Aug 21, 2023 8:00 AM

The Best Webcams for Looking Brighter and Better

You might see your coworkers in only two dimensions, but don’t let that stop you from looking your best.

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Zoom is an inevitable fixture of post-pandemic life. For all I know, you're Zooming right now as you read this. It's an unverifiable fact that any time not spent on Zoom these days is time spent on Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, WebX, or Skype (don't quote me on that). The Jetsons predicted it, but it doesn't make it any easier to start a panel of disembodied heads several times a week.

You may as well look your best by using the right webcam. Even though newer Windows laptops and MacBooks have built-in webcams with 1080p resolution, you'll make a better onscreen impression if you upgrade to a standalone model. We've been testing tons of webcams over the years in search of the best. Alternatively, there are easy ways to upgrade your video quality by using your smartphone or a professional camera (if you have one) as a webcam. Be sure to check out our Best Hubs and Docks guide if you need more ports to plug a webcam in.

Updated August 2023: We've added the Logitech Brio 300, Brio 500, Obsbot Tiny 2, and Creative Labs Live! Cam Sync 4K.

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Photograph: Razer
Best for Most People
Razer Kiyo X
The Kiyo X does away with the integrated ring light of the original Kiyo, but its automatic white balance and color saturation are so good, you likely won't miss it. The original Kiyo's forward-facing ring light—like all forward-facing lights—can throw harsh shadows on the person being filmed, especially without a diffuser.
Given the choice between an integrated ring light and the Kiyo X's software, I'd take the software. Video picture settings can be tweaked in the Razer Synapse app, but unlike the more expensive Kiyo Pro that requires Synapse-tweaking to look good, the Kiyo X looks great out of the box. The Kiyo X autofocuses quickly, and when it has to refocus, it tends to do so less noticeably. It shoots 1080p-resolution video at 30 frames per second or 720p resolution at 60 frames per second. Its field of vision is a slightly wide 82 degrees.
Includes built-in USB-A cable.
$50 at Amazon
$70 at Razer
Photograph: Logitech
Runner-Up
Logitech C920 Pro HD
The C920 has been the standard for high-quality USB webcams for years. Before I switched over to the Razer Kiyo, it was my default camera for videoconferencing. You get great image quality at 1080p resolution (and 30 frames per second), and white balance performance is on par with the Razer webcam. The narrower 78-degree field of view means you may need to adjust its position so your face doesn't take up the whole frame, but the autofocus is subtle and quick. There's a comparably priced version that comes with a physical shutter for privacy.
Includes built-in USB-A cable.
$63 at Amazon
$86 at Walmart

Photograph: Logitech
Best 4K Webcam
Logitech Brio 4K
The original Brio from 2017 was one of the earliest mainstream webcams to offer 4K resolution at 30 frames per second. Even as the rest of the market has introduced premium webcams to compete with it, the Brio maintains its position as my favorite 4K webcam. Logitech gave it a minor update in 2022 with updated software and a privacy shutter, but the old model is still a fine purchase that's a little cheaper. The white balance is still accurate, and my skin color always looks normal, whether I'm in a sunny room, in limited light, or using artificial light.
The autofocus is fast and subtle when refocusing, and the image is razor-sharp. Plus, you can choose from 65, 78, and a super-wide 90 degrees for your field of view, giving you lots of framing options. If you're using a Windows machine, you can set it up to work with Windows Hello for face authentication to log in. It's expensive, but this is the best quality you'll get short of using a DSLR or mirrorless camera.
Includes removable USB-C to USB-A cable.
$170 at Amazon
$200 at Best Buy
Photograph: Dell
Beautifully Built, but Pricey
Dell UltraSharp Webcam
The UltraSharp Webcam feels incredibly substantial and is solid enough to take with you anywhere. Everything from the webcam body to the stand to the included tripod adapter is made of brushed aluminum. The stand and tripod adapter connect to the webcam body with a magnetic post that makes for a secure mount. The privacy cap connects magnetically and stays put with a satisfyingly strong hold, but it isn't hard to remove. The inside of the cap is padded with a soft-touch fabric to keep it from scratching the lens. Even the forward-facing part of the stand is covered in soft-touch rubber to keep you from scratching the back of your laptop lid if you get a little reckless when setting up for a Zoom call.
You can adjust the viewing angle between 65, 78, and 90 degrees and record in 4K resolution at 24 or 30 frames per second, as well as in 720p or 1080p resolutions at 24, 30, or 60 frames per second. However, the picture quality of the Dell wasn't any better than the Logitech Brio 4K.
Includes removable USB-C to USB-A cable.
$174 at Amazon
$200 at Dell

Photograph: Insta360
Best Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ) Camera
Insta360 Link
It's super pricey, but this “AI-powered 4K webcam,” as its manufacturer shouts from the rooftops in its marketing, is an impressive beast. Mounted on a powered gimbal that rotates horizontally and vertically, the Insta360 Link (8/10, WIRED Recommends) will follow, refocus, and zoom in and out (up to 4X zoom) automatically as you move around the screen. It'll even zoom in on presentation boards or papers you want to show off on your call.
It offers outstanding sharpness, color contrast, and white balance in the choice of recording in 24, 25, and 30 frames per second in 4K resolution. Stepping down to 1080p adds the ability to shoot at 60 frames per second. There are dual noise-canceling microphones and a screw mount on the bottom for attaching it to a tripod too. About the only thing it lacks is a physical privacy shutter, but the camera points downward when it's not in use.
Includes removable USB-C cable as well as a USB-C to USB-A adapter.
$299 at Amazon
$300 at B&H Photo Video
Photograph: Logitech
Honorable Mentions
Also Decent
Obsbot Tiny 2 Webcam for $329: WIRED reviews editor Julian Chokkattu has been using Obsbot's first Tiny 4K PTZ webcam with great results for more than a year, and after switching to the new Tiny 2, he's just as satisfied. The 4K-capable picture quality looks great, and the camera does an excellent job of following his movements around. The company has also really polished its software over the year, offering up a lot of ways in which you can tweak the settings to your heart's content. It can respond to your hand gestures, but you can also buy a remote to control it, making it great for presentations and group video calls.
Razer Kiyo for $70: The original Kiyo still offers 1080p resolution at 30 frames per second (or 720p at 60 frames per second) and built-in lighting that's controlled by turning the illuminated ring to brighten, dim, or shut it off entirely. Picture quality is good, with nice colors, and the camera quickly adjusts white balance when the room's ambient lighting changes. It autofocuses well, but you'll see it noticeably adjust as you move around the frame. The field of view is slightly wider than that of typical webcams, coming in at around 82 degrees. After a month, the hinge on my Kiyo broke, which gave me pause. But my second one is going strong, and WIRED writer Parker Hall has had no issues with his Kiyo. Still, we strongly recommending going for our top pick, the Kiyo X, which is often cheaper.
Poly Studio P5 for $49: For a reasonable price, the Studio P5 offers 4X digital zoom and 1080p resolution at 30 frames per second and matches the crispy video quality, color balance, and low-light performance of other cameras on this list, along with a few neat tricks. Turning the front of the whole webcam physically closes a visible orange shutter over the lens and the status light changes from blue to red, so there's zero chance you'll be unaware of whether your webcam is capable of seeing you. Alongside a built-in microphone, you can free up a precious laptop port by inserting a USB-A wireless adapter into the rear of the casing and use it wirelessly. The Studio P5 pivots horizontally, but not vertically. If you want to change that angle, you have to reposition the mount itself. It's not impossible, just a wee bit unwieldy. Another downside is the speckled-white, egg-like plastic casing that reminds me of the plastic they make bathroom stalls out of.
Logitech C922x for $85: The C922X is a capable webcam with solid specifications. It can stream 1080p video at 30 frames per second or 720p at 60 frames per second, which makes the Razer Kiyo and Kiyo X its prime competition. But it's more expensive than either and has a slightly narrower 78-degree field of vision. It's a good webcam, but you can get a comparable Kiyo X for less money.
Logitech C615 for $55: The specs were great (for the original price)—1080p resolution at 30 frames per second with a 78-degree field of view—and the image quality is fine in anything but low light. You can also swivel the camera 360 degrees, which reviews editor Julian Chokkattu says he does when he's not using it, since there's no privacy shutter. On the downside, the microphone records in mono, not stereo, and the short cord could make it annoying to use with a desktop, though it works fine with a laptop. Try to buy it when it's under $40.
Logitech C930e for $62: This is the business-oriented alternative to Logitech's C920 with a 90-degree field of view that's better for capturing large groups of participants than the C920's 78-degree field of view. For a single user at home, 90 degrees can be an interesting and welcome option (I liked that optional setting on the Brio). Unlike the Brio, you're locked into using 90 degrees only, which might not work for everyone.

Photograph: Lume Cube
Lights, Camera, Mic, Action!
Videoconferencing Peripherals
Ever wonder why you look like a haggard extra from Goodfellas on Zoom? It's because your lighting is bad and the camera is positioned so that it's looking up your nose. Get the right camera angle and the right lighting, and find your voice with these accessories to improve your overall videoconferencing experience.
Blue Snowball Ice for $45: Audiophiles may prefer a much fancier (and much more expensive) microphone using an XLR connection, but for the vast majority of us who aren't recording professionally or interviewing people for a podcast, this USB-A microphone will provide a significant upgrade over a laptop's built-in mic for not much money, although you may need a hub adapter if your laptop has only USB-C ports. Check out our Best USB Microphones guide for more.
Lume Cube Mini LED Panel for $70: Webcams need lots of light to prevent grainy video. You can adjust the brightness and the color temperature to match your room's lighting. It works off of battery power or you can leave it plugged in via the USB-C cable to run for however long you want. The two quarter-inch threads mean you can use any tripod, small or large, to mount it on your desk. It also comes with a diffuser to soften the light when it illuminates your face, but a professional lighting trick is to point the light backward and bounce it off a white wall or piece of white card stock for buttery-soft lighting. If you want an even more powerful light with a longer-lasting battery, we also like Lume Cube's new Panel Pro 2.0.
Rain Design iLevel2 Adjustable Laptop Stand for $55: We've tried a lot of laptop stands, and although at first I brushed off the idea of needing adjustable height, I came back around to the iLevel2 after concluding that the majority of fixed-level stands were too low for me. Besides, sometimes on long calls I like to lean back, and it's nice to be able to change the height to match. The iLevel2 is built solidly, and I have little concern about its long-term durability.
Tarion Desktop Light Stand for $18: Reviews editor Julian Chokkattu uses this Tarion stand as part of his work-from-home setup. You can use it to mount your LED panel for more control over angling the light or mount your webcam so that it's not looking up at you from under your chin, if you'd prefer not to use a laptop stand.
Lume Cube Suction Cup Mount for $31: I recommend this as a way to attach an LED panel—with reservations. I've been using it with the Lume Cube Mini LED Panel for months, and while it's an easy, non-permanent way to place a light at face level, where it's best positioned, you have to keep the back of your laptop and the suction cup itself clean and dust-free. Otherwise, it'll tumble off and possibly dent your desk.
Photograph: Adorama
Don't Bother With These Webcams
Too Expensive for What You Get
Not every webcam is an upgrade over the built-in one on your laptop. These are the models I tested that ranged from merely unimpressive to ones that made me look like the subject of a second-grade art project.
Microsoft LifeCam Studio for $120: It says it's a 1080p webcam, but there's a catch—that's only for recording video. Using it for video calls restricts you to 720p. My coworkers commented on how out-of-focus I constantly was. The white balance was so off that I looked more orange than an Oompa Loompa. And the exposure was so blown out that I never stopped looking like I was living through the last scenes of The Lighthouse. There was also a lot of lag in my movements and bad motion blur.
Logitech Brio 500 for $100: I'm struggling to think of a reason why Logitech decided to make the Brio 500 mount via an adhesive patch on its bracket, which is not meant to be removed once placed onto a laptop or monitor. What if you want to use it on multiple computers, as many of us do, or if you swap the case on your laptop? The adjustment is wacky, too. The webcam is held onto the base via a magnet. Panning the cam downward often pulled it off the base instead of adjusting the angle, and swiveling it left or right caused it to loosen so much it wouldn't stay put. That meant I kept having to pull it off the magnetic stand, screw the mount back down, and reposition it—and then not adjust it during the rest of the Zoom. That said, the image quality of its 1080p resolution, white balance, and color contrast was quite good, if not excellent, and it came with a USB-C connection and a physical privacy shutter. The autofocus could stand to be a touch quicker. Other positives are that you can get it in black, white, or pink, which is two more colors than most webcams offer you.
Logitech Brio 300 for $60: The image quality is lacking on this one. Even in a fairly well-lit room, my picture was grainy. It also did weird things with the white balance as it autofocused. The field of view is quite narrow at 70 degrees and non-adjustable, so the image onscreen is up in your face. You'll want to scoot back quite a bit so everybody else isn't looking up your nose. Like the Brio 500, it comes in black, white, and pink, connects via USB-C, and has a physical privacy shutter. There are better options for this price without these image quality oddities.
Razer Kiyo Pro for $100: Although it looks similar to its cheaper, non-pro sibling, the Pro ditches the light ring and instead relies on software to compensate for low-light conditions. I resented having to download the Razer Synapse app to get a decent image out of the Kiyo Pro. Yes, fine-tuning settings is a very WIRED thing to do, but most people just want to plug their webcam in. Once you fiddle with the app settings, the picture image is sharp and beautiful. However, it has the same overly obvious autofocusing as the regular Kiyo, and it's also a little overpriced. It's not a bad pick, but again, the Logitech Brio can do 4K/30 fps, as opposed to this camera, which tops out at 1080p/60 fps.
Creative Labs Live! Sync 4K for $60: I was skeptical about a 4K resolution webcam for this price, and my skepticism was validated in the wildly-strange white balance that turned me and everything faintly orange. It may be the only webcam that made my room look darker than it actually was. The Creative Labs app is available only for Windows, leaving Mac users out in the cold. The privacy shutter is a rubber cap you put on and take off. The bit that holds it to the webcam when it's off is flimsy enough that if you're rough or careless, you could rip it off, but it's nice that it isn't plastic, which would weaken over time. A minor issue is that the black cap blends in with the black webcam and lens, so that at quick glance it could be hard to tell whether the cap is on or off. The USB-A plug is also a downside. These days, a new webcam really ought to have a USB-C connection so as not to mandate using a hub.
Cisco Desk Camera 1080p for $125: Not to be confused with Cisco's almost identically named Desk Camera 4K. I tried the 1080p, 8-megapixel version in a variety of natural and artificial lighting, but my fellow Gear Team members and I couldn't help but notice that no matter how I used it, the video looked overly pixelated. Unless a webcam can make me look as good pixelated as Axel from Streets of Rage, then I want smooth video that actually looks like it's 1080p. During Zooms, the Desk Camera 1080p had trouble with focusing and zooming, frequently and jarringly refocusing but never getting it quite right.
Logitech StreamCam for $101: The StreamCam did weird things with its white balance, constantly auto-adjusting from one extreme to the other. It was a very nouveau art house vibe having everything on the screen to go from blinding, brilliant blue to toasty, volcanic orange and back. And back, and back again. It swivels left and right, but the swivel is unstable, so the StreamCam wobbles around a lot, especially if it's mounted on a laptop. On one of our many Zoom meetings, a coworker asked if I was on the deck of a boat. The only great thing about it is that it uses a USB-C cable, while most other webcams use USB-A.
Anker PowerConf C300 for $100: It's not a bad webcam, but when I checked the price my eyes bugged out a little, Daffy Duck-style. The picture image on the Anker just didn't look as sharp. While its white balance and autofocusing were … fine, it just isn't worth the triple-digit price, not when the sharper Logitech C920 and Razer Kiyo exist.

Matt Jancer is a staff writer for WIRED who focuses on reviewing outdoor gear. Previously, he spent a decade as a freelance writer covering automobiles, motorcycles, and lifestyle stories for magazines. Some of his longest gigs were at Car and Driver, Outside, Esquire, Playboy, and Popular Mechanics.

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