I’ve tested a lot of webcams, and they usually fall into one of two categories: cheap, no-frills options that get the job done or high-end, feature-packed cameras that promise the world. The Obsbot Meet SE sits somewhere in between. It’s an AI-powered webcam that aims to elevate your video calls and streaming without completely emptying your wallet. The Meet SE comes from the long line of excellent OBSBOT PTZ camera’s like the Tiny 2 Lite which has been my daily driver.
Compared to the Tiny 2, which offers 4K resolution and more advanced AI tracking, the Meet SE is a more budget-friendly alternative at just $119, but it comes with several trade-offs. Most notably, a 1080p resoultion and no PTZ(pan-tilt-zoom) like its siblings which means it can’t do as much fancy tracking as its siblings. However, the Meet SE still holds its own as a more affordable choice for those who don’t require ultra-high resolutions. It’s also much more portable for those who work on laptops most of the time.
Design and Build Quality
Right out of the box, the Obsbot Meet SE looks sleek and modern, with a compact form factor that blends well into any setup. Its matte black finish gives it a premium feel, and the sturdy plastic body feels well-constructed despite its lightweight design. The built-in privacy cover is a welcome touch, offering a smooth sliding mechanism that feels more refined than a simple flip-down cap.
The mount is made of solid plastic with a rubberized grip, ensuring a stable hold on most monitors, though I found it a bit tricky to position on thinner bezels of laptops. Thankfully, it also features a standard tripod mount for additional flexibility, allowing for better control over angles and placement. The rear of the camera houses a USB-C port, making it easy to connect without bulky cables getting in the way.
Make no mistake though, this camera is so small and dainty – it’s clearly designed for laptop users on the go. It fits so easily in a pocket with almost no weight to notice. If you love to work in cafes and outdoors, then this is the one you want.
Video Quality and AI Framing
Video quality is where the Meet SE both impresses and frustrates. It captures at 1080p, which is fine for most use cases, but considering 4K webcams are becoming more common, it already feels a little behind. For streamers or professionals who need higher resolution for better clarity and detail, this could be a drawback.
A higher resolution camera would allow for better cropping without losing quality, and for those who do content creation, 4K offers more flexibility in post-production. That said, for general video calls and casual use, 1080p remains more than sufficient. That said, the image is crisp with great color reproduction and solid contrast. It handles different lighting conditions well, adjusting exposure quickly without making me look washed out.
The real selling point here is its AI-powered auto-framing, which sets it apart from traditional webcams by automatically keeping you in the center of the frame. Compared to similar AI-driven tracking from brands like Logitech and Razer, Obsbot’s system is mostly reliable but has occasional hiccups. It does a solid job of following movements, making it ideal for presenters or those who tend to shift around during calls.
However, at times, it can be a bit sluggish or overcorrect, leading to some jittery motion. While impressive, it’s not quite perfect yet. The camera follows you as you move, keeping you centered in the frame without requiring manual adjustments. In theory, this is great—especially if you’re presenting or just someone who fidgets a lot during calls. In practice, it’s mostly reliable but not perfect. It sometimes reacts a bit too slowly or overcorrects, causing a jittery effect when I shift slightly in my chair. It’s a great feature, but it still needs some fine-tuning.
Performance in Different Scenarios
For general video calls, the Obsbot Meet SE does a solid job. Whether I was on Zoom, Google Meet, or Discord, the video remained clear, and my coworkers noticed an improvement over my laptop’s built-in webcam. The AI tracking is particularly useful when standing up and moving around during presentations—it’s nice not having to constantly adjust the camera manually.
However, compared to the Obsbot Tiny 2, which features PTZ (pan-tilt-zoom) capabilities, the Meet SE’s tracking is more limited since it relies solely on digital cropping rather than physical movement. This means it can only follow within the frame’s constraints, making its tracking feel less dynamic in comparison.
I was pleasantly surprised by how well the Meet SE performs in low-light conditions. Many budget webcams struggle in dim rooms, turning faces into pixelated blobs. This one does a respectable job maintaining detail and color accuracy, though I still recommend using a dedicated light source for the best results.
There’s plenty of noise in darker settings, but it’s far better than what you’d get from a built-in laptop webcam. HDR performance is also questionable as I found it to crush the shadows making the whole image darker rather than brighter.
Like most webcams, the built-in microphone on the Meet SE is just okay. It’s clear enough for calls, but if you’re planning to use this for streaming or content creation, you’ll want an external mic. There’s a slight hollowness to the sound, and background noise can creep in. It’s serviceable, but not a standout feature.
Software and Customization
The Obsbot software gives you control over settings like framing speed, zoom levels, and exposure, along with additional AI tracking adjustments. It’s intuitive enough for beginners to navigate without much hassle while still offering enough customization to satisfy more advanced users.
The software includes options for auto-framing preferences, face smoothing, and noise reduction, but it’s not as feature-rich as some competing webcam software. I liked being able to tweak the AI tracking sensitivity and enable gesture controls, but I wish there were more options for manual adjustments beyond just brightness and contrast, such as white balance and sharpness.
Verdict
The Obsbot Meet SE is a solid webcam with some genuinely useful smart features. Its AI tracking is great when it works smoothly, the image quality is above average for 1080p, and it handles lighting better than many competitors. However, the lack of 4K and occasional AI hiccups hold it back from being a true game-changer but you can always opt for the more expensive 4k OBSBOT Meet.
If you need a reliable webcam for remote work or casual streaming on the go, this is a great pick—especially if you move around a lot during calls. But if you’re after the absolute best image quality or need something more consistent for professional content creation, you might want to look further up in the OBSBOT family.
OBSBOT kindly provided the Meet SE to this reviewer for the purpose of preparing this review for PowerUp.
