Words: Aobh O'Brien-Moody
Now that remote work and video calls are par for the course, being equipped with the correct tech is essential. That includes a high quality webcam. Not only can an external webcam level up your day-to-day Zoom meetings, but it’ll improve your experience of chatting with friends and family across the world and make a huge difference to image quality if you’re into streaming or content creation. Taking into consideration factors like resolution, focus, microphone quality and design, we’ve compiled an edit of the best webcams to buy now.
Logitech Brio 505
First up: Logitech’s Brio 505, a 1080p plug-and-play webcam that’s designed to enhance video calls. It boasts speedy autofocus for clarity, accurate automatic white balance so users can look natural even in poor lighting conditions, and AI-based face image correction to ensure crisp image quality at all times. Dual noise-reducing microphones elevate voices and filter out background noise, and an integrated privacy shutter completely blocks the camera when you don’t want to be seen. Plus, it’s made from recycled plastic, so you can feel good about your purchase.
Anker PowerConf C300
If you’re looking for a wallet-friendly option that’s still a step-up from a built-in webcam, we’d recommend Anker’s PowerConf C300. Its autofocus and white balance don’t quite match those of the Brio 505, but its 2K resolution (you can bring it down to 1080p, 720p or 360p) produces extra sharpness and clarity. Overall, it’s an easy-to-use and inexpensive webcam that’s ideal for everyday use.
Razer Kiyo Pro Ultra
At the other end of the spectrum is the significantly pricier Razer Kiyo Pro Ultra, which is well worth the cost if you’re looking for a top-of-the-range streaming webcam. It’s certainly the heftiest of the bunch and boasts the biggest sensor of any webcam on the market (1/1.2 inches to be precise), which means you get a wider dynamic range, better low-light performance and a super-smooth background. Its 4K video quality provides next-level detail and brilliant colours for streaming without compromise.
Insta360 Link
If you spend a lot of time on video calls, the Insta360 Link is your guy, thanks to its winning combination of image quality, white balance, subject tracking and smooth background blur. Its clever AI-controlled functioning means that instead of buttons on the webcam itself, it relies on human gestures to switch between various modes. With 4K and 1080p resolutions, 60fps and 30fps options and ultra-clear sound quality make for a near-perfect webcam.
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