Since work from home swept the world, the way we work has changed dramatically. The biggest difference is the endless marathon of online meetings. So many new things to worry about have been added to the daily stressors of building a career.
Is my setup professional? Do I have to dress up for regular team meetings? Is it weird to take some calls from the couch?
But nothing has caused more new problems than “why is my camera quality so bad?!”
As it turns out laptops, broadly speaking, do not have great camera quality. It really is apparent when you’re on calls all day wondering why you continue to show up as blurry or with an annoying lag. Upgrading your camera to a professional webcam that attaches directly to your laptop can solve the problem of wanting to be able to work in a more mobile format, but without sacrificing on video and sound quality.
We broke down the options and found the two our Editors loved the most.
Lumina:
Lumina is one of the most cutting-edge options on the market. It is an AI-powered webcam designed to hide distractions with a configurable background bokeh effect. It uses an ultra-wide camera to adjust the colors on your screen and transmit the clearest, sharpest image possible.
It will boost or mute colors while keeping skin tones natural, and the difference it makes is obvious. Especially compared to a traditional laptop camera, it feels the way it did when HDTV first came out. The difference is remarkable.
It will even follow you throughout your call if you move or shift in your seat to ensure you’re centered in the frame. Perfect for anyone who likes to shift around in stressful meetings.
It retails for $250 and comes in four stylish colors, including Atomic Gray, Silver, Rose Gold, and Gold. Something for any laptop.
If you’re looking for the gold standard in webcam technology, look no further than Lumina’s AI-Powered option.
Logitech Brio 4K:
The Logitech Brio 4k is a state-of-the-art option for anyone looking for a more affordable price. It has ultra 4K HD video calling, noise-canceling mic, HD auto light correction, and provides an extremely clear quality that measures up to the more expensive options.
It’s available directly on Amazon, so Prime members can get their standard free shipping and even one-day delivery!
It has nearly 12,000 5-star reviews, and they rave about the quality and durability of the Brio. It attaches seamlessly to the top of the screen and packs comfortably in any travel bag for on-the-go use.
If retails for $145, and if you’re looking to upgrade, it’s one of the best options on the market.