Nobody wants to look at you through the blurry, fuzzed-out webcam that came built into your laptop. If you’ve been holding out on upgrading your videoconferencing setup in the hopes that we’ll all go back to offices and leave Zooming behind forever, you’re half right. We may be heading back to offices and schools to some degree, but video calls are here to stay, so you may as well put your best face forward and upgrade your image with a decent webcam.
Check out our guide to all the best webcams on the market, plus a few that didn’t make the cut. Pick up a laptop stand, too, so that your webcam sits at about eye-level. The change in perspective does wonders for your on-screen look, since a low camera looking up can distort your face. Webcams are still in high demand and go in and out of stock, so if the one you like isn’t available, check out our guides on how to use your smartphone or a professional camera (if you have one) as a webcam instead.
Updated January 2022: We’ve added the Razer Kiyo X and Dell UltraSharp webcams.
Special offer for Gear readers: Get a 1-year subscription to WIRED for $5 ($25 off). This includes unlimited access to WIRED.com and our print magazine (if you’d like). Subscriptions help fund the work we do every day.
If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. This helps support our journalism. Learn more. Please also consider subscribing to WIRED
More Stories
10 Quad Biking Facts You Didn’t Know
Snowmobile ATV Helmet Cameras For Snowcross Racing, Trail Riding, and Mountain Climbing
Mobile Car Wash Business; Keeping Employees From Stealing Your Cash