Today’s meetings largely take place online, and your webcam plays an important role in supporting your online communications. A quality webcam can enhance your professional image by ensuring your meeting participants can clearly see your face and expressions. Here’s what you need to know about buying a webcam for virtual meetings.
Key Takeaways:
Many laptops come with built-in webcams. But in most cases, you’ll need to purchase an external webcam to use for video conferencing. We outline several factors to consider in this webcam buying guide:
Consider your purpose for using the webcam. If you plan on using it for video conferencing or Skype calls, you’ll need one with excellent video quality.
Poor video quality can make it difficult to understand what other participants are saying. This can lead to frustration and result in less productive meetings.
It can also make it difficult to read body language and facial expressions, which can be important cues when trying to communicate effectively.
Also, poor video quality can simply be visually unappealing, which can make it harder to pay attention and stay engaged in the meeting.
Clear audio and high-definition video make it easier to understand what others are saying and follow the discussion. In addition, seeing facial expressions and body language in HD can help build rapport and trust among participants. Investing in good video conferencing equipment can prevent these problems and create a more enjoyable and productive meeting experience.
Neat Center frames people in the room face-on, so remote participants remain at the center of the conversation.While webcam resolution might not be the first thing you think about when starting a video conference, it can have a big impact on the quality of your meeting. A higher resolution means that each individual pixel is larger, resulting in a sharper image. This is especially important when trying to read text or see small details on someone’s face.
In addition, a higher-resolution webcam allows you to fit more people into the frame. If you’re having a large group discussion, seeing everyone’s face clearly can make a big difference in the flow of the conversation.
At a minimum, you’ll want to choose a webcam with a resolution of 1080p for a sharper, clearer image.
We recommend Neat Bar, which features a 12 MP capture resolution and a 4X digital zoom to capture all meeting participants in a clear and visually appealing manner.
Our award-winning Neat Bar captures all participants clearly.Frame rate directly affects the quality of your webcam’s image. A low frame rate can result in a choppy or blurry image, while a higher frame rate can produce a smoother, more fluid image.
Your webcam should have a high frame rate so your video conferencing experience is as smooth and lifelike as possible. However, there are some trade-offs that you should be aware of.
A higher frame rate requires more processing power from your computer, which can result in lower overall performance. Additionally, a higher frame rate can sometimes make it difficult to keep track of who is speaking because the images move so quickly.
Neat devices mitigate these issues by providing smooth, consistent video quality without overloading your computer’s processor. Because these are separate devices, your computer’s processing speed isn’t a factor. Neat cameras make it easy to see who’s talking as clearly as though you were watching them in person.
The quality of the image captured by the webcam is determined by the lens. A good lens results in a clear image with accurate colors. A poor-quality lens can cause the image to be fuzzy and distorted.
When choosing a webcam lens, consider the field of view. A wider field of view allows more people to be captured in the frame. A larger aperture also results in a sharper image.
Neat Bar is equipped with a 4K wide-angle camera to include multiple meeting participants or solo speakers. Neat’s cameras display all participants equally, even if they’re not all sitting side by side.
When it comes to webcams, the microphone is just as important as the camera. While most laptops have a built-in webcam and microphone, these aren’t always the best quality. That’s why many people opt for an external webcam with a better microphone.
First, consider the microphone’s sensitivity. Make sure it can pick up your voice clearly, even if you’re not speaking directly into it. Also, think about the range of the microphone. If you’ll be moving around during your video call, you’ll need a mic that can pick up your voice from a distance. Bonus points if the microphone includes features like echo cancellation without suppressing human speech.
Neat Bar features five microphones angled in an end-fire array plus three sensor mics to pick up audio within the camera’s view. Neat technologies also pick up each speaker regardless of where they are in the room while eliminating echoes and background noise.
Some webcams require special software or drivers to work properly. You may need to download a special driver for your webcam to work and update that driver as needed.
With Neat devices, you automatically receive software updates. Devices work right out of the box with nothing extra to install.
Budget also plays a role in buying a webcam. Webcams can range in price from around $30 to $200 or more. But don’t just consider the bottom-line cost. Think about the total value that a great webcam will bring to your video conferencing.
With a clearer image and accompanying features like better sound quality, your meetings will become more productive and impactful. You’ll spend less time troubleshooting, which will make your meetings shorter and more effective.
A better approach is to choose an all-in-one solution like Neat Frame. It combines a top-of-the-line webcam with a large screen, microphone and speakers. The high-resolution webcam captures facial expressions and body language to mimic in-person conversations. You can get more for your money when your webcam (and entire video conferencing experience) improves productivity, stimulates conversation and removes the hassle of troubleshooting sound and video quality in every meeting.
In addition to the above webcam basics, you may want to explore different features that will make for an even better video conferencing experience. Here’s what to look for in a webcam beyond the webcam basics:
Some webcams can differentiate between the meeting participants and people and objects that appear in the background. This can be helpful when you’re working from home and don’t want others to see your messy living room or when you’re in the office and want to block others in your shared workspace.
Neat’s auto-framing technology automatically blocks out background distractions. It keeps you within its field of view, plus you can set a specific boundary for the webcam to ignore. This technology also works for audio. You can tune out background noise without suppressing human speech, which makes it easier to hear meeting participants.
Neat Boundary allows users to choose the exact area they want to be in view,Most webcams keep you rooted in one place, which can take a toll on the body. If you change positions, your webcam will continue to focus on where you were rather than where you are.
Neat devices automatically follow the speaker, whether you’re sitting, standing, or walking around the room. This allows you to be free from your desk during video meetings without having to worry about leaving the camera’s field of view.
The webcam’s lens affects the size of its field of view. If you may have multiple participants sharing video conferencing equipment, make sure the webcam can include everyone without the need to play musical chairs.
Neat devices use auto framing to display all meeting participants equally, even when they’re not speaking. This helps you capture each person’s facial expressions and know they’re engaged in the conversation.
Without low light correction, webcams struggle to capture clear images in dim or dark lighting conditions. This can make it difficult for participants to see each other clearly, which can lead to communication problems.
Some webcams, including Neat’s integrated webcams, automatically correct low-light conditions to ensure participants can be seen on the screen.
Many webcams require extra steps to launch. A better approach is Neat’s auto-wake feature. Your Neat devices will automatically detect when you’re in the room. You can launch a meeting with just one touch and skip having to manually adjust your webcam each time.
Neat devices integrate with popular video conferencing platforms like Zoom and Microsoft Teams. This allows you to start meetings with the tap of a button. Neat devices will also manage your video meeting calendar so you never miss a connection.
All Neat devices are designed with user-friendliness in mind. With an easy out-of-the-box setup, you have just one cable to connect. Neat includes all mounting hardware and clear installation instructions. Its auto-pair feature will help you connect to your WiFi and be ready for meetings in minutes. And if you need help setting up your Neat devices, there are plenty of resources to walk you through the process.
Knowing what to look for in a webcam can drastically improve the quality of your video conferences. It can also save you money by helping you choose the best webcam on your first try.
At Neat, we’re committed to delivering better video calls with the best audio and video quality in the industry. Multi-feature solutions like our Neat Bar and all-in-one devices like Neat Frame, work right out of the box to get you to your next meeting faster. Explore Neat devices and take the guesswork out of how to choose a webcam.
What do webcam terms like 1080p, 2.0 megapixels and 60fps actually mean? Top Ten Reviews.
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On one hand, you don't need to worry about too many specifications to figure out what you want; on the other, it helps to understand what you're looking at to prevent being blindsided by marketing claims. For instance, all webcams are plug-and-play, despite frequently being called out as a novelty, and claims like "DSLR-quality video" are meaningless. AI is not magic; it doesn't automatically make a camera (or even a particular feature) better, and the term is used excessively and very loosely in marketing. Your new external webcam won't necessarily be better than the one integrated into your laptop. Integrated models increasingly are tuned to work with the operating systems in a way that third-party cameras aren't.
Improving your environment with good lighting or a better angle can often enhance the quality of your webcam video more than upgrading the camera itself. Even in an ideal environment, the best webcam won't necessarily deliver great video and audio quality on the other end; that can depend on the consistency and quality of your network connection as well as the software you're using. Videoconferencing software, for example, tends to aggressively process the video for smoother and more consistent transmission over the network rather than looking great.
The webcams range from $20 to about $300, and the best models usually go for $200 and up. In general, price rises as resolution, features and quality gets better. Some good 1080p models are available for under $100, but if you want to save money on the admittedly pricey high-end models, you can frequently get the previous model at a good price and they tend to go on sale at the usual times of the year, like Black Friday season.
It's important to separate sensor resolution from video resolution. Many webcams with high-resolution capabilities (greater than 4K, or the equivalent of about 8 megapixels) don't produce video at those levels. Instead, they use the extra pixels to get better results when scaling down to the effective resolution of 1080p, 1440p or 4K, zooming and changing the field of view, low-light performance and more. That's why it's worth considering a 4K model to better frame yourself without looking soft, crunchy or blocky or to demonstrate physical objects.
Don't assume a camera with a high-resolution sensor can output video as 4K. While all software supports 1080p (1,920x1,080 pixels; equivalent to 2 megapixels), other resolutions frequently require specific support -- notably by videoconferencing software. Zoom, for instance, maxes out at 1080p. Keep in mind that software can also take a good image and make it look less good. It does that by compressing excessively for transmission across the software's low-bandwidth pipeline.
Keep in mind that 4K and above webcams can generate a lot of heat, which might be an issue for you if you work in hot environments (prolonged heat may decrease image stability). The metal bodies may be sturdier and sometimes look more attractive, but they also draw heat away from the inside and get hotter to the touch than plastic.
Avoid 720p unless you're desperate and have no money. Even then, you can get a no-name 1080p model for about $20 (maybe less) that will at least be marginally better.
Most webcams usually have a fixed field of view (which from your perspective is zoom or the amount of the view the lens covers); that's fine as long as it covers the amount you need. It's specified in degrees, typically in the range of about 65 degrees (narrow, covering roughly your head and shoulders) to 90 degrees (which can accommodate another person in the view). Conference room webcams tend to have a much wider angle of view, unsurprisingly.
Webcams that list multiple fields of view will frequently use digital zoom to achieve it, which means you want to go for a high-resolution webcam; it can look really bad when you start with a 1080p camera.
If the webcam has a wide FOV, then it will likely have distortion that makes straight vertical lines on the sides curve. If that will bother you, look for a narrower FOV, or for a webcam that uses multiple lens elements, which can combat distortion.
Not all webcams have built-in microphones. Models targeted at streamers usually don't, for instance, since the assumption is you'll be using a high-quality headset or standalone mic instead of the webcam mic. Built-in mics tend to be intended for everyday videoconferencing, and you rarely have any control over the characteristics of the sound.
Some are better than others. Noise cancellation sometimes works well, but it often makes your voice sound a little (or a lot) processed, and you can't always control how aggressive it is. Many of the mics are omnidirectional, meaning they pick up sound from multiple locations, but that can generally be compensated for computationally.
Bottom line: If you care about sound quality and can tell good from bad, opt for a non-integrated mic or assume you'll need to supplement it with a dedicated mic. If you just want something "good enough," look at user reviews just to verify that a given webcam doesn't have relevant complaints about the mic.
These come in a billion different sizes and shapes, but the mounts -- the physical clip that lets you perch it on your screen -- are all very similar and tend to be stable but cumbersome. There's no "best" design, but if you want to use it on a laptop, you may want to avoid the big, clunky models.
One advantage bigger models have is the ability to remove the mounts or attach the mount itself to a tripod. Even a small tabletop tripod sitting behind your laptop screen can help avoid the weird looking-down angle you see with a lot of laptop webcams, by raising it to eye level. You'll probably still look down occasionally, but it feels more natural for the people on the other end.
The covers vary a lot, and the ones that completely detach and are fiddly to attach can be annoying, and I lose them about 10 minutes after unboxing. If you're tossing the webcam in a bag and carrying it around, you should use something to protect the front.
Most of a webcam's features are only available via software. Almost any camera will work when you plug it into your USB-C or USB-A port (although 4K webcams frequently need a high-speed USB-C connection to get full resolution). Many of them work well this way.
These features are essential, and they're provided only by software: the ability to override exposure settings when they need correction; some small white balance control (auto usually delivers the best results, but I like to be able to make it slightly warmer or cooler); manual focus and the ability to save the changes as presets. Presets are doubly important for cameras modeled off commercial PTZ (pan, tilt and zoom) webcams like the Obsbot and Insta360 models.
One thing to consider when buying a webcam for a Mac is that there are no controls built into the operating system and Windows doesn't expose the settings (for good reason). If you want to adjust exposure, zoom or white balance, then the support needs to be built into the specific application or into a utility that comes with the camera. Autoexposure can be wrong at unexpected times.
All the cameras focus automatically, but unless you move around a lot, manual focus will let you set it and forget it, and even if you move a bit you don't have to deal with the webcam trying to lock onto you again. At best, it'll snap into focus after a slight delay; alternatively, it will pulse unattractively searching for a focus lock. At its worst, it will fail to lock entirely. Although it's starting to change a bit on the higher end, webcams typically focus on the whole view.
Unfortunately, few manufacturers offer MacOS-compatible utilities; the Elgato FaceCam and FaceCam Pro and the Opal C1 and Tadpole are notable exceptions. The only settings you can control on the Mac natively aren't intended for webcams; Portrait mode (to blur the background) and Studio Lighting (to change the foreground-background exposure balance) -- neither of which works as well on the Mac as it does on an iPhone. Not all the software is as full-featured on both platforms or maintained over time.
For Windows, consider whether you want to use Windows Hello for face recognition. Some external webcams support it, but not all. Usually, if a webcam supports it the manufacturer mentions it in the marketing materials.