1. Logitech BRIO Ultra HD Webcam | Best Budget
Editor's Rating: 4.5/5
The Logitech BRIO Ultra-HD Webcam makes the Editor's Best Budget Choice. It's a top-selling product for video conferences on Zoom, for streaming, and recording.
- Best feature 1: 4K UHD recording
- Best feature 2: 5x digital zoom
- Plus points: Versatile mounting, auto-adjusts lighting, echo-free audio, tight security
- Minus points: No optical zoom, monitor clip has a weak grip
BRIO Ultra HD Webcam Highlights
High-quality webcams like the Logitech BRIO provide an all-in-one solution for professional users. Its standout features are the crystal-clear video and 5x zoom for closer interaction. This puppy delivers 4K Ultra-HD at 30 frames per second (fps) and 1080p at 30fps and 60fps. The detail, clarity, smooth streaming, and echo-free audio produce a life-like presence to any virtual meeting.
Field-of-view is the angular extent shown through the lens. For fixed-lens cameras, and all web-cams that I know of, the field-of-view is normally stated relative to sensor-size. This is very reasonable since the lens is fixed and cannot server on something else. While this sounds like numbers could be compared, there several reasons why not. If you don't want to wear headphones on video calls, then a webcam with a mic is a way to fix bad audio. Here are our picks of the three best webcams for PC and Mac. Logitech C920S HD Pro Credit: Logitech. RRP: $169.95 @ Logitech. Buy it through Amazon here.
Another exceptional feature is the RightLight™ 3 and high dynamic range (HDR). It auto-adjusts the light so that you look consistently good. The adjustable clip lets you place the camera wherever you need it. That could be on top of a monitor, a tabletop, or a laptop computer. The tripod mount offers even more flexibility. The webcam also has a removable shade to provide privacy.
Adjustable Field of View & Security
Other features worth a mention are the adjustable field of view (FOV) and tight security. You can use a 65° FOV for single person head & shoulders, and 78–90° for groups. The convenient security feature uses infrared and optical sensors for facial recognition. Once set up, you just look into the lens to login. If it's not you, then it's impossible to gain access.
The Not So Good
The Logitech BRIO only has digital zoom, not optical, so it's satisfactory rather than outstanding. The removable clip used to mount this webcam onto monitors doesn't have the tightest grip. I haven't read any reports of it failing, but it certainly has the potential to slip on ultra-thin laptop lids.
We all love technology and our own personal devices, but none of us expected to have to rely on it quite so dramatically for work as well as play until the coronavirus pandemic hit.
Now our devices are our lifeline to our professional lives as well as personal, and apps like Zoom have become necessary for morning status reports and evening catch ups with wine. Part of this ‘new normal' means there might be a few parts of your home tech set up that need upgrading.
You may have found that not all laptop webcams are created equal. And let's not forget that if you use a PC monitor, it might not have a webcam at all. Either way, if everyone else's stream is crisp and bright but you look like you're in a dark, buffering dungeon then you need to consider a standalone webcam.
Webcams built into laptops aren't always the best quality - even Apple's brand new $1,599 MacBook Air has a low-res potato of a camera. So don't feel like it's so 2002 to buy a webcam. They can be relatively inexpensive but dramatically improve your working from home set up, making you appear better presented and more professional.
Most webcams also have microphones. Some laptops have bad placement of their built-in mics, meaning even if your webcams image is good, the audio might be subpar. If you don't want to wear headphones on video calls, then a webcam with a mic is a way to fix bad audio.
Here are our picks of the three best webcams for PC and Mac.
Logitech C920S HD Pro
RRP: $169.95 @ Logitech
Buy it through Amazon here
This webcam is pretty much the best in the business. It is marketed towards video game streaming as it can stream at both 1080p and 720p, but this also means that it has excellent video conferencing abilities.
Its higher price is down to its video quality chops, widescreen 78-degree field of view that can fit two people in and its premium clever features like HD autofocus and light correction. The latter ensures your image will look as good as possible even in dim light settings.
The webcam is compatible with PC and Mac. and will play nice with Skype, Zoom and FaceTime, and others. The two mics and adjustable arm ensures you will look and sound great too and it even comes with a tripod if you don't want to clip it to your computer. If you want the best all-round webcam, this is it (the similar Logitech C920 is slightly cheaper and just as good for video calls too).
Logitech C270
RRP: $69.95 @ Logitech
Buy it through Amazon here
Logitech is a trusted brand of ours and this is the best cheap webcam you can get right now. We wouldn't recommend spending less, even though those products exist. The C270 doesn't have any bells and whistles but nor does it need any, as it nails the basics.
Compatible with PC and Mac, it's the definition of ‘plug and play'. It captures 720p at up to 30fps, meaning it's more than adequate for casual and professional video calls.
It has light adjusting capabilities and comes with a clip that can fix to any laptop lid or monitor's edge. Unless you want super high definition streaming, this webcam will do you just fine.
Microsoft LifeCam Studio
RRP: $110 @ Officeworks
Our third pick is this superb webcam from Microsoft. It's a tad bulky and looks like a CCTV camera atop your computer, but it's well-priced when you consider the features.
It has a 1080p HD sensor with autofocus to ensure you're always looking your best. Its software, like the Logitech C920 series, has colour correction tech to ensure video is always bright and good looking in challenging lighting conditions.
This webcam is only compatible with PCs, and won't play nice with Apple Macs. If you really want to use the 1080p setting then you'll also have to have a pretty good Internet connection. It's a good option if you need to record video for work at high quality but can then sub in as a lower-res video calling camera.
Logitech Webcam Field Of View
Logitech StreamCam
RRP:$209 @ Scorptec
Field Of View Calculator
Buy it on Amazon here
If you want to opt for Logitech's creme de la creme of prosumer-grade webcams, the Logitech StreamCam is the option you're looking for it. It boasts a fabric-laced look, support for 1080p video capture at 60FPS, USB-C connectivity plus flexible mounting options.
In our review of the Logitech StreamCam, we said that 'Getting a cheap webcam on Amazon doesn't cost that much these days but Logitech have included enough of their own special sauce here to make the premium attached to the brand feel worth it.'
Looking to upgrade your work from home setup in other ways? Check out our guide to the best wrist rests here.
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