Razer Kiyo for $72: Our previous best pick, the original Kiyo still offers 1080p at 30fps (or 720p at 60fps) and built-in lighting controlled by rotating the projection ring light to brighten, dim, or turn it off altogether. Image quality is good, with nice colors, and the camera quickly adjusts white balance as the ambient light in the room changes. It autofocuses well, but you’ll find it adjusts dramatically as you move around the frame. The field of view is a bit wider than regular webcams, at about 82 degrees. After a month, the hinge on my Kiyo broke causing me to pause. But my second is going strong, and WIRED writer Parker Hall has no problem with his Kiyo, so we’re still confident in our recommendation.
Anker B600 Video Bar 2K Webcam for $220: Editor Julian Chokkattu of the review called the B600’s video quality excellent. If your computer can power it, the B600 can stream at up to 2K resolution. However, it is expensive and too large to hang on a laptop screen like the other webcams in this guide. In low light, the image quality is very dim even with the built-in light source, so it’s best to pair with external light.
Obsbot’s Micro 4K AI Webcam for $269: Chokkattu has set the Obsbot as his primary webcam for over six months, and as someone who regularly watches videos with him a few times a week, I can say that its 4K-capable images look great . What makes it stand out is that it automatically tracks your face if you move around, making it look like you have your own camera crew. You can turn this feature on and off by waving your palm as it responds to hand gestures.
Logitech C922x for $99: The C922X is a capable webcam with solid specs. It can stream 1080p video at 30fps or 720p at 60fps, which makes the Razer Kiyo and Kiyo X top competitors. But it’s a bit more expensive and has a slightly narrower 78-degree field of view. It’s a good webcam, but you can buy an equivalent Kiyo X for less money.
Logitech C615 for $29: The specs are excellent (at the original price)—1080p resolution at 30fps with a 78-degree field of view—and picture quality is good in all low-light conditions. You can also rotate the camera 360 degrees, which editor Julian Chokkattu says he does when not in use because there’s no privacy shutter. On the other hand, a mono, non-stereo recording microphone and short cords can be annoying to use with a desktop computer, although it works well with a laptop. If retail inventory is dwindling and this is all you can find, it’s not a bad choice, although for a few more dollars your choice is much better.
Logitech C930e for $73: This is an enterprise alternative to Logitech’s C920 with a 90-degree field of view, better for engaging large groups of participants than the C920’s 78-degree field of view. For a home user, 90 degrees might be an interesting and welcome option (I love setting that option on the Brio). Unlike Brio, you are only allowed to use 90 degrees, which may not be suitable for everyone. This webcam has historically not been as cheap as it was recently. In the past, regular prices were over $100 or more, it wasn’t worth the extra cost. Under $100, it’s an acceptable webcam for
