As part of the ongoing story, however, the input mics are truly bad. The eMeet C960 Ultra 4K webcam is a well-constructed, affordable, 4K autofocus camera with terrific image quality.
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As part of the ongoing story, the key here is the webcam’s 1/1.5-inch sensor, unusually large for the price range, which helps the camera excel in low-light situations. It’s hard to find anything to dislike about the eMeet C960 Ultra 4K autofocus webcam, which continues the industry’s pattern to provide 4K resolution at ever-lower prices.
Industry observers note that but they’ve felt cheap, too: lots of plastic, plus flimsy folding webcam shutters that felt more like an afterthought. A metal construction signals quality, and the C960 Ultra’s fresh, all-metal chassis just feels solid, secure, and upscale. A twist-to-close shutter solves the other problem, too. I’ve used several eMeet cameras, whose strength has been delivering good to very good capabilities at affordable price points.
Industry observers note that you’ll want to look your best under various lighting conditions without spending a bunch on a lighting setup, and the eMeet C960 delivers… with one exception. The C960 Ultra takes its cue from the TVs you see in big-box electronics stores: they’re tuned to deliver over-the-top saturation. The same goes here. In a low-light setting, the C960’s performance is exceptional, rivaling a high-end webcam. However, it gave my slightly ruddy complexion an exaggerated red tinge. Webcams matter, especially as a work-from-home home productivity tool.
As part of the ongoing story, fortunately, a bit of tweaking in Windows settings solved the problem even before I explored the webcam’s capabilities with the associated eMeet Lab customization programs — though that programs only runs on x86 PCs, not Arm.
The report highlights that the field of view is 73 degrees, nice and tight for a single subject (you). The webcam captures video at resolutions up to 2160p (4K) at 30Hz, down through various resolutions including 1080p at both 30 and 60Hz, for that “TV-like” appearance.
Industry observers note that however, there’s also a 1X-4X digital zoom available within the eMeet Lab programs that can be used for recording and streaming. The C960 Ultra 4K includes a device-level zoom, essentially interchangeable with the camera settings in the Windows settings (Settings > Bluetooth & Devices > Cameras > EMEET SmartCam C960 Ultra).
The report highlights that for a list of those cameras, visit our best picks for the best Windows Hello webcams.). (This webcam does not include Windows Hello biometric authentication to log you in, however.
Industry observers note that inside the box, eMeet has placed the webcam, alongside a lengthy 1.5m (4.9 feet) cable that ends in a USB-C plug for the webcam and a legacy USB-A connection for the PC. (The USB-A connector is actually a passive dongle that can be removed to expose a second USB-C connector.) There is no driver programs needed, and the eMeet Lab programs is optional. The setup is pretty simple.
The report highlights that the rest is supported by the lower “jaws,” coated with a rubber-like substance to avoid slippage. Some webcams include an additional “tongue” to provide an extra layer of stability. This doesn’t, but the construction doesn’t require it. It holds well. The entire construction is aluminum, and it clamps onto a laptop or external display using a “jaws” configuration, where a small “tooth” hooks over the front of the laptop or monitor.
Industry observers note that that includes the Razer Kiyo Pro Ultra, which I crowned as possibly the best webcam I’d ever seen… in 2023. The global stage has advanced since then, but physics hasn’t. The Kiyo Pro Ultra includes a 1/1.2″ Sony STARVIS sensor and an f/1.7 aperture, while the C960 Ultra uses a smaller 1/1.5″ Sony CMOS sensor and an f/1.8 aperture. I typically mount a few webcams on the display above my desk for easy comparison between them.
The report highlights that in bright light, the difference usually goes to how the image is processed. That still gives the Kiyo Pro a marked advantage in terms of light collection, but in low-light settings the two cameras are surprisingly close in terms of image capture.
In a fresh development, downstairs, with faint natural light as well as artificial light from the display, I do loom redder than I should. Tweaking the saturation down a few points solved that problem. So let’s take a look.
As part of the ongoing story, the focus looks a little soft to my eyes, but the colors are more natural. Upstairs, in more natural sunlight entering from the side, the C960 Ultra 4K isn’t too shabby, either.
In a fresh development, again, both photos are at default settings, so by playing around with the settings you might be able to tweak and tune a bit.
As part of the ongoing story, that means autofocus is quick, accurate, and doesn’t need to reorient itself every second or two. It’s how it should work. The other capability that I haven’t mentioned is this webcam’s PDAF, or phase-detection autofocus, which mirrors (little camera joke there, sorry) how DSLRs split light into incoming rays using photodiodes.
The report highlights that that’s not necessarily a bad thing, as the selection of functions is tight and well organized. I’d resist the temptation to manually adjust the webcam’s settings, however, as the “auto” settings actually seemed to be optimal in most cases. The eMeet Lab app isn’t as robust as what Obsbot offers, say, with its Meet 2 webcam, another excellent 4K webcam (but priced somewhat higher).
According to the latest update, the eMeet Lab app can also be used for recording yourself, with some nice functions for reducing the bitrate and resolution to manage the resulting file size.
The report highlights that there are some optional “beauty” settings, which can use an AI filter to slim your face or adjust your eye width, though the latter setting didn’t do much.
The report highlights that i was a little surprised that I couldn’t find an option to record a true vertical video, as the 16:9 setting preserves the landscape orientation of the captured video. EMeet showed a tripod with a mount angled horizontally (with the video then captured vertically) as a solution to this problem. You can also set the aspect ratio at either a standard 16:9 or a vertical 9:16 setting.
Industry observers note that it was. Remember how I said that it was hard to find something to dislike about this webcam?
As part of the ongoing story, the value makes it a solid choice nevertheless. EMeet delivers an almost perfect 4K webcam with the eMeet C960 Ultra 4K, with just a couple of blemishes.
In a fresh development, they stink. If you own a modern laptop, I suspect that the onboard mic array will be better than what eMeet offers, which sounds like it’s from 1995 or something. They’re simply awful, and you’ll want to use earbuds or an external mic instead. I was all set to declare this webcam almost perfect until I began testing the mics, which I think most people ignore.
According to the latest update, i really liked it, save for the surprisingly bad mics. The saving grace is that both the oversaturated video and the subpar mics can be corrected, either in Windows or by selecting another audio source. Absolutely.
Industry observers note that i have to knock down the rating by an entire point because of the mic quality, but otherwise the eMeet C960 Ultra 4K earns my recommendation and an Editor’s Choice award. If you’re still in doubt, check our list of the best webcams for our other recommendations. For the price and quality, though, I’d recommend it.
The report highlights that he has authored over 3,500 articles for PCWorld alone, covering PC microprocessors, peripherals, and Microsoft Windows, among other topics. Mark has written for publications including PC Magazine, Byte, eWEEK, Highly adopted Science and Electronic Buyers' News, where he shared a Jesse H. Neal Award for breaking news. He recently handed over a collection of several dozen Thunderbolt docks and USB-C hubs because his office simply has no more room. Mark has written for PCWorld for the last decade, with 30 years of experience covering technology.