Opal Tadpole could be just the webcam your older MacBook needs [Review]

Opal Tadpole acts as a replacement for the webcam in your laptop or tablet. Clip the well-built gadget to an older MacBook and you’ll look better on video calls.

I tested one with multiple computers to see how Tadpole stands up in real world use — and whether it might make a good gift this holiday season.

Opal Tadpole review

Apple computers last for years. Then more years. They just keep lasting. But while an aging processor can be plenty fast enough to stay useful, older webcams are often terrible.

That’s where the Opal Tadpole saves the day. It’s high-quality optics can seriously upgrade what your coworkers and family see and hear on video chats/conferences.

Highlights include an easy-to-use clip, a mirrorless Sony image sensor, and a mute button. Plus both Mac and Windows support.

Table of contents:

• Top-quality hardware
• Stealth mute button
• Mac webcam with super simple connectivity
• Opal Tadpole performance with MacBook
• Or with an iPad
• Directional microphone? No.
• Opal Tadpole final thoughts
• Pricing

Top-quality hardware

Clearly, Opal’s design goal was “small.” The main unit of the webcam measures just 1.4 inches by 1.5 inches, and the whole thing weighs a mere 1.6 ounces. If you want to carry it around, it’s ready for that.

As tiny as it is, there’s room for a built-in clamp — connecting the Tadpole to a MacBook or iPad is as simple as possible. Certainly, no external mount is necessary. The downside is the clip is too small to latch onto an iMac or external display. It won’t go on anything thicker than a quarter of an inch. At least it’s made of silicone so it won’t scratch your computer.

Its woven cable has an effective length of 18 inches. I say “effective” because a bead in the cord helps you keep it wrapped up when carrying the webcam around, but also prevents the cable from being completely straightened. Still, it’s plenty long enough to reach from the top of a MacBook to its USB-C port.

A rubberized lens cover protects the delicate camera if you make a habit of stuffing your Tadpole in a bag.

Black or tan color options give you some choice in the look of an accessory you’ll probably keep clipped to your computer.

Stealth mute button

Opal Tadpole includes a mute button, but don’t go hunting for it. It’s a touch-sensitive part of the USB-C connector — a clever design. Simply tap the connector to mute yourself. A red light glows to show the change has happened.

Mac webcam with super simple connectivity

Using the Tadpole with a MacBook is almost as simple as plugging it in. Yes, you have to do that, but there’s only one more step: tell your video conferencing app to switch from the built-in camera to the external one.

Using it with an iPad is literally as easy as plugging it in. With the webcam connected to the tablet’s USB-C port, simply open your video chat application. And you’re done — the iPad’s camera is disabled in favor of Opal’s.

Opal Tadpole performance with MacBook

Opal built in a 48MP camera, though the resolution is reduced to 1080P. But that one specification doesn’t tell the whole story. Not by a long shot.

I tested the Tadpole with a five-year-old MacBook Pro. It includes a 720P camera, and check the comparison images above to see the difference in quality. The full-size version gives an even better look.

The face on the left is a screenshot from FaceTime using the MacBook’s built-in camera. I deliberately chose poor lighting conditions because any decent webcam does fine under ideal lighting.

Now look at the face on the right taken just a moment later under the exact same difficult conditions. Notice how much brighter it is. And that it’s vastly sharper. It’s what you want when talking to your grandma or boss.

Much of the reason for video quality is the Sony IMX582 RS sensor with an f/1.8 six-element glass lens.

All that said, I did these tests with an older, Intel-era MacBook Pro and not a newer model because you won’t see nearly as much difference with a more recent Apple laptop. Those with a new MacBook may well be better off using the built-in webcam.

Or with an iPad

Opal Tadpole can be easily used with an iPad with a USB-C port. But you might not want to.

Apple understands that one of the major uses for tablets is video calls and puts significant effort into the webcams built into iPad. The result: the one in my 2022 iPad Pro provides noticeably better FaceTime video than the TapPole.

Directional microphone? No.

Opal’s design goal with Tadpole was a microphone that only picks up sound from immediately in front of it. “Our directional VisiMic microphone captures only what the camera can see,” says the accessory-maker.

That was not my experience from testing. The people I talked to said they could hear me just as well when I’m behind the camera as in front of it.

If you need to hold video conferences in a noisy area, you’d be better off wearing a pair of AirPods with Voice Isolation. Or switch to an iPad that can do the same trick. But maybe Apple’s tech has spoiled me. I’m so accustomed to Voice Isolation that I have a hard time accepting anything less.

Opal Tadpole final thoughts

Older MacBook users have an easy and relatively inexpensive way to upgrade their webcam: Tadpole. It’s a nice combination of quality, price and portability.

★★★★☆

But Tadpole can’t improve on the webcam built into a newer MacBook or iPad. And you can‘t easily connect it to an iMac.

Pricing

The Opal Tadpole costs $149. That’s a typical price tag for a mid-range webcam like this one.

Where to buy: Amazon

If you know someone with an older MacBook, this might make a great gift!

Opal provided Cult of Mac with a review unit for this article. See our reviews policy, and check out more in-depth reviews of Apple-related items.