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| HP clones the Apple Center Stage feature on its screens |
The upcoming HP Z24m G3 23.8-inch monitor includes a webcam that tracks your movements to keep an eye on you during video calls, like Apple's Center Stage feature in Studio Display and some iPads.
The Z24m G3's tilting 5MP webcam sits at the top of the screen, so it should focus on you, even if there are other people in the background of the shot.
An HP spokesperson said that you can adjust your webcam settings so that they track you faster. Although you cannot remove the webcam from the screen, you can press down to hide it.
The Z24m G3 also features dual noise-canceling microphones and dual speakers, eliminating the need for external headphones and microphones.
As for the screen itself, the Z24m G3 has an IPS panel with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels, a fairly fast 90Hz refresh rate, 5ms response time, 123ppi pixel density and brightness. 400 nits, plus HDR supported.
The monitor also supports HP Auto Lock & Awake. This feature uses the built-in proximity sensor (instead of a webcam) to detect if you are in front of the screen. If you enable the feature, the screen should turn off automatically upon exit and reboot automatically upon return.
The integrated HP webcam keeps you in the picture
It's unclear how HP webcam tracking differs from Apple's Center, which uses machine learning to help you (and everyone else) focus on the screen.
The 27-inch studio screen includes the A13 Bionic chip that came with the iPhone 11 to power the central stage feature of the 12MP webcam, among other things.
However, there are some issues with the webcam image quality. Apple sent out a software update to fix this issue, but it hasn't been completely resolved yet.
The Z24m G3 is expected to launch in July and there is no pricing information yet. HP also released the Z24q this month for $347, which is a screen with very similar specs. But it does not have video conferencing capabilities.
The Z24m G3 will likely be much less expensive than the $1,599 Studio Display. It can also exist as an affordable alternative.