The Best Webcams Right Now: Top Picks to Level Up Your Streaming Setup

The Elgato Facecam MK.2 makes some marked improvements over the original Elgato Facecam that IGN expert Chris Coke reviewed back in 2022. The one major disappointment was the lack of HDR, and the Facecam MK.2 remedies the problem. It’s HDR-enabled and makes other improvements to picture quality, handling highlights and shadows well, and managing to capture impressive detail and rich colors. It even performs decently in dimly lit spaces for a natural, smooth image; this camera is hovering around DSLR-level performance.

When using a USB 3.0 connection, the Facecam MK.2 delivers an uncompressed 1080p picture at up to 60 fps for a cleaner, more detail-rich stream. And while it may not offer 4K support, the lower resolution requires less bandwidth and encoding, resulting in a more stable stream. Or opt for 120fps in 720p for some epic slomo shots. I’m also a big fan of the fixed focus, eliminating the worry of the camera losing focus when moving around the frame.

While the Facecam MK.2 looks decent out of the box, dialing in settings isn’t a bad idea. Elgato’s Camera Hub software is a bit clunky but sets itself apart from others by offering DSLR-like controls for more fine-tuned adjustments to camera settings; it can be especially helpful in low-light situations. All the typical slider adjustments for saturation, contrast, and more are available, with the option for automatic adjustments. However, I’d recommend doing it manually. Settings can then be saved to the camera’s flash memory. Streamers can also make changes to the picture with OBS, but the Camera Hub is a better option.

The design of the Facecam MK.2 isn’t too different from the original; it’s just a bit more compact, with a lower-profile mounting system that shouldn’t interfere with a monitor’s screen. This time around, a privacy shutter is built in that’s a little awkward to maneuver. Still, the overall build quality is impressive. While there’s no microphone, serious streamers should be using a standalone mic or a great gaming headset anyway.

Combining a great 4K picture, tiny build, and intuitive AI enhancements, all for a shockingly great price, the Obsbot Meet 2 is perfect for streamers who want to skip the mirrorless camera setup for something more compact. IGN expert Chris Coke had the opportunity to conduct some hands-on testing of the Obsbot Meet 2, even stating that it has an “image quality that competes with some of the best webcams available today at a budget-friendly price.”

The most striking aspect of Obsbot’s Meet 2 is its size, measuring less than two inches square. But even if it’s small, the webcam is mighty, with a durable metal build and features a large 1/2-inch CMOS sensor and f/1.8 aperture lens to perform better in low light. Strong magnets are conveniently used for mounting, but can make adjustments a bit finicky. A microphone is even on board, while I wouldn’t rely on it for streaming, it’s helpful for occasional Teams or Zoom meetings.

Unlike our top pick, the Obsbot Meet 2 4K supports a slightly sharper resolution of up to 4K30, in addition to the same 1080p60 resolution. The FOV is narrower at 79°, so you can’t show off as much of your streaming setup. In normal and low-light situations, the picture remained crisp and clear during testing. Dark rooms brought expected graininess, but still maintained details and color accuracy intact, while offering smooth motion. However, HDR was less impressive overall, but in certain light conditions helps balance the picture.

Aiding in achieving near mirrorless camera level picture quality are impressive software and AI features. There are your typical setting adjustments, while the smart object tracking shines brighter than most webcams, allowing you to select the shot or body part you’d like to track. Autofocus is equally brilliant, consistently swapping from object to faces and adjusting focus in mere seconds. A few beauty filters are even available, similar to those on TikTok or Snapchat, which I’d totally take advantage of on days I’m not looking my best.

The Razer Kiyo Pro Ultra is sure to impress, especially for those after the most stunning picture from a webcam. During IGN’s review of the Razer Kiyo Pro Ultra, our reviewer found the colors to be true to life, with minor adjustments to contrast and exposure making things look even better. HDR performance is impressive, even in low-light situations. In fact, low-light performance overall is exceptional, in large part thanks to the large sensor; the result is a less grainy photo. The lens even produces a bokeh effect, successfully blurring the background and offering near mirrorless camera-level quality for a fraction of the cost.

While the Kiyo Pro Ultra supports an admirable 4K30 resolution, opting for the uncompressed 4K24 video further improves clarity and details. These recording capabilities and massive sensor contribute to the Kiyo Pro Ultra’s bulkier build, but it’s worth it for the top-tier performance. Razer also includes a tinny microphone in the design, which works fine when in a pinch. However, I’d pick something else up for professional streams.

Along with the webcam comes Razer’s Synapse software, which is bloated and not the most reliable. Still, after getting past its finickiness, the software offers a multitude of ways to adjust camera settings. Luckily, the camera looks pretty great right out of the box, and you can always opt to use OBS to make more basic settings adjustments.

For streaming, autofocus is a convenient feature. The Razer Kiyo Pro Ultra offers several presets, including a face mode, which our reviewer found worked “almost too good” at keeping focus on the face. A standard mode is available to shift focus to whatever is closest to the screen; it’s not the quickest but won’t hunt for focus like most phone cameras are guilty of.

The Dell UltraSharp is one of the rare 4K webcams offering excellent HDR support for a reasonable price. With HDR enabled, it’s highly accurate, and the picture can look even better by just tweaking a few picture settings. In our review of the Dell UltraSharp, our tester found the image tended to skew darker than other cameras they’ve tested, but the dynamic range performance beat out others when it came to color accuracy and detail retention.

For those who tend to stream in low-light spaces, the UltraSharp is an excellent choice, as it preserves colors and detail due to its use of Sony’s STARVIS sensor. Autofocus is even reliable in the dimmer lighting situations, with the camera consistently finding our reviewer’s face.

While the UltraSharp looks decent out of the box, as mentioned, it tends to be a bit darker than other webcams. Dell has some easy-to-use software that can help remedy that problem, as well as a few handy smart features that work okay but are nothing extraordinary. This camera also works with all the best streaming tools, including OBS.

Dell distinguishes the UltraSharp from other webcams with its unique cylindrical shape and durable metal body. Its design is deeper than most, measuring 3.5 inches, but that aids in fitting the sensor and multi-element front lens for a crisp picture. However, the footprint of the camera when mounted on a monitor is only 1.6 inches but still manages a 90° FOV with limited warping to the image. Even with the bigger build, this webcam does have one glaring omission: a microphone.

Logitech’s StreamCam offers a striking, boxy design with a versatile mounting system. The camera can be placed at the top of the monitor like normal, or it can be rotated to capture vertical video; streamers using TikTok, Reels, or YouTube Shorts may want to take advantage of this feature. A second mount even allows for the StreamCam to attach to a tripod for a more flexible setup.

It’s easy to get using this webcam, it just attaches to your PC via a USB-C, and from there it’s ready to deliver 60 fps at 1080p. On board is easy-to-master, easy on your computer software with useful tools like face tracking, which successfully follows you within the 78° FOV. For those who move around a lot during streams, it’s especially handy. The StreamCam’s out-of-the-box picture is dark, so adjusting settings, including brightness, contrast, and sharpness, is a must; this can be done using Logitech’s software or OBS.

During IGN’s review of the Logitech StreamCam, expert Chris Coke was impressed with the camera’s low-light performance, with its minimal graininess and ability to find details in shadows. And even in dimmer settings, the auto-focus feature consistently found the reviewer's face, while the frame rate remained smooth. The microphone also outperforms other built-in mics with its dual microphones for Stereo or Dual Mono; I’d still recommend that even beginner streamers opt for a standalone mic or headset, but it works great for Discord chats or Zooms.