When looking for a premium webcam, you’ll want to look at video resolution which ultimately means a higher quality picture. Beyond that, you’ll want to make sure it has a halfway-decent microphone if you don’t have a dedicated mic. If you spend a fair bit of time out of the office, make sure to check out our 10 best tips for working from home. Otherwise, read on to see our list of the best webcams to buy. Our testing showed that it shoots and streams in Full HD (1080p) at 30fps (frames per second), records stereo (2-channel) audio, and can capture still images at 15 megapixels. This is comparable to most high-end smartphone cameras. It also features a tripod-ready universal clip that fits to laptops and LCD monitors, a 360-degree swivel base and articulating support. You can snap really basic three-megapixel still images, and it features a built-in noise reduction mic. It does not swivel left or right but it does tilt and articulate vertically. The Kiyo is optimized for use with the Streamlabs suite of streaming software and is also compatible with OBS and XSplit. The hinge stand allows you to mount the webcam on either your computer monitor or on a tripod and allows you to customize your streaming setup. The built-in microphone captures your voice for crisp, clear audio during game and Discord chat. The camera features an autofocus function so you don’t have to waste time fiddling with settings to get the perfect picture. This webcam is certified to work with Windows Hello for facial recognition login capabilities. The built-in stand hinge allows you to mount this webcam on your computer monitor or a tripod for expanded placement options. The Brio utilizes Logitech’s RightLight 3 software to automatically detect your room’s lighting and adjust your picture quality accordingly so you get a consistently great-looking video recording or stream. It also comes with a removable privacy shade for peace of mind when not in use.
About our Trusted Experts
Taylor Clemons has over three years of experience writing about games and consumer technology. She has written for IndieHangover, GameSkinny, TechRadar and her own publication, Steam Shovelers. James Huenink is fascinated by the ways tech helps people connect to others and improve their lives in a fast-paced world. An avid marathoner, home brewer, and uber nerd, he spends his free time cooking for friends and family and teasing his wife.
What to Look for in a Webcam
Resolution
Do you need 720p or 1080p webcam? That depends on how you’ll be using it. If you’re planning on recording and publishing video with your device, then maxing out the resolution is probably a good idea. But if you’re just doing some video conferencing with it, and you don’t want to spend extra money for better resolution, 720p should work just fine.
Price
You’d be surprised at how much you can shell out for a webcam, considering the technology hasn’t changed all that much over the last few years. If you are paying extra attention to the bottom line, then you should make sure you aren’t spending too much on a webcam. You can get the quality and features you need without breaking the bank.
Microphone
The built-in microphone on your computer isn’t always the highest quality. If you’re not going to be using an external mic when you are using your webcam (though we highly recommend it if you’re filming for YouTube or another service), then the quality of the microphone built into the webcam is very important.
