Whether you have a crammed schedule full of video calls or you're starting your first game streaming channel on Twitch or YouTube, a quality webcam is just about as important as having a quality microphone. Presenting a clear picture of yourself is vital to make a strong connection with people on video calls or with an audience while streaming games. The webcams on most gaming laptops generally are the bare minimum of what you can use to get the job done.
A dedicated webcam can offer a clear picture with minimal latency, and some even go above and beyond by delivering 60fps or 4K video. We've picked out the best webcams to step up your streaming and video calls, especially if you pair them with a quality microphone for streaming. (Note: Web cameras are in extreme demand so we’ve highlighted multiple retailers but they might temporarily be out of stock.) – and click here to see them in the UK.
TL;DR – These are the Best Webcams:
- AVerMedia Live Streamer 4K CAM PW513
- Razer Kiyo
- Anker PowerConf C300
- Logitech StreamCam
- Dell UltraSharp Webcam
- Movo WebMic HD Pro
1. Logitech C920S HD Pro
Best Webcam
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 $80, as that's how much it should cost. That said, the webcams that are available right now tend to have their prices inflated a bit by the serious demand.
Even if you do have to pay a bit above retail value, 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
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
Despite there being such a high demand for webcams this year, 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 Streaming Webcam
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.
The camera 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. AVerMedia PW315
Best 1080p Webcam
AVerMedia already has some of the best gear you can get for streaming thanks to its capture cards, and the AVerMedia PW315 is an excellent complement to those devices. Recording in 1080p at 60fps may be overkill for your average business meeting or weekly hangout with friends, but if you're trying to make game streams or how-to videos, having the 60fps footage can really bolster the quality of your content.
The AVerMedia PW315 delivers that 1080p/60fps capability at a fairly reasonable price of $120, especially considering how much competition there has been for webcams in the past year. With a 95-degree field of view, it shouldn't lose track of you if you move around a bit, and with AVerMedia's software, you can even set it up to zoom in and actually keep track of you for a slightly more dynamic video feed. When you're done recording, it also has a handy privacy shutter you can slide over the lens.
6. AVerMedia Live Streamer 4K CAM PW513
Best 4K Webcam
Capturing yourself in Full HD might do the job when you're just trying to pop into the occasional Zoom call or put a tiny picture-in-picture video of yourself into a game stream (after all, it would take some seriously capable internet to stream 4K video on an uplink connection). But, if you're recording your videos and need pristine video, then the AVerMedia Live Streamer 4K Cam PW513 is what you'll want.
It captures 4K video at 30fps or can dial up to 60fps for 1080p recording. The camera will capture a 94-degree field of view, and it has a swiveling base to let you aim it where you need. Just note that this level of performance requires a bit more from your PC, so ensure you've got a USB 3.0 port available and a computer that meets the minimum specs.
7. Razer Kiyo
Best Streaming Webcam
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.
8. Anker PowerConf C300
Best Webcam for Work
When you're working, you want to be sure you come through clear, and your camera will play a part in that. A cheap, 720p option might do the job if you're just one member in a gallery of other people on video, but if you're front and center, blown up on people's screens presenting, you'll want something more. The Anker PowerConf C300 is the camera you should be looking for.
The Anker PowerConf C300 offers a bright, 1080p picture, and it can even provide smoother video with support for a 60fps mode while still supporting that 1080p resolution. The camera offers an adjustable field of view, so you can crop in on just your head and shoulders or go wide to fit more into your presentation. With AI framing and autofocus, you can keep yourself in the shot and in focus even if you have to move around a bit.
9. Logitech StreamCam
Best High-End Webcam
The Logitech StreamCam is just about the only thing on the market that 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 SteamCam 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.
10. Dell UltraSharp Webcam
Best HDR Webcam
Get premium video quality with the Dell UltraSharp Webcam (read our review). This 4K shooter will let you capture extra sharp, HDR footage for your recordings or to come through clearly to your coworkers and friends in software that supports such a high resolution. It’s not just the resolution and HDR that make this camera a top contender, though. It has strong color accuracy as well, and it can perform particularly well in low-light conditions thanks to its Sony STARVIS CMOS sensor. Given how quickly many webcams became a grainy mess when lighting conditions aren’t perfect, that last point is no small consideration.
It also allows you to adjust the field of view so you can fit more into the feed or crop in closer on yourself. You can even have it automatically handle the framing. Meanwhile, its autofocus will help keep your picture clear. And, if you like convenience, you’ll enjoy the support for Windows Hello facial recognition.
11. Movo WebMic HD Pro
Best All-in-One Webcam
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.
Where to Get the Best Webcams in the UK
Kevin Lee is IGN's Hardware and Roundups Editor. Follow him on Twitter @baggingspam
Mark Knapp is a regular contributor to IGN and an irregular Tweeter on Twitter @Techn0Mark
