Buying Guide
The Best Webcams for Video Calls
Five webcams compared, from the 1080p webcam with tripod to the C922x, with the trade-offs of each named.
By The PC Journal editorial team
12 min read5 products evaluated
Autofocus keeps you sharp when you lean in on a call. Every pick has autofocus and cost $150 or less.
We sorted these picks by top resolution, max frame rate and focus and framing, working from the makers' own data; any figure a maker omits is noted as missing, and no figure here comes from our own testing.
Quick Picks
Our 5 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Lowest Price Here
Pro HD 1080p 30fps Webcam with Tripod
The cheapest way into this group, below the Galyimage ring light.
Best for: Keeping the budget tight.
Our take Check price for Pro HD 1080p 30fps Webcam with Tripod (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
Galyimage 4K Webcam with Ring Light
A built-in ring light with three color temperatures.
Best for: Buyers who want built-in ring light with three color temperatures.
Our take Check price for Galyimage 4K Webcam with Ring Light (opens in a new tab)
Strong Alternative
NexiGo N680E Pro 4K Webcam with Ring Light
A built-in ring light with three color temperatures and a brightness dial.
Best for: Buyers who want built-in ring light with three color temperatures and a brightness dial.
Our take Check price for NexiGo N680E Pro 4K Webcam with Ring Light (opens in a new tab)
Highest Top Frame Rate
OBSBOT Tiny SE 1080p PTZ Webcam with Mini Tripod
The highest top frame rate here (120fps).
Best for: Buyers who put top frame rate first.
Our take Check price for OBSBOT Tiny SE 1080p PTZ Webcam with Mini Tripod (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
Logitech C922x Pro Stream Webcam
The top of this price range, adding 720p60 for smoother motion.
Best for: Spending more for the fullest feature set.
Our take Check price for Logitech C922x Pro Stream Webcam (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 5
Pro HD 1080p 30fps Webcam with Tripod on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The 1080p webcam with tripod is built around a tripod in the box, with dual noise-reducing microphones on top.
Best for
- Keeping the budget tight.
Skip if
- Skip it if top frame rate matters most to you; the Tiny SE with tripod offers 120fps.
Why we like it
On the spec sheet, it offers a 30fps top frame rate. Its two noise-cancelling microphones pick up voice from up to 10 feet away, and autofocus keeps your face sharp. A tripod comes in the box.
It suits calls, webinars, online classes and game streaming. It records 1080p at 30fps with autofocus and low-light correction. Like the C922x, it has a 1080p30 top resolution, while the Tiny SE with tripod uses a 1080p100 top resolution.
Like the C922x, it has an autofocus focus and framing, while the Galyimage ring light uses a TOF autofocus focus and framing. It undercut the Galyimage ring light and every other pick on price at the time of writing. The trade-off is top frame rate; for more, the Tiny SE with tripod offers 120fps.
Key dimensions & specs
- Top resolution: 1080p30
- Max frame rate: 30fps
- Focus and framing: Autofocus
Pros
- Tripod in the box
- Dual noise-reducing microphones
- Low-light correction
- The cheapest way into this group, below the Galyimage ring light
Cons
- Top frame rate trails the Tiny SE with tripod (120fps)
Also Consider2 of 5
Galyimage 4K Webcam with Ring Light on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
What the Galyimage ring light brings to the table is a built-in ring light with three color temperatures, plus dual noise-cancelling microphones.
Best for
- Buyers who want built-in ring light with three color temperatures.
Skip if
- If budget leads, the 1080p webcam with tripod was cheaper at our last price check.
Why we like it
It also offers a 60fps top frame rate. The built-in ring light has three colour temperatures and dims by touch, which helps in a dark room. TOF autofocus and two noise-cancelling mics cover calls without extra gear.
On top frame rate it ties with the N680E Pro and the C922x at 60fps. No other pick in this guide offers a TOF autofocus focus and framing; compare the N680E Pro, which has a PDAF focus and framing. It also offers stepless dimming.
4K output needs a USB 3 port and an app that accepts 4K; most video-call apps send 1080p or less. Its price falls between the 1080p webcam with tripod and the N680E Pro, based on our last check.
Key dimensions & specs
- Top resolution: 4K30, 1080p60
- Max frame rate: 60fps
- Focus and framing: TOF autofocus
Pros
- Built-in ring light with three color temperatures
- Dual noise-cancelling microphones
- Stepless dimming
- Top frame rate of 60fps, ahead of the 1080p webcam with tripod
Cons
- Costs more than the 1080p webcam with tripod at the time of writing
Strong Alternative3 of 5
NexiGo N680E Pro 4K Webcam with Ring Light on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
NexiGo's N680E Pro builds a ring light into the webcam, with three colour temperatures and a brightness dial.
Best for
- Buyers who want built-in ring light with three color temperatures and a brightness dial.
Skip if
- Skip it if price comes first: the 1080p webcam with tripod cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It streams 1080p at 60fps from a Sony 1/2.5in 4K sensor with phase-detect autofocus. A built-in ring light helps in dim rooms. It works with Windows, macOS, ChromeOS and Switch 2 with an adapter.
It matches the Galyimage ring light and the C922x on top frame rate (60fps). You get a PDAF focus and framing here, which sets it apart from the 1080p webcam with tripod and its an autofocus focus and framing. It also comes with dual noise-reducing microphones and an 80-degree field of view.
4K output needs a USB 3 port and an app that accepts 4K; most video-call apps send 1080p or less. When we checked, only the Galyimage ring light and cheaper picks cost less, and the Tiny SE with tripod cost more.
Key dimensions & specs
- Top resolution: 4K sensor, 1080p60 streaming
- Max frame rate: 60fps
- Sensor: Sony 1/2.5in
- Focus and framing: PDAF
- Privacy: Privacy shutter
Pros
- Built-in ring light with three color temperatures and a brightness dial
- Dual noise-reducing microphones
- 80-degree field of view
- Top frame rate of 60fps, ahead of the 1080p webcam with tripod
Cons
- Costs more than the 1080p webcam with tripod at the time of writing
Highest Top Frame Rate4 of 5
OBSBOT Tiny SE 1080p PTZ Webcam with Mini Tripod on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Tiny SE with tripod stands out for 1080p at 100fps and 720p at 120fps, and it adds a mini tripod in the box.
Best for
- Buyers who put top frame rate first.
Skip if
- If budget leads, the 1080p webcam with tripod was cheaper at our last price check.
Why we like it
It also offers a 120fps top frame rate. Its two-axis gimbal physically follows you, and gesture controls let you change framing without touching the PC. PDAF autofocus and 4x digital zoom keep close-ups sharp.
A mini tripod comes in the box, so it can stand on a desk away from the monitor. Its 120fps top frame rate is the highest here; the Galyimage ring light comes next at 60fps. A 1080p100 top resolution is unique to it among these picks, while the C922x uses a 1080p30 top resolution.
Its motorized gimbal needs clearance above the monitor to tilt and pan. When we checked, only the N680E Pro and cheaper picks cost less, and the C922x cost more.
Key dimensions & specs
- Top resolution: 1080p100
- Max frame rate: 120fps
- Focus and framing: PDAF, PTZ AI tracking
Pros
- 1080p at 100fps and 720p at 120fps
- Mini tripod in the box
- Gesture control and 4x digital zoom
- Highest top frame rate of the picks (120fps)
Cons
- Costs more than the 1080p webcam with tripod at the time of writing
Premium Pick5 of 5
Logitech C922x Pro Stream Webcam on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Logitech's C922x is the long-running streaming webcam, with 1080p30 or 720p60 and dual mics.
Best for
- Spending more for the fullest feature set.
Skip if
- Worth skipping when no built-in privacy shutte is a problem.
Why we like it
It has no privacy shutter. HD lighting adjustment and autofocus keep the image sharp in dim rooms. It also works with Nintendo Switch 2 GameChat.
It matches the Galyimage ring light and the N680E Pro on top frame rate (60fps). It shares a 1080p30 top resolution with the 1080p webcam with tripod; the Tiny SE with tripod goes with a 1080p100 top resolution. It shares an autofocus focus and framing with the 1080p webcam with tripod; the N680E Pro goes with a PDAF focus and framing.
It also offers 720p60 for smoother motion. At our last price check it topped the group, with the Tiny SE with tripod the nearest cheaper option.
Key dimensions & specs
- Top resolution: 1080p30
- Max frame rate: 60fps
- Sensor: Not stated
- Focus and framing: Autofocus
- Privacy: None
Pros
- 720p60 for smoother motion
- Dual microphones
- Long track record as a streaming webcam
- Top frame rate of 60fps, ahead of the 1080p webcam with tripod
Cons
- no built-in privacy shutter
- Costs more than the 1080p webcam with tripod at the time of writing
How We Chose These Webcams for Video Calls
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- The figures behind the order
- We set side by side five webcams on top resolution, top frame rate, focus and framing and privacy from manufacturer specifications. We did not test them in-house.
- The shared baseline
- All 5, from the 1080p webcam with tripod to the C922x, state top resolution, top frame rate and focus and framing.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The 1080p webcam with tripod, the Galyimage ring light and the Tiny SE with tripod give no privacy.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the 1080p webcam with tripod (under $50) to the C922x ($100 to $150).
What to Look for in a Webcam for Video Calls
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
How much top frame rate you need
Here top frame rate runs from 30fps on the 1080p webcam with tripod to 120fps on the Tiny SE with tripod. For less, the Galyimage ring light is the runner-up at 60fps.
Setup checks
4K output needs a USB 3 port and an app that accepts 4K; most video-call apps send 1080p or less. Its motorized gimbal needs clearance above the monitor to tilt and pan.
Features beyond the spec table
The Galyimage ring light: dual noise-cancelling microphones. The Tiny SE with tripod: a mini tripod in the box. The C922x: dual microphones.
How much to spend
Under $50 buys the 1080p webcam with tripod and the Galyimage ring light; $50 to $100 buys the N680E Pro and the Tiny SE with tripod; $100 to $150 buys the C922x at our last check.
Match the pick to your priority
Keeping the budget tight: the 1080p webcam with tripod. Buyers who put top frame rate first: the Tiny SE with tripod. Spending more for the fullest feature set: the C922x.
Mounting
Most webcams clip to a monitor. A tripod thread lets you place the camera at eye level or off to the side.
How to Choose a Webcam for Video Calls
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Keeping the budget tight | 1080p webcam with tripod | The cheapest way into this group, below the Galyimage ring light |
| Buyers who want built-in ring light with three color temperatures | Galyimage ring light | A built-in ring light with three color temperatures |
| Buyers who want built-in ring light with three color temperatures and a brightness dial | N680E Pro | A built-in ring light with three color temperatures and a brightness dial |
| Buyers who put top frame rate first | Tiny SE with tripod | The highest top frame rate here (120fps) |
| Spending more for the fullest feature set | C922x | The top of this price range, adding 720p60 for smoother motion |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The Tiny SE with tripod leads on top frame rate at 120fps, ahead of the Galyimage ring light at 60fps. "Not listed" means the maker leaves that figure out.
| Webcam | Top resolution | Max frame rate | Sensor | Focus and framing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p webcam with tripod | 1080p30 | 30fps | Not listed | Autofocus |
| Galyimage ring light | 4K30, 1080p60 | 60fps | Not listed | TOF autofocus |
| N680E Pro | 4K sensor, 1080p60 streaming | 60fps | Sony 1/2.5in | PDAF |
| Tiny SE with tripod | 1080p100 | 120fps | Not listed | PDAF, PTZ AI tracking |
| C922x | 1080p30 | 60fps | Not stated | Autofocus |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
The 1080p webcam with tripod was the lowest-priced pick and the C922x the highest when we checked; tiers move with Amazon pricing.
| Price tier | Webcams |
|---|---|
| Under $50 | 1080p webcam with tripod, Galyimage ring light |
| About $50 to $100 | N680E Pro, Tiny SE with tripod |
| About $100 to $150 | C922x |
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Galyimage ring light compare with the Tiny SE with tripod on top frame rate?
The Tiny SE with tripod leads at 120fps, with the Galyimage ring light at 60fps. The 1080p webcam with tripod is at the other end of this group with 30fps.
Is the C922x worth paying more than the 1080p webcam with tripod?
On paper it adds top frame rate (60fps against 30fps). The 1080p webcam with tripod was the lowest-priced pick when we checked, so pay the difference only if those gains matter to you.
What makes the 1080p webcam with tripod the Lowest Price Here?
It earns the label for the cheapest way into this group, below the Galyimage ring light. It suits keeping the budget tight.
What should I check before buying the Galyimage ring light?
4K output needs a USB 3 port and an app that accepts 4K; most video-call apps send 1080p or less. In this guide it ranks second of 5.
Beyond the specs, what sets the 1080p webcam with tripod and the Galyimage ring light apart?
The 1080p webcam with tripod: a tripod in the box. The Galyimage ring light: a built-in ring light with three color temperatures. The N680E Pro: a built-in ring light with three color temperatures and a brightness dial.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the 1080p webcam with tripod, chosen for the cheapest way into this group, below the Galyimage ring light. Look at the Galyimage ring light for a built-in ring light with three color temperatures, the N680E Pro for a built-in ring light with three color temperatures and a brightness dial and the Tiny SE with tripod for the highest top frame rate here (120fps) if those matter more to you.
Position the camera at eye level.