The built-in laptop cameras are the best. Indoor video is problematic because of small lenses and distorted colors.
One solution to these issues is using a high-quality webcam. If you spend a lot of time on video chats, vlogs, or other projects, you should choose this product.
Over the last several months, I’ve tried out various webcams. To save you time and effort throughout your search, I’ve compiled a list of my top picks.
Below are what to look for and which models to consider when purchasing a webcam.
1. NexiGo N60
Important Specifications
- Connectivity Technology: USB
- Screen Size: 19.6 Inches
- Photo Sensor Technology: CMOS
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What we like
- 110-degree viewing angle
- 360-degree rotation
- Noise-canceling built-in microphone
- Allow to tweak the color and contrast
- Excellent visuals and clarity
Thing to consider
- Worse audio quality
Product’s highlights
This 1080p webcam at 30 frames per second is better suited to conferences. Compared to competing webcams, it captures a wider portion of the scene by its 110-degree viewing angle.
You may also rotate the camera through a full 360 degrees. The user may then capture their surroundings with ease.
There is a single microphone included inside the camera as well. The microphones seem pretty effective at picking up your speech and eliminating background noise.
An excellent addition is a little LED that lights up once you switch the camera on. The camera is active (shown by the green light) and connected (represented by the red light).
NexiGo also has some simple software options to tweak the color and contrast. I used it daily to video conferences with my team using Zoom, and I never had any issues with the resolution.
The visuals and clarity are both excellent. On top of that, the recorded motion is very fluid. The camera performs well even in dim environments. It can instantly change its lens to catch the subject ambiently in low-light conditions.
Compared to the Logitech C922 Pro and the Logitech 4K Brio, the N60 has the worse image and audio quality. However, keep in mind that the later versions are quite a bit more costly than the N60.
The N60 might be worth a shot if you’re on a tight budget. It would help if you made all decisions.
2. Razer Kiyo Pro
Important Specifications
- Connectivity Technology: USB
- Screen Size: 2.7 Inches
- Photo Sensor Technology: CMOS
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What we like
- Excellent-quality videos
- 60 frames per second
- Suitable for gamers and streamers
- Balancing bright and dark sections
- Tweak the image’s resolution and the field of view
Thing to consider
- Standard picture seemed a little dim
Product’s highlights
The Razer Kiyo Pro is a high-quality webcam that also feels luxurious in hand. It’s simple to use and creates excellent-quality videos.
Kiyo Pro is suitable for gamers and streamers in mind. Full HD at 60 frames per second will be perfect for them.
In appearance, the Kiyo Pro is reminiscent of a fisheye lens for a modern digital camera. A thick black cylinder with a ridged section seems to be the focus or zoom mechanism.
Two microphone openings are at the front of the plastic case, with an LED light above. The accompanying USB A to C cable is five feet long. The camera’s rear has a USB-C connector.
Unfortunately, the Kiyo Pro isn’t currently compatible with Mac. On Windows, you may tweak the image’s resolution, the field of view, high dynamic range (HDR), and other settings.
The standard picture seemed a little dim to me. But it did a great job balancing my space’s bright and dark sections, with fidelity maintained in both.
The Kiyo Pro is an excellent choice if you can afford a high-end camera and are already familiar with, or planning to purchase, other PC accessories from Razer.
3. Logitech C920x HD Pro
Important Specifications
- Connectivity Technology: USB
- Screen Size: 2.7 Inches
- Photo Sensor Technology: CMOS
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What we like
- High quality
- Low price
- Simple design
- Bringing out the details
- Blurred background
Thing to consider
- Restricted access to the web camera’s internal settings
Product’s highlights
The Logitech C920x has quickly become the de facto standard in webcams thanks to its high quality, low price, and simple design.
Most of the time, you plug it in and go. However, if you use it on a console device like a PlayStation 5, you won’t have access to the web camera’s internal settings.
The pictures seem decent. It does an excellent job of bringing out the details of my silhouette, and the blurred backdrop effect successfully simulates a narrow depth of focus.
However, it can’t replace the short depth of field the right way. To compensate for the larger margin of error required to keep my hand focused when the AI has trouble identifying its edge below the knuckles, I have to concentrate on a smaller region of my hand.
While some may tweak the webcam’s settings, most users will be satisfied with the defaults.
4. Logitech C270 HD
Important Specifications
- Connectivity Technology: USB
- Screen Size: 3 Inches
- Camcorder type: Video Camera
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What we like
- Good image sharpness
- Affordable price
- Works well with Zoom meetings and video calls
Thing to consider
- Poor color reproduction
Product’s highlights
The Logitech C270 HD can transmit at 720p and record 30 frames per second. Despite this, it creates a somewhat distinct image.
The quality isn’t there compared to a 1080p webcam. You must temper your expectations to get the most out of your 720p camera.
Images captured by this camera aren’t as crisp and clear as those charged by a webcam with a higher resolution.
The Logitech C270 HD also fails to reflect your immediate surroundings’ full spectrum of colors accurately. On the contrary, even bright hues seem dull and subdued.
So, if you want to give off an expert air, shelling out the extra cash for a 1080p camera might be worth it.
Though the camera’s color reproduction was poor, the sharpness of its images was unexpectedly good for the price. Comparatively, the resolution of the camera on my laptop isn’t as good as this one.
Good enough for severe purposes, you may use the image in many ways. Neither manual nor automatic focus is available.
The colors seem incorrect when a usually colored item suddenly contacts intense light. To get accurate hues, lower the room’s lighting.
Anyway, I wanted a low-cost camera for use in online video conferences for business, and this one has been great. The camera also works excellent for regular Zoom meetings, video calls with loved ones, and facilitating your child’s distance education.
5. Poly Studio P15
Important Specifications
- Resolution: 4K
- Connectivity Technology: USB
- Photo Sensor Technology: Other
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What we like
- Fantastic sound quality
- Sensors reduce noise
- Large field of view
- Easy setup process
- Fast and straightforward focusing
Thing to consider
- Slow focus speed
Product’s highlights
The Poly Studio P15 has fantastic sound quality. The microphone and sound bar are both of high quality and have sensors that reduce distracting background noise during online conferences.
The video quality is superb. If I move around the room, the auto pan function stays still and continues to follow me.
Focusing is fast and straightforward, offering a large field of view and high resolution. Compared to other cameras I’ve tested, I could see that the bitrate was much more significant.
What I like about it, however, is that the camera includes a cover for those who value privacy even when they aren’t using it for a video call.
The Poly Studio P15 has an easy setup process. First, you plug in the external power supply, and then you link it to your computer using the USB-C cord that came with it.
All recent versions of Windows (8.0 and up) and Mac OS X (10.15 Catalina and up) can automatically recognize and install the camera’s drivers.
After connecting the P15, you may begin your video call by designating it as the camera and microphone in your teleconferencing software.
The Poly Lens app gives you extra options, such as turning off the tracking altogether or increasing its modest default pace. Poly Studio P15 has innovative features, including face tracking, pan, tilt, and zoom.
Nevertheless, the P15 may falter if you like to get up and move about during teleconferences. Taking it at a more leisurely pace can help the video playback more smoothly.
Generally speaking, I find this to be a really high-quality camera. You may modify the video to focus on you.
6. Logitech C922 Pro
Important Specifications
- Connectivity Technology: USB
- Screen Size: 7.28 Inches
- Photo Sensor Technology: BSI CMOS
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What we like
- Autofocus
- Auto-lighting
- High-quality footage
- Two omnidirectional microphones
Thing to consider
- Poor-compatibility software
Product’s highlights
The quality of Logitech’s offerings has always impressed me. With full 1080p/30fps streaming, autofocus, auto-lighting, and two omnidirectional microphones, the Logitech C922 delivers high-quality footage.
It comes with a tripod, which is unusual for Logitech cameras. Attaching this bracket to your webcam allows you to move it away from your monitor.
The five glass elements of the full HD lens provide crisp footage. Two omnidirectional microphones capture crystal-clear audio.
The C922’s autofocus and light adjusting features ensure I always look my best in recorded video. You may use digital zoom, as well as pan and tilt, to improve videos further.
In addition to being compatible with the Logitech Capture software, the C922 is also a Logitech webcam. You can use it to record videos and annotate them with customized text, size, and color.
The program also includes a recorder and controls for the audio. You can save money by going with a different brand, but Logitech has a track record of performing reliably and when needed.
Unfortunately, you will need to visit the Logitech website to get the necessary software for this camera. You’ll need to install the ChromaCam program to get rid of the backdrop.
However, it primarily functions poorly with other programs except for Skype.
7. Anker PowerConf C300
Important Specifications
- Connectivity Technology: USB
- Screen Size: 2 Inches
- Photo Sensor Technology: CMOS
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What we like
- Autofocus lens
- Privacy cover
- Excellent focusing
- Improved illumination
- Wider-than-usual field of vision
- Superior picture quality
Thing to consider
- High price
Product’s highlights
The Anker PowerConf C300 Webcam is a high-quality video conferencing device designed for corporate users. The Anker camera has shown to be reliable, making it an excellent choice for professional applications.
It produces excellent focusing and a sharp picture. The improvements it made to the illumination meant I could do away with my ring light, even in my dingy home office.
I no longer have to deliver presentations with lights flashing in their eyes. In addition, it has a cosmetic purpose since it evens out my skin tone to the point that I might pass for wearing makeup.
Anker’s solution is similar to Logitech, right down to the incorporated tripod threading on the bottom. Even better, you can rotate the camera 360 degrees.
The PowerConf C300 is a modern webcam with an autofocus lens and two microphones that can pick up sound from up to three meters away. The privacy cover, which slides over the lens, may conceal the lens itself.
The Logitech C930e camera pleased me with its wider-than-usual field of vision. Most corporate presentations only need 90 degrees of screen area.
The PowerConf C300 also has superior picture quality over the C930e and a larger display area. The focus of the PowerConf 300 is also quicker and more accurate than that of the C930e.
My face was automatically focused as I moved in and out of range of the camera.
Anker claims that the improved picture quality results from the webcam’s edge-based machine-learning technology and a more capable CMOS sensor.
This camera is among the finest because of its stunning visuals, fast frame rates, innovative auto-framing function, and ultra-wide 115-degree viewing angle. You’ll spend more money, but the quality exceeds that of standard HD cameras.
8. Logitech HD C310
Important Specifications
- Connectivity Technology: USB
- Screen Size: 2.4 Inches
- Camcorder type: Video Camera
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What we like
- Simple to set up
- Privacy shutter.
- Full HD 1080p resolution
- Compatible with many applications
Thing to consider
- Lag image
Product’s highlights
The Logitech C310 is simple to set up once you have it. I like that it checks online for updates before installing the application, a feature missing from the rivals.
Logitech suggests a few system requirements to make 720p video calls and recordings smoothly. The hardware consists of a 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU, 2GB of RAM, 200MB of free space, and a Windows 7 operating system.
Logitech’s Webcam software is a gateway for accessing the camera’s primary settings and a few nifty extras. You may use one of the built-in applications to make a video chat, take a quick snapshot, or browse your photo library.
With the Quick Capture feature, you and your pals may pose for pictures or record a short video in a “photo booth” setting, satisfying your inner narcissist.
It’s simple to switch between still images and moving video. You have complete command over advanced features like image quality, lens type (standard vs. wide), and exposure, gain, contrast, and saturation.
I ran my tests using a new Gateway laptop with a 2.13GHz Intel Core i3 processor. It’s possible that the reduced CPU clock speed is to blame for the visual latency I encountered.
The Logitech C920S Pro HD bridges the gap between cheap and premium cameras with its full HD 1080p resolution, autofocus, and privacy shutter.
9. Poly Studio P5
Important Specifications
- Connectivity Technology: USB
- Flash Memory Type: SDHC
- Photo Sensor Technology: Sonstiges
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What we like
- Convenient size
- Wide compatibility
- Shutter for privacy
- Automatic focus feature
- Offer both Full HD and HD resolutions
Thing to consider
- Image quality is not outstanding
Product’s highlights
Small enough to fit in the palm of my hand, the Poly Studio P5 is a convenient size for me. It has the form of a bullet and tapers towards the rear.
Microsoft Teams and Zoom, two popular video conferencing programs, have validated its compatibility. You may use the kit with any program that conforms to the UVC/UAC specifications, with no further configuration required. It has a high-speed USB 2.0 connection.
You may use a tripod with your webcam. You may conceal it behind a shutter for privacy when not in use.
Professional settings are ideal for using the Poly Studio P5. It’s perfect for use as a corporate webcam since it offers both Full HD and HD resolutions.
There’s no way to change the fixed 80-degree field of vision. However, you may apply a digital zoom of up to 4x to the picture.
Plus, it includes an automatic focus feature. Thanks to the chair’s ability to pivot as I moved, I was always in the right frame.
The focusing lens, however, gives more attention to the backdrop than it does to my face. When I record a video using OBS and manually change the focus in that program, I get a more precise image.
There seems to be some noise in the image’s dark areas, even when shot in a well-lit environment. The idea isn’t terrible, although it is a bit fuzzy from a standard desk’s viewing distance.
The camera’s full-screen image quality isn’t outstanding, but it’s respectable, especially considering the price.
10. Logitech StreamCam Plus
Important Specifications
- Connectivity Technology: USB
- Screen Size: 2.2 Inches
- Camcorder type: Video Camera
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What we like
- High-quality videos
- Excellent recording quality
- Faithful color reproduction
- Great low-cost option
Thing to consider
- Short tripod
Product’s highlights
With the Logitech StreamCam, I can host professional-grade video conferences and capture high-quality videos for use on social media. I have an external microphone that produces superior results, so I seldom use the built-in one.
The recording quality is excellent, and the face detection function has consistently performed well in my tests. It includes a built-in microphone if you need one, and I believe it’s a great low-cost option for live broadcasting.
The Logitech Streamcam’s most impressive quality is its faithful color reproduction. It’s the only camera I’ve used that captured my skin tone.
Black clothing that has faded a little bit will appear like a faded black shirt. The Streamcam won’t smooth everything out to a perfect black, so you’ll still see a lot of definitions.
For the best results, the Streamcam should not concentrate on an object that is more than six inches distant from the camera. Perhaps the issue is with the Streamcam’s sensor size.
Using software or a green screen to make your backdrop seem fuzzy or to change your background thoroughly is possible. Contrarily, it won’t be as good as a DSLR.
The integrated tripod somewhat compensates for the convenience element. It’s adjustable in both slant and rotation, allowing you to see it from any angle.
The tripod’s short height of 4.5 inches makes it impractical for usage on a desk.
It works well for online courses and meetings. The program to improve the video quality and save recordings is available for download.
I indeed paid more than I would have liked for what I received, but everything else about it was perfect.
Buying Guide: Things To Consider
The most important things to consider while shopping for a webcam are image quality, frame rate, and cost.
Resolution and frame rate
In my research, I preferred cameras that could record at least 1080p (1920 x 1080) video at 30 frames per second. These enhancements benefit locally recorded video, and content streamed from applications.
Field of View
The typical field of view (FOV) for current models is about 80 degrees.
The Anker PowerConf 300, with its 115-degree FOV, is an excellent choice if you require a camera for a group environment.
You may change the field of view on specific high-quality webcams.
Microphones
In most cases, a single microphone is sufficient for webcam use, which is the case with even the cheapest models.
In contrast, if you have to concentrate in a more chaotic setting, you should invest in a camera with many microphones and audio editing software that can separate your speech from the background noise.
Autofocus
I have examined only cameras that had a focusing feature. The webcams can concentrate on whatever is in front of them, whether you’re moving closer or farther away from the camera or holding anything up to the lens.
FAQs
Which webcam will make me look good?
For a high-quality webcam, I suggest the Logitech C920S HD Pro. Features like autofocus, light correction, full HD video, and the ability to frame oneself perfectly are just a few of the perks of a top-notch webcam that will help you look your best in any situation.
Is a 4K webcam better than 1080P?
The latest 4K webcams can transmit video at double the older 1080P (full HD) resolution. You’ll seem more polished and professional when viewers see every inch of your face and clothing.
How many megapixels is suitable for a webcam?
A webcam that has 15-megapixel captures is typical.
Are cheap webcams safe?
Most low-priced webcams are from dubious manufacturers and have either no security features or just the bare minimum.
Is a webcam better than a laptop camera?
Dedicated webcams are superior in every way compared to built-in laptop cameras. They are more durable, have higher resolution sensors, perform better in low-light conditions, and even have ideal microphones. Call quality, audio recording, and live streaming will all improve as a result.
Final Thoughts
My current pick for the webcams for most people is the NexiGo N60, which offers crisp 1080p video at 30 frames per second.
You may also rotate the camera through a full 360 degrees. The user may then capture their surroundings with ease. Thank you for reading!