The webcam you pick for your virtual education matters.
Why?
Well, just because a webcam has 1080P or 4K doesn’t make it great.
Just because it has a built-in microphone doesn’t mean the audio will be great.
Case in point
The meross 1080P webcam
This webcam is under $30 and can even be found on sale for $20 at times.
It’s a 1080P webcam running on a USB 2.0 connection. It has a built-in microphone, a clamp design for a secure screen connection as well as a tripod port if you prefer mounting that way.
Looking at the specs, the webcam is pretty good.
But the questions is – how good is it really?
To answer that questino I compared the meross wecbam to what I believe is the gold standard of webcams, the Logitech Brio.
The Brio is a 4K webcam (which downscales to 1080P) also with a built-in microphone, a clamp mount and a tripod mount. However, the main difference in specs is that the cable connection is USB-C to USB3, which means the data transfer rate will be faster.
The Brio sells for well over $100 (when you can find it in stock)
Here is a side-by-side comparison of the webcams.
As you see, while the meross webcam does a decent job, and has a very wide view, it’s not nearly as good of quality as the Brio.
This is a clear example of “you get what you pay for”.
But I will say, that the meross webcam is likely better than most built-in laptop and monitor webcams. Plus you get the flexibility of an external webcam. That’s particularly useful for teachers who need a document camera.
So if you find yourself in need of a webcam, and have a small budget, consider the meross webcam.
But if you need the best, and can afford it, and can find it in stock, pick up the Brio.
Anker C300 Webcam
Another nice webcam is the Anker C300 with its AI-driven software for smart cropping on your face. Here is a look at the Anker C300 webcam.
