Best webcams for remote-working video calls in 2020: Logitech, Meeting Owl, Razer, and more

Zoom has been earning headlines in latest weeks, as tens of millions of people today transform to video-conferencing apps to keep in touch with loved ones and good friends through lockdown. Video calls have been essential for organizations as well, making it possible for staff members to retain speak to with colleagues and shoppers whilst performing from residence. And even when lockdown limitations are lifted, it appears to be very likely that social-distancing measures suggest that video clip calls will be component of ‘the new normal’ for some time to come.

Most laptops and all-in-one desktop PCs now involve a built-in webcam, so it really is not important to acquire any extra devices for video clip calls. Even so, those people built-in cameras do tend to be fairly simple, with average resolution and image high quality, a restricted viewing angle, and handful of controls. Business enterprise people who want to challenge a additional expert image can gain from a committed webcam that provides a improved image, as very well as a high-high quality microphone and other attributes.

More affordable webcams tend to give 720p resolution (1280×720 pixels) and some of the improved 720p cameras do present perfectly great image high quality. Progressively, nevertheless, high-definition cameras are starting to be the norm, offering ‘1080p’ (1920×1,080) or even 4K (4096×2,one hundred sixty) resolution. Other attributes to assume about involve an adjustable stand that makes it possible for you to tilt and swivel the digital camera, a huge-angle lens, and a sounds-cancelling microphone (particularly if the young ones are continue to at residence).

Most webcams use a regular USB link, so they’re compatible with both PCs and Macs, and can typically be utilised with regular video clip apps this kind of as Skype and Zoom. Even so, Mac people really should also look at to see if the digital camera demands a distinctive app from the producer that delivers extra attributes.

Disclosure: ZDNet may perhaps earn an affiliate fee from some of the solutions featured on this site. ZDNet and the author ended up not compensated for this impartial review.

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Harman Kardon is greatest known for its attractive residence audio programs, but AMX is component of its expert division, which also delivers audio and video clip devices for the enterprise sector.

There are two variations of its Acendo Vibe, with the ACV-2100 design only consisting of a big soundbar speaker that can present an audio upgrade for an present video clip-conferencing established-up. Alternatively, the ACV-5100 model adds an Hd webcam as very well, with FHD (1920×1080) resolution and huge-angle (110°) field of check out that will get the job done very well for shows when performing from residence, or for a tiny assembly place.

Like any great soundbar, the Acendo Vibe is quite very well connected, supplying USB for laptop or computer link, HDMI for a Tv or greater display screen, and Bluetooth to allow the soundbar to get the job done as a speakerphone when having calls from a smartphone. The official value is really listed close to £1300/$1300, but we’ve found the ACV-5100 on the web not long ago for as small as £458.33 (ex. VAT £550 inc. VAT) and just $300 in the US.

$300 / £458.33 (ex. VAT)  (regular on the web value)


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B&H (US)

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AVer

AVer Data produces a huge vary of AV devices for enterprise and education, and its Cam340+ is a multipurpose gadget that can double up as both a particular webcam and ‘huddle room’ conferencing method.

It is really neatly created, with a clip stand that can attach to the top rated of a notebook or desktop keep an eye on, but also folds into the base of the digital camera so that you can sit it on a desk or nearby shelf. You will find a tripod connector as very well, although a tripod is not incorporated in the value. 

The Cam340+ is rather high priced, but delivers total 4K resolution when connected to a Computer or Mac by way of USB 3. or USB-C – and can scale the video clip image down to 1080p and 720p for older personal computers as very well. The digital camera also delivers an spectacular a hundred and twenty-diploma viewing angle that operates very well for shows and lectures, and AVer’s history in education will come in useful with its EZLive app for PCs and Macs supplying extra attributes for annotations and grabbing snapshots.

$520 / £366.sixty seven (ex. VAT)


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Amazon (US)

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Cisco

Cisco’s Webex Desk range is quite a great deal the company-executive solution for video clip calls, with even the entry-level DX80 shown here costing close to £1,833.33 (ex. VAT £2,200 inc. VAT) or $2,000.

No mere webcam, the DX80 is a self-contained video clip-conferencing terminal that brings together a 23-inch Hd display screen (1920×1080 resolution) with a built-in digital camera and speakerphone, as very well as a amount of extra USB ports, HDMI for connecting to your notebook, and Ethernet connectivity for a lag-free wired network link.

Video resolution is restricted to 720p, but Cisco’s organization-oriented Webex conferencing software – which it currently promotes as a additional safe, enterprise-high quality different to Zoom – delivers attributes this kind of as a whiteboard and annotations that will be valuable for collaboration and shows. The sting in the tail, aside from the value, is that the DX80 is created specially for use with Webex conferencing software, although it really is also possible to sign up for Webex calls when utilizing Skype, and some other video clip-conferencing programs from Polycom (now known as Poly, since its merger with Plantronics).

$2,000 / £1,833.33 (ex. VAT)


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Amazon (US)

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Lenovo

Lenovo’s ThinkPad laptops are a well known preference with quite a few enterprise people, and its VOIP 360 Digital camera Speaker is a multipurpose accessory which is valuable for both video clip and voice calls.

The digital camera employs a USB-C cable to attract ability from a Computer or Mac, with a USB-A adapter incorporated, alongside with a carrying case. The 1080p digital camera is created to sit on a desk, instead than being clipped onto the top rated of a laptop or computer keep an eye on, but which is simply because it delivers 4 different viewing modes. Simple video clip calls may perhaps only require the 90-diploma viewing mode, but you can also swap to huge-angle 180° or the total 360° for use in a tiny assembly place. You will find even an solution to seize 4 different 90-diploma visuals for different people today in a place.

As the title suggests, this is a combined digital camera and speaker, so it can also be utilised as a speakerphone for VoIP (Voice in excess of IP) calls, as very well as supporting Unified Communications (UC) for office programs. You will find no Bluetooth nevertheless, so you won’t be able to use it for calls on a smartphone.

$214.ninety nine / £196.sixty seven (ex. VAT)


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Lenovo (Uk)

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Logitech

Logitech has been in the webcam enterprise for many years, and its existing vary addresses every thing from reduced-price cameras for residence people suitable up to boardroom video clip-conferencing programs costing 1000’s of pounds. But if you might be immediately after an affordable enterprise-high quality webcam, then the C930e is a great area to commence. 

Outfitted with a high-high quality glass lens, the C930e provides 1080p resolution – which can be scaled down to 720p if demanded – and a 90-diploma viewing angle with car-aim, so that you can action back again to a whiteboard for shows if have to have be. You will find also 4X digital zoom for near-up get the job done, twin microphones and a privateness shutter in case you’ve got just stumbled out of mattress in the morning.

You can tilt and swivel the digital camera on its adjustable stand, which can be clipped onto a notebook or exterior keep an eye on. You will find a tripod connector as well, although you can expect to have to have to present the tripod yourself. 
 
$one hundred thirty / £100 (ex. VAT)


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Logitech (Uk)

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Logitech

As the instead lengthy-winded title suggests, the Brio Ultra Hd Pro is Logitech’s top rated-of-the-vary particular webcam for enterprise people (there is one more design named the Brio Stream, which looks nearly identical, but is aimed at players). 

It is really packed with attributes, which include a high-high quality glass lens that supports total 4K (4096×2160) resolution with HDR (High Dynamic Array) for optimum photo high quality. You are going to have to have a Computer or Mac with USB 3. or USB-C in order to use the 4K mode, but the digital camera also features 1080p and 720p modes for older personal computers as very well. 

The Brio delivers 3 viewing angles, with 65° created for easy head-and-shoulders photographs, whilst 78° can in shape one more individual into the image, and 90° delivers a broader check out of the place for shows and demos. You will find also a 5X digital zoom accessible, although this only operates when utilizing 1080p resolution, alongside with a privateness shutter, twin sounds-cancelling microphones, and optical and infrared sensors that support Windows Hello for extra security.

$199 / £165.eighty three (ex. VAT)


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Logitech (Uk)

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Logitech

Logitech’s webcams are generally meant for particular use, but the firm also makes a amount of ‘ConferenceCams’, this kind of as the Connect, which are a small additional multipurpose.
 
The cylindrical Connect is created to sit on a desk, instead than being connected to a laptop or computer display, but you can pan and tilt the glass lens utilizing the handheld distant manage (which also addresses the lens for privateness when the Connect is not in use). The digital camera delivers 1080p and 720p video clip modes, with 4X digital zoom, and its 90-diploma field of check out is great for stepping back again and supplying shows, or covering tiny groups in an office.

There are two internal microphones, and the Connect can also get the job done as a speakerphone for audio calls, utilizing Bluetooth to join to your cellular gadgets. It even incorporates a rechargeable battery so that you can immediately pick it up and have it from place to place, making it possible for you to use it as a standalone speakerphone with no demanding a USB link to your Computer or Mac.

$499.ninety nine / £365.eighty three (ex. VAT)


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Logitech (Uk)

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Owl Labs

Owl Labs’ Meeting Owl will be overkill for easy individual-to-individual video clip calls, but it really is a great solution if you have to have to give shows whilst performing from residence, or organise a tiny assembly in an office huddle place.

Right away recognisable many thanks to its distinct ‘owl eyes’ position lights, the Owl features two products, with the Conference Owl proven here supplying 720p resolution, whilst the Meeting Owl Pro steps up to 1080p. Even so, both products use a 360-diploma lens to generate a panoramic check out of the place, with a break up-display check out that shows the full place, as very well as focusing on the existing speaker. You will find also a ‘lock’ solution that can keep the digital camera set on a particular component of the place, this kind of as a whiteboard through a presentation.

The digital camera operates with regular video clip apps this kind of as Zoom and Skype, but does require the Owl app for iOS or Android through the first setup approach. You will find a built-in speaker as very well, although this suggests that the Owl demands both a USB details link to your Computer or Mac, and a different mains ability provide.

$799 / £665.eighty three (ex. VAT)


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Owl Labs (Uk)

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Poly

Plantronics’ takeover of Polycom in 2019 developed a new communications huge, which now goes by the title of Poly. The new firm offers an considerable vary of video clip-conferencing devices, with its EagleEye range of webcams focusing, so to communicate, on people today and more compact groups.

Rates commence at just £95.eighty three (ex. VAT) or $165 for the EagleEye Mini, which is a particular webcam created for use with a notebook, although other EagleEye products can cater for groups of up to a dozen people today. The digital camera is fairly typical, with a clip-on stand and USB cable for connecting to a Computer or Mac, but it really is one of the additional affordable cameras that features total Hd resolution (1920×1080) and 4X digital zoom. The stand incorporates a tripod connector (tripod not incorporated), and Poly also delivers an optional wall-mount package as very well.

The EagleEye Mini can be utilised as component of a greater Poly conferencing method, and supports the company’s RealPresence collaboration software, which is accessible for both Computer and Mac. It also operates with regular video clip-conferencing apps this kind of as Skype and Zoom.

$165 / £95.eighty three (ex. VAT)


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Poly (Uk)

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Razer

Razer is very well-known for its vary of gaming laptops and extras, and its Kiyo camera is generally created for on the web gaming and streaming. Even so, it does have one quite ingenious characteristic that can come in useful for enterprise people who want to incorporate a additional expert search to their video clip calls.

The digital camera alone is fairly typical, offering 1080p and 720p possibilities for video clip calls, whilst the Kiyo software also delivers an solution to modify the factor ratio to 4:3 for video clip calls, as very well as the capacity to seize continue to visuals at 2688×1520 resolution. 

The clip stand can easily attach to a notebook or exterior keep an eye on, and incorporates a tripod connector as very well (tripod not incorporated). 

The Kiyo’s stand-out characteristic, nevertheless, is the ‘ring light’ that circles the digital camera. The extra lighting can aid to greatly enhance visibility and image high quality through your calls, and is immediately adjusted only by rotating the ring mechanism on the digital camera. It is really attractively priced as well, and the only drawback is that the Kiyo software is currently only accessible for Windows PCs. 

$ninety nine.ninety nine / £83.33 (ex. VAT)


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Razer (Uk)