The best 4K webcams: ultra high definition cameras for video calls and streaming

Obsbot Meet 4K webcam on a laptop screen
(Image credit: Future)

The best 4K webcams used to be prohibitively expensive. But, as is often the case with tech, they've come down in price to the point where the average person who wants better image quality for their online meetings, presentations or streaming can likely afford one. But what's the best pick for your money?

I've put together this guide to run through the 4K webcams that have most impressed me. There's a range of features and capabilities on this list, including AI-powered subject-tracking and pan-tilt gimbal heads that allow them to follow you and keep you in the centre of the frame. Every camera on this list has been tested by our team, and they offer a range of features – but all of them shoot in 4K.

I'm sure that at least one of the cameras on this list will suit your conferencing or streaming needs. You can scroll to the bottom of this page for some advice on how to choose, as well as some more info on our testing procedure. If you're looking for a broader selection, we also have a guide to the best webcams which includes non-4K options.

Alistair Charlton
Alistair Charlton

Alistair is a freelance technology journalist who is Digital Camera World's webcam and dashcam expert. He has tested dozens of webcams to help inform his choices in this guide.

Our top picks

The best 4K webcams

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Best 4K webcam overall

Editor's Choice

(Image credit: Alistair Charlton / Digital Camera World)
The best 4K webcam overall for most people

Specifications

Resolution: 4K Ultra HD
Field of view: 65, 78 or 90 degrees
Microphone: 2x beamforming mics
Lens cover: Yes, integrated
Power: USB-C
Size : 44 x 98 x 36 mm
Weight: 176 g

Reasons to buy

+
Fantastic 4K footage
+
High-quality look and feel
+
Wide, 90-degree lens (for those who need it)

Reasons to avoid

-
Expensive
-
Bulky
-
Overkill for casual users
Buy it if:

You want top-quality 4K video: this produces some of the best webcam footage I’ve ever seen.

You need good sound: so often an afterthought with webcams, I was impressed by the audio produced by the two microphones.

Don't buy it if:

❌ You’re on a tight budget: this is one of the more expensive webcams on the market today.

You need a compact webcam: the MX Brio takes up a fair bit of space and if you have a monitor light bar you’ll need to reposition it.

The bottom line

🔎 The Logitech MX Brio is a superb webcam, with 4K resolution, excellent low-light performance, HDR and three great field-of-view options. Not cheap, but a lesson in getting what you pay for. ★★★★★

Simply put, the Logitech MX Brio is the best 4K webcam I have ever used. It looks and feels fantastic, from the metal body to the adjustable monitor stand and the rotating lens cover. It also produces excellent 4K video with HDR, which means it handles low-light environments very well indeed. An added bonus is that the MX Brio comes with Logitech’s free Logi Options+ software for tweaking a wide range of video settings.

I also like how the 90-degree lens is wide enough to take in a whole room, if that’s what you want, or you can crop into 78, and even 65, degrees for a tighter frame.

Dual microphones mean audio is also top-notch, and power via USB-C makes it easy to connect to modern laptops and computers. It’s not a cheap webcam, and it isn’t particularly compact, but for those wanting the absolute best, this is where to look.

It doesn't have a motorized pan-tilt head, however. So if you need a webcam with a motorized pan-tilt head to follow your every move, then keep reading this buying guide and look out for both the Obsbot Tiny 2 and Insta360 Link.

For more details, see our full Logitech MX Brio review.

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Test results

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Features

From 4K and HDR, to a wide lens, dual mics and a versatile monitor stand with a magnetic fixing, plus a tripod mount, the MX Brio has everything you’ll need.

★★★★★

Design

Although on the large side, the MX Brio looks and feels very well-made. I especially like the adjustable stand and the lens cap that opens/closes with a twist.

★★★★½

Video quality

Full marks. Not only is there a 4K resolution, but excellent low-light performance and HDR ensure footage lives up to expectations. I’m a big fan of the wide, 90-degree lens too; perfect for streamers and other desk-bound content creators.

★★★★★

Value

This webcam is a good lesson in getting what you pay for. It’s not cheap, but costs considerably less than webcams with powered gimbals featured elsewhere in this guide.

★★★★

Best 4K webcam for quality

(Image credit: Alistair Charlton/Digital Camera World)
The best 4K webcam for picture quality

Specifications

Image quality: 4K Ultra HD at 24 or 30 fps
Field of view: 65/78/90 degrees
Microphone: No
Lens cover: Yes, magnetic
Size: 42 x 90 mm
Weight: 112g

Reasons to buy

+
Superb image quality
+
Great design
+
AI-powered auto framing

Reasons to avoid

-
No microphone
-
Limited Mac support
-
Expensive
Buy it if:

✅ You want great video quality at a good price: the Dell UltraSharp is a very close rival to the Logitech MX Brio, but is more affordable.

You value good design: in terms of hardware and design, the UltraSharp is one of the best webcams on the market today. It looks great and is built to last

Don't buy it if:

❌ You don’t have a microphone: it’s a strange omission, but the Dell’s lack of a mic means you’ll need to use your own

You’re prone to losing things: the lens cap, which attaches magnetically to the front when covering the lens, can fall off though, and could easily be lost

The bottom line

🔎 The Dell UltraSharp is a fantastic webcam with 4K resolution and HDR. It produces superb video and has a nice, wide 90-degree lens for anyone who needs it. The hardware is also of very high quality. However, the lack of a microphone is disappointing (unless you have your own) and Dell’s software has fewer features on Mac than on Windows.
★★★★½

Looking for the ultimate in image quality? I think the Dell UltraSharp HDR 4K Webcam is tough to beat. Equipped with a large 4K Sony Starvis CMOS sensor, it's capable of drinking in more light than an average webcam, making for a better-quality picture. And, like my number one choice above, it has HDR capabilities, making for a balanced image even in challenging light conditions, aided by internal software.

Back when I first reviewed this webcam, I was deeply impressed. “Thanks to the large sensor and high resolution, video quality is absolutely superb. It produces a picture that is among the best of any webcam we have ever used and, when viewed from the other end of a video call, isn’t too far behind that of a DSLR hooked up to a PC."

There's also AI-powered auto framing, a clever feature that automatically keeps you at the center of the screen. Just like the Logitech MX Brio, the Dell gives users the choice of a 65, 78, or 90-degree field of view. The Dell UltraSharp HDR 4K Webcam also lets you delve into settings to fiddle with brightness, sharpness, contrast, saturation, and more. This is also where you can control digital zoom or make adjustments to the autofocus.

The main reason it's not my number one is the lack of a built-in microphone. Dell clearly thinks anyone who spends this kind of money on a 4K webcam will probably want to sort out an external one for better audio; if that's you, then check out our guide to the best microphone for vlogging.

For more details, see our full Dell UltraSharp review.

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Test results

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Features

A high resolution is one thing, but HDR and a wide lens are really the features worth having when it comes to high-quality webcams. It also offers AI-powered auto framing to keep you neatly in shot.

★★★★

Design

The Dell UltraSharp has a premium metal design that looks and feels like it’s built to last. The monitor mount also works well, but the camera is larger than many others.

★★★★

Video quality

There’s really very little to fault here. There’s 4K resolution with HDR, a wide lens and fantastic low-light performance thanks to that Sony CMOS sensor

★★★★½

Value

At around $150, this isn’t the cheapest dash cam around. But compared to some other 4K offerings, it actually represents great value – just so long as you have your own microphone, of course.

★★★★

Best autotracking 4K webcam

(Image credit: Future)
The best auto-tracking 4K webcam

Specifications

Image quality: 4K at 30fps
Field of view: 85.5 degrees
Microphone: 2x omni-directional mics with noise reduction
Lens cover: No
Size: 47 x 44 x 62 mm
Weight: 143.3 g
:

Reasons to buy

+
AI tracking
+
Great in low light
+
Variety of control options

Reasons to avoid

-
Not a cheap choice 
-
Bigger than a standard webcam
Buy it if:

✅ You need a webcam that follows you around: the motorized gimbal is great for those presenting or demonstrating online

You need a webcam that performs well in any light: we were impressed with its performance across various lighting environments

Don't buy it if:

❌ You’re on a tight budget: like other webcams with gimbals, the Obsbot is pricey.

You don't need gimbal: make sure you’ll really make good use of the motorized mount

The bottom line

🔎 Much like the Insta360 Link, the Obsbot Tiny 2 is a 4K webcam with a fast and precise motorized gimbal. This makes for top-notch subject tracking, even if you walk out of the frame, and the ability to quickly switch between landscape and portrait, or switch focus to your desk while on a call.
★★★★½

Obsbot has established itself as the experts in smart tracking - webcams that follow the person speaking round the room. The Tiny 2 is a third-generation product, and the best yet, with a larger 1/1.5-inch dual-ISO imaging sensor capable of snappy focusing as well as all the AI tricks well-established. The key advantage over a standard webcam is the motorized pan-tilt head, and a digital zoom, that can crop in to ensure your face fills the frame - even if you move.

When our reviewer put this to the test, it worked very well in practice. The image was crisp, but not aggressively so. The responsiveness of the focus was noticeably better than the camera's predecessor, and the AI tracking, when engaged, seemed to have little problem following him from being sat right in front of the device to the counter behind.

Thanks to the larger sensor, if you're exclusively using horizontal format video it outperforms the Insta360 Link. It also boasts features like hand tracking and Obsbot can also sell a dedicated remote control.

The neatly organized but extensive app offers a lot of functionality, including beauty modes and blurred backgrounds if you're so inclined, though it's possible to use the dynamic gesture controls to handle most operations.

Check our full Obsbot Tiny 2 review.

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Test results

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Features

Stand-out features of the second-generation Tiny include voice control, AI-powered auto framing and desk mode for presenting whatever’s on your desk on a video call. It also has a larger imaging sensor than its predecessor, plus true USB 3.0 data transfer speeds.

★★★★½

Design

From the clever motorized gimbal to the included hard carry case, the Tiny 2’s design is pretty much flawless. It snaps to the monitor stand with a magnet, or can be fixed to a tripod.

★★★★

Video quality

In good light video is flawless, then in low-light there’s very little noise. Half a point lost for recorded video not being as smooth as we’d hoped.

★★★★½

Value

It’s not cheap, but the gimbal won’t be needed by everyone.

★★★★

Best value 4K webcam

(Image credit: Alistair Charlton/Digital Camera World)
The best value 4K webcam

Specifications

Resolution: 4K Ultra HD
Field of view: 65, 78 or 90 degrees
Microphone: Dual, omnidirectional
Lens cover: Yes
Size : 102 x 27 x 27 mm
Weight: 63g

Reasons to buy

+
Superb HDR image
+
Multiple field-of-view settings
+
Compatible with Windows Hello

Reasons to avoid

-
Fewer frame rate options
-
Clunky and attractive lens cover
Buy it if:

✅ 4K with HDR is your number one priority: instead of distracting with gimbals and such, the Stream focuses on what really matters – excellent 4K video

You want multiple field-of-view options: the Brio Stream lets you pick to shoot at either 65, 78 or 90 degrees.

Don't buy it if:

❌ You need a speedy frame rate: 4K webcams tend not to offer frame rates beyond 30 fps. If you want up to 90fps (a real rarity) you’ll need to lower the resolution to 720p

You want high-quality hardware: the camera itself is fine, if bland, but the monitor mount and lens cover look and feel cheap

The bottom line

🔎 It may lack the high-end hardware of the Logitech MX Brio or motorized webcams, but the Brio Stream does a fantastic job of producing 4K video with HDR at a good price.
★★★★½

The Logitech Brio Stream is one of the best 4K webcams on the market today, and for most people I think it could well be the best. Not only does it produce great 4K footage that is sharp and clear, but the inclusion of HDR means it produces some of the best webcam footage I’ve ever seen.

By balancing out the shadows and the highlights, this camera can handle all sorts of tricky lighting situations. So if your video calls are continually disturbed by light from a nearby window, this webcam will go a long way toward rectifying the situation.

The Brio also won me over with its smooth frame rate, ease-of-use and good audio quality. There are also options for three field-of-view settings - 90, 78, or 65 degrees - which allows you to experiment with your framing, so you can show more or less of your environment. Add in dual omnidirectional microphones for improving audio quality, and you have a highly capable, do-it-all 4K webcam.

Some other Logitech webcams do have more frame-rate options (this one doesn't have the 90fps options at 1080p, which you get on the standard Logitech Brio). But as long as those aren't deal-breakers, this seriously capable 4K webcam will suit practically any user.

For more details, see our full Logitech Brio Stream review.

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Test results

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Features

This webcam nails the basics – as well as 4K video with HDR, the Brio Stream is compatible with Windows Hello for logging in with facial recognition. It also comes with a free 12-month trial of XXSplit, the video streaming and recording application.

★★★★

Design

This webcam won't win many design awards, but it’s still relatively small and entirely inoffensive. The monitor stand works well, while the plasticky lens cover feels a bit like an afterthought.

★★★½

Video quality

This is where the Brio Stream really shines, thanks to its 4K resolution and HDR support. Low-light environments are dealt with well, the 90-degree lens is wide and audio quality is impressive.

★★★★

Value

At around $150 / £150, I think this webcam offers excellent value for money, and is around half the price of the most expensive options currently available.

★★★★½

Best 4K webcam for fine-tuning

(Image credit: Future)
The best 4K webcam for fine-tuning the look and quality of your image.

Specifications

Image quality: 4K
Microphone: AI noise-canceling
Field of view: 79.5 degrees
Lens cover: Yes (built-in privacy guard)
Weight: 106g
Size: 178 x 108 x 64mm

Reasons to buy

+
Elegant built-in privacy shield
+
Available in black and white
+
Excellent 4K HDR video quality
+
High-end controller app for creators

Reasons to avoid

-
No gimbal, unlike the Link 2
-
No portrait format magnet
Buy it if:

✅ You want to take full control of your video: using the companion app for Mac and PC, you can fine-tune the quality and characteristics of your image extensively.

You present frequently on video calls: whiteboard recognition and limited tracking ability make this a solid webcam option for presentation.

Don't buy it if:

❌ You want full motorized tracking: losing the gimbal from the bigger Insta360 Link 2 means this smaller webcam has more limited tracking capability.

You want ultra high-quality audio: the AI noise canceling mics do a solid enough job, but for streaming-quality audio you'll want to invest in a separate mic.

The bottom line

🔎 The Insta360 Link 2C works incredibly well, losing the gimbal from its larger stablemates but still packing in plenty of functionality. If you're willing to engage with the companion PC/Mac app, you have huge capacity to fine-tune your video.
★★★★½

There are two types of 4K webcam user – those who just want to plug in and play, and those who want to tweak and tune their image to get it looking exactly the way they want it. This particular 4K webcam is suited to the latter type.

A smaller counterpart to the gimbal-equipped Insta360 Link cameras, the Insta360 Link 2C loses the motorized gimbal, but still offers great 4K quality at a more affordable price. If you're willing to download and engage with the app, available for Mac and PC, you have an impressive suite of image controls at your disposal. As well as standard Exposure, AF/Manual Focus and White Balance settings, you can also switch on the HDR mode, which unlocks the true potential of the Brightness, Contrast, and Saturation sliders.

If you want, you can also make use of the more exotic features, like Make Up mode, which softens skin and smooths lashes in a variety of selectable ways. Like many other modes, these can be combined with the blurred background and bokeh effects – though it's worth noting that the Make Up modes don't work in 4K. You'll have to be content with beautifying yourself in Full HD.

Features like whiteboard recognition and limited autofocus tracking (there's no gimbal, remember) mean the Insta260 Link 2C is a good, inexpensive choice for those who do a lot of presenting. It could work for streamers too, though it could be worth investing in an extra mic. One thing we also particularly liked in our review was the physical privacy shutter, which is elegant, slick and robust – giving you complete peace of mind that you're not being spied on.

For more details, see our full Insta360 Link 2C review.

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Test results

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Features

Great-looking 4K meets an impressively comprehensive PC/Mac app for tuning footage, and we love the slick privacy guard.

★★★★

Design

Gorgeous looks and high-quality construction – and the hinged stand is very nicely made.

★★★★★

Video quality

Crisp 4K meets effective autofocus – not much to complain about here. The audio is 'fine' rather than 'excellent', however.

★★★★

Value

For everything you get here, the price tag seems very reasonable indeed. It's the kind of camera where you get out what you put in, so make use of that app!

★★★★★

Best 4K webcam for meeting rooms

(Image credit: Alistair Charlton/Digital Camera World)
The best 4K webcam for meeting rooms

Specifications

Image quality: 4K
Field of view: 90 degrees
Microphone: Triple mic array
Lens cover: Yes
Size: 78 x 43 x 25mm
Weight: 136g

Reasons to buy

+
Premium build quality
+
Zooms automatically  
+
Three-mic array

Reasons to avoid

-
Pointless for personal use
-
Fairly expensive
Buy it if:

✅ You need a professional-grade webcam: this is a great option for a company meeting room

✅ You need clever panning and zooming: the webcam can pick out who is talking without the need for a gimbal

Don't buy it if:

❌ You attend video calls alone: this is for huddles, so overkill if you work remotely

❌ You’re on a budget: this is priced as a premium product

The bottom line

🔎 The Jabra Panacast 20 is intended for professionals, and specifically for environments where several people sit around a conference table to join a video call. It uses its 4K resolution and AI to zoom in on whoever is speaking, then pan to whoever speaks next.
★★★★½

Want a full view of a room, such as when you’re streaming a physical meeting around a conference table? Then the Jabra Panacast 20 is our recommendation.

Its AI-powered zooming and panning means it automatically includes everyone on the call, without the physical camera needing to move and causing a distraction. Plus, while most videoconferencing services don't yet support 4K, the high resolution on offer here means the camera can zoom in on someone (lossless up to 6x) and still produce a Full HD image.

Our reviewer also noted how the camera also uses AI to cleverly adjust the lighting in dim and dark rooms. Many webcams adjust their exposure to tackle particularly dark or bright rooms, but where they tend to be heavy-handed in their actions, while in our tests the Panacast 20 produced video that was nicely balanced without feeling artificial.

A triple-mic array means you get impressive sound quality, too. And overall this 4K webcam delivers some of the best video call quality we’ve ever seen. While this is an expensive purchase, the build quality is excellent, and you get USB-C connectivity too.

For more details, see our Jabra Panacast 20 webcam review.

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Test results

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Features

Jabra Panacast 20 still counts excellent 4K video among its primary features. The metal body is also a thing of beauty (as far as webcams go…) and artificial intelligence is employed to intelligently zoom and pan to keep you in the center of the frame.

★★★★

Design

This is a high-quality webcam with a compact metal body and a monitor mount that feels they are built to last.

★★★★½

Video quality

You might not need a $300 webcam, but the quality of the Jabra makes it clear where your money has gone. It has a solid, cold-to-the-touch, industrial design that reminds us of how well-built Apple’s old iSight camera felt when it arrived some 20 years ago.

★★★★

Value

Although sometimes discounted by between 10 and 20 percent, this is still one of the most expensive webcams on the market today. For those who frequently use the subject-tracking gimbal and features like Whiteboard mode, it’ll be worth it. Others should probably look elsewhere.

★★★★

Best compact 4K webcam

(Image credit: Future)
It's incredibly portable, with AI tracking and autofocus that actually works

Specifications

Image quality: 4K
Field of view: 79 degrees
Microphone: Dual omni-directional
Lens cover: Magnetic
Size: 45 x 36 x 22mm
Weight: 40.5g

Reasons to buy

+
Compact with good build quality
+
AI tracking (and good autofocus)
+
Clever magnetic stand

Reasons to avoid

-
Microphone may not beat a good laptop
-
Tracking limited by fixed camera
-
Obsbot app is a battery hog
Buy it if:

✅ You want something portable but well-built: it may be tiny and compact, but the Obsbot Meet 2 has a pleasingly premium feel to its build.
✅ You want a great-looking image (in all senses): not only does the 4K video from the 1/2-inch sensor look good, but you also get some beautifying features to play with.

Don't buy it if:

❌ You want high-quality audio: given how good the video looks, it's a shame the audio isn't quite as tip-top. Streamers will want to get a mic.
❌ You want a full PTZ camera: though the Meet 2 has tracking capability, it can't turn, so has limited capacity to follow a subject.

The bottom line

🔎 The Obsbot Meet 2 is a small, well-made and premium-feeling 4K webcam, with a clever magnetic stand that makes it easy to mount wherever you choose. The AI tracking and autofocus work well too.
★★★★½

Building on the likeable original Obsbot Meet, the Obsbot Meet 2 is once again a portable 4K webcam that delivers a much higher-quality video than most laptop cameras, and does so at an accessible price. Plugging in via USB-C and attaching magnetically, it's a very simple camera to set up, and its weight of just 40.5g means it's very easy to pack into a bag and take wherever you need to go. The mount also makes it simple to reorient the camera for portrait-format filming if so desired.

As mentioned, the video quality is very good – and in our full review, Adam found he could improve it still further by tweaking the settings. It holds up well in low light, and for ease of use, the gesture-based tracking is very effective, allowing you to easily signify yourself as a subject to follow. Though the fact that the camera can't turn horizontally does make its abilities in this regard a little limited.

If you download the Obsbot Center app, you can also make use of the live face filters, which allow you to use AI to adjust the size and width of facial features, change eye color and more. This may be of interest to you, or may not (I'm not judging), but we can report from our review that it does work better than you might have expected.

A slight disappointment withe Obsbot Meet 2 in our review was the audio quality. It's perfectly fine for meetings, but the fairly average microphones aren't really up to scratch for game streamers and the like – who will want to invest in a mic.

For more details, see our full Obsbot Meet 2 review.

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Test results

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Features

A 1/2-inch sensor and good-quality 4K video form the basis of a webcam that also offers an extensive range of software adjustments, including beauty tools. Good stuff.

★★★★★

Design

This is one of the smaller 4K webcams we’ve tested, and the simple design turns out to be brilliantly flexible once you set it up.

★★★★★

Video quality

No complaints about the quality of the picture, which is an immediate jump up from any laptop or monitor webcam. It's a shame the audio isn't better.

★★★★

Value

When you consider the 4K resolution, compact design and comprehensive options, this represents excellent value for money.

★★★★

Best twin-lens 4K webcam

(Image credit: George Cairns / Digital Camera World)
Two lenses are better than one

Specifications

Image quality: 4K
Field of view: 73 degrees
Microphone: 3 built-in mics
Lens cover: No (Privacy Switch causes camera to tilt up)
Size: 56 x 43 x 22mm
Weight: 120g

Reasons to buy

+
Wide pan/tilt range
+
AI-powered tracking
+
Excellent image quality

Reasons to avoid

-
Only zooms manually
-
Pricier than static webcams
Buy it if:

✅ You want AI tracking: the twin-lens setup and extensive range of the built-in gimbal allow the Pixy to follow you around a room.
✅ You want good-quality video: the 4K video produced by the Pixy is crisp and detailed, thanks to its two-lens setup.

Don't buy it if:

❌ You're on a budget: this is on the expensive end for a webcam, as it has more moving parts.
❌ You want top-rate audio: the quality from the three-mic set-up isn't the best, sounding a bit thin in our testing.

The bottom line

🔎 The Emeet Pixy is a compact 4K webcam which uses two cameras effectively to give great image quality, and has a motorized gimbal for full PTZ tracking.
★★★★★

This is an evolved version of the previous Piko+ from Emeet, which also featured that distinctive dual-lens design that produces great-looking 4K video. The big difference being that the Pixy has its own built-in motorized gimbal, transforming it into a full PTZ (pan, tilt, zoom) camera that can track your movements around a room to keep you in the frame at all times.

Naturally, extra functionality comes at extra cost. But the Emeet Pixy is an excellent buy if it fits your budget, earning the full five stars in our full review. The way those dual cameras work is that one is a a 4K UHD feed for the 1/2.55-inch Sony sensor, and the other is an AI-powered portrait camera, tasked with ensuring that the user's face is in focus at all times.

In practice it works very well, grabbing and keeping hold of subjects in the frame, moving as needed if and when you take a fancy to getting up and walking around the room. Despite its seeming complexity, the Emeet Pixy is pleasingly simply to set up and use – it's pretty much plug and play – and if you prefer to control camera movement yourself rather than letting the AI do it, an onscreen joystick in the software lets you do just that. Though as George found in his review, it's pretty cumbersome in practice, and it's unlikely you'll find much call to use it.

As for audio, the Emeet Pixy sports a three-mic built-in setup, and as is the case with most webcams, it's... fine. Not great. George found the audio a little thin, and quickly started relying on his external mic. In all other respects, this is an impressively high-quality webcam.

For more details, see our full Emeet Pixy review

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Test results

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Features

Dual lenses enable the Pixy to capture 4K UHD footage and AI-assistance ensures fast and effective face focus.

★★★★★

Design

The gimbal works brilliantly, tracking your every move, and the anthropomorphic cuteness of the unit itself is very charming.

★★★★★

Video quality

The dual lenses pick out delicate textures, keeping you in sharp focus and rendering small details with impressive accuracy. The audio isn't great, but it rarely is on webcams.

★★★★½

Value

Slightly more expensive than others on this list and in the Emeet range, but you get a lot for your money.

★★★★★

FAQs

What is a 4K webcam?

A webcam is a video camera that you connect to your computer to capture and transmit video. A 4K webcam does so at a resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels, which is commonly referred to as 4K resolution. This means it provides clearer and more detailed video compared to lower resolution webcams. This makes it a useful tool for video conferencing, streaming, and content creation.

Is it worth getting a 4K webcam?

If you have a good internet connection, it is possible to conduct 4K video calls, but 4K cameras have two other uses. A higher resolution opens up the possibility of cropping into the subject digitally without a loss of detail (possibly automatically, using artificial intelligence or AI) so your face fills the screen. The other use is for live streaming/broadcasting, on platforms such as YouTube thaat already support 4K.

How much better is 4K than 720P?

A typical webcam on a webcam captures video at 720P, which produces images that measure 1280x720 pixels (so less than one megapixel). A 4K webcam captures video at 3840 x 2160 pixels (or just over 8 megapixels). So from a resolution point of view, a 4K webcam is over 8x better. Other video resolutions offered by webcams are shown in the following table:

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Name

Pixel dimensions

Other names

4K

3,840 x 2,160

Ultra HD, UHD

2K

2,560 x 1,440

-

1080P

1,920 x 1,080

Full HD

720P

1,080 x 720

Standard HD

How to choose a 4K webcam

To choose the right 4K webcam for you, there are several key factors to consider. Firstly, check the frame rate, as higher frame rates contribute to smoother video playback. Look for webcams that offer at least 30 frames per second (fps) at 4K resolution for a seamless and lifelike video experience.

Also check how compatible the webcam is with your computer system and applications. That includes checking the USB connection type; because while USB 3.0 is preferable for faster data transfer, some webcams may work with USB 2.0. Further to that, it's worth thinking whether you'd like additional features such as autofocus, low-light performance, and field of view. Autofocus ensures that your image remains sharp, even if you move. A webcam with good low-light performance is crucial for clear video in dim conditions.

How we test 4K webcams

We test cameras in the most appropriate context – if a product skews toward conferencing, we'll arrange a call over a good connection. If it skews toward streaming, will spend more time on that. One thing is for sure though, we'll make sure we look closely at the picture options in both natural and artificial light, to get a sense of the quality on offer. We will also check the sound quality to see if you'll want to use the microphone!

Many of our reviews include sample recordings, which we will either make using the software supplied or – if the camera is sold with streaming in mind – using a tool like OBS.

Other useful guides:
The best headsets
Best wireless earbuds
The best ring lights
Best conference room webcams
Best Logitech webcam
The best budget webcam
The best laptop webcam

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Alistair Charlton

Alistair has been a journalist since 2011 and used to be Deputy Technology Editor at IBTimes  in London. His specialist tech subjects include smart home gadgets, phones, wearables, tablets and dashcams. He is the host of  The AutoChat Podcast.

With contributions from