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How to pick
Two things actually matter. The first is light on your face, which no camera can fix on its own, so face a window if you can. The second is the microphone, because people forgive a grainy picture and hang up on bad audio. Do not buy 4K unless you have a real reason. Anything at 1080p is plenty for a video call and will look better in a dim room than a 4K camera will. One more thing before you replace anything: if your picture freezes, stutters or wavers, check whether the camera is plugged into a USB splitter. Webcams need more power than a splitter can usually give them. Plug it straight into the computer and the problem often goes away on its own.
What I recommend
Logitech C270 HD webcam
Basic, 720p, and it has been around forever because it just works. If you only need to show up on a family call or a doctor visit and the built in camera died, this does the job without any fuss. Do not expect it to look good in a dark room.
- Resolution
- 720p at 30fps
- Field of view
- 55 degrees
- Microphone
- Single, mono
- Connection
- USB-A
Small desk light or ring light
If you look dark and grainy on calls, this will do more than any camera upgrade. Put a soft light behind your screen pointing at your face and a cheap webcam suddenly looks fine. This is the tip people are most surprised by.
- Size
- 10 to 12 inch ring
- Brightness
- Adjustable
- Color
- Adjustable warm to cool
- Mount
- Clamp or weighted stand
Logitech C920x HD Pro
This is the one I put on most desks. Sharp 1080p, two microphones that pick up your voice properly, and it clips onto a monitor or sits on a desk without falling over. It has been the default recommendation for years for a reason. If you are not sure, get this one.
- Resolution
- 1080p at 30fps
- Field of view
- 78 degrees
- Microphone
- Dual, stereo
- Connection
- USB-A
UGREEN 2K webcam with privacy cover
Sharper than the usual 1080p cameras, and it has a cover built into the front that slides across the lens when you are not on a call. No sticker to lose and nothing to remember. If the camera being on when you do not want it to be has ever crossed your mind, this is the one to get. UGREEN make good gear at a sensible price.
- Resolution
- 2K, sharper than 1080p
- Privacy
- Cover slides across the lens
- Microphone
- Built in
- Connection
- USB
Logitech Brio 100 or Brio 300
Newer and much smaller than the C920, with a built in privacy shutter you twist closed. Good pick for a laptop or a tidy desk where a big camera looks out of place. The 300 comes in colors if that matters to you.
- Resolution
- 1080p at 30fps
- Field of view
- 58 degrees
- Privacy
- Built in shutter
- Connection
- USB-A on 100, USB-C on 300
AnkerWork C310 or B600 webcam
Anker makes very good conference cameras. Wider view so more than one person fits in frame, and better microphones than most webcams have any right to. Worth a look if you take calls with someone else in the room, or if the B600 light bar solves your bad lighting for you.
- Resolution
- 2K
- Field of view
- Wide, fits a group
- Microphone
- Dual, noise reducing
- Extra
- B600 adds a light bar
Logitech MX Brio 4K
The nice one. Noticeably better in poor light, which is the actual reason to spend this much, not the 4K. Only worth it if you are on video for work every day and the picture is part of how people see you. Otherwise the C920x is the smarter buy.
- Resolution
- 4K at 30fps, 1080p at 60
- Field of view
- 65, 78 or 90 degrees
- Microphone
- Dual, noise reducing
- Connection
- USB-C
Related reading
Camera working but the call still looks bad?
Nine times out of ten it is lighting or a setting nobody changed. I can take a look with you on a call.