If you’re looking for the best webcam, this article is for you. In this article, we break down the top 5 webcams on the market this year based on price versus performance and the situations they’ll be used in. So whether you’re looking for the best 4K webcam or the best overall webcam, we’ll have the perfect option for you.
First up is the Logitech C920X HD Pro webcam, our pick for the best webcam for most people. The Logitech HD Pro webcam C920X is a great all-around webcam that will let you project a stronger impression during business calls, school, or filming a video with more professional quality as an online broadcaster, all at a very reasonable price. The C920X features a full-HD glass lens and is flanked by two microphones to capture stereo sound. The camera is attached to a rubber-lined clip that fits snugly over laptop screens and external displays, and if you need an angle other than the typical top of the monitor shot, you can set up the C920X on a tripod using the built-in mount. Setup is plug and play, and once you insert the USB cable for the first time, the required Logitech camera app will be downloaded automatically. With the app, you can zoom and pan the camera, capture video and photos of up to 15 megapixels, toggle between multiple webcams, and adjust the camera settings. You’ll get full HD 1080p video calling over Skype and 720p on other popular video call services. And the Zeiss Optics and 20-Step Autofocus deliver consistently high resolution. You can also record 1080p video clips using H.264 compression technology built right into the camera. By having the camera do the heavy lifting rather than your CPU, it guarantees sharp, smooth video, even on older computers. Video quality is extremely crisp, with clear details and vibrant colors, and audio is also clear, full, and with minimal ambient noise. The wide 78-degree field of view easily accommodates up to two people in the frame, making it a great choice for small group meetings, and can be fine-tuned using the pan function in the app. If you’re looking for an external webcam that will give you high-end performance at an affordable price, the Logitech C920X is a fantastic choice. It’s easy to set up and use, and it’s a significant upgrade from your built-in webcam.
Next up is the Logitech StreamCam. The Logitech StreamCam was made for content creators who place a high demand on the very best quality video and want features like automatic exposure, framing, stabilization, and more so creators can focus on making great content. The StreamCam features a small square body with rounded corners, includes a convenient monitor mount, and connects to your computer with a 5-foot USB cable. While the StreamCam is one of Logitech’s higher-priced webcams, it provides superb video quality at 1080p 60fps with vibrant color that’s comparable to the Logitech Brio and the Razer Kiyo Pro that we’ll see later in the video. AI-enabled facial tracking delivers smart autofocus and exposure that keeps you in focus and adjusts to any changes in ambient lighting, so you’ll always look great. The cubic design of the StreamCam does make it immediately distinguishable among the competition, but the design is more than just a style choice. The StreamCam can be mounted either horizontally or vertically, and grooves are located across the sides of the camera to clip into a U-shaped casing, which allows you to rotate the device quickly if you’re in a situation that needs a swift alteration, from landscape orientation to 9×16 portrait format. Which is perfect for Facebook and Instagram stories, and whichever image mode you’re using, the built-in image stabilization keeps the camera from shaking if you accidentally bump it. For audio, a dual omnidirectional mic is in place and includes a noise reduction filter. The StreamCam works with Logitech Capture, which lets you add text overlays, colored borders, filters, and effects to your video or stream. Logitech Capture also lets you adjust aspect ratio, webcam settings, audio, and more. If you’re looking for a compact webcam that delivers high-quality video and audio, the Logitech StreamCam is a very good choice. Professional content creators, business users, and even gamers will appreciate the high resolution, smart autofocus features, and ease of use the Logitech StreamCam provides.
Next is the Razer Kayo Pro, our pick for the best webcam for the money. The Razer Kayo Pro is an excellent do-it-all webcam that impresses with clear audio and 1080p video at up to 60fps that looks great even in low-light conditions. Video game streaming on platforms like Twitch, Discord, and YouTube has become increasingly popular, and the Kayo Pros will deliver 1080p video at 60fps without sacrificing image sharpness. It also handles image exposure extremely well with its sensor-driven Starvis technology and a larger f2.0 aperture, allowing it to ensure consistent light coverage. This webcam has a plastic clip system, which allows you to choose how you want to mount it. Prop it up on your desk, place it on top of a computer monitor, or attach it to a standard camera tripod. And when you’re not using it, a privacy cover is also included for added security. Another great feature Razer included is its adjustable field of view, allowing you to change between three presets that range from 90 to 103 degrees and allow for a lot of flexibility. You adjust settings like the field of view through the Razer Synapse software, which is very intuitive and easy to use. In addition to the field of view, you can adjust basic functions like brightness, contrast, saturation, and white balance, or more advanced settings that include sharpness, gain, aperture, tilt, and more. The Kayo Pro’s microphone is also an important improvement over most built-in laptop microphones. It’s definitely good enough to use both on stream and during Discord calls, though it does tend to pick up some ambient noise like mouse and keyboard clicks. If you want the most for your money, the Razer Kayo Pro webcam is the perfect choice. This webcam is made for gaming streamers who want to elevate their video quality with 1080p video at frame rates up to 60 fps.
Next is the Elgato Facecam, our pick for the best overall webcam. The Elgato Facecam is one of the best overall webcams you can get, offers the features that streamers actually want, and makes for a cheaper investment than buying a DSLR and Cam Link. Resolution and frame rate are the most important distinctions when assessing a webcam, and while most on the market max out at 1080p at 30fps, the Facecam has bumped the frame rate up to 60fps, just like the Logitech Streamcam and the Razer Cayo Pro. Higher frame rates give footage that buttery smooth playback, which is often prioritized over the resolution by streamers because the actual camera window being broadcast is much smaller than other types of media. This isn’t to say that 4K video doesn’t have its place, but for gamers and commentators, especially, that bump up to 60 fps really helps to enhance the quality of a stream. Aside from resolution and frame rate, the sensor holds high importance as well, and the face cam uses a Sony Starvis CMOS sensor that provides excellent quality and performs well in low light. The Camera Hub software offers some of the best editing options you’ll find. It’s simple to use and lets you edit settings like contrast, saturation, shutter speed, FOV, and more. Once you’ve made your edits, you can save your settings as a separate profile, so you won’t have to go through the entire process again. A couple of intentional omissions on this webcam include the lack of autofocus, as most streamers usually opt for fixed focus to avoid the sensitivity of autofocus that can make footage look messy and unprofessional. Also lacking is any type of built-in mic, as Elgato expects creators and professionals to use a dedicated mic for better results. If you’re looking for the best overall webcam on the market, the Elgato Facecam is an excellent choice. It’s specifically designed for online use and places an emphasis on features and video quality that streamers want. Last but not least, the Logitech Brio is our pick for the best 4K webcam.. Most video conferencing services don’t support the 4K resolution that Logitech Brio provides, but that higher resolution is there for the future when faster, higher-capacity internet connections will make 4K streaming the standard.
In the meantime, the Brio will happily work with 1080p and lower resolutions until that day comes. The Brio packs all of its power in a slim aluminum casing that’s just 4 inches wide and an inch high and deep. The design is just as simple. The lens sits dead center, flanked on either end by dual mics, and the entire unit is mounted to a rubber-coated flexible stand that can clip onto the bezel of any laptop or flat-screen monitor. The Brio is one of Logitech’s most expensive webcams, but it is definitely worth the cost. It works with Windows Hello facial recognition technology, so you can sign on by looking into the Brio’s lens, and it has all of the bells and whistles you’d want in a webcam. The video and audio quality are exceptionally clear, and in addition, there’s autofocus, high dynamic range, auto white balance, and three fields of view that you could select, which include 65, 78, and 90 degrees. Logitech Capture, the company’s software, makes it easy to access and adjust the Brio settings. With it, you can also add text, choose font styles and colors, and even add a background color. There’s also a digital zoom function, and it can pan and tilt as well. For audio capture, there are two built-in omnidirectional microphones that use noise-canceling technology to reduce background noise while ensuring that voices are always clear. If you’re looking for a future-proofed webcam that delivers high-quality video and audio, the Logitech Brio ticks all the boxes and is an excellent choice. This webcam is for anyone who wants the best of the best and all the features that go along with it.
