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Working from home is just as common as daily commutes to the office these days. You might be familiar with remote how-are-you-doing check-ins or important weekly meetings. In today's world, staying connected with colleagues, friends, and family members is more important than ever, even when there’s a lot of distance separating us. What makes all of this communication possible? Webcams.
Webcams are amazing little tools that can be secured to a desktop monitor or a laptop screen. The video performance you get is a dramatic improvement over the built-in cameras, and they can even manage your audio (and sometimes lighting!) for you. If you’re video calling anyone, ever, you want a webcam.
If you agree with us and you’re ready to find your first—or next—webcam, we’re here to help. We want to make sure you get the right one. To do that you’ll have to consider all of the features. Things like price, resolution, audio quality, size and weight, field of view, and refresh rate all matter.
This comprehensive guide will investigate the best webcams in Canada right now and outline the criteria you should consider while making your purchase decision. Let’s dive right into our top five products.
Top Pick: Emeet C960 Webcam
Upgrade Pick: Logitech Brio 4K Pro Webcam
Budget Pick: Logitech C270 HD Webcam
Ring Light Pick: NexiGo N960E Webcam with Light
Also Great: Logitech C920X HD Pro Webcam
There are so many things we like about the Emeet C960 Webcam. It’s a great option for spaces with poor lighting because it has a ton of automation to make things look better. Automatic low-light correction, exposure adjustments, and colour boosting, to be exact. It also has a wide 90-degree field of view and head/base adjustability, so it’s a great choice for video calling as a group.
Its 1080p resolution means your videos will be very clear, but you won’t have to worry about sound quality either. It has two noise-reducing mics to make sure your environment doesn’t interfere with your audio. We also love that it has a privacy cover. It’s just a little extra peace of mind for you when aren’t using the camera.
We have a couple of low points to mention, but don’t worry, they’re nothing serious. First, the connection cord is pretty short, so you’ll need to make sure it can be placed pretty close to its power source. Also, the privacy cover tends to get loose over time. Nobody wants to constantly manage the cover to use their webcam, but you may have to with continued regular use.
What Reviewers Are Saying About the Emeet C960 Webcam
Reviewers have a great opinion of the Emeet C960 Webcam. The video and audio quality are more than acceptable for all of their needs, and setup was a total breeze even for people who have never used a webcam before. The cord was a bit short for some people, but they made it work. Most of them chose this option for the wide field of view, and they don’t regret it.
Dimensions: 4.9” x 2.6” x 2”
Weight: 0.35 lbs
Resolution: 1080p
Refresh Rate: 30 fps
Field of View: 90 degrees
Privacy Cover: Yes
Warranty: 1 year
Pros:
Has two noise-reducing mics for excellent sound coming and going
Privacy cover easily flips down whenever you want to block the camera
Auto low-light correction, exposure adjustment, and colour boost
Webcam base and head are adjustable
Cons:
Privacy cover will get loose over time
Cord is pretty short
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 5/5
Price: 5/5
Quality: 4.5/5
All in all, the Emeet C960 Webcam is our top recommendation for Canadians this year. It’s incredibly well-rounded, easy to set up, and offers some bonus features that expand its versatility. No matter what you need a webcam for, this one will be a great fit.
The Logitech Brio 4K Pro Webcam absolutely wows us. And it takes a lot to do that. It’s got the best possible resolution and refresh rate, so all of your video content will be exceptionally clear and smooth. You’ve also got three field-of-view presets to choose from—you can include more of your environment or narrow the focus as you see fit. It’s even compatible with Windows Hello (facial recognition log-in).
This webcam has autofocusing and auto light adjustment, meaning you will always look your best no matter what your light conditions are. It also has a noise-cancelling mic to keep your environmental noise out of your video calls. The flip-up privacy shade is another favourite feature—it lets you hang onto your privacy whenever you do not need the camera.
It’s nearly impossible to find anything wrong with this webcam. So near, in fact, that we only have one critique to make. And that’s the price tag. It won’t be a feasible option for everybody, especially folks who won’t be using a webcam that often, and that means lots of people have to miss out on its wonderfulness. But you really are getting what you pay for.
Reviewers are blown away by the quality of the Logitech Brio 4K Pro Webcam. Everything about it exceeds their expectations—the video quality and clarity, the audio performance, and the flawless automation of focus and light. They love everything, in other words. Especially the preset field of view options. Makes things really convenient.
Dimensions: 1” x 1” x 4”
Weight: 0.74 lbs
Resolution: 4K
Refresh Rate: 90 fps
Field of View: 65 degrees, 78 degrees, or 90 degrees
Privacy Cover: Yes
Warranty: 3 years
Pros:
Has a noise-cancelling mic and three field-of-view presets
Can be used to log into Windows computers with facial recognition (Windows Hello)
Flip-up privacy shade protects your security and privacy when webcam is not in use
Autofocus and auto light adjustment are effective even in low light or backlight conditions
Cons:
Fairly expensive
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 5/5
Price: 3/5
Quality: 5/5
All in all, the Logitech Brio 4K Pro Webcam is the most advanced option money can buy. And you will need to invest a fair amount to make it yours. But considering the quality of, well, everything about it, we’re quite certain you will be happy with your choice.
The Logitech C270 HD Webcam has more features than you’d expect to see on such a budget-friendly option. The standout (for us at least) is the automatic light correction. When your environment’s lighting changes, the webcam will adjust to keep your video consistent. That’s a nice touch, right? We all want to look our best, after all. This is a great companion for travel too. It’s light and super compact.
One of the things we love about this is how versatile it is. The universal clip lets you attach it in seconds to any laptop or monitor, but it can also fold up to sit on a shelf. Since it has a noise-reducing mic (not to be confused with noise-cancelling, these are not the same), your audio quality will be clear even if you’re in a busier space.
There are a few low points we want you to be aware of, too. This webcam doesn’t have an autofocus, so you might need to play around with its position to make sure it produces a clear image. And it doesn’t have a privacy cover either. Also, it isn’t the most durable thing on the planet. Treat it with care on the go.
Reviewers like the Logitech C270 HD Webcam quite a bit. They don’t recommend it for heavy daily use, because the quality just isn’t there, but it’s a great option for less demanding environments. The video and audio quality are great for the price, and since it folds up for sitting on a shelf, it’s also really easy to tuck in a bag for travel.
Dimensions: 2.6” x 1.25” x 2.9”
Weight: 0.16 lbs
Resolution: 720p HD
Refresh Rate: 30 fps
Privacy Cover: No
Warranty: 2 years
Pros:
Noise-reducing mic helps to improve audio quality
Auto light correction keeps the video quality stable
Very portable
Universal clip can be used on every laptop or monitor, and it can also fold to sit on a shelf
Cons:
No privacy cover
No autofocus
Performance: 4/5
Usability: 4.5/5
Price: 5/5
Quality: 4/5
Overall, the Logitech C270 HD Webcam is our top recommendation for people who want a reliable webcam for the most affordable price. It isn’t the best-performing option around, but it’s also not the worst. If you want a webcam that just works, all the time, this is the one to get.
The NexiGo N960E Webcam with Light has so much going for it. It’s really the best choice if you want to look your absolute best and/or you’re fighting awful lighting. The ring light has touch controls so you can adjust the brightness and colour temperature, and it also has a companion app for smaller changes (things like contrast, saturation, etc.). We’re talking professional lighting, here.
The entire webcam/ring light piece can rotate in a complete circle, too, so you can take excellent videos in any part of your space. With a noise-cancelling microphone and a continuous automatic focus, you’ll never have to worry about a less-than-stellar video or audio output.
When it comes to the cons, we don’t really have much to say. Which is so great, right? You’ll need to put in a little extra cash to get this one, so that’s something to think about. And it won’t travel as well as smaller options. But really, those are pretty minor things. We can’t imagine they’ll deter anyone from choosing this option.
Reviewers have a very high opinion of the NexiGo N960E Webcam with Light. The audio and video quality is flawless, and they absolutely love how much they can do with the lighting. The continuous autofocus works the way it’s meant to, and the privacy shutter gives them a lot of peace of mind when they’re using their computer for any other reason.
Dimensions: 2.4” x 1.8” x 3.4”
Weight: 0.53 lbs
Resolution: 1080p
Refresh Rate: 60 fps
Field of View: 75 degrees
Privacy Cover: Yes
Warranty: 1 year
Pros:
Has a fast and continuous autofocus and a noise-cancelling mic
Companion app lets you adjust saturation, brightness, contrast, and so much more
Ring light and webcam rotate 360 degrees
Touch controls on ring light let you adjust brightness and color temperature in seconds
Cons:
Little bit pricey
Not as travel-friendly as the average webcam
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 5/5
Price: 4/5
Quality: 5/5
Overall, the NexiGo N960E Webcam with Light is as close to perfect as it gets. It’s a bit bulkier and pricier than the average webcam, but those minor low points don’t even come close to countering the benefits you’ll get—exceptional lighting, exceptional sound quality, and crystal clear video should be your expectations.
The Logitech C920X HD Pro Webcam has a lot of excellent features working in its favour. One of our favourite things is the automation it offers. It will automatically focus the camera and adjust the lighting in the video to make sure you look your best. Since it has two omnidirectional mics, all of your audio will go through with perfect clarity. You’ll also sound like you, which is a bonus, right?
Another thing we love about this webcam is the adjustable clip. You won’t need a mount of any kind. The clip allows you to attach the webcam directly to any desktop monitor or laptop, and it comes off in seconds when you need to travel. And you won’t only get the webcam. You’ll also get a 3-month XSplit VCam license so you can blur, remove, and replace your background anytime.
We have a few critiques to share with you before we wrap up. This webcam doesn’t come with any type of privacy shutter or cover, so if that’s a concern for you, you might want to look at another option or find a DIY solution. Also, the autofocus doesn’t perform its best with changing light conditions, so a stable environment is a good idea.
Reviewers are quite happy with the Logitech C920X HD Pro Webcam. The autofocus isn’t perfect in all conditions, but their main issue is with long-term commitment to the job. It’s common for it to die before the warranty is up. They are extremely impressed with the video and audio quality, though, and it’s really easy to set up, too.
Dimensions: 2.8” x 1.7” x 3.7”
Weight: 0.36 lbs
Resolution: 1080p HD
Refresh Rate: 30 fps
Field of View: 78 degrees
Privacy Cover: No
Warranty: 1 year
Pros:
Comes with a 3-month XSplit VCam license that lets you remove, replace, or blur your background
Omnidirectional dual-mic design captures and produces excellent natural sound
Automatically focuses the camera and adjusts the lighting for sharp images
Adjustable clip allows it to attach easily to every monitor/laptop
Cons:
No privacy cover/shutter included
Autofocus can struggle with changing light conditions
Performance: 4.5/5
Usability: 5/5
Price: 4/5
Quality: 4/5
Overall, the Logitech C920X HD Pro Webcam is an amazing option for just about anybody. It has a couple of flaws, but nothing too difficult to look past. If you’re looking for excellent video performance and great sound, you really can’t go wrong with this one.
Some webcams cost less than $40, others cost $250 or more. Most people won’t need to spend more than $150, though, to get one they love. In general, more expensive webcams will have higher resolutions, but the automation and audio quality will play a part too.
Webcams typically have a resolution of 1080p, but some lower-quality models will be as low as 720p. If you’re willing to spend a lot of money, you’ll even see models with 4K resolutions.
The field of view on a webcam is typically between 75 and 78 degrees, but you’ll see options with a narrower field of view (65 degrees) and ones as inclusive as 90 degrees. Most people won’t need to look outside the norm, but it really depends on how many people need to be included in the frame and how busy your space is.
Audio quality will be determined by two things—the mic quality (and number), and any noise-cancelling effects it has. Many webcams will come with two mics to pick up and transmit audio better, but some will only have one. Some mics will have noise-cancelling properties (most effective), noise-reducing properties (less effective), or no influence on the audio at all. Understandably, a dual mic setup with noise cancelling will produce the best overall audio quality.
The refresh rate for a webcam is typically 30 fps, and this will be perfectly fine for most purposes. However, it can go as high as 60 or even 90 fps, and if you’ll be capturing high-paced video or connecting to a number of people, a higher refresh rate will always be better.
Disclaimer: The prices displayed are accurate at the time of publication. We’ll do our best to keep them as up-to-date as possible, but you may see slight changes. The products in this list are ranked by independent third parties. Rankings are based on both reviews and independent testing.