Camera cam: The Best Webcams for 2023

Sep 19, 2023 alexxlab

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The Best Webcams for 2023

Video chat is big these days. More people than ever before are working from home and many of them are hopping on video conference calls. You want to look your best in a video meeting, and that goes beyond showering and actually getting dressed. What you really need is a decent webcam.

If you have a laptop, you most likely already have a webcam. It probably isn’t very good, though. Small lenses, skewed colors, awkward exposure, and grainy indoor video are just some of the problems you might experience with cheap, built-in webcams. A dedicated webcam can solve these problems and give you the flexibility to aim it wherever you want. It’s a worthwhile investment if you’re planning to spend a lot of time on calls, recording vlogs, or doing anything else with video.

Here are our top picks for webcams, followed by what you should know when shopping for them.

Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks

Dell Pro Webcam

Best Overall

4.0 Excellent

Why We Picked It

The Dell Pro Webcam offers strong performance for its reasonable price. Its 2K resolution makes it sharper than most others on this list and it’s not nearly as expensive as 4K models. The microphone works well, too, which is a distinct advantage over the mic-free Dell Ultrasharp Webcam.

Who It’s For

This is our default recommendation for anyone who wants sharper-than-1080p picture quality for under $100. The Dell Pro Webcam can’t stand up to 4K webcams in terms of detail capture, but it’s the best pick for most people.

PROS

Sharp 2K video
Clear audio

CONS

Noisier than it should be for the resolution
Sluggish auto framing

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Learn More

Dell Pro Webcam Review

Logitech StreamCam

Best for Vertical Video

4.0 Excellent

Why We Picked It

The Logitech Streamcam is a few years old, but it’s still competitive with more recent models. This 1080p, 60fps camera records in both horizontal and vertical orientations, so it’s just as useful for TikTok as for video calls. Otherwise, dual microphones capture reasonably clear audio and the Logitech Capture app provides useful software support.

Who It’s For

This is an ideal option if you are just starting out with recording or streaming content because it includes stereo microphones (and thus saves you some money). It’s a little pricey for a 1080p webcam, but the companion software and vertical recording features add significant value.

PROS

Crisp, smooth video.
Lots of recording options.
Includes screen and tripod mounts.

CONS

Expensive.
Logitech Capture software doesn’t stream.

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Logitech StreamCam Review

Razer Kiyo Pro Ultra

Best Picture Quality

4.0 Excellent

Why We Picked It

The Razer Kiyo Pro Ultra simply offers the best picture quality we’ve seen in a webcam, with superb 4K detail. Its 1/1.2-inch sensor enables excellent low-light performance too, preventing you from looking noisy in darker environments. Finally, its f/1.7 aperture means you get actual bokeh (something that most webcams don’t even try) for a naturally defocused background.

Who It’s For

If you’re a content creator who doesn’t want to deal with connecting a phone or a separate digital camera to your computer, consider this premium webcam a wise investment. Just keep in mind that the shallow focal plane isn’t ideal if you frequently want your background to be in focus at the same time that you are.

PROS

Fantastic video quality
Produces genuine bokeh
Strong low-light performance
4K30, 1440p30, and 1080p60 modes

CONS

Expensive
Narrow focus plane
Mediocre microphone
Synapse 3.0 software only works on Windows

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Learn More

Razer Kiyo Pro Ultra Review

Anker PowerConf C300

Best for Groups

4.0 Excellent

Why We Picked It

The Anker PowerConf C300 has the widest lens out of all the cameras on this list at 115 degrees. That makes it ideal for getting everyone in a small conference room in the frame at once. Its 1080p 60fps video could be a little sharper, but it handles awkward lighting well and picks up voices fairly clearly.

Who It’s For

The Anker PowerConf C300 works well for groups of people who all need to be on camera simultaneously, as well as for small businesses that don’t want to break the bank on a fancier videoconferencing solution.

PROS

Very wide angle is good for groups
Strong low-light performance
Solid microphone

CONS

Angle can be too wide for a single person

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Anker PowerConf C300 Review

Creative Live! Cam Sync 1080p V2

Best Ultra-Affordable Webcam

4.0 Excellent

Why We Picked It

The 1080p Live! Cam Sync V2 won’t impress anyone with its specs or performance, but it’s still an excellent choice that offers better quality than your laptop’s built-in webcam. Creative also sells a 4K Live! Cam Sync V3 for about $10 more, but we haven’t tested that model yet.

Who It’s For

If you want to save money on your webcam upgrade, this is your best bet. It’s not quite suitable for streaming or recording, but it works just fine for video calls.

PROS

Relatively inexpensive
Bright picture
Loud, clear sound
Built-in privacy filter

CONS

Noisy video
Audio isn’t particularly clean or crisp

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Creative Live! Cam Sync 1080p V2 Review

Poly Studio P5

Best Affordable Webcam

4.0 Excellent

Why We Picked It

The midrange Poly Studio P5 comes in above the price of the Creative Live! Cam Sync V2, but below that of the Dell Pro Webcam. Clean mic quality and a relatively sharp picture are highlights.

Who It’s For

The Poly Studio P5 is a strong value and a good choice for people who want a better-than-budget experience. Like the aforementioned Creative model, it’s better for standard video calls than content creation, but that might be all you need it for.

PROS

Crisp, clear audio
Strong low-light performance
Physical privacy cover
USB port for headset dongles

CONS

Picture is a bit soft
Monitor clip has limited adjustments

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Learn More

Poly Studio P5 Review

Buying Guide: The Best Webcams for 2023

What Webcam Frame Rate and Resolution Do You Need?

A webcam can only get as sharp as its sensor can resolve pixels. Full HD (1080p) resolution is a good starting point for a decent webcam, but if you really want to up your picture quality (or be able to crop your frame and keep it sharp), a 4K webcam is what we recommend. Quad HD 2K (2,560 by 1,440) is a rare but flexible middle ground between those two. Stay away from 720p models if you can; they offer the softest image quality and are likely no better than your laptop’s built-in webcam.

The frame rate affects how smooth your video looks. A 60fps webcam presents you in a much more realistic and natural way than a 30fps webcam, so be sure to pay close attention to that spec before buying.

What Kind of Lens Does Your Webcam Need?

The lens on a webcam is just as important as the sensor, and generally bigger is better. It determines how much light reaches the camera sensor, which affects how you look in less-than-ideal lighting scenarios. This is known as the aperture size, and most cameras express this value as f/(number). The lower the number, the wider the aperture and the more light that comes through. Webcams don’t often advertise their aperture sizes, but they generally range from f/2.0 to f/2.8.

Should You Choose a Webcam With a Wide or Narrow Field of View?

The lens also determines the camera’s field of view, which is important for framing. If you want to capture only your face and cut out your messy bedroom, get something with a narrow field of view (or a high enough resolution that you can crop the frame). If you want to record an entire conference room, make sure the webcam has a wide field of view. Typically, these ranges fall between 65 and 90 degrees, with 78 degrees serving as a common middle ground. In this case, the smaller the number, the smaller the field of view.

Does Your Webcam Need Autofocus?

Most inexpensive webcams are fixed-focus. That means the lenses don’t adjust to keep you in focus, or are simply set to capture you within a wide enough range that you show up clearly. This behavior is fine if you sit directly in front of the camera a few feet away, but it’s easy to wander out of the focal plane (particularly if you want to show something up close).

More expensive webcams often include an autofocus system, which means their lenses adjust to make sure you’re clear at any distance from the camera. This is preferable because you don’t have to worry about sitting in the same spot to remain in focus.

Some higher-resolution cameras have what’s called AI autofocus, which combines autofocus with digital zoom to center the frame around your face as you move around within the camera’s field of view. This is a handy feature, but it can’t replace properly framing the shot ahead of your conference.

The Best Webcam Lighting

Even the best webcams struggle in a dark room. If you want a clear, sharp picture, you need good lighting. Overhead lights and sunlight are helpful, but rarely consistent. Some webcams, like the Razer Kiyo, have a built-in ring light, but otherwise, an adjustable fill light, like the Logitech Litra Glow, works reliably.

Logitech Litra Glow (Credit: Logitech)

Are Webcam Microphones Good Enough?

You aren’t going to get amazing sound from your webcam’s mic array. Sometimes you can find a webcam with a mic that sounds pretty good, but the acoustics of your room and the simple distance between you and the webcam means there’s a limit to how clear your voice sounds.

Recommended by Our Editors

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The Best Headsets and Headphones for Your Home Office

With that in mind, some high-end webcams like the Dell UltraSharp Webcam forego microphones entirely. These webcams focus on video quality and assume that you have a dedicated USB mic or gaming headset with a boom mic—either of which will provide better sound than any webcam mic. We recommend using a USB mic or headset if you’re serious about recording, streaming, or any video calls that might be recorded for future use. Obviously, these would come at an extra expense.

Can You Use Your DSLR or Mirrorless Camera as a Webcam?

Canon EOS M6 Mark II (Credit: Jim Fisher)

Do you have a mirrorless or SLR camera? Good news! You can use it to (potentially) get far better picture quality than any consumer webcam. Our guide to setting up your digital camera as a webcam walks you through all the requisite steps for recording and streaming from your favorite camera.

How to Turn Your Smartphone Into a Webcam

Droidcam (Credit: Droidcam)

Alternatively, if your phone has a good camera, you can try using it as a webcam. Check out our guide on turning your phone into a webcam with free software.

Are Cheap, No-Name Webcams on Amazon Worth Buying?

Cheap, no-name webcams (Credit: Will Greenwald)

There’s no shortage of cheap, no-name webcams available on Amazon. We bought six of them ranging in price from $13 to $59. Here’s how they fared against pricier cameras from Dell and Razer. When it comes to webcams, do you get what you pay for?

CAM130 Content Camera 4K camera for collaboration with whiteboard and interactive panel

Camera
- 4K optical lens, 120° field of view, 5x magnification*
- Sony 4K sensor: ultra-clear image in any light
- Frame rate:
  Content shooting mode: 1080p/ 720p at 30, 15, 8fps
  Conference mode: (16:9) 4K 30 fps; 1920×1080, 1600×900, 1280×720,
  960×540, 848×480, 800×448; (4:3) 1280 x 960, 800 x 600, 640 x 480 at 60, 30, 15 fps
- AI-based Blackboard Detection: Keystone Correction to automatically find, crop, and enlarge whiteboard/IFP panel content to full screen
- Whiteboard Content Appearance Enhancement**: Clearer text, better highlighter color visibility and readability; The transparency of the speaker’s figure, if he is in front of the board.
- Interactive panel flicker reduction
- Intelligent Light***: 12-level illumination for capturing footage in all conditions
- Wide dynamic range
- (True WDR) up to 120dB: 3D noise reduction technology and superior backlight compensation provide optimal light in high contrast environments
- Mirror, Flip, Auto Exposure, White Balance: Auto/manual overwrite with PTZApp2
- Minimum focusing distance: 60 cm
- Standard screw holes for
*Use PTZApp 2 to set 5x zoom.
**AI-based whiteboard enhancement is only available in the Microsoft Teams app.
***For best light quality, sit within 1 meter of the camera.

Microphone*
- 2 unidirectional microphones
- Frequency response: 100–12K Hz
- Sensitivity: -37 dB
- Noise and echo cancellation support
*Microphone is disabled by default. Please use PTZApp 2 to set this function.

Connection options
- USB Type-B 3.1 connector, backward compatible with USB 2.0
- Connector for DC power adapter (connected via USB 2.0 when using the fill light function)

Video formats
- YUV, YUY2, MJPEG

USB
- 3.1 Gen 1 backward compatible with USB 2.0
- UVC 1.1 (USB Video), UAC 1.0 (USB Audio)

Control
- Infrared remote control
- UVC/UVA Plug and Play
- PTZ App 2

Security and fastening
- Integrated TV clip
- Kensington connector
- Mounting screw 1/4″ threaded

System requirements
- Teams Rooms app version on MTR system: 4. 10.11.0 or later
- Teams desktop client version 1.4.00.34266 or later
- Windows® 7/10/11
- MacOS X 14.4 or later
- Google Chrome box 3 version 94.0.4606.114 or later

Equipment requirements
- Processor Intel® Core™ i5-4460 3.2 GHz
- RAM 4 GB or more
- USB 3.1 port, backward compatible with USB 2.0 port

Power supply parameters
- 100~240VAC current, 50/60 Hz
- 5V/2A

Free collaboration apps (for Windows® and Mac®)
EZManager 2: Application for centralized management of cameras
- Remote bulk firmware/application update, camera control, parameter control
PTZApp 2: application for camera settings
- Line view, camera control, firmware update automatically or manually
- Setting and configuring camera image parameters
EZLive: broadcast software
- Multi-camera live streaming, annotation, image recording and video recording

Ambient conditions
- Operating temperature: 0 to 40℃
- Relative humidity: 20% – 80%
- Storage temperature: -20 to 60℃
- Storage Humidity: 20% – 80%

Dimensions
CAM130 Content Camera – Advanced Kit
- Package dimensions: 860 (L) x 166 (W) x 234 (H) mm
- Package weight: 4. 7 kg

Package contents
CAM130 Content Camera – Advanced Kit
- CAM130 Content Sharing Camera
- USB3.1 Type-C to Type-A Conversion Cable (1.8 m)
- QR code card
- Screw for tripod mounting
- USB 3.1 Fiber Optic Extension Cable, 10 meters*
- Chalkboard Mount
- Remote control
- Power adapter**
*This extender only supports USB 3.0 port on PC. Make sure your computer or MTR (Microsoft Team Rooms) system has
USB3.0 port. Otherwise, purchase a USB2.0 extension cable, such as
such as Aten UE2120. Please check our list of compatible devices before purchasing.
https://www.aver.com/Knowledge-Learns/conferencing-collaboration/compatibility-list
**Power adapter only required when connected to a USB 2.0 port on a PC and using the fill light at the same time.

Warranty
- Camera: 3 years*
- Accessories: 1 year
*In the European region, we offer an optional 2-year extended warranty. Please contact your local support for details.

Compatible applications
- Zoom, Microsoft® Teams, Skype, Skype for Business, Google Meet, RingCentral, BlueJeans ,
  Intel® Unite™, Fuze, Adobe® Connect™, CyberLink U Meeting®, Cisco WebEx® GoToMeeting™,
  LiveOn, Microsoft® Lync™, TrueConf, V-Cube, Vidyo, vMix, WebRTC, Wirecast, XSplit
**Specifications may vary by country and are subject to change without notice.

Material
- Upper material: plastic
- Base material: metal
- Pointer: aluminum

Installation tips
- Attach the mounting bracket 3 cm above the whiteboard/interactive panel
- Maximum supported board size: 2 m (L) x 1.2 m (H) when mounted above the board
- To shoot whiteboard content over 2 m (L), use the camera mount on the ceiling.
- Adjust camera angle to capture full frames of whiteboard/IFP panel content
- Full wall boards can use dark colored tape to frame top/bottom/left/right to define content area

Board size and pointer length

Board size (L)	Pointer length	Mounting method
< 1. 2 meters	80cm	Install 3cm above the board in the center
1.2~1.7 meters	100cm
1.8~2 meters	120cm
Any size	80~120cm	Mount on the ceiling with the camera facing the top center of the board. It is recommended to position the camera at least 1m away from the whiteboard to ensure a complete capture of the contents.

* Specifications may vary by country and are subject to change without notice.

Mi 360° Camera (1080p) | Xiaomi Official Website

Mi 360° Camera (1080p)360° Panoramic View, Full ProtectionHigh Definition 1080p | Panorama 360° | Infrared night vision | AI with human recognition

360° view for complete home protectionAdjustable 360° panorama for complete monitoring without blind spots. The dual motor head allows the camera to pan and shoot 360° horizontally and 108° vertically.

Clear and sharp video footage With Full HD 1920 x 1080p resolution, the camera delivers clear and smooth video footage. It also supports WDR technology, which allows the camera to work well in difficult lighting conditions and shoot clear videos.

Standard Security Camera
Mi 360° Camera
(1080p)

Enhanced night vision
Invisible 940nm infrared LEDs provide enhanced night vision for clearer images at night.

Smart voice control Just ask Mi Smart Clock to display the camera image*.

*Amazon, Alexa, and all related logos are trademarks of Amazon. com, Inc. or its subsidiaries.
*Google is a trademark of Google LLC.

AI with human recognition
Filters False Alarms EfficientlyCombining AI and deep learning technology, the optimized algorithm effectively filters false alarms to improve accuracy.

Real-time two-way calls Real-time two-way voice calls so you can be “at home” at any time. Supports real-time two-way voice communication that is virtually indistinguishable from a live conversation, so you can connect with loved ones wherever you are

More storage space and smoother viewingUsing next-generation video encoding (H.265) technology, the camera captures crisp, detailed images while doubling the storage space.

+100%

Record storage space available
-50%

Reduced throughput

3 storage methods for increased security

Local Micro SD Memory Card*Save time and effort with up to 32 GB and support for viewing at up to 16x speed for fast viewing of video stored on the SD card.
NAS Storage Micro SD card video backup
Cloud storage Free storage of motion detection video clips for 7 days*

*Micro SD card sold separately.
* Records about 10 seconds per video. The camera motion detection system can be activated every 3 to 30 minutes.

Video sharing for the whole family Supports simultaneous remote viewing on up to three different devices*, allowing the whole family to keep track of what’s happening.

Smartphones
Tablets

Fully encrypted to protect your privacy

Fully encrypted transmission for enhanced privacy
Secure cloud storage with 128-bit encryption AES
Activate sleep mode for extra privacy protection

Any Position MountingThe camera is pre-equipped with a rotating base and can be mounted on a table, window, ceiling or wall*.

Get started in 3 easy steps

Download the Mi Home app Turn on the Mi 360° Camera (1080p) Open the app and connect to your device

*Images are for demonstration purposes only; Image clarity may differ depending on the display of the viewing device.