In this video we’re breaking down the five best webcams in 2021. I’ve included options for every type of consumer. If you’re looking for a webcam to video chat with family and friends, stream games, use it for professional applications, or for in-home classes, I’ll have the product for you
The fifth product on our list is the AUKEY FHD Webcam. This is our best budget webcam. The Aukey’s full HD is an inexpensive but capable 1080p webcam that you can pick up for about 30. It’s going to be a popular budget option for people looking for just the core functions to use during in-home classes, business, video calls and just to say hi to friends and family that we wish we could spend more time with these days.
It’s actually a pretty decent looking webcam, most of the face is covered by tempered glass over a gloss black finish with dual mics on the edges. At only three ounces it has a low profile and easily mounts onto even small laptop displays.
The AUKEY is quite bare bones but gets the job done pretty well especially for its price. The video quality isn’t too bad. It captures 1080p video at 30 frames per second, so you get some nice detail, and the video is quite smooth which is important so the conversations feel more natural.
The camera is only 2-megapixels so you will notice some pixeling here and there. The built-in noise reducing stereo mics do an impressive job at capturing audio considering this is a very budget webcam. Depending on the environment the audio can sound a little distant or background noise can seep in but i don’t think it’s going to be a deal breaker.
The webcam has three setup options: you can mount the webcam on top of your display, use the flexible fit to tilt up and down, or you can fold the base so that it acts as a stand to keep your webcam on your desk.
These days as we rely more on conversations in the virtual space. I think the AUKEY FHD Webcam is a solid budget option for those that just want a reliable webcam that delivers on the core features without the need of overpaying for the bells and whistles that they don’t need.
The fourth product on our list is the Razer Kiyo. This is our best webcam for vlogging. The Razer Kiyo is a cost-effective solution for vloggers and streaming gamers without the expense of having a studio setup for lighting and microphones for about ninety dollars.
While professional streamers may have more elaborate setups, I think the Kiyo is a must-have webcam for those that just want a streaming focused webcam that captures sharp vivid video and what makes it invaluable is that it provides its own lighting in an innovative design.
With the large multi-step led ring light you get even lighting which eliminates harsh shadows so you’re always perfectly lit. I really like that you can adjust the level of light easily with the dial. It tunes color casts so images on screen are accurate to real life and look more natural.
The Razer synapse 3 software lets you create multiple profiles and save different looks to suit your various streaming needs in shooting environments. Plus, the lights being integrated into the webcam is great for vloggers on the go without having to pack additional lighting gear.
The Kiyo streams 1080p at 30 frames per second like the AUKEY but you also have the option to drop the resolution down to 720p and stream at 60 frames per second so your viewers will see ultra-smooth video streams.
You also get full camera controls which the AUKEY lacks so you can fully customize settings by toggling between auto and manual focus adjust brightness, contrast, saturation, and white balance. The auto focus feature isn’t too bad at keeping you in focus so you have more freedom to move around but it can be triggered quite easily even with small movements.
The Razer Kiyo features an integrated 5600k daylight balanced ring light around the camera to keep you evenly lit making it an easy choice for vloggers and streamers that don’t want the hassle of using additional lighting equipment.
The third product on our list is the Logitech C920X HD Pro Webcam. This is our best overall webcam for most people. In terms of design the Logitech C920X HD Pro Webcam shares a lot of similarities with the earlier Aki FHD webcam including the overall design 1080p resolution and dual stereo microphones but costs around 95 dollars which is considerably more than the Aki. But I think it’s well worth the extra dollars for most people to consider.
The C920X is a solid and all-around dependable webcam for in-class learning, zoom calls, family video chats and general streaming which will be the more common applications most will use the webcam for. It provides high quality full HD video which I think is definitely better quality than the AUKEY.
The image is crisp, clear and detailed with vibrant colors so you’re sure to make a great first impression on those zoom calls. There are a few reasons why the video is much better than the AUKEY and why it’s worth paying a little more. You’ve got a premium full HD 5-element glass lens that captures incredibly sharper images plus with Logitech’s HD lighting adjustment the c920x automatically fine tunes to the lighting conditions. You get bright sharp images even if you’re in a low light setting.
Plus, having the auto focus is a big plus especially if you tend to move around during your calls. You also get clear stereo audio from the dual omnidirectional mics that capture natural stereo audio. The noise isolation isn’t as effective as the pricier Logitech webcams but i think for general use it’s more than adequate.
Now the only caveat with the c920x is that you get full HD 1080p for skype chats but depending on other video calling apps the resolution drops to 720p including facetime for max. I think the Logitech c920x is affordably priced to be enticing but delivers a far better experience than budget webcams. It’s going to appeal to a lot of people with its high quality 1080p HD video and natural and clear audio quality for your zoom skype and social video calls.
The second product on our list is the Logitech StreamCam. This is our best webcam for streaming. The Logitech StreamCam is a great option for those that are a part of the booming streaming industry. Whether you’re a vlogger, gamer, artist or musician for about 170 dollars the stream cam offers a solid combination of HD clarity and impressive stereo audio in an easy-to-use intuitive design with powerful streaming features.
While the Razer Kiyo gives you 60 frames per second at 720p resolution the Logitech stream cam can stream and record vibrant true to life video with smooth motion and crisp details in full HD 1080p at 60 frames per second. And it looks really impressive.
Now what I especially like about the stream cam is that you can turn it sideways to instantly shift into portrait mode so you can get full HD vertical video. The 9 to 16 format is perfect for Instagram and Facebook stories and even chatting on mobile devices.
You also get some great features like Logitech smart autofocus, so your videos look razor sharp clear and professional. Especially with the facial tracking AI and Logitech capture software. The auto exposure is also fine-tuned so you can look your best in a variety of lighting conditions taking the stress away from adjusting the settings yourself.
The stream cam not only makes you look great but also makes you sound great with premium audio from its built-in dual front-facing mics with clear voice pickup in stereo or dual mono. You can also take advantage of the Logitech capture software to stream and share pro quality video quite easily and it’s OBS optimized for open broadcaster software and xsplit.
It also comes with versatile mounting options so you can get the perfect angle for any stream or video with the ability to tilt and pan which seems like an obvious feature to have but not all webcams can. The Logitech stream cam comes feature-rich and delivers exceptional 1080p video at 60 frames per second along with premium sound. Making it ideal for all types of streamers looking to enhance their streaming presence.
The first product on our list is the Logitech BRIO Ultra HD Webcam. This is our best 4k webcam. The BRIO Ultra HD Webcam is another great webcam from Logitech and ups the ante with 4k resolution for about 180 dollars and is Logitech’s most technologically advanced webcam with advanced ring light 3 light correction for pro quality video calls, streaming and recording.
Like the earlier stream cam, it can record and stream 1080p at 60 frames per second for ultra-smooth videos giving you a more natural and lifelike presentation. But the BRIO also records and streams crystal clear video with vivid colors and exceptional detail in 4k ultra–HD. Plus, you’ll get five times digital zoom pan and tilt.
Unfortunately, at this resolution it’s only capable of 30 frames per second but you can take advantage of other features like an adjustable field of view so you can choose from three different settings to perfectly frame your video depending on your streaming or video chat needs. And I really like the advanced light correction feature of the ring light 3 that I mentioned earlier.
It auto adjusts exposure and contrast for natural lighting even in poor lighting conditions and even compensates for glare and backlighting. Even the Brio’s audio is substantially better with built-in dual omni-directional mics with noise cancellation that captures crystal clear and natural sound on calls and recorded video.
You can also use Logitech’s capture software to stream and share pro quality videos like the stream cam. Plus, it works with XSPLIT and OBS. The Brio is windows hello certified and uses optical and infrared sensors, so you’ll get fast and secure facial recognition. Plus, it’s enterprise ready and certified for skype for business in cisco and compatible with popular video meeting apps like zoom.
The premium BRIO Ultra HD Webcam is technologically advanced and feature rich. And I think it’s the best 4k webcam for youtubers, gamers, vloggers or influencers that want to live stream super sharp ultra-HD video with crystal clear and natural sound.
