Maxhub UC M40 360 Degree Video Conferencing Camera Review

The Maxhub UC M40 is a video conferencing camera that can provide 360-degree coverage with a variety of video modes and AI voice detection.

It is an all-in-one solution with omnidirectional microphones and a speaker making it a perfect option for use in meeting rooms.

Specification

• Camera:
  • Image Sensor: 1/2.7″ CMOS
  • Effective Pixels: 5M
  • Maximum Frame Rate: 2560H x 1440V @30fps
  • Number Of Lenses: 4
  • Focal Length: 2.49mm
  • Aperture: 2.5
  • Field Of View: 140°( D ) , 111°( H ) , 85°( V )
  • Output Resolution: MJPG: 4992×928 @ 30 / 1920×1080 @ 30 / 1280×720 @ 30 / 640×360 @ 30 / YUY2: 640×360
  • Video Format: MJPG/YUY2
  • Features: Real-time hyperstitching. 7 modes of video layout
• Microphone:
  • Quantity: Built-in 4 array omnidirectional microphones
  • Signal To Noise ratio: 65 dB
  • Pickup Range: 5m (radius)
  • Pickup Angle: 360°
  • Frequency Response: 200 Hz to 8 kHz
  • Features: AI voice tracking
• Speaker:
  • Rated Power: 3W
  • Sound Pressure Level: 75 dB SPL @ 1m, 1 kHz
  • Signal To Noise Ratio: ≥75 dB
  • Distortion: ≤5%
  • Frequency Response Range: 200 Hz to 15 kHz

Set Up

This camera is designed to be plug and play with no additional software needed. Just plug it in, connect to your chosen software, and the camera will intelligently stitch together the four images for your chosen scenario. Similarly, the microphone is directional and will intelligently switch to the person speaking.

Even though this has a 12V / 1A DC input port, I didn’t need to use it for any of my testing. It worked perfectly well on both my desktop PC and laptop when connected to the USB-C port.

The camera will also mount a virtual drive when you plug it in, and this contains the Panocam software. It takes a few seconds to install and then update. It is incredibly easy to do, and the only reason why you wouldn’t install it is if there are some limitations in place within the workplace.

In Use / Modes

I tested this with Zoom and did some testing with the Windows Camera app. The camera appears app agnostic and will work with any software. All the image processing is done on-device.

When I used this on my laptop, the video quality didn’t look amazing at first, but then I realised that you need to enable the HD option within the Zoom settings.

Standalone

With the plug-and-play mode, you just need to plug the camera in via USB, and Windows should auto-recognise it. By default, it will switch to the panoramic mode providing a 360-degree stitched video. You can then switch through the different video modes using the button on the camera.

Discussion Mode

• AI voice tracking enabled, showing the two most recent speakers
• Supports two-direction simultaneous voice tracking

Beamforming Mode

• AI voice tracking enabled, shifting the 180° view towards the sound source.

Panoramic Mode

• This is the default mode and provides one elongated panoramic image covering the full 360

Quad View Mode & Portrait Mode

• Quad mode with each camera positioned in a square with more of a landscape aspect ratio, while portrait mode has each camera side by side with portrait orientation

Compose Mode

• This combines portrait mode and panoramic mode with the individual users on the bottom and a thin panoramic view above

Split Mode

• This provides two separate 180-degree images top and bottom.

Professional Mode

Using the Panocam software, you have more control over the camera. With Zoom, I had to switch the camera from UC M40 to Studio.

With this mode, you can enable auto detect and depending on the chosen mode, the video will switch to that speaker, this can then be enhanced with auto-tracking, which will auto-track faces.

I think it is well worth installing the Panocam software as it gives you a greater degree of control over the video.

Compose Mode

• Combining a panoramic view with closeups, you can view the whole room while seeing 6 key participants in closeup.

Manual Mode

• Zoom into a specific area anywhere in the room
• This allows you to select any part of the video, so ti can also be useful when there is just one person on the meeting.

Body-fit mode

• Focus on all the participants

Grid mode

• See closeups of 4 key participants simultaneously, each in their own quadrant.

Presentation mode

• Focus on the whiteboard and the active presenter at the same time.

Speaker mode

• See the whole meeting room while focusing on all the participants simultaneously

Microphone & Speaker

The microphone audio quality is good, it won’t compete with a dedicated microphone, but this has the advantage of AI voice detection and a 4 array of omnidirectional microphones. This when then automatically switch to the person talking and give you a visual indicator via the LEDs on the top.

Again, the speaker isn’t as good as a dedicated device as it is just a single 3W speaker, but it is better than my laptop speakers and places the speaker centre to the meeting.

Price and Alternative Options

The Maxhub UC M40 is priced at around £715 and is available from Scan.

Similar alternative options include:

Preview	Product	Rating	Price
	KanDao Meeting 360 (2023) Video Conference Room Camera,...	No ratings yet	£699.00	Buy on Amazon
	Owl Labs Meeting Owl 3-360-Degree, 1080p HD Smart Video...	No ratings yet	£1,049.00	Buy on Amazon

Kandao Meeting, which is £559 and has two lenses providing 360 coverage.

Or there is the KanDao Meeting Pro for £799, which has 360-degree dual lens 8K capture camera

The Meeting Owl 3 is £1,049 and is another conference camera that can do 360° in-room video and audio

Overall

The Maxhub MC M40 is an excellent video conferencing solution. The no-software plug-and-play feature is handy, allowing you to get up and running in seconds.

The out-of-box performance is excellent, and it is impressive how the camera can automatically stitch the images together for panoramic and also automatically zoom in and track people within the meeting.

The Panocam software allows you to take this to the next level, providing easy-to-use controls allowing you to customise the video feed to your liking.

The AI voice tracking and omnidirectional microphones are also superb, guaranteeing that the person speaking can be heard clearly.

This may appear expensive compared to your generic webcams, but there is a lot of technology built into this that single camera devices lack. It is also quite a niche product being very business focussed, and it is therefore priced accordingly.

James Smythe( Editor-in-chief )

I am James, a UK-based tech enthusiast and the Editor and Owner of Mighty Gadget, which I’ve proudly run since 2007. Passionate about all things technology, my expertise spans from computers and networking to mobile, wearables, and smart home devices.

As a fitness fanatic who loves running and cycling, I also have a keen interest in fitness-related technology, and I take every opportunity to cover this niche on my blog. My diverse interests allow me to bring a unique perspective to tech blogging, merging lifestyle, fitness, and the latest tech trends.

In my academic pursuits, I earned a BSc in Information Systems Design from UCLAN, before advancing my learning with a Master’s Degree in Computing. This advanced study also included Cisco CCNA accreditation, further demonstrating my commitment to understanding and staying ahead of the technology curve.

I’m proud to share that Vuelio has consistently ranked Mighty Gadget as one of the top technology blogs in the UK. With my dedication to technology and drive to share my insights, I aim to continue providing my readers with engaging and informative content.

Last update on 2024-04-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API