The best conference room webcams will make your colleagues feel like you're right there with them in person. As remote and hybrid working is more common – especially among international companies – a quality conference room camera is a must. However, with so many options out there, which one should you choose? We've put this guide together to help you sort that out.
We've picked the best conference room webcams based on our assessment of their specs, features, use cases and both customer and professional reviews. We've assessed video quality, audio quality and the inclusion of special features like connectivity, face detection or AI enhancements, so whatever your needs or budget, you're sure to find one that suits you below. We've relied on our decades of collective experience in consumer tech to inform our top picks; learn more about how we test and review products.
The best webcam for conference rooms
+ Superb audio capture
+ 360° HD video with smart zoom
- Very expensive
The Meeting Owl 3 is the latest version of this stunning (yet expensive) webcam. Like the Pro version before it, it boasts 360° 1080p video with eight mics – plus it has a smart zoom feature that auto-focuses on whoever is talking. It also sports USB-C and supports expansion mics to broaden the pickup radius to as much as 18m. Partner site IT Pro has a full review.
+ Mega sharp
+ Presentation mode
- Price is restrictive
With 4K resolution and a noise-reducing mic, the Logitech MX Brio delivers top-quality video for smaller rooms and WFH pros who may have noisy family in nearby rooms. The super-sharp 4K lens also allows for 4x digital zoom so it can adapt to bigger rooms too, and we love the tilt-down Show Me presentation mode. Our full review goes into all the details.
+ Auto-framing
+ Great sharpness for a lower price
- Will struggle with big boardrooms
The HP 965 4K Streaming Webcam for Business is, yes, all about business. The microphone has been designed with conference rooms in mind, and while the FOV isn't the widest, it's great for midsize VC rooms, and the auto-framing will home in on people without any input needed, so it's great for most businesses while being a lot cheaper than the Owl. Read our full review.
+ Easy setup
+ Sharp image
- Privacy shutter not manual
The affordable NexiGo Hellocam punches well above its weight with a 1080p camera that yields a clean, sharp image. It's also easy to set up and use – and the integrated Windows Hello works seamlessly. It's rounded off by a sturdy build and an automatic privacy shutter to keep you secure (though there's no option to control it manually). Learn how our Tech Reviews Editor got on with it during his remote meetings in our NexiGo Hellocam review.
+ Great 360° coverage
+ Direct HDMI connection
- Not as smooth as Meeting Owl
The Kandao Meeting Pro can connect directly to a screen, monitor or mixer via its HDMI connection, and it can capture Full HD video encoded in H.264 and MJPEG formats. There's an SD card slot, which gives you an offline means of recording. Plus, an eight-mic, omnidirectional audio system delivers superb sound. Partner site Digital Camera World has a full review.
+ CMOS imaging sensor
+ Good colours in video
- Relatively narrow FOV
The Microsoft Lifecam Studio is billed as a 1080p camera, but you need to use some third-party webcam software to get it to record at this resolution – otherwise it’ll top out at 720p. Still, the CMOS sensor on the camera does do an impressive job, producing a clear image with good colour accuracy.
+ Drive two displays
+ Can add mics
- Very heavy
If money's not an issue and you have large boardroom meetings that need the perfect sound, the Logitech Rally Bar is the best conference room webcam. It has six microphones, and if the 7m range isn't enough, you can add more. The lens features a 15x zoom, making it ideal for boardroom presentations. Partner site T3 has a full review.
+ Smart AI-powered framing
+ Meeting-room analytics
- No mic included
The Huddly IQ is an advanced conference room webcam that uses AI-powered tech to frame up subjects for a smoother viewing experience. It produces Full HD video with a generous 150° – though make note that you do have to pick up the 5-mic module as well if you want the audio to be recorded.
Best 4K webcam for conference rooms
+ 4K (ish) resolution
+ Easy to cover a whole room
- Mic setup not the best
The Jabra Panacast is one of the most sophisticated conference webcams on the market. It’s capable of capturing 'panoramic' 4K resolution – not true 4K, but close enough. The 180° field of view means you'll capture a whole room, while the intelligent zoom system enables the camera to hone in on points of interest.
+ Brilliant image quality
+ Auto image enhancement
- No rotating function
The Dell Pro Webcam is not 4K, but as it's designed for WFH pros who work in smaller spaces (and usually appear alone instead of in a group) this strikes a perfect balance between budget and quality. It's cheaper than 4K cameras, but as our full review shows, you'll hardly notice the lower resolution, thanks to its innovative image enhancement features.
+ Combined screen and camera
+ Camera follows speaker
- Not suitable for a larger room
The 2021 Metal Portal Plus is a capable conference room webcam, as long as the group isn't too big and sit together. You get Full HD video and a 14-inch HD screen, with no need for a laptop or PC to make it work. It's a nifty device so long as you don't need the flexibility to use any platform you choose. Partner site TechRadar has a full review (under its former moniker, the Facebook Portal Plus).
+ Plug-and-play compatibility
+ Easy to pack up and transport
- Build lacks stability
The Logitech ConferenceCam Connect delivers good-quality Full HD video and perfectly clear audio. Its tubular shape is a little unusual, but makes it easy to transport. It's also easy to use and is compatible with other video conferencing apps. It also runs on an internal battery that can last for a three-hour video call. Partner site Digital Camera World has a full review.
How to choose a conference room webcam
When choosing a conference room webcam, take the following factors into consideration:
Video resolution: If you give presentations often or interface with clients from around the globe, you'll want to grace your viewers with crystal-clear visuals. Because you're usually presenting a larger space than just yourself, up to a whole boardroom, 4K would be best, but 1080p is also doable. (By comparison, integrated laptop webcams are usually 720p, and would be woefully underpowered for this purpose.)
Audio pickup: For larger conference rooms in particular, this is key as you'll want to ensure everyone can be heard. Omni-directional microphones are ideal as they'll be able to pick up sound from all over the room. If you regularly take meetings in an area with a lot of ambient noise, look for noise-cancelling capabilities. In some cases, you may need to purchase an external mic separately.
Size: This doesn't just relate to the camera itself, but rather how big your regular meeting space is – as well as how large of a group will typically convene on these conference calls. A simple webcam will make more sense than an elaborate tabletop camera with a broad field of view if you're often running meetings solo.
Compatibility: As always, you'll want to make sure your webcam plays nice with the rest of your devices and your conferencing software of choice. Read the specs sheet carefully before buying to avoid buying something that won't work with your current setup.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between a webcam and a conference camera?
Webcams are designed for one or two people to comfortably fit into frame. Laptops usually have cameras built in, but people often purchase a separate webcam for better quality video and to add more features. Webcams are good for meetings, streaming and video calling family and friends.
A conference camera has a broader field of view and a wider audio pickup to ensure that sound is picked up from all areas of the room – ensuring that everyone is seen and heard. Conference cameras are more sophisticated (and pricier) than most webcams as they're generally used for business.
What's the ideal placement for a conference room camera?
Try to have the camera positioned as close to seated eye level as possible in relation to your space as this will best replicate the experience of speaking to someone (or a group) in person. You'll also need to consider if your conference cam has special features like speaker autofocus, panning/tilting and omnidirectional mics (which will make it easier to pick up sound from all areas of the room).
How we test webcams
We based our choices of the best conference room webcams for this guide on our own expert reviews as well as those of our sister sites Techradar, Tom's Guide and Digital Camera World, which conduct regular tests on a wide range of tech.
We do more than merely unbox the product, look at the specs, turn it on once and then write up a quick verdict. A professional user has tested every camera in our guide in real life. This is during video meetings, be it 1-to-1 with other people or large conference situations. We also live with these devices for extended periods, often weeks and sometimes months at a time, so we notice any long-term quirks or faults that may emerge, which could be missed with a short-term test. We are selective about what makes it onto our best lists, so knowing we're truly recommending something that works over the long term is essential, as that's what you'll be doing.
