Papalook PA930 1080p Webcam Review: A Great Webcam At A Good Price

Who Is The Papalook PA930 1080p Webcam For?

• The Papalook PA930 1080p webcam is great for those who need to be on video calls frequently
• The PA930 webcam is easy to set up and offers very solid performance
• The PA930 includes a microphone built in, meaning it's an all-in-one device for video calls

In the world of business, if 2020 taught us anything it's that we don't all have to be in the same physical location to still be able to work effectively. Thanks to software like Zoom, Microsoft Teams and more, video calls and remote team meetings look like they could be sticking around even after the pandemic is long gone. That means people should invest in a decent webcam, and Papalook has made that investment relatively small with the Papalook PA930 1080p webcam.

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Easy Set Up

The Papalook PA930 webcam is super easy to set up on a Windows PC or a Mac, and for the most part only needs to be plugged in via a USB-A port to get up and running. There may be some settings that need to be altered to get the PA930 established as the default camera and microphone, but that isn't too difficult. There isn't any software that needs to be downloaded or accounts that need to be created.

Once the Papalook PA930 has been plugged in and established as the default camera and/or microphone option, it should be good to go with just about everything like Zoom, FaceTime, Teams, Google Hangouts and more. That said, individual programs may also need to be adjusted to using the PA930, especially if working on a laptop or monitor that has a pre-installed webcam.

The Papalook PA930 has a number of ways to be physically set up, and they are all as simple as getting the webcam digitally set up. The most common usage is probably the stand that comes attached to the PA930. This allows the webcam to be balanced on the top of a screen. The stand is a little annoying to get in the desired position, but once the camera is in its place it does not move. This is great compared to those webcams that always seem to be drifting away from where they were placed.

Additionally, the PA930 comes with a somewhat flimsy tripod. The webcam can be screwed onto the top of the tripod to be placed anywhere around a computer. While the tripod is a little flimsy, it still is strong enough to hold up the PA930 without issue. I wouldn't use this tripod for anything else, but it works fine enough with the webcam.

Clear Video Quality

The video quality with the Papalook PA930 is nice and clear. The camera advertises that it has a 1080p resolution, and it's obvious the video feed from the camera meets that bar. The camera allows for a decent image even with a weaker internet connection, though the image other people see will downgrade if there are any connection issues. That's not on the PA930 though, as that's just a general issue with data transmission.

The only button on the PA930 can be found at the top of the webcam. This button manually forces the PA930 into different resolutions. If, for whatever reason, users want their camera feed to drop down to 720p or even 480p, they can with the push of a button.

While the Papalook PA930 offers a clear image, it does have its issues. The biggest is that the camera has a bit of a struggle with lighting, specifically background lights. It's clear to see when the sun is shining in from a nearby window as the image becomes a little washed out.

Surprising Noise Filtration

The Papalook PA930 webcam has a built-in microphone that not only captures audio clearly, but also does a decent job of blocking out unwanted sounds. My apartment is currently getting its roof redone and, despite the noise from the construction workers that can be heard clearly in my apartment, those on a video call could not hear anything out of the ordinary.

Goofy Looks

While the Papalook PA930 webcam works well, it does look a little odd. It's a fairly large webcam and is very boxy. It's definitely not something sleek that feels like it fits in with modern monitors.

Additionally, the PA930's front looks like it is made out of carpet or some other similar material. It's an odd choice, especially with almost every other webcam out there being housed entirely in plastic.

The PA930 also includes a privacy cap, which is a nice inclusion. However, instead of the cap being a simple slide that blocks the webcam, it is a large cap that goes over the entire webcam. I suppose this is probably more secure as the cap can likely block the microphone in addition to the camera, but the cap isn't attached to the webcam at all. It's something that can easily get lost, forcing users to come up with other solutions for blocking the camera when wanted.

Final Thoughts

The Papalook PA930 webcam may look a little odd, but it performs exactly how it should. The camera offers up to 1080p resolution and the microphone is surprisingly adept at filtering out unwanted background noise. It's also very easy to set up and can be used within seconds of taking it out of its box.

All of this quality from the Papalook PA930 is available for only $70. Considering how video calls are likely going to be sticking around even after the remnants of the pandemic die down, that's a fairly small investment for greatly improving video call experiences.