The top 5 webcams you can buy

The Logitech StreamCam scored an almost faultless 4.5 stars from us. It offers a sleek and modern design, with our reviewer noting that the size and shape make it the centrepiece of your streaming setup. The StreamCam is predominantly made of plastic and carries a reassuring heft which reinforces the excellent build quality. We liked the inclusion of fabric around the lens as it added some more texture and personality to the otherwise plastic shell. 

We found mounting the StreamCam to be easy as it comes with a secure-clip-in system that gives you the chance to use it in portrait and landscape orientations. It also comes with the standard tripod thread at the bottom, giving it even more versatility. 

This webcam is capable of outputting video in Full HD (1080p) at 60fps. We felt that it provided an excellent amount of detail and smooth motion, making it a joy to use for streamers. The face-tracking and Auto Framing features were particularly coherent, making it very easy for us to stay in frame and in focus even while moving around. 

If you are interested in a high-end webcam, you might want to consider the Insta360 Link or HP 960 4K Streaming Webcam, both of which can capture content in 4K resolution. As you would expect, these 4K webcams are a lot more expensive than the StreamCam, so you’ll have to decide if a higher resolution is more of a priority than an affordable price tag. 

Overall, if you’re after smooth footage and a polished and mature design, the StreamCam ticks all these boxes. It may even be the best choice for streamers who are first starting out or those who are constantly engaged in work calls since it has support for all third-party video call services including Zoom and Microsoft Teams. 

Reviewer: Reece Bithrey
Full Review: Logitech StreamCam

Logitech Brio 300

Best small webcam

Pros

• Cool cone-shaped design
• Mounting system is nice and secure
• Good quality output with solid motion

Cons

• Dated 1080p/30fps combo
• Logi Tune software is light on options

After a webcam that doesn’t cost the Earth and, perhaps most importantly, doesn’t add an unsightly chunk to the top of your monitor, the Logitech Brio 300 is the pick for you.

The stylish, cone-shaped design makes this a webcam that you won’t be embarrassed to have seen a top your display. At 53.1 x 45 x 65.6mm, the Brio 300 is positively dinky, meaning you could easily take it on the go if needed.

The results are strong too, with the Logitech Brio 300 offering up accurate colour across its 1080p resolution, and a smooth 30fps. There is a 70-degree field of view as well, providing great angles for video conferencing. It is, of course, not as good as a dedicated mic but the singular microphone onboard offers good clarity if you don’t fancy donning a headset or shelling out for a full microphone.

Along with looking stylish, the Brio 300 has the environment in mind, with each model being built with, at least, 48% post-consumer recycled plastic. The design also affords users an integrated privacy shutter for peace of mind.

Logitech’s handy Logi Tune software is included with the Brio 300. The software isn’t as complex as its more powerful options for creators or gamers but many will welcome the simplicity. A key feature it retains is Auto Light Enhancement, aiding the look of your camera feed by fixing overexposed images.

Reviewer: Reece Bithrey
Full Review: Logitech StreamCam

What do you expect of a 4K streaming webcam? Well, the HP 960 4K Streaming Webcam does exactly what it says on the tin. Stunning video quality, that’s here. Crisp and clear microphones, absolutely present. These are the two key factors that make this high-quality webcam our favourite for streaming.

The 4K resolution is paired with 30fps capabilities and offers boosted colour through HDR (high-dynamic range). If you’re after a smoother frame rate then you can drop down to 1080p for 60fps too.

The wide FOV and Auto Frame functions are ideal for setting up your frame perfectly, ideal for streamers who like to move around or want their whole set-up shown. Additional features like the HP Accessory Center offer a bunch of handy configuration options as well.

The compact webcam doesn’t look half bad either, with an understated modern design. It’ll sit neatly on top of your monitor and can be easily linked up using USB-C.

Reviewer: Reece Bithrey
Full Review: HP 960 4K Streaming Webcam review

Best 4K webcam

It might not be the cheapest option on this list (by a country mile) with an RRP of £318.99, but if you can spare the expense then you’ll easily find the most premium webcam experience on the Insta360 Link.

With the ability to record in 4K resolution, the Insta360 Link stands well above the competition when it comes to offering superior clarity and detail in your video capture. It also works tremendously well in low-light, although it is worth pointing out that the device can run rather hot in operation.

Its design looks as if it’s a DJI Pocket 2 chopped in half, which is clever given the Insta360 Link can move freely on its base to track the movements of its user. As for assembly, there’s certainly convenient with a tripod thread adapter for connecting to a stand, as well as a sturdy clip for placing it atop a monitor or laptop screen. When it comes to connectivity, that’s dealt with via a sole USB-C port.

This webcam is also laden with features, with several different modes to offer a few different viewing angles. For instance, Whiteboard Mode allows the webcam to zoom in on the contents of a whiteboard for use with online learning, while DeskView mode provides a birds-eye view of a desk so others will be able to see any documents you’re working on your desk. In practice, we found this more to point at our lap as opposed to the desk, but nonetheless, the feature is a handy option. Most strikingly however is the True Focus function that can quickly shift the autofocus away from your face to any object that’s plonked in front of it.

The software is split into three clear sections – Gimbal Control, Image Settings and More Settings – and should be easy for practically anyone to use. In Gimbal Control you can use a virtual joystick to move the Link around, while Image Settings allows you to fine tune settings such as brightness, saturation and more. The non-descript ‘More Settings’ is where the best options lie though, with toggles for HDR, gesture controls and the webcam’s Streamer Mode.

Reviewer: Thomas Deehan
Full review: Insta360 Link review

The Creative Live! Cam Sync 1080p is our top pick as the best budget webcam out there today, especially given you’re getting oodles of features for the small fee you’re spending.

For the price, the video quality proved to be very good, with a sharper image from the Live! Cam Sync’s 1080p sensor than those found in laptops, which are only 720p implements. This is noticeable when comparing the two side by side, as we did during testing, where Creative’s affordable candidate offers a much better colour balance than the built-in webcam on a MacBook Pro. Furthermore, the 77-degree FOV means you’ll be able to just fit a pair of people into frame, or more if you want to push the camera back. The built-in microphone also proved more than clear enough for usage over video chat.

Its design is rather plain and simple, with a wide plastic body that has the lens protruding out, and handily, Creative has bundled a few mounting options with the Live! Cam Sync, too. There’s a clip you can use on the back to hang this webcam off the top of the monitor, although it isn’t the most stable option. There’s also a tripod mount base, which proves especially useful if you want to fit more than two people into frame.

Connectivity is easy with it being a simple job of plugging it in. Unfortunately, there isn’t any additional software present for this model though, so the only way of making sure it’s all working is to plug it in and give it a test – you may need to make sure any of the bits of calling software you use are configured correctly.

Reviewer: David Ludlow
Full review: Creative Live! Cam Sync 1080p review