$72 Razer Kiyo: Our previous top pick, the original Kiyo still offers 1080p resolution at 30 frames per second (or 720p at 60 frames per second) and built-in lighting that can be controlled to brighten, dim, or turn off fully by turning the lighting ring. Picture quality is decent, colors are nice, and the camera quickly adjusts the white balance when the ambient light in the room changes. It autofocuses well, but you’ll see it adjust noticeably as you move around the frame. The field of view is slightly wider than a typical webcam, at about 82 degrees. A month later, the hinge on my Kiyo broke and it stopped me. But my second was strong, and Wired writer Park Hall had no issues with his Kiyo, so we’re still pretty confident in our recommendation.
Anker B600 Video Bar 2K Webcam for $220: Comments editor Julian Chokkattu calls the B600’s video quality excellent. If your computer can power it, the B600 can stream at resolutions up to 2K. It’s expensive, though, and it’s too big to hang from a laptop screen like the other webcams in this guide. In low light, image quality is very dim, even with the built-in light source, so it’s best paired with an external light.
Obsbot Tiny 4K AI Webcam for $269: Chokkattu has had the Obsbot as his main webcam for over six months, and as someone who does video conferences with him a few times a week, I can say that its 4K images look great. What makes it stand out is that it automatically tracks your face if you move around, making it look like you have a private camera crew. You can turn this feature on and off with a wave of your palm, as it responds to gestures.
Logitech C922x for $99: The C922X is a powerful webcam with solid specs. It can stream 1080p video at 30 frames per second or 720p video at 60 frames per second, making the Razer Kiyo and Kiyo X major competitors. But it’s more expensive than either, and has a narrower field of view at 78 degrees. It’s a good webcam, but you can get a similar Kiyo X for less.
Logitech C615 for $29: Specs are great (regular price) – 1080p resolution at 30 frames per second, 78 degrees field of view – image quality is great in all conditions except low light. You can also rotate the camera 360 degrees, which review editor Julian Chokkattu said he does when he’s not using it because there’s no privacy shutter. On the downside, the mic records in mono rather than stereo, and short cables can make it annoying to use with a desktop, although it works fine on a laptop. If retail stock is scarce and that’s all you can find, it’s not a bad option, although for a few extra dollars your options will get better.
Logitech C930e for $73: This is a business-oriented alternative to the Logitech C920, with a 90-degree field of view, which is better for capturing large numbers of participants than the C920’s 78-degree field of view. For a single user at home, 90 degrees might be an interesting and welcome option (I like the optional setting on the Brio). Unlike the Brio, you’re limited to 90 degrees, which may not be for everyone. This webcam hasn’t historically been as cheap as it has been recently. In the past, it was usually over $100+, which wasn’t worth the extra cost.For under $100, this is an acceptable webcam
