We've tested dozens of webcams, inspecting build quality, capturing photos in a variety of common lighting conditions, and playing with settings and software to determine the best webcam for you - whether you're trying to appear professional while working from home in sweatpants, or creating content for millions of viewers. Plus, if you've never looked at a close-up of your face in ultra-high-def 4K video - trust me, you don't want to. Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, etc.) don't support higher than 720p or 1080p video anyway. And it's not as easy as going for the highest specs: most of the common video conferencing platforms (e.g. It's impossible to recommend one or two perfect webcams for all users, because there are so many different ways to use webcams these days. Today's webcams range from standard HD (1080p) to 4K resolution and have increasingly larger lenses and sensors, and many feature impressive internal AI-powered tech that can do everything from improving low-light performance to tracking face and body movement. The good news is that the external webcam market also looks like it'll stick around - the pandemic spawned a slew of new webcams (and webcam makers) and spurred innovation. And while we're slowly returning to offices in the post-pandemic era, it looks like remote working is likely to stick around (at least part-time). But since the pandemic made remote working routine, the market for external webcams has exploded. They weren't good, but we didn't use them enough to care. Pre-pandemic, webcams were mostly an afterthought - built into your laptop's bezel as a convenience, nothing more.

Webcam 4k