TechRadar Verdict
The Opal Tadpole webcam has a lot going for it.
It’s super small with a gorgeous design that oozes modernity.
All of this is due to the thoughtful and well-implemented design, as well as the minimalist feature set.
This should come as no surprise, considering the Opal co-team has history withGoogle, Uber, and Jump.
The Tadpole, as the name suggests, is small.
This also makes it a dream to transport around, but more on that later.
Rather than a magnetic mount, the Opal team has opted for an adjustable clip.
This means that the whole unit is either on or off, rather than having a permanently located mount.
One of the concerns I initially had was about damaging my laptop.
I didnt want to scratch my metal back or crack the glass of the screen.
I therefore gave the clip a good look before applying it to my laptop.
After seeing that the clip was primarily made of silicone rubber, I proceeded to mount it.
In reality, I neednt have been concerned.
The rubber ensures that the laptop is well protected.
The build quality is high, with a painted aluminum front and an anodized aluminum back.
The cable, which measures 55cm in length and 3.7mm in diameter, is woven for greater durability.
I love a woven cable, so thats a win for me.
Even though I appreciate the design feature, I didnt find much use for this bang out of portability.
Generally, its pretty good, although not as good as the built-in webcam on my MacBook Pro 2023.
TheSonyIMX582 RS sensor does a fantastic job of producing clean video with minimal noise, even in the shadows.
Color replication is strong, with vibrant colors chosen over and above a flat profile.
Unfortunately, the dynamic range that is supported by the lens and its sensor is not quite wide enough.
As important, if not more so, is the quality of the audio.
Some webcams overcome this by using noise filtering, but Opal has landed on a completely different solution.
By using a directional microphone, the Tadpole captures only what is directly in front of the camera.
The solution, in essence, creates a tunnel through which sound is funneled.
As a result, any sound that doesnt travel down this tunnel isnt heard.
This directional microphone does a pretty good job, with almost all low-to-medium level background noise removed.
It didnt work entirely in a crowded room but was certainly better than omnidirectional alternatives.
This is a nice little feature to have, though I certainly wouldnt buy the webcam because of it.
One of the biggest selling points of the Tadpole is its portability.
It is small, lightweight, and packs neatly into a purpose-made carry case that looks like a yoyo.
Simply put, this is one of the best carry cases for a webcam that Ive ever seen.
The Opal Tadpole is one of the best options in the mid-range webcam space.
Overall, the Tadpole is a very capable webcam.
For the asking price here, you get decent video quality and some nice features, including single-tap muting.
The Opal Tadpole ships worldwide, with associated shipping costs.
For the UK, that is set at an additional $8.
The yo-yo case also costs an additional $19, but it’s worth the price in my opinion.
Opal Tadpole webcam: Specs
Should you buy the Opal Tadpole webcam?
Some webcams achieve this through noise filtering, but Opal makes it happen with engineering.
It also delivers great noise handling and low-light performance.
The video is sharp and clean, guaranteeing you’ll look great in any meeting.
I also used the carry case to help me transport the webcam around.
Read more about how we test
First reviewed April 2024
