost upwards of $500 and require an external capture card to function as a webcam. But what if you could have the advantages of that large sensor with the convenience of a webcam? This is where the Iris (MSRP $249) comes into play.

The Iris is built with a 1/1.8-inch Sony STARVIS sensor, the larger sensor on the market. It features vastly improved low-light performance and a wider dynamic range for better image quality. In fact, it’s on par with some standalone cameras.

How is this possible? The Sony STARVIS Sensor was originally designed for surveillance cameras, so it captures exceptionally clear image quality in low-light environments. So even when it’s nearly dark, the Iris will capture detailed colors and defined shapes that a normal camera would see as a blurry mess.

4K Resolution

To use the Iris, all you have to do is plug it into your PC, Mac, or TV using the USB 3.0 cable, and it will begin capturing incredibly sharp visuals. 4K is shorthand for a screen resolution of 3840x2160 pixels, which is four times the resolution of standard 1080p (1920x1080 pixels). All those extra pixels translate to a clearer image that looks almost like real life.

In addition, if you connect a capture card to its HDMI port, the Iris outputs uncompressed video for post-processing (4K @ 30fps or 1080p @ 60fps). In other words, you can save videos and images from the Iris onto your PC in full color, contrast, and detail. This makes the Iris the perfect webcam for YouTubers, streamers, and other content creators.

Advanced Auto Tracking & Framing

Do you have a hard time framing yourself during video calls?

The Iris contains advanced motion tracking technology that follows you as you move around the room. Using a mixture of audio and visual cues, it will follow anyone who is actively speaking and/or gesturing. For meetings with two or more people, the auto framing mode will reframe the image to keep everyone nicely centered. That way, all of your coworkers will feel included. 

Convenient Remote Control

The Iris comes with a full-featured remote control, so you can adjust all of your settings with a simple button press. In particular, the remote has a menu button that lets you access the on-screen display, giving you the power to change the resolution, brightness, color saturation, and more. This feature is especially helpful for group video calls since you won’t have to walk over to the computer every time you need to change something. Instead, you can zoom in or use auto framing while you’re in a video call by pressing the corresponding buttons on the remote.

There are additional settings that help make your videos more interesting. For instance, it has a picture-in-picture mode that allows you to display a zoomed-in shot and a full-framed shot at the same time, similar to how Twitch streamers have a screen grab of their gameplay with a small video capture of themselves in the corner. The difference here is that the small frame will highlight the presenter and keep them centered using auto framing, while the large frame can pan, tilt, and zoom so you can focus on a whiteboard or product demo, making it the perfect tool for more dynamic presentations and lectures.

Powerful Microphones

You shouldn't have to sacrifice sound quality in order to have great video calls. With the NexiGo Iris, you can achieve high-quality audio all in one package. With that said, it will never have the pro-grade sound of a standalone mic, but when compared with other webcams and DSLR microphones, your voice will be heard loud and clear.

The Iris features dual omnidirectional microphones that can pick up your voice from 20 feet away. So even when you’re across the room from your webcam, it still provides exceptional sound. This is essential if you use your webcam for teaching or giving business presentations, as the tiny microphones on most laptops are not designed to pick up sound more than a few feet away.

More Than Just a Webcam

With all of its unique features, the Iris is a versatile camera for all your needs, including (but not limited to) live streams, virtual workouts, creating YouTube videos, and staying connected with family and friends. Whatever your needs are, it’s worth having a quality webcam at the fraction of the price of a DSLR.

The NexiGo Iris will be released this Wednesday, September 7, 2022, and you can order it from the NexiGo website.