The OBSBOT Tiny series has been a clear pioneer in pushing PTZ webcams forward. Rather than focusing solely on the mechanics of placing a webcam on a gimbal and then settling for incremental hardware updates from one generation to the next, OBSBOT has consistently expanded what these cameras can do and how they do it.
The OBSBOT Tiny 3 is a strong example of that approach in practice. It brings together those refinements into a cohesive package and opens up a wide range of use cases, including for creators who may never have previously considered a PTZ webcam.
In the box, you’ll find the OBSBOT Tiny 3, an adjustable monitor mount, a USB-C cable, a USB-C to USB-A adapter, the documentation and a small storage case to carry everything in. The Tiny 3 has been shrunk considerably, now 37x37x49mm and weighing in at 63g, down from 47x44x62mm, weighing 95.6g.
“The OBSBOT Tiny series has been a clear pioneer in pushing PTZ webcams forward.”
The webcam has a 1/4” thread to mount directly on an arm or tripod. You’ll find the USB-C port on the back and the 3-microphone layout under the camera at the base of the gimbal.
The base of the OBSBOT Tiny 3 is magnetic, so it can be mounted without using the thread on any magnetic metal surface, including the surface of the provided monitor mount, which has three axis points to get a precise angle to frame you up.
The OBSBOT Tiny 3 has a 1/1.28” sensor (up from 1/1.5” on the Tiny 2) with an f/1.8 aperture and is capable of resolutions up to 4/30fps and 1080p/120fps. The camera has an equivalent focal length of 24mm and an 82.4-degree field of view. HDR is supported on the Tiny 3 up to 60fps. HDR also limits the ISO to 6400.
Video quality out of the box is excellent. The image appears slightly darker on first activation, but colour accuracy is outstanding. For more meticulous creators, the companion app offers extensive tools to fine-tune the image and push quality even further. For a device as small as the OBSBOT Tiny 3, it is packed with powerful hardware and delivers impressively large results.
Audio quality has also taken a significant step forward. OBSBOT introduces several new audio modes, along with an additional method for capturing sound. Pure Audio mode provides independent left and right channels while passing audio through without processing. Spatial Audio also uses independent left and right channels, but applies AI-driven noise reduction to better isolate your voice as you move. Smart Omni mode captures sound from all directions, making it suitable for recording ambient audio or group environments.
Additional audio modes include Directional mode, which captures sound from directly in front of the camera while cancelling out ambient noise. Dual-Directional mode records audio from both the front and back, while minimizing sound from the sides.
The microphone also plays a role in tracking. Voice-based tracking allows the camera to focus on whoever is speaking, which is particularly useful in multi-speaker situations. The mic can also assist when tracking is lost. If the camera loses sight of you, using your voice can draw it back, allowing normal tracking to resume.
“The OBSBOT Tiny 3 represents a meaningful step forward from its predecessor.”
The coolest update, though, is the addition of an external mic, the OBSBOT VOX SE. Via the app, you can connect two transmitters to the camera to capture much more professional audio than the built-in mic could ever hope to do. Don’t get me wrong, the audio quality, thanks to the new modes, is much improved, but you are simply too far from the mic to get the sound you really want. The VOX SE eliminates that by putting the mic on you, so anywhere you may be in the room, you’re getting the best audio possible.
The OBSBOT Center app, in addition to its standard manual joystick controls, exposure tools and image settings, includes several advanced tracking options not commonly found elsewhere. Alongside familiar desktop and whiteboard modes, as well as the previously mentioned voice tracking, the app also supports hand tracking. Users can assign tracking to either the left or right hand, allowing the camera to lock on and follow as you perform tasks, hold a product or shift between multiple subjects. This makes it easier to maintain focus without constant manual adjustment, and it highlights the strength of OBSBOT’s tracking technology.
The OBSBOT Tiny 3 is priced at US$349, with accessories such as the VOX SE and the remote control sold separately. It is an expensive webcam, particularly given the overall quality of current-generation competitors, some of which cost roughly 40 per cent less. To attract early adopters, OBSBOT is offering a trade-in program through its website. Customers can receive US$100 off by trading in an OBSBOT Tiny 2 or a Razer Kiyo Pro Ultra, while other camera models qualify for smaller discounts.
The OBSBOT Tiny 3 (compared to the $199 for the OBSBOT Tiny 3 Lite) represents a meaningful step forward from its predecessor. The camera is more compact, yet it makes no real sacrifices in capability, only additions and refinements. OBSBOT has expanded functionality and pushed innovation across the board, resulting in a PTZ webcam that caters to nearly every type of creator.
The main hesitation comes down to price. At US$100 more than its closest competitors, the Tiny 3 does not quite offer US$100 worth of additional value. That cost gap makes it harder to recommend without reservation, even given the strength of its feature set.
