The year 2020 proved that a webcam for PC is a must-have device, especially if you work remotely. If 99% of laptops have a built-in webcam, traditional PCs usually lack this device. If you are stuck at home and need a webcam for a PC or a webcam for a laptop, in this guide we gathered a list of the best webcams for PC and a few things you need to know when buying one.
- Best Webcam Laptop 2017 I7
- Best Webcam Laptop 2017 Reviews
- Best Webcam Laptop 2020
- Best Webcam Laptop 2017 Review
- Best Webcam Laptop 2017 Price
How to Choose a Webcam for a PC?
When shopping for the best webcam, you need to consider a few important things and specs. Here's a comprehensive list of them:
ManyCam isn't just a webcam application, it is the best webcam software for Mac.
Webcam Resolution
Logitech HD Webcam C270: The best budget webcam. Price: £26-£39 Buy now from Logitech Buy. Laptop users almost certainly don't need a webcam, as almost all of the best laptops come with one built-in. With that said, built-in webcams can be a bit cheap and cheerful, so you might want to upgrade if you need higher video quality for streaming or work meetings. Shop for laptops with webcam at Best Buy. Find low everyday prices and buy online for delivery or in-store pick-up.
Sensor resolution affects the quality of an image your PC sends. The higher the resolution, the clearer and better the resulting image.
There are different webcam resolutions for all sorts of budgets and purposes. On top of the 'food chain' sit cameras with 4K resolution. For example, Logitech Brio. You will get the highest quality possible, plus some additional features, like Windows Hello-compatibility that allows you to unlock your PC with your face. Just like FaceID on your iPhone.
There are some downsides to this beast. Not only it is expensive, but you also need a solid Internet connection to output 4K image and a beefier CPU.
The most popular resolution in webcams for a PC is 1920×1080. For 90% of users, this resolution will be more than enough. Clear image with enough sharpness and details. You can't go wrong with a FullHD webcam for a PC.
The next widely used HD resolution is 1280×720. Usually, these webcams are marked with something like '720p.' on the box or on the device itself. 720p webcams have an average quality of the image, but can be enough for most, especially when a budget is tight. Often proper lightning creates a better 720p image than 1080p with a poorly lit scene. Best 3d model creator.
Tip: we do not recommend buying a webcam for a PC with a resolution lower than HD. These webcams produce an extremely poor image with very little details.
For an average consumer or a person that now has to work from home, a FullHD webcam will be the best pick. We recommend buying 4K-capable webcams only if you need the clearest image possible, or need additional features, like Windows Hello. If you need the best budget webcam for a PC, go for a 720p webcam. And no matter which camera you buy, make sure you have a well-lit scene.
Internet Connection Quality
If you are going to stream high-resolution videos, make sure your PC can operate it and the Internet connection is good. For example, to transfer a video with a resolution of 640×480 and a frame rate of up to 24 FPS, you need a stable 1 Mbps connection or better. For a resolution of 1280×720 pixels, a 5 Mbps connection is recommended.
Frame Rate of the Webcam
The frame rate affects the smoothness of the picture: the higher it is, the smoother the image will be. There are some budget models with a frequency up to 24 FPS; however, the resulting image will look more like a GIF, not a video. The lightning condition directly affects the frame rate. If a scene is poorly lit, a webcam will lower the frame rate to increase the shutter time.
Minecraft software free. Do note that the frame rate is often tied to the image resolution. For example, a 4K-camera may be able to output only 30 FPS, but if you lower the resolution to 1080p, the frame rate will increase to 60 FPS.
Additional Webcams Features
Autofocus or lack of it. Cheap webcams for a PC have fixed focus. More expensive webcams are equipped with autofocus. It helps to keep your image sharped and focused on the main subject. It also gives you more freedom when it comes to the distance between you and a webcam.
Aperture. The lower the aperture, the better image you get in a low-light condition. Linux bootable cd download.
Microphone. The best webcam for a PC should have a good microphone. After all, you want your listener not only to see you but also to hear from you. Make sure you buy a webcam that has a stereo microphone for better audio quality. Also, some cameras have additional mics for noise reduction. Will come in handy if you have a noisy pet, children, or other people roaming around your house.
Mounting and Installation. Shop for webcams that have monitor mounts. These will help you to properly mount a webcam on top of your screen, so a person you are talking to sees you well. Make sure your webcam is not pointed at your nose or anywhere else.
Connection type. 99% of currently available webcams connect via USB-C. This may be a problem if you have a computer with a USB-C connection only. In this case, go for a webcam that offers a USB-C connection (like Logitech Brio) or shop for a USB-C to USB-A dongle.
Using a Smartphone or DSLR as a Webcam
We are pretty sure that you own a modern smartphone. The good news is that it can work as a webcam for your PC or Mac, thus you do not need to invest in an expensive nowadays webcams. https://quikrevizion409.weebly.com/play-sugar-smash-online.html. You can use dedicated software, like DroidCam on Android or iOS (in case you own Windows PC) or EpocCam for Mac.
Also, DSLR manufacturers offer tools that convert digital cameras into monstrous webcams. None of your teammates will have a better image quality than you with your DSLR.
The Best Webcams for PC or Laptop in 2020
All the webcams below are compatible with both Windows 10 and macOS. Just be aware that you need a USB-C to USB-A dongle if you own a modern MacBook without USB-A port.
Logitech Brio is number one when it comes to premium consumer-focused webcams. It offers superior image quality at high resolution. On top of that, it has IR-sensor that allows using Brio as an authentication device for Windows Hello. Download hr video.
Logitech Brio connects to your computer via USB-A or USB-C cable, thus you get the best compatibility with both Windows PC and MacBooks.
Logitech C922X Pro. Probably, one of the best mid-range webcam you can purchase on the market today. This webcam streams video in 1080p at 30 FPS or 720p at 60 FPS. You also get dual microphones and autofocus with lightning conditions corrections. We recommend Logitech C922X Pro as the best webcam for any PC or Mac. You can't go wrong with this model.
There is also an older but still capable Logitech C920X Pro. The main difference is that C920X has a plastic lens and not-so-powerful lightning correction software. On the upside, it comes with a cover for additional privacy.
A similar option includes Logitech StreamCam. It captures 1080p 60 FPS video and offers subjectively better design with additional ergonomic features, like the ability to change orientation from portrait to landscape or vice versa. Skip this webcam if your PC has no USB-C ports.
Logitech C270 is the best budget webcam for a PC. You get a 720p webcam at 30 FPS with a single microphone and a monitor mount. This webcam has no bells and whistles – just a simple webcam for those on a tight budget.
Best Webcam Laptop 2017 I7
There are some downsides to this beast. Not only it is expensive, but you also need a solid Internet connection to output 4K image and a beefier CPU.
The most popular resolution in webcams for a PC is 1920×1080. For 90% of users, this resolution will be more than enough. Clear image with enough sharpness and details. You can't go wrong with a FullHD webcam for a PC.
The next widely used HD resolution is 1280×720. Usually, these webcams are marked with something like '720p.' on the box or on the device itself. 720p webcams have an average quality of the image, but can be enough for most, especially when a budget is tight. Often proper lightning creates a better 720p image than 1080p with a poorly lit scene. Best 3d model creator.
Tip: we do not recommend buying a webcam for a PC with a resolution lower than HD. These webcams produce an extremely poor image with very little details.
For an average consumer or a person that now has to work from home, a FullHD webcam will be the best pick. We recommend buying 4K-capable webcams only if you need the clearest image possible, or need additional features, like Windows Hello. If you need the best budget webcam for a PC, go for a 720p webcam. And no matter which camera you buy, make sure you have a well-lit scene.
Internet Connection Quality
If you are going to stream high-resolution videos, make sure your PC can operate it and the Internet connection is good. For example, to transfer a video with a resolution of 640×480 and a frame rate of up to 24 FPS, you need a stable 1 Mbps connection or better. For a resolution of 1280×720 pixels, a 5 Mbps connection is recommended.
Frame Rate of the Webcam
The frame rate affects the smoothness of the picture: the higher it is, the smoother the image will be. There are some budget models with a frequency up to 24 FPS; however, the resulting image will look more like a GIF, not a video. The lightning condition directly affects the frame rate. If a scene is poorly lit, a webcam will lower the frame rate to increase the shutter time.
Minecraft software free. Do note that the frame rate is often tied to the image resolution. For example, a 4K-camera may be able to output only 30 FPS, but if you lower the resolution to 1080p, the frame rate will increase to 60 FPS.
Additional Webcams Features
Autofocus or lack of it. Cheap webcams for a PC have fixed focus. More expensive webcams are equipped with autofocus. It helps to keep your image sharped and focused on the main subject. It also gives you more freedom when it comes to the distance between you and a webcam.
Aperture. The lower the aperture, the better image you get in a low-light condition. Linux bootable cd download.
Microphone. The best webcam for a PC should have a good microphone. After all, you want your listener not only to see you but also to hear from you. Make sure you buy a webcam that has a stereo microphone for better audio quality. Also, some cameras have additional mics for noise reduction. Will come in handy if you have a noisy pet, children, or other people roaming around your house.
Mounting and Installation. Shop for webcams that have monitor mounts. These will help you to properly mount a webcam on top of your screen, so a person you are talking to sees you well. Make sure your webcam is not pointed at your nose or anywhere else.
Connection type. 99% of currently available webcams connect via USB-C. This may be a problem if you have a computer with a USB-C connection only. In this case, go for a webcam that offers a USB-C connection (like Logitech Brio) or shop for a USB-C to USB-A dongle.
Using a Smartphone or DSLR as a Webcam
We are pretty sure that you own a modern smartphone. The good news is that it can work as a webcam for your PC or Mac, thus you do not need to invest in an expensive nowadays webcams. https://quikrevizion409.weebly.com/play-sugar-smash-online.html. You can use dedicated software, like DroidCam on Android or iOS (in case you own Windows PC) or EpocCam for Mac.
Also, DSLR manufacturers offer tools that convert digital cameras into monstrous webcams. None of your teammates will have a better image quality than you with your DSLR.
The Best Webcams for PC or Laptop in 2020
All the webcams below are compatible with both Windows 10 and macOS. Just be aware that you need a USB-C to USB-A dongle if you own a modern MacBook without USB-A port.
Logitech Brio is number one when it comes to premium consumer-focused webcams. It offers superior image quality at high resolution. On top of that, it has IR-sensor that allows using Brio as an authentication device for Windows Hello. Download hr video.
Logitech Brio connects to your computer via USB-A or USB-C cable, thus you get the best compatibility with both Windows PC and MacBooks.
Logitech C922X Pro. Probably, one of the best mid-range webcam you can purchase on the market today. This webcam streams video in 1080p at 30 FPS or 720p at 60 FPS. You also get dual microphones and autofocus with lightning conditions corrections. We recommend Logitech C922X Pro as the best webcam for any PC or Mac. You can't go wrong with this model.
There is also an older but still capable Logitech C920X Pro. The main difference is that C920X has a plastic lens and not-so-powerful lightning correction software. On the upside, it comes with a cover for additional privacy.
A similar option includes Logitech StreamCam. It captures 1080p 60 FPS video and offers subjectively better design with additional ergonomic features, like the ability to change orientation from portrait to landscape or vice versa. Skip this webcam if your PC has no USB-C ports.
Logitech C270 is the best budget webcam for a PC. You get a 720p webcam at 30 FPS with a single microphone and a monitor mount. This webcam has no bells and whistles – just a simple webcam for those on a tight budget.
Best Webcam Laptop 2017 I7
Best Webcam Laptop 2017 Reviews
Microsoft LifeCam Studio is an insanely old product but it is so good, that Microsoft keeps making this webcam and it is selling like hotcakes. It was one of the first 1080p at 30 FPS cameras out there. This camera has a ball joint that gives you more flexibility with positioning. Moreover, Microsoft LifeCam offers superior light correction so you get an evenly lit image without overexposure or underexposed areas of the image.
Best Webcam Laptop 2020
Microsoft LifeCam is on a bit of more expensive webcams side, but the image quality you get from this piece of tech is incredible for its age. It is kind of amazing how well this camera aged and how it remains relevant ten years since its debut.
Microsoft offers a slightly cheaper LifeCam Cinema. For the lesser price, you get a webcam that captures 720p at 30 FPS.
Best Webcam Laptop 2017 Review
| Logitech Brio | Logitech C922X Pro | Logitech StreamCam | Logitech C270 | Microsoft LifeCam Studio | |
| Resolution | 4K at 30 FPS 1080p at 60 FPS 720p at 90 FPS | 1080p at 30 FPS 720p at 60 FPS | 1080p at 60 FPS | 720p at 30 FPS | 1080p at 30 FPS |
| Microphones | 2 omnidirectional | 2 omnidirectional | 2 omnidirectional plus noise reduction filter | 1 mono | 1 high-fidelity microphone |
| Autofocus | Yes | Yes | Yes | No, fixed focus | Yes |
| Connection Type | USB-A and USB-C | USB-A | USB-C | USB-A | USB-A |
| Cable Length | 7.2 ft / 2.2 m | 5 ft / 1.5 m | 5 ft / 1.5 m | 5 ft / 1.5 m | 6 ft / 1.8 m |
Best Webcam Laptop 2017 Price
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