The best webcam lets you deliver a crystal-clear image of yourself during video calls, streaming sessions, or online presentations. The best webcams out there are all about delivering a sharp, clear picture with minimal lag. And guess what? Some of these gems even take it up a notch by offering silky-smooth 60fps in 1080p, jaw-dropping 4K visuals, or the flexibility of multiple cameras.
Pair one of these top-notch webcams with one of the best microphones for streaming, and you’ll be all set to create content that not only looks fantastic but sounds incredible too. It doesn’t matter whether you’re looking for a webcam for your gaming PC or budget laptop, there’s a webcam to suit your needs.
TL;DR – These are the Best Webcams:
- Logitech C920S HD Pro Webcam
- Microsoft Modern Webcam
- Lenovo Essential FHD Webcam
- Elgato Facecam
- Razer Kiyo Pro Ultra 4K
- Razer Kiyo
- Obsbot Tiny 2 Webcam 4K
- Logitech StreamCam
- Dell UltraSharp HDR 4K
- Movo WebMic HD Pro
- AVerMedia PW313D DualCam
- insta360 Link
Whether you’re a content creator, a remote worker, or just someone who wants to look their best on video calls, we’ve got you covered. If you’re ready to upgrade your video quality, and make stronger connections, pay attention.
The Best Webcams
1. Logitech C920S HD Pro
Best Webcam
Pros:
- Auto light correction
- Privacy shutter
Cons:
- Non-adjustable FOV
Right now, just about any quality webcam you can get your hands on may feel worth it. The Logitech C920S HD Pro is a top contender for its balanced offering. With any luck, you’ll be able to get it for about $70.
The Logitech C920S will give you strong performance. It delivers Full HD video at 30fps, ensuring you have crisp video for your work calls or game streaming. It also supports stereo audio. The mounting stand included with the C920S will make it easy to set up on top of your monitor. And, its excellent autofocus will help keep you clear even if your setup isn’t consistent. All that said, with prices all over the place, you may find the C920S priced close to some of its higher-end competitors, so don’t forget to check out the other webcams below.
2. Microsoft Modern Webcam
Best Budget Webcam
Pros:
- Good color accuracy
- Affordable
Cons:
- No rotation or swivel
If you’re doing a bunch of video calls on a Microsoft Windows-powered PC, what better to rely on than a device directly from Microsoft to interface with your PC. The Microsoft Modern Webcam is a simple solution that comes at a modest price with specs to match. This webcam doesn’t go overboard, but does offer up a Full HD picture at 30fps, ensuring your friends, family, or coworkers get a clear look at you.
With auto exposure, auto white balance, and auto anti-flicker, you won’t have to spend a bunch of time fussing around with getting your image looking just right before hopping onto a call. The 78-degree field of view should also make it easy to frame yourself for a call without showing off too much of the room behind you. And, adding to your privacy, this camera features a privacy shutter you can slide in place when you’re done with your calls.
3. Lenovo Essential FHD Webcam
Best Ultra Cheap Webcam
Pros:
- Solid image quality
- Low price
Cons:
- Quite basic
Lenovo is offering an affordable option that doesn’t make a huge sacrifice in visual quality. The Lenovo Essential FHD Webcam is, as the name suggests, it captures Full HD that can ensure your video quality gets the premium treatment.
It may not be 4K, and Lenovo doesn’t mention anything about offering up 60fps, but you can forgive those omissions when you see the price tag. There’s even a privacy cover and it also features dual microphones.
4. Elgato Facecam
Best Webcam for Streaming
Pros:
- Incredible optics
- Smooth frame rates
Cons:
- Max 1080p
Elgato has been one of the premier brands in live-streaming with its lineup of premium capture cards and other peripherals that help keep your production streamlined. Now, with the Elgato Facecam, it’s taking its expertise another step further. It comes ready for high-quality streams with its 1080p resolution matched by 60fps recording for extra smooth video. You can even save settings for the camera onto its built in memory, so you’ll get to carry over your settings if you stream from multiple devices.
This webcam for streaming features a Sony STARVIS CMOS sensor and glass optics for a clear view and strong handling even in lower light conditions. And, the camera can send its video feed uncompressed to your system for lower latency and no compression artifacts. It doesn’t hurt that the Facecam also looks great, and it comes with a privacy cover and a stand for mounting it atop your monitor.
5. Razer Kiyo Pro Ultra 4K
Best 4K Webcam
Pros:
- Solid low-light performance
- Clear images
Cons:
- Expensive
If you’re serious about taking your streaming game to the next level, this powerhouse of a webcam is here to elevate your content creation and streaming experience. The Razer Kiyo Pro Ultra boasts DSLR-like 4K quality, thanks to its 1/1.2″ Sony STARVIS 2 Sensor. This means it captures more light and image data in every pixel, delivering exceptional detail and vibrant colors that are perfect for pro-grade content creation and streaming.
For video calls, the Razer Kiyo Pro Ultra is equipped with a custom F/1.7 Aperture Lens that lets in vast amounts of light, ensuring clear, crisp images even in dimly lit environments. Plus, its AI-powered video imaging capabilities keep you looking sharp and well-lit, automatically adjusting light levels to ensure your face is perfectly exposed. It also offers advanced camera customization with a comprehensive selection of customizable settings. Plus, with its on-board memory for the last saved configuration, you can tweak and fine-tune your shots to perfection and be ready to shoot anywhere, anytime.
6. Razer Kiyo
Best Streaming Webcam
Pros:
- Excellent image quality
- Ring light
Cons:
- Low-quality microphone
The Razer Kiyo gives you the best of two worlds. It features a 1080p sensor, so you can get that high-fidelity picture for typical video calls. But, it also supports a lowered resolution and faster frame rate, so you can capture a 720p video at 60fps. If you’re regularly streaming video games and want to have a small picture-in-picture feed of yourself, you can use the Kiyo to capture it at the lower resolution (which shouldn’t matter so much for a small boxout) while using the higher framerate to better sync with your gameplay footage.
That’s not the Razer Kiyo’s only trick tough. The built-in ring light is handy for making sure you’re well lit for your videos even if the room around you is dim. The bezel around the light itself actually allows you to make on-the-fly adjustments to the light’s brightness levels as well. With a 5600K color temperature, you’ll also get a tone that’s not too warm or cold. When you’re not using the cam or you’re on the go, the whole unit folds flat. If you want even more out of your webcam, be sure to check out the Razer Kiyo Pro
7. Obsbot Tiny 2 Webcam 4K
Best Webcam for Work
Pros:
- Good tracking
- Voice controls
Cons:
- Microphone is subpar
If you’re on the hunt for a webcam that offers exceptional tracking and autofocus, this one’s definitely worth checking out! It’s not just about tracking your head; the Obsbot Tiny 2 Webcam 4K can track specific zones like upper body, lower body, and even a “headless” mode (which is a bit eerie, but hey, it’s an option!). You can even customize your tracking zones to suit your needs. Plus, the phase-detection autofocus is smooth and natural, without the pulsing effect you often see in other webcams.
However, it’s worth noting that while the tracking and autofocus are top-notch, the microphone quality could be better. The dual omnidirectional mics pick up a lot of background noise, and the noise reduction can sometimes overprocess the sound, affecting the overall audio quality. But when it comes to video quality, the Obsbot Tiny 2 delivers crisp and clear visuals, though it’s a tad contrasty by default with slightly off skin tones.
8. Logitech StreamCam
Best High-End Webcam
Pros:
- Landscape and portrait
- Tilt and pan
Cons:
- No privacy shutter
The Logitech StreamCam is just lets you record both at 1080p and 60fps. The StreamCam also features a fancy built-in omnidirectional microphone complete with a small noise filter.
The StreamCam has auto-exposure and auto-focus features, and it comes with a completely streaming software suite. You also get a tripod mount along with the regular monitor mount, and you can even rotate the camera if you prefer to shoot smartphone-style video in a portrait orientation.
9. Dell UltraSharp HDR 4K
Best HDR Webcam
Pros:
- Decent sensor
- Good software
Cons:
- No built-in mic
The Dell UltraSharp HDR 4K is a high performing webcam which achieves a high resolution, perfect for those all-important video calls, meetings, and even streaming. The solid build quality is notable, giving it a sleek finish – yet it remains fairly slimline, so if you have a thinner monitor or even a laptop, it will work well.
While there’s no microphone, which does let it down slightly at this price point, you can expect great things from this webcam. It offers excellent picture quality, even in low-light situations, and its AI Auto Framing feature ensures you remain the center of attention at all times. You can save custom presets using the camera’s software, but this only works on Windows PCs.
10. Movo WebMic HD Pro
Best All-in-One Webcam
Pros:
- Great microphone
- Ring light included
Cons:
- Quite bulky
Most webcams will come with some basic microphones built in that might do in a pinch, but Movo’s WebMic HD Pro is built to offer a lot more. Not only are you getting a webcam out of this kit but you’re also getting a cardioid condenser microphone and even an LED ring light.
The Movo WebMic HD Pro comes on a convenient stand that will let you place it on your desk or go handheld with it. It can also mount on top of a computer monitor. The camera itself is a 1080p30fps model that can capture sharp, smooth video. The integrated LED ring light can help keep you looking good even if you don’t have ideal lighting in your room. Meanwhile, the condenser mic built into the same housing as the camera is a real star. It’s designed to capture sound coming from in front of it and not background sounds. There’s also a gain control knob to quickly adjust your levels on the fly. A mute button on the mic also makes it easy to cut your audio without having to hunt for a button in your Zoom calls.
11. AVerMedia PW313D DualCam
Best Multi-View Webcam
Pros:
- Dual camera setup
- Durable build
Cons:
- Camera quality differs between cameras
With most webcams, you are limited to only one camera, but the AVerMedia PW313D DualCam adds the convenience to having two at multiple angles. This is perfect for a variety of uses, including gaming when you want a face shot and controller shot, business when giving a presentation, or when making how-to videos.
Integrated into this device is a 2K 30fps doc cam on the left and a Full HD 1080p 30fps webcam on the right, which should be plenty for most of your streaming needs. It also offers decent fields of view with 76-degrees on the right camera and 71-degrees on the left. With AVerMedia’s software, you can even set it up for zooming in, built-in rotation, and focus adjustments to make for a slightly more dynamic video feed. There’s also a handy tripod included, so you don’t always need to attach the camera to your monitor. When you’re done recording, there is a privacy shutter you can slide over the lenses.
12. insta360 Link
Best Tracking Webcam
Pros:
- Incredible detail
- 360-degree swivel
Cons:
- Expensive
If you do a lot of moving around while on video calls, whether it be in a classroom, giving presentations, or even cooking a meal, you could benefit from a camera that tracks your movement. The insta360 Link does that and more. AI allows the camera to lock on you, auto frame you, and then follow you around, panning and tilting. So, you should be covered no matter where you roam in a space. And after 10 seconds of inactivity, the camera tilts down for extra privacy. To make presentations for school or work even easier, there are also whiteboard and desk view modes, while a vertical video feature is ideal for TikTokers. For added convenience, gesture controls allow you to have the camera perform certain functions with just your hands.
To get using the insta360 Link is pretty simple; you either attach the camera to your monitor or use the tripod mount and then plug it in using a USB-C port. It is plug-and-play in nature, but to unlock the full benefits, you’ll want to download the Insta360 Link Controller software. From there, whether you’re capturing video or video conferencing, you’ll come through bright and clear in either 4K at 30fps or 1080p at 60fps. Auto-exposure, auto-focus, and auto-white balance help to enhance the image further. You also get HDR capabilities and dual noise-canceling microphones, rounding out this superb webcam.
Where to Get the Best Webcams in the UK
How to Pick the Best Webcam
Choosing the best webcam for your needs is a fantastic way to make sure you look your best, sound great, and stand out from the crowd. When considering which webcam to buy, you’ll first need to look for one that offers high-quality video resolution. Whether it’s Full HD (1080p), 4K, or even higher, crisp and clear video will make a world of difference in your video calls, streaming, and content creation.
On that note, nobody likes a blurry video! A good webcam should have reliable autofocus and tracking capabilities to keep you in sharp focus, even if you move around. Some advanced webcams even offer face tracking and customizable zones to ensure you always look great.
Depending on your working environment, you may need to opt for a webcam with good low-light performance and features like HDR (High Dynamic Range) to help you look clear and vibrant, even in dimly lit environments. And, if you don’t already have a microphone, you may be surprised at how many webcams come with a built-in mic.
Some webcams come with extra features like gesture control, voice control, background replacement, and beauty filters. While these can be fun to use, make sure to prioritize the essentials first and consider these as nice-to-have bonuses.
Picking the best webcam is all about finding the perfect balance between video quality, performance, compatibility, and budget. Whether you’re a remote worker, a content creator, or someone who loves to stay connected with friends and family through video calls, a high-quality webcam can make a world of difference in your online experience.
FAQs
Should I Cover My Webcam?
Many webcams now come with built-in privacy shutters or covers. While your webcam shouldn’t pose a risk, there’s no harm in having a cover – it’s useful if you accidentally leave your video on and haven’t ended a call properly.
How Much Do Webcams Cost?
Webcams vary in cost depending on what you’re after. Higher quality cameras with more features tend to cost more, especially those that are designed for streaming. However, you can pick up some webcams from as little as $30, while some cost more than $300.
Is It Easy To Install a Webcam?
Most webcams are plug and play which means you can simply plug them in via USB, and they’ll be ready to go. Some come with bundled software or additional software you can download, but usually this is not required for a webcam to work.
Kevin Lee is IGN’s Hardware and Roundups Editor. Follow him on Twitter @baggingspam.
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