More than a year ago, I had the chance of reviewing the Rapoo C260 — one of the best budget 1080p webcams available at the height of the pandemic lockdowns in the Philippines.
This week, I am happy to share my first impressions and test drive of the Rapoo C500 FHD 4K webcam.
Webcam Package Unboxed
The Rapoo C500 FHD 4K Webcam comes in very nice and simple packaging with just the computer camera unit, a 1.50-meter USB to USB-C detachable cable, and a Quick Start Guide.
The device is made of hard plastic material with a matte finish (don’t worry, it’s not a fingerprint magnet). The bottom side (standee) of the webcam is covered with a non-slip rubber material.
The webcam promises to be Plug & Play on systems running Windows 7/8/10 or above, macOS X 10.6 or above, Chrome OS, and Android 5.0 or above. I was able to test it out on a Mac Mini M1 running on macOS X Monterey 12.4 without any problems.
The optics of the C500 is composed of a five-layer coated lens, which can effectively improve the light transmission rate and image quality to restore more realistic colors.
This computer camera sports an 80° wide-angle viewing angle with a built-in omnidirectional dual noise reduction microphone. It also comes with a flippable cover ensuring one’s privacy when the device is not used.
Using the Rapoo C500 on Zoom Meeting
Compared to the built-in camera of my laptop and a webcam from another brand that I use on my desktop computer, I should say that images and videos produced using the Rapoo C500 are crisper and more defined even without additional lighting for both non-HD and HD settings in Zoom. For the test shots above, the only sources of light I had were the computer monitor and a light bulb from overhead (ceiling).
Now, for comparison, here’s a side-by-side of how I looked in a Zoom call using the older Rapoo C260 and the latest Rapoo C500 webcams:
What Did I Like about the Rapoo C500?
One thing I love with Rapoo (be it pointing devices like mouse/mice, audio gadgets like headsets, or webcams) is the way they price their products. The output quality that one can have using the Rapoo C500 is comparable to other brands but at just a fraction of their costs (check the pricing of this device below).
The crispiness of images produced by this webcam is superb that it may even outdo other devices within the same category. Given more time, I will be able to do more thorough software and hardware combo tests of this webcam (watch for it soon).
The removable USB cable of the Rapoo C500 is another plus factor for me. Often, the first thing that breaks and fails on devices such as webcams are the USB cables — and for most devices, it is something that cannot be replaced off-the-shelf since they are hardwired to the webcam unit.
I find the innovative webcam stand and clip built-in to the Rapoo C500 a major plus factor, especially for someone who works from home and at times, on the go.
If you are shopping for a high-definition webcam, I highly recommend that you get yourself a Rapoo C500 now. And if you already have the Rapoo C260 (1080p) webcam, I can assure you that an upgrade to the Rapoo C500 is truly worth it.
Rapoo C500 Specifications
| Color | Black |
| Product Type | HD Webcam |
| Resolution | 2160P (4K), 3840 x 2160 |
| Maximum Frame Rate | 30 FPS |
| Interface Type | USB 2.0 |
| Lens Type | High Definition Lens |
| Focus Mode | Auto Focus, Fixed Focus |
| Microphone | Omnidirectional Dual Microphone |
| Product Size | 136 mm x 28 mm x 37 mm |
| Best For | LCD Monitors, Desktop Computers, Notebook Computers |
Availability & Pricing
The Rapoo C500 comes with a price tag of PHP3,895 and is available at all Silicon Valley, PC Express, and Complink branches nationwide.
Check out other Rapoo products available in the country via the Rapoo Philippines Facebook page.