I should have never bought the PS5 HD Camera and neither should you

Date:
Sat, 26 Feb 2022 15:30:09 +0000

Description:
If youre thinking about buying the PS5 HD Camera, be warned: its
functionality is extremely limited right now.

FULL STORY ======================================================================

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but I still dont know why I bought the PS5 HD Camera . In fact, I dont even have the thing plugged in anymore a testament to how much Ive been enjoying my spurious new purchase.

Perhaps I bought it out of mere curiosity, or maybe it was because the Shellder-looking device was on sale at the time. Unfortunately, apart from using it to stream on Twitch now and then, the PS5 HD Camera is woefully limited in what it can do.

I remember questioning why anyone would buy the PS4 Camera when it first launched, but its currently a far more capable device than Sonys recent iteration of its proprietary webcam. The PS4 Camera has facial recognition so you can log in to your PS4 hands-free, includes a microphone so you can shout out voice commands, and eventually became an integral part of PSVR , allowing head and gesture tracking. Not that next-gen (Image credit: Sony)

The PlayStation 5 HD Camera, in comparison, doesnt have a microphone, has no facial recognition for seamless logins, and wont even be necessary for PSVR 2 as the new headset has inside-out tracking and dedicated controllers. You
cant even replace the PS4 camera with the PS5 version if you do want to use
it for PSVR, which says it all really.

You do get significantly better image quality on Sonys new PS5 camera, as the PlayStation 5 version is capable of 1080p capture while the PS4s version tops out at 800p. However, the PS4 camera was at least used in some games like Alien Isolation , all of the Just Dance titles, and Tearaway Unfolded. No games support the PS5 HD Camera right now. The regret is real

I know that my buyers remorse is entirely my own fault, of course I didnt have to buy the PS5 HD Camera, and its not like I didnt know that it could only be used to broadcast yourself on Twitch or YouTube when I bought it. But still, I was hoping there would be some other benefit to owning one. I do admittedly like the built-in stand that lets you place the camera on top of
or below your TV, and the 80s child in me really appreciates that the camera looks a bit like Short Circuits Jonny 5.

But unless youre fully committed to streaming solely on PS5, which isnt without its issues, the PS5 HD Camera simply isnt worth your money right now. In the future, we could see Sony adding some much-needed functionality
facial recognition would be an easy win, for example but currently it doesnt do enough to justify the $60 / 50 / AU$99.95 price tag. Steer clear (Image credit: Sony)

Frustratingly, Sony doesnt let you use any other webcams on PS5. This is at odds with Microsofts approach. You can plug almost any third-party webcam
into an Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S for streaming, many of which perform better than the PlayStation 5 HD Camera and have the added bonus of working
on a PC.

That could make the PS5 HD Camera an unavoidable purchase for some, but for everyone else, heed my advice and steer clear. You really dont need it.

However, there is one PS5 accessory that I wholeheartedly recommend picking
up right now: the DualSense Charging Station. Ive found that since buying the Charging Station, its helped alleviate any feelings of frustration I have
when the 'Wireless Controller battery is low' prompt appears something that happens far too frequently.



The DualSense Charging Station doesn't occupy any of the PS5s precious USB ports either as it plugs directly into a power outlet. This means after
you've finished playing, you simply pop your pad into the dock and itll be ready to go when you return.

Better still, if you own a second DualSense controller, you can hot-swap between pads when required. As you play on your freshly charged pad, your other controller will be charging, so youll technically never be caught short again when it comes to the DualSense's middling battery life. Unlike the PS5 HD Camera, it's totally worth the asking price of $30 / 24.99.

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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/news/i-should-have-never-bought-the-ps5-hd-camera-an d-neither-should-you/


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