Opal Introduces ‘Tadpole’: The Revolutionary 4K Webcam for Superior Streaming and Video Calls

Opal, a company established by ex-Apple and Beats designers, has recently released their latest product, the Opal Tadpole. Priced at $175, this new webcam is designed for “ultra-portability” and features 4K webcam hardware. It’s an advancement from their previous model, the Opal C1, which debuted in 2021, offering DSLR-like quality in a 4K webcam format. The Opal Tadpole outperforms its predecessor with even better image quality, thanks to a 4K, 48MP Sony IMX582 sensor and an f1.8 six-element glass​​.

The Opal Tadpole is notably compact, claimed to be the “world’s smallest webcam ever made,” with dimensions of 1.2 inches squared and a weight of 45 grams. Its design is tailored specifically for use with laptops, featuring a built-in clamp-style clip that can attach to any laptop display without needing an additional camera mount. It also includes a built-in braided USB-C cable that doubles as a lanyard when not in use​​.

In terms of audio, the Tadpole boasts an AI-powered directional microphone. This technology allows the microphone to capture only the audio in the camera’s field of view, effectively filtering out background noise. This results in clear, distraction-free audio for video calls in various environments. Additionally, the Tadpole features a “Tap to Mute” functionality, where a capacitive touch sensor on the camera’s USB-C plug enables users to mute or unmute audio with a single tap during video calls​​.