In the past year and a half, we’ve been spending a lot more time at home. In-person meetings and gatherings have often been replaced by virtual get-togethers, and it’s become more important than ever to have a good webcam. However, the PC market hasn’t necessarily followed. Be it the result of shrinking bezels or the simple belief that users don’t care about webcam quality, even some of the best laptops still have bad cameras. Sometimes they’re horribly placed, and sometimes they’re just not there at all. If you’re in need of a camera upgrade, we’ve rounded up some of the best webcams you can buy today.
As usual, we’re going to cover a few different categories to help you find something that fits your needs and your budget. Whether you’re looking to get a super cheap webcam or a very high-end one, we’ve got options for you.
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Best overall: Logitech C920S
Surprising as it may seem, this webcam from many years ago is still in the spotlight today. There’s good reason for it, too. It handles live video and recordings at 1080p and 30fps, and it features dual microphones for stereo audio capture. The 78-degree field of view isn’t super wide, but if you’re usually alone on camera, it should do just fine. It has autofocus and light correction to adapt to different situations, and there’s even a built-in privacy shutter, which is always nice to have.
You can also use Logitech’s Capture app to adjust camera settings on Windows or macOS, but the camera will also work with Chrome OS. Of course, this isn’t the pinnacle of image quality, but considering its official price tag of $69.99, it’s really good. It will certainly be better than any laptop webcam you’re using right now.
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The Logitech C920S is a fantastic webcam for its price range. Offering 1080p video support, autofocus and light correction, it’s great for almost any environment. It’s relatively affordable, too.
Also great: Microsoft Modern Webcam
If you want something a little more recent, Microsoft recently launched the Microsoft Modern Webcam, and this is also a great choice. It’s another 1080p camera, and it costs the same as the Logitech C920s, but it’s packing some modern features like HDR and True Look, which can help you look your best under different lighting conditions. It also has auto focus, so you should look clear at any distance from the camera.
The webcam includes a built-in privacy shutter so you can block unwanted attention, and the camera actually integrates with Microsoft Teams, so if you close the shutter, it turns your video off altogether instead of showing a black image. The opposite also happens if you uncover the camera during a Teams call, too. The camera also has a mounting system that can be used on a laptop, a desktop monitor, or a dedicated stand, you have options for how you want to set up, too.
In terms of compatibility, the Microsoft Modern Webcam will work on any Windows version from …….