Welcome to my review of the COOLPO AI Huddle PANA Video Conference Camera! As someone who has experience using this product, I’m here to provide you with an honest assessment. In this review, I will go over the pros and cons of this camera, as well as give you a quick verdict based on my personal experience.
Key features
- 360-degree camera: The Pana has a 360-degree HD fish-eye camera on the top of the unit which delivers a view of the entire room. This allows everyone in the conference room to be seen simultaneously.
- AI speaker tracking: With this camera’s AI gesture control feature, the speaker becomes the only focus of the camera, and it will switch camera focus to the person speaking. This ensures that the speaker is always in focus.
- Built-in microphone and speaker: The Pana comes with four built-in microphones with a range of 15 feet, and a built-in speaker compatible with both Windows 10 and macOS. This eliminates the need for external microphones and speakers.
- Plug-and-play: The Pana is designed to be plug-and-play, making it easy to set up and use. It works with every video meeting platform, including Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Slack, Skype, and Google Meet.
- Low light performance: The Pana has a special feature for low light performance. This ensures that the camera can capture clear images even in low-light conditions.
My Experience with the COOLPO AI Huddle PANA
I recently had the opportunity to try out the COOLPO AI Huddle PANA, a 360-degree video conference camera that promises AI speaker tracking, noise cancellation, and 4K video quality. As someone who has been working remotely for a while, I was excited to see how this camera could enhance my virtual meetings. Here’s my firsthand experience with this innovative device.
First Impressions: Solid Build Quality
Upon unboxing the COOLPO AI Huddle PANA, I was impressed by its build quality. The camera felt sturdy and well-made, which immediately gave me confidence in its performance.
A Fish-Eye Perspective
One noticeable aspect was the 360-degree field of view. However, this also had a downside. In our rectangular meeting room, the camera created “hot spots” where participants appeared exaggeratedly bigger or smaller based on their proximity to the lens. While this was visually interesting, it could be distracting during important discussions.
Connectivity and Software
Setting up the camera was relatively straightforward, though I did encounter a few minor issues. The camera used a somewhat outdated super micro USB connection, which I found a bit surprising in a modern device. I couldn’t help but wish for a more future-proof USB Type-C with Thunderbolt support.
Downloading the software for adjusting the COOLPO proved to be somewhat challenging. It wouldn’t run on Macs lower than Catalina or certain Windows versions, which initially created a hurdle. However, after some troubleshooting, I managed to get it up and running.
The Meeting Experience
Now, the real test began. We had a meeting with seven people in the room, seated around a long rectangular table, and four participants joined remotely. The COOLPO’s AI speaker tracking was both impressive and occasionally frustrating. It seemed to snap-pan between speakers in the room way too often, causing online participants to feel a bit seasick. However, they did adapt to it as the meeting progressed.
Sensitive Microphone
The microphone on the COOLPO was sensitive, maybe a bit too much. It occasionally snap-panned to non-speakers, possibly in response to echoes in the room. It would have been great if the software could identify faces in the room and only focus on speaker ‘video bubbles’ in the camera stream instead of panning so frequently.
The Bottom Line
In conclusion, the COOLPO AI Huddle PANA is an intriguing product with some room for improvement. At a price point of $600, it’s a significant investment, and our users found it to be somewhat of an acquired taste. However, I still believe it’s one of the better options available, especially if COOLPO continues to refine its AI logic.
Compared to competitors like the Owl, which can cost significantly more, the COOLPO offers an attractive price point. However, I can’t help but wonder if the Owl’s higher price tag truly justifies its features.
I hope my experience provides some insights for anyone considering the COOLPO AI Huddle PANA for their virtual meetings. It’s a capable device that can enhance your conference calls, but it’s not without its quirks.
Key takeaways
🧐 Key specifications of the Coolpo camera include 4K resolution, a 360-degree field of view, 4 smart microphones with a 15-foot pickup range, and compatibility with platforms like Zoom, Cisco Webex, Slack, and Google Hangouts.
🟦 The camera features an ambient blue light that changes color and is compatible with various conferencing software, making it suitable for virtual meetings.
📹 The camera’s 360-degree functionality allows it to automatically track and focus on the speaker, providing a dynamic view during conference calls.
🔇 The Coolpo camera has a one-touch mute button for convenience, and an LED indicator shows whether it’s muted (purple) or unmuted (blue).
🗣️ The camera’s microphone pickup range of 15 feet, and it performs well even at a distance from the speaker.
Pros and Cons
What I Liked
- 360° View and 4K Resolution: The camera’s all-in-one design captures the entire scene in 4K quality, providing a clear and immersive video conference experience.
- AI Voice Tracking & 4 Mics: The advanced AI technology automatically focuses on the active speaker and ensures clear voices are captured within 15ft. The intelligent zoom feature optimizes screen space for effective collaboration.
- Secure USB Plug and Play Connect: The physical USB connection prioritizes security and eliminates the risk of privacy invasion. Setting up the camera is effortless, requiring no driver installation.
- Stand-alone AI: The camera’s algorithms and firmware are stored locally, ensuring privacy protection. No external data transfers or additional user data are required.
- After Sale Service: The COOLPO professional customer service team provides prompt and helpful assistance, addressing any concerns or queries.
What Can Be Improved
- Fish-eye Effect: The wide-angle lens may create slight visual distortions, particularly around objects at different distances from the camera. Using multiple cameras could improve this issue.
- Face Tracking and Sound Quality: The camera’s face tracking feature and sound quality could be improved, as it occasionally focuses on non-speakers or produces disorienting swings. The speakers’ audio quality is acceptable but not exceptional.
Quick Verdict
In conclusion, the COOLPO AI Huddle PANA is a powerful 360-degree video conference camera with AI speaker tracking and noise cancellation capabilities. Its 4K resolution, AI voice tracking, and secure USB plug-and-play connection offer a seamless and secure meeting experience. Although there are minor drawbacks such as the fish-eye effect and occasional focus issues, the camera’s overall performance is commendable. At its relatively affordable price point, it offers great value compared to other alternatives. If you’re looking for a versatile and high-quality conference camera, the COOLPO AI Huddle PANA is definitely worth considering.
You can find more information about the product and make a purchase here.
Unboxing – What’s Inside?
I recently purchased the COOLPO AI Huddle PANA Video Conference Camera from Amazon. Being in the USA, I ordered the product on Amazon and was impressed with the fast delivery.
Inside the box, I found the following items:
- Power cable
- Micro USB
- Lens protect cover
Specifications
Here are the specifications of the COOLPO AI Huddle PANA Video Conference Camera:
- Video Capture Resolution: 4K
- Included Components: Power cable, Micro USB, Lens protect cover
- Camcorder type: Video Camera
- Photo Sensor Technology: CMOS
- Screen Size: 2.7 Inches
- Special Feature: panorama, face-detection, AI-Sensor Camera
- Color: silver and black conference camera
- Flash Memory Type: Micro SD
- Connectivity Technology: USB
- Brand: COOLPO
- Manufacturer: Shanghai LiwCV CO., Ltd
- Date First Available: September 2, 2020
- Is Discontinued By Manufacturer: No
- Item Weight: 4.13 pounds
- Product Dimensions: 8 x 8 x 14 inches
User-Guide
The documentation provided with the COOLPO AI Huddle PANA Video Conference Camera was extremely helpful. It guided me through the setup process and explained all the features in detail. You can access the user guide here.
Features – What I Found
360° View and 4K Resolution
The COOLPO AI Huddle Pana camera offers a 360° all-in-one design, allowing participants to comfortably sit in a meeting room while capturing the entire scene in 4K quality. This eliminates the need for everyone to crowd around a small web camera. The 4K resolution ensures crisp and clear visuals, providing a high-quality video conference experience. Say goodbye to blurry or pixelated images. With the COOLPO AI Huddle Pana, you can make your remote meetings more immersive and professional.
AI Voice Tracking & 4 Mics
The advanced AI technology in the COOLPO conference camera automatically focuses on the active speaker and tracks different people at the same time. This ensures that the camera always captures the speaker, making it easier for participants to follow the conversation. The Intelligent Zoom feature optimizes screen space by adjusting focus and display frame based on the highlighted participants. Additionally, the camera is equipped with 4 high-quality microphones that ensure clear voices within 15ft are captured. The combination of AI voice tracking and multiple microphones creates an enhanced audio experience during meetings.
Secure USB Plug and Play Connect
The COOLPO camera prioritizes security by using a physical USB connection instead of wireless Bluetooth or WiFi connections. This eliminates the risk of privacy invasion, providing a secure video conferencing experience. Setting up the camera is effortless as no driver installation or maintenance is required. Simply connect the camera via USB and select it as your audio and video device in your preferred meeting software. With the COOLPO conference camera, you can enjoy smooth online meetings without worrying about security.
Stand-alone AI
The COOLPO AI Huddle Pana camera utilizes advanced edge computing technology to store its algorithms and firmware within its hardware. This means that all data processing occurs locally, without the need for external data transfers. By doing so, it ensures a high level of privacy protection as no additional data is required from users. The camera’s MeetingFlex AI is built using in-house owned and generated training data, further enhancing privacy and security. With the COOLPO conference camera, you can trust that your data is protected and secure.
After-Sale Service
The COOLPO professional customer service team is dedicated to providing excellent support to customers. If you have any additional questions or need further information about the AI Huddle Pana camera, you can easily contact the customer service team. They are available to assist you and provide prompt responses to your queries. This ensures a positive customer experience and peace of mind knowing that help is just a message or call away.
Review
I recently had the opportunity to try out the COOLPO AI Huddle PANA, and I have to say, I was impressed. The 360° view and 4K resolution of this camera really make a difference in video conferences. No more crowding around a small web camera, as the COOLPO captures the entire scene in high quality. The AI voice tracking and 4 mics ensure that everyone’s voices are clear and focused, even in a larger meeting room.
One of the features that I particularly appreciated about the COOLPO camera is its secure USB plug-and-play connection. With a physical USB connection, I felt more at ease knowing that there was no risk of privacy invasion through wireless connections. The setup was effortless, and I could easily select the COOLPO camera as my audio and video device in any meeting software.
Overall, the COOLPO AI Huddle PANA is a smart camera that enhances remote meetings and promotes collaboration. With its sleek design and advanced features, it offers great value for its price. If you’re in need of a reliable and high-quality video conference camera, I highly recommend giving the COOLPO AI Huddle PANA a try.
Click here to check out the COOLPO AI Huddle PANA on Amazon.
Best combination
If you’re looking to enhance your video conferencing experience with the COOLPO AI Huddle PANA 360 Degree Video Conference Camera, I highly suggest considering the COOLPO USB 3.0 Cable for Video Conference Camera as an additional purchase. This 16.4ft/5m long cable is specifically designed for use with conference cameras that have a built-in microphone. It allows for seamless connectivity and ensures that your audio and video signals are transmitted smoothly and without any interruptions.
By combining the COOLPO AI Huddle PANA Video Conference Camera with the COOLPO USB 3.0 Cable, you can take advantage of all the advanced features this camera has to offer. The AI Speaker Tracking and Noise Cancellation technology ensures that you are always in focus and that background noise is minimized, providing clear and professional video conference calls.
The USB 3.0 A to Micro B Cable is not only compatible with the COOLPO AI Huddle PANA camera but also with other conference webcams that use the same connection. This means that even if you switch to a different camera in the future, you can still use this cable, making it a versatile investment.
Investing in the COOLPO USB 3.0 Cable for Video Conference Camera is a wise choice to complement your COOLPO AI Huddle PANA 360 Degree Video Conference Camera, as it ensures a reliable and high-quality video conferencing experience. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to enhance your virtual meetings and presentations.
