Best 1080p Full HD Webcams: Great webcams for video calls & meetings
When we purchase a new laptop, we compare the specifications of different laptops and get a device that meets our requirements. However, you would agree that there are very few laptops that come with good quality webcams. For some mysteriously unknown reason, most manufacturers seem to be happy with a low-grade 720p camera on their products.
In fact, many of us have seen even the latest models ship with sub-standard webcams. While that isn’t usually a deal-breaker, it surely becomes a pain point when attending video calls. You will soon realise that your video appears grainer to those with a dedicated webcam. So, is there anything we can do about it?
Top 10 Best Full HD 1080p WebCams: Great webcams for video calls
Simple answer. Yes. We can just get ourselves a high-quality external web camera that is miles ahead of the stock camera on the laptop and doesn’t even cost a lot. In fact, you can get one at even less than $50. Well, that’s what we have for you today. 10 good quality, Full HD web cameras that are sure to add some much-needed clarity in those work Skype calls and group chats. Aftermarket, rocks!!!
1. Razer Kiyo Streaming Webcam
Razer is well known for its high-quality peripherals. This high-quality web camera is highly rated and is one of the best-selling multipurpose web cameras you can buy. It is designed for video streamers and supports video capture at 720p 60 FPS / 1080p 30FPS. The device is natively compatible with Streamlabs and is compatible with popular live-streaming platforms and video-mixing applications like OBS and XSplit.
The device comes with an attached 5600K daylight-balanced ring light around the camera lens that keeps the subjects evenly lit. The bezels of the lens can be rotated to instantly adjust brightness. Additionally, It can be controlled through the driver software that comes bundled with the camera. The lens has good low-light performance that reduces noise and graininess and brings out better details in darker environments.
2. Logitech C930e Video Webcam
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The C930e from Logitech is a business-grade webcam that captures video at 1080p resolution at 30FPS. It is compatible with PC and Mac. The camera has a wide 90-degree extended field of view with a pan and tilt mount. It also has 4x digital zoom which is usually rare in webcams. The webcam can be mounted on a tripod and comes with a clip that fits laptops as well as flat-screen monitors.
The webcam records smooth video and can stream it over low bandwidth connections by processing video using the in-built UVC h.264 encoding system. It can be connected to any USB 2.0 port and is also compatible with hi-speed USB 3.0. The camera works best with Skype and other popular web conferencing applications and is Microsoft Lync 2013 certified. There are two omnidirectional microphones placed on each side of the lense that records clear stereo audio and it comes with a privacy shutter that can be used to cover the lense while not being used.
3. NexiGo AutoFocus Webcam
The NexiGo N930AF webcam is a relatively unknown brand but it surely doesn’t cut any corners with the quality of the product. When it comes to popularity the NexiGo N930AF surpasses even the most well-known brands on some online portals. It features a 2 megapixel CMOS sensor and can capture videos at 1080p resolution at 30fps. The webcam has an incredible 7 cm focal distance that can be manually tuned and is good at capturing far-off elements too at great clarity. To do that you need to turn off the autofocus feature in the software. You can then set the camera to focus on the most prominent subject in front of the lense to ensure that the quality of the transmitted video is clear or distortion-free.
There is a built-in noise-canceling microphone that reduces ambient noise to enhance the sound quality of the captured video. The camera is compatible with the UPnP protocol and does not need any bundled driver to work. It is widely compatible with almost all popular applications like Zoom, Facetime, Facebook, or streaming platforms like OBS and Twitch. It also comes with a manual lens cover for privacy and peace of mind.
4. Logitech C925e 1080p Webcam
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Another great webcam from Logitech is the C925e that has business-grade specs and captures video at FullHD 1080p resolution at 30fps. It comes with autofocus and advanced light correction that does well to reduce noise if ambiance light is low. The device comes equipped with UPnP that allows it to run without installing any drivers. The clip at the base of the product is adjustable and comes with a threaded base that mounts firmly on top of laptops or tripods.
The Logitech C925-e uses UVC H.264 encoding that enables the transmission of crisp and razor-sharp videos on low bandwidth. The field of view is a little low at 78 degrees and dual omnidirectional microphones enable accurate capture of a voice by cutting out unwanted ambient noise. The privacy shutter covers up the lens when not in use. The C925e is optimized for Microsoft Lync 2013 and is certified for use with Skype for Business. It also has certifications from Cisco Jabber and WebEx.
5. AVerMedia Live Streamer Cam
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Next, we have a highly rated but relatively unknown brand AVerMedia with their offering the ‘313 Live Stream Cam’ with an attractive design. It works wonders with the RECentral software that adds Portrait Enhancement features with AI stickers to a recording. Two microphones capture good audio and cut ambient noise. The video capture quality is native 1080p and comes with a privacy slider that shuts up the lens when the camera is not in use.
The camera has a tight clip that latches tightly to a tripod and can turn 360 degrees on the left or right that gives it a huge area of view ‘virtually’. It is compatible with Windows and Mac OS and works right out of the USB 2.0 port.
6. Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920
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Although every Logitech camera looks rather similar from the outside, there is a whole lot of difference in the internals. The C920 HD PRO webcam has native 1080p capture capabilities at 30fps using a glass lens (78° diagonal field of view) and use UVC H.264 encoding capabilities that make it a treat to use on low bandwidth Internet connections. The capture quality is superb and elements even far off are captured with good sharp edges and low noise even in low light.
The webcam does not have a shutter cover and that could be a point of pain for the privacy concerned users. There is autofocus but there are complaints of it being a hit or miss. The C920 works on UPnP and works straight out of a USB2.0 port without the need for any drivers. It is cross-platform compatible and is more suited for casual use.
7. RALENO 1080P Webcam
More of a generic branded camera but blessed with extremely good ratings and superb specifications. It’s a wonder that this webcam can do native 1080p video capture and that too over a wide-angle lens. The capture quality is razor-sharp in high definition and true color. The image quality is high and the cherry on the top is the application of autofocus and light correction simultaneously during live recordings.
The capture area is up to 80 degrees which is at par with most entrants on the list. The device has a primary mic in front and a noise-canceling secondary microphone at the back that does well to cancel ambient noise. The microphone is sensitive and captures sounds up to 8 meters away. It is compatible with almost all social media platforms and popular video call applications.
8. Logitech C922x Pro Stream Webcam
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We promise this to be the last ‘same looking’ Logitech webcam in the C922x. Its high rating and exceptional features make it a very popular webcam for professional gamers who regularly stream content. The Full HD glass sensor inside captures video at true 1080p quality. It is cross-platform compatible and works with all major streaming applications like Streamlabs and OBS. The camera comes with an auto light-correction feature that captures exceptional content even in dim and poorly lit ambiance. In-built autofocus works well to capture pristine quality images and videos. Two omnidirectional microphones capture rich stereo audio. The field of view is set low at 78 degrees.
9. Victure SC30 Webcam
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Another almost a generic webcam but highly rated with good specs on the card here. Victure SC30 can rotate 360 degrees horizontally and has a 45 degrees tilt. This enables the camera to have a massive field of view. On top of this, there is an 80-degree wide-angle lens. Combine it all and we probably have the best candidate for huge video conferences and online education classes.
A bad miss is perhaps the privacy shutter that comes separately and makes it prone to getting misplaced. The video capture quality is native 1080p and comes with dual microphones for good quality stereo audio along with noise cancellation. We see low light correction features and the camera is compatible with UPnP. It works with most popular video streaming applications and is compatible with Windows as well as Mac.
10. Nulaxy C900 Webcam
Our last entrant is probably a name you have never heard but its specs are off the charts. Capable of recording Full HD 1080p video at 30fps, it has a 92-degree field of view and a lense that has redness reduction technology that reduces underexposure in images. It can be mounted on a tripod and the camera unit itself is 360 degrees rotatable. In addition to the already superb field of view, the clip at the base of the camera is also adjustable up to 180 degrees. The 4mm lens is equipped with a CMOS sensor and can capture video on a wide variety of resolutions.
The Nulaxy C900 is a plug-and-play device and is virtually compatible with all video conferencing platforms and that too across different operating systems. The icing on the cake is the privacy shutter that adds even more bling to the impressive web camera when it’s applied.
Conclusion
A good quality webcam is no longer a novelty item and its usefulness has increased more during these troubled times of Covid when a huge chunk of business is happening on a work from home model. They have a lot more to offer in terms of quality, features and controls and are much better in comparison to stock webcams on laptops. With frequent business calls, online group meetings and even online classes happening from home, a small $50 (or more) investment will go a long way.
