After you open Microsoft Teams on your Windows 10/11 PC, here's how to use your webcam during Teams calls and meetings. Typically, Windows Hello is associated with depth-camera technology, which recognizes the various contours of your face, identifying you and only you. (A normal webcam doesn’t understand that it’s looking at a 3D image.) The image is then compared with a reference image which is stored during setup. The process itself is fast: It takes just a second or two for a Windows Hello webcam to recognize you, verify your identity to the PC it’s connected to via a USB cable, and log you in. Windows Hello can also read your fingerprint with a separate Windows Hello fingerprint reader, but these webcams are all you need. 1080p Those specs match up almost identically with the Logitech C920 and the Logitech C920s, though it looks like Microsoft's webcam has just one microphone, to the C920's two. Microsoft Modern Webcam: Special features

Superior Audio Quality: If you already have a high-quality external microphone or headset, a webcam without a built-in microphone allows you to take advantage of its exceptional audio performance. Microsoft Modern Webcam is Certified for Microsoft Teams with the default settings, which includes the built-in microphone turned off. If you turn on the built-in microphone in the Microsoft Accessory Center app, that could affect certification. You can still use the microphone and speakers on your PC for audio during Teams meetings and calls. It's also certified for Microsoft Teams, and comes with a 1-year hardware warranty and a 30-day return window. Microsoft Modern Webcam outlook

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It's impossible to recommend a universally perfect webcam, because there are so many different ways to use webcams these days. It's not as easy as going for ultra high-res 4K and calling it a day — most of the common video conferencing platforms (e.g. Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams) don't support higher than 720p or 1080p resolution, anyway. (Plus, if you've never looked at a close-up of your skin in ultra-high-def 4K, trust me — it's unnecessary.)

We were especially impressed with the Brio 500’s auto-white balance, which is something almost all webcams struggle with — it wasn’t perfect, but it was almost as impressive as the auto-white balance seen on much pricier webcams, such as the Insta360 Link. Logitech’s RightLight 4 technology, which is designed to compensate in less-than-ideal lighting situations, did an excellent job of producing flattering, evenly-lit images in both low and overexposed lighting. Most webcams will adjust their exposure for the available lighting, but superior webcams will do so in a way that makes you look well-lit and not a webcam zombie. Noise cancellation Pre-pandemic, webcams were mostly an afterthought — built into your laptop's bezel as a convenience, nothing more. They weren't good, but we didn't use them enough to care. But since the pandemic made remote working the norm, the market for external webcams has exploded.As Microsoft looks to give it the broadest appeal, the Modern Webcam has a USB-A connector, rather than USB-C; while this means that you'll need a USB-C hub with newer laptops, those with older PCs shouldn't have any trouble. The C930e has the same sensor as the C920s Pro, but it has an upgraded lens with a wider field of view — 90 degrees versus the C920s Pro’s 78 degrees. This wider field of view is useful not only because it allows you to display an unnecessary amount of your home office, but also because it adds 4x digital zoom (the C920s Pro also offers digital zoom through Logitech’s Logi Capture software). Digital zoom is useful on a webcam because zooming in gives you some control over camera positioning (tilt/pan), which is handy if your webcam isn’t ideally positioned. But there is one note. As I’ll explain later, in some cases, when used in combination, these features can be a little intense. For most people, though, the features will help improve your webcam feed in poor lighting conditions. You have full control over all these webcam features in the Microsoft Accessory Center app if you’re unhappy with how your webcam feed is coming out. This is what this Microsoft webcam does best, but more on that later.

The IPTNIC 1080p webcam (avoid buying the 720p model, the TP01) is a relative newcomer, and its strength is that it’s the bargain-basement option.While webcams with built-in microphones are commonly available, opting for a webcam without a microphone offers its own set of advantages. Here are a few:

The webcam market is full of all kinds of different webcams, ranging from top-of-the-line 4K 120 FPS sensors to low-cost 720p cameras. The Microsoft Modern Webcam sits comfortably in the middle ground, being relatively affordable with good enough performance in well-lit environments. Honestly, many of you will probably buy this Windows Hello webcam and simply not miss the more expensive alternatives. About the only feature you may miss in this 1080p, 30fps webcam is autofocus capability, and most fixed-focus webcams are tuned for the average distance (in the HelloCam’s case, between 12.4 and 47.2 inches) that someone sits from their laptop or display. The field of view is a relatively narrow 90 degrees.Razer Kiyo Pro: The Razer Kiyo Pro is a good 1080p option for those who don't quite need (or want) 4K resolution. It features HDR and an impressive light sensor that boosts the picture well in low-lighting conditions. The resolution of the webcam matters. Most laptops still ship with 720p webcams, and a higher-resolution webcam will make you look better than your colleagues. Fixed-focus versus autofocus