The Dell flagship 4K webcam was released last summer to generally positive reviews. In addition to its physical design, the image quality and 60 fps option received high praise from critics. The cheaper model of this year may sacrifice 4K imaging, but it fixes the main flaw of its predecessor.

The $200 UltraSharp 4K webcam Dell released last year has been replaced with a younger brother. At $135, the Pro 2K WB5023 might be a good option if you don't need 4K.This new Dell webcam comes with an integrated noise reduction mic that ensures your speech sounds clear, despite its lower price. The 4K model lacks a microphone, which is perhaps the biggest flaw.

In comparison to Dell's top-end model, the new model makes a few notable compromises. The first difference is the reduction in resolution from 4K to 2K. In 1080p and 720p, both models can stream at 60 frames per second, but not at their top resolution.

The newer webcam retains the digital overlap HDR functionality of its predecessor, but only at 1080p. The Pro 2K also lacks the UltraSharp's 90-degree option, only keeping the 65- and 70-degree modes, so users who are worried about FOV should be aware of that. In addition, its maximum zoom level is only 4x, not 5x as on the flagship model.

As a final compromise, the Pro 2K only has one USB connection, which is USB-A. However, its predecessor had a detachable USB-C to USB-A adapter. The use of USB-C connections requires a converter, which should be purchased separately by the pro buyer.It features 3DNR temporal and 2DNR spatial noise reduction to reduce grain and motion blur. In addition to the magnetic privacy cover for the lens, the auto framing function, which pans and zooms the camera, is intact.

The cameras are compatible with Skype for Business, Google Hangouts, Cisco Webex, FaceTime, Slack, GoToMeeting, BlueJeans, Google Meet, and Lifesize. The integrated Dell Peripheral Manager software is only available on Windows, but they are compatible with macOS as well.