The best conference room webcams in December 2023

Three of the best conference room webcams
(Image credit: Future)

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.

If you're looking for a simple webcam for one-to-one calls rather than conferences, see our list of the best webcams. We also have a guide to the best Macbook webcams if you're an Apple user, and a guide to the best monitor with webcam. Otherwise, take a look at our choices for the best conference room webcams.

The best webcam 2023 for conferences

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. 4K would be best, but 1080p is also solid. (By comparison, integrated laptop webcams are usually 720p.)

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-canceling 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.

Executives hold a conference using one of the best conference room webcams

(Image credit: KanDao)

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).

Beren Neale
Deals Editor

Beren has worked on creative titles at Future Publishing for over 13 years. Cutting his teeth as Staff Writer on the digital art magazine ImagineFX, he moved on to edit several creative titles, and is currently the Deals Editor on the most effective creative website in the world. When he's not testing and reviewing the best ergonomic office chairs, he can be found finding and comparing the best deals on the tech that creatives value the most. 

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