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If your job or school program requires you to be on video several times a week, you’re going to need a webcam. A good webcam will allow the other participants in your meeting to see you clearly, which can help you look more professional while you make your point.
Many modern laptops have built-in webcams, which are convenient to use in a pinch, but not as good as standalone hardware. The reason why is because the cameras are built into the computer’s lid, which is extremely thin. Camera hardware needs space to work — this is the reason modern smartphones have a camera bump — so a “real” webcam will produce more satisfying results.
Working from home has become a lot more common recently, and using a dedicated webcam is one way to make sure your home office setup a little more sophisticated.
What Are the Best Webcams?
There are many factors to consider when choosing the best webcams for you; below are the most important ones, which we considered while we were researching this list.
Video resolution:Webcams are designed to help you look your best, which is why all of our picks can stream video in HD (or higher) resolution.
Microphones:All of our webcam recommendations have built-in microphones, which will be an improvement over the ones built into your computer or headphones.
Compatibility:Every webcam in this guide can connect to your computer via USB-A, and works with both Windows and MacOS machines without any proprietary software. They’re also compatible with any video conferencing or streaming service, so you don’t have to worry if your company uses more than one.
Security:It’s unlikely that your webcam will be hacked, but we made sure the ones we chose had a couple of precautions. First, all three have an LED light that turns on when the camera is in active use. Second, our picks come from trusted companies that have been in the consumer electronics space for a long time.
