If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. Learn more. Videoconferencing is a fact of life. Even if you go to the office every single day, you'll probably have to hop on a Zoom, Meet, or Teams call and hope your tiny built-in webcam makes you look as good as you do. Newer Windows laptops and MacBooks have nicer p webcams that perform well even in low light, but if your webcam is giving you trouble or you don't have one for your desktop , you've come to the right place.
We've tested dozens over the years, hunting for the best webcam that captures your pretty mug in hi-res without breaking the bank. Includes unlimited digital access and exclusive subscriber-only content. Subscribe Today. You may not need a dedicated webcam at all.
It's actually really easy to use your smartphone's cameras as a webcam instead, and they're usually far superior.
Recent iPhones, for example, have a feature called Continuity Camera โthis works with certain MacBooks and allows you to wirelessly use the iPhone's camera as a webcam. Apple even sells a Belkin mount that lets you hang your iPhone off the top of your MacBook or external monitor for the full effect.
Photograph: Julian Chokkattu. Google Pixel phones also now feature wired webcam support. All you need to do is plug in a Pixel to your computer and choose the Webcam option for it to work. You'll just need a tripod to keep it propped up; something like this Joby GripTight will do the job. Don't have either of these devices? Don't fret. Got a professional camera? We have a guide on setting it up as a webcam too.
