Since 2003 people have been using Skype to call their loved ones or conduct business. In 2020, on one day alone it has been reported that over 40,000,000 people used the application.
It is quite literally a global phenomenon.
So, if you are one of those who regularly use Skype, you know that the quality of calls can vary depending on what hardware the person on the other end has got.
Occasionally, you are met with grainy, jumpy video to look at with sound that is a struggle to hear. You’ll complain about it once off the call and ask why they don’t get a better webcam.
Now, with technology ever improving, you need to make sure that you aren’t the one talked about in such terms.
To help you we’ve come up with a handy list for the best webcam for Skype.
Our List Of Top Webcam For Skype
Comparison Table For Top webcam for Skype
IMAGE
PRODUCT
Logitech C930
- Field of View: 90 degrees
- Focus: Auto Focus
- Dimensions 3.70 x 3.70 x 0.95 inches
TedGem 1080p Full HD Webcam
- Field of View: 90 degrees
- Focus: Auto Focus
- Dimensions: 3.9 x 3.2 x 2.6 inches
Jelly Comb 1080p Webcam
- Field of View: 80 degrees
- Focus: Manual Focus
- Dimensions: 6 x 4.5 x 2 inches
Microsoft LifeCam Studio
- Field of View: 75 degrees
- Focus: Auto Focus
- Dimensions: 1.34 x 1.34 x 1.34 inches
Allinko 1080p Web Camera
- Field of View: 70 degrees
- Focus: Auto Focus
- Dimensions: 4.7 x 3.1 x 2.7 inches
Xinidc Full 1080p HD Webcam
- Field of View: 110 degrees
- Focus: Fixed Focus
- Dimensions: 2.8 x 1.85 x 1.24 inches
Akyta 1080p HD Webcam
- Field of View: 110 degrees
- Focus: Fixed Focus
- Dimensions: 4.9 x 3.1 x 2.5 inches
PAPALOOK PA452
- Field of View: 65 degrees
- Focus: Manual Focus
- Dimensions: 5 x 5 x 2.8 inches
Lasllaves HD Webcam
- Field of View: 90 degrees
- Focus: Fixed Focus
- Dimensions: 2.8 x 1.85 x 1.26 inches
Spedal 1080p Webcam
- Field of View: 120 degrees
- Focus: Manual Focus
- Dimensions: 4.4 x 4.4 x 2.9 inches
Best Webcams for Skype Reviews
1. Logitech C930e | best webcam for skype windows 10
The Logitech C930e is a great camera, especially for people who mostly make their Skype calls when by themselves.
It provides a perfect 1080p HD video with a 90-degree field of view, at a rate of 30 frames per second.
That 1080p is important for any Skype call because people these days are using monitors and screens that support high definition images.
If you aren’t using an HD camera, it will certainly show up.
A 90-degree field of view is enough to get a group of people into the shot. But when alone, a wide screen image can leave you looking a bit isolated on the screen. Thankfully, this camera has a 4x digital zoom so that your face can fill the screen.
The 30 frames per second rate is the minimum we would recommend for any webcam, because anything less will create those jumpy images where faces get stuck and start looking like Picasso paintings.
Sometimes bandwidth can be an issue but even with low bandwidth this webcam does a great job of compressing video whilst still giving a fantastic output.
Finally, two microphones with one on each side of the webcam, are brilliant at catching what you have to say. So long as you are not talking to someone hard of hearing, you’ll be heard crystal clear.
Highlighted Features
- Comes with autofocus function so you do not need to fiddle around
- Auto light correction ensures you are always looking your absolute best
2. TedGem 1080P Full HD Webcam | best computer camera for skype
Skype itself is a ridiculously easy application to use which is why so many people are using it in the first place. What you really need is a webcam that matches the ease.
The TedGem is a really simple webcam to use with Skype because you can plug it into any laptop, Mac or PC and have it ready to use almost immediately. It is hassle free as it does all the set up automatically leaving you to just make your video calls.
Like the previous camera on the list, this model is also a 1080p HD camera that also comes with H.264 Video Compression software to help give a smooth Skype call even when the internet bandwidth is not the best it could be.
Automatic low light correction ensures that you don’t look like you’re in a pit of darkness when the light conditions are not at their best, and the noise cancelling microphones will ensure that you are heard without echo and distracting background noises.
Finally, this is a 90-degree wide angle lens, which works great with individuals or a group when making a Skype call.
Highlighted Features
- Professional standard glass lens provides extra vivid images and clarity
- Mounting clip to attach webcam to laptop screen or LED monitor
- Webcam can be mounted on a tripod if required
- Microphones clearly capture sound from up to 5 meters away
- Portable fold-and-go mechanics mean you can take webcam anywhere
3. Jelly Comb 1080p Webcam | best camera for skype
Before we get into the specs of this webcam, let us all just take a moment to reflect on just how cool and zany it is that someone decided to call their tech company ‘Jelly Comb’. That is some out of the box thinking.
Another cool thing about this camera is that some effort has been made to get it to look nice.
Obviously, these things are subjective, but the black and gold coloration and cylindrical look is going to appeal to those who want something different to the black boxes that a lot of webcam makers have been putting out recently.
1080p HD ensures that you have a true to life image sent to the person at the other end of your Skype call which, combined with the glass lens, should ensure you are clear and vivid.
25 frames per second is really on the cusp of what we think is a reasonable rate, but so long as you have decent bandwidth the smoothness of your video should be okay.
An 80-degree wide angle view is better for those who make individual calls, but if you are part of a group the camera does rotate 360 degrees on its axis allowing you to adjust it towards the person who is speaking when needed.
Highlighted Features
- Simple plug and play set up
- High sensitivity microphone picks up sound clearly
- Automatic brightness adjustment to counter poor lighting
- Compatible with mini tripod
4. Microsoft LifeCam Studio | best skype camera for pc
Like a Canon printer tells you that it’s best to use Canon inks for the end product, the fact that Microsoft actually owns Skype should mean something, right?
That’s why this webcam comes ‘Skype Certified’.
Microsoft are synonymous with computer technology for a reason, and if you discount Microsoft Edge from the equation, they do produce some pretty user-friendly hardware and software.
The LifeCam Studio is the best webcam that Microsoft currently produce, and it has a price that reflects the quality you’ll be getting.
1080p Best HD Video from a premium glass lens will ensure that you get high quality images and that is at 30 frames per second.
This wonderful little camera comes with a 75-degree field of view and is able to rotate 360-degrees on its axis making it suitable for all type of Skype call.
What we really like about this webcam though is that it looks robust. Which, for the price being paid for it, you really would expect.
A lot of the lesser priced webcams look very plastic and like they would snap easily under any kind of duress.
In contrast, this webcam has an aluminium body that makes it look sturdy and strong, as if it is going to last a few years before you need to go out and get a replacement.
Highlighted Features
- Very small, robust and compact camera easy to travel with
- TrueColor technology adjusts all inadequate lighting to give a natural look
5. Allinko 1080p Web Camera | best skype camera for tv
The final of our reviewed webcams is another brilliant option for those who are looking to make Skype calls, or calls or any other platform for that matter.
The Allinko webcam comes with a five-layer glass lens that helps it to create a stunning visual at 1080p HD.
Glass lenses are considered superior to plastic lenses, providing a much more professional look to a video. Usually they will come at an increased cost, but despite having a glass lens, this webcam is still extremely affordable.
If you find yourself often broadcasting from a dimly lit room, then you don’t need to worry as this camera has automatic low light correction to combat the less than ideal setting it may find itself in.
The built-in noise cancelling microphones are somewhat of a standard feature on quality webcams now, and the Allinko is no different in this case. You won’t have to worry about the distractions of people pottering about in the room making noise.
An autofocus feature ensures that images are sharp at all times. Even the most overenthusiastic child can put their face as close to 10cm to the camera and remain in focus.
Highlighted Features
- Simple setup with plug in and play installation
- Conveniently long 5.9ft USB cable for webcam placement
- Webcam is tripod ready if desk and monitor space unavailable
- 360 degree on axis rotation for whole room view
- 180-degree webcam flex for optimal angle adjustment
Top Webcam for Skype Buyer’s Guide
Looking for a webcam to make video calls is not easy because there are so many options available. Here we help you with some of the key points to consider when buying the Best Webcams for Skype.
1. Resolution
Resolution seems as good a place to start as any in our hunt for the ideal webcam for making Skype calls.
Do you remember making Skype calls using an internal webcam on a laptop?
Skype has been around since 2003, so there’s a good chance that if you didn’t your parents will have. Go and ask them how bad the quality was.
Resolution in years gone by was so low that sometimes you could barely tell who was on the other end of the call.
Now, 1080p should be what you’re looking for. It’s possible to get that kind of quality for a reasonable price so there’s no point in looking at a webcam that does anything less.
2. Frame rate
The frame rate of your webcam is important, and 30 frames per second is the ideal rate to be looking at.
At a squeeze, 25 frames per second should, provided all your other settings are right, get you a smooth picture.
But if you really want to guarantee a fluid call when your internet connection is working well, then 30 is absolutely the number you should be looking for.
There are 60 frames per second webcams available, but these are more costly, and not really necessary for Skype calls.
3. Video Compression
With live calls, video compression is an important feature of a webcam.
You cannot guarantee the quality of your internet connection 100% of the time, and if there are multiple users online at the same time there’s a good chance that you will be operating with a lower bandwidth.
Video compression makes it possible for the webcam to deal with that lower bandwidth when making a Skype call, ensuring that your high definition webcam is still sending high quality images despite the decrease in the aforementioned bandwidth.
4. Low light correction
Old people already have eyesight problems, so when buying a webcam consider their needs and look for one that has automatic light correction.
Don’t allow your relatives to strain their eyesight while you sit in a darkened room like some kind of movie villain.
Low light correction will automatically adjust the camera settings so that everything looks natural even when you are in a dim light setting.
It’s essential because it means you won’t have to hold your phone torch light under your face.
5. Field of View
The field of view, or viewing angle, is important for any webcam users because it tells you roughly how much of a room, and how many people, can get into the video.
A lower field of view on a webcam for Skype calls can be negated by getting a camera that swivels 360 degrees on its axis allowing movement to a speaking person.
Final Word
And that is our list which has hopefully given you an idea as to how to find the best webcam for Skype.
Remember, there are only very slight differences between webcams at the level we are looking at, but they could make the key difference depending on what you want from your Skype calls.
Assuming you take our advice on resolution and frame rate, we think your key decision will be on the field of view.
Do you need a camera just for you or to use as part of a group of people?
Decide that to get the perfect viewing angle.