I’ve always thought purchasing a 4K webcam was something streamers and influencers should care about. I mean, how good am I? Really Do I look when I’m on a Teams call with my editors or a Skype call with my mom? It seemed pretty ridiculous to think about.

But I’ve been playing around with various webcam options to see what difference they really make in everyday video calls and meetings, and it turns out that 4K webcams have some real positives. There are also some negatives. (And I don’t just mean that everyone can suddenly see the pimple you didn’t bother covering up.)

Here’s what I learned about why 4K webcams might (and might not) be worth buying, depending on your needs and use cases.

Relating to: How we test webcams at PCWorld

Pros: 4K image quality is actually better

I know, it’s a mind-blowing approach… but be patient.

Yes, 4K webcams clearly look nicer than their 1080p or 720p counterparts, and this is thanks to the more detail captured in their images. The improved sensor quality in 4K webcams makes a huge difference in how you and your environment appear on camera.

Take a look at my selfies below, all taken in the same lighting conditions with three different webcam resolutions. The first frame comes from the built-in 720p camera on the 2019 Acer Predator Triton 500 laptop. The second is from the 1080p Logitech C920s Pro. The third is from the 4K Logitech MX Brio.

Jon Martindale/IDG

Jon Martindale/IDG

Jon Martindale/IDG

These were shot with ambient light; the two main sources are the window (behind me) and the static ceiling light (above me).

It’s fair to say that the 4K webcam looks significantly better than the 720p option, and even quite noticeably better than the 1080p alternative. It has a much wider field of view, as well as greater detail and clarity. Colors are more natural and nuanced and better manage the contrast of a bright background (the window) with a darker foreground.

Of course, switching from a 720p built-in webcam to a 1080p standalone webcam still offers the biggest boost, but there’s certainly an argument to be made that the image quality of a modern 4K webcam stands out.

Relating to: Why are laptop webcams so bad?

Cons: 4K webcams are too expensive

Since most laptops and even some monitors come with their own built-in webcams, making this expense may seem silly. any leave money on a separate webcam too much cash. But if you are thinking of buying a 4K webcam then will One has to spend quite a lot for one.

The Logitech C920s Pro webcam (1080p) I used in these comparisons available at most retailers for around $70It is quite affordable and perhaps even justified. But Logitech MX Brio webcam (4K) Sold for around $200. This… is not cheap.

Considering that anyone spending this much money on a webcam should also consider some sort of external lighting setup (see below), and the price tag for looking hot on camera is starting to seem a little crazy, especially if you’re just using it to chat with relatives or for your virtual D&D game.

Pros: Software adjustments make a big difference in 4K webcams

Jon Martindale/IDG

With a 4K webcam, you actually get more for your money than just the physical hardware. The Logitech MX Brio, for example, comes with a number of software features that help make it (more) worthwhile.

Also note that at 4K resolution you have more pixels to work with, which means digital zoom is much more capable. You can zoom in or out to the shape and size you want without compromising image quality. By the way, zooming in on a 1080p video is pretty noticeable, and don’t even think about zooming in on a 720p image. (Many built-in webcams don’t even have this functionality.)

On the MX Brio and some other 4K webcams, you can also adjust exposure (automatically or manually), turn on HDR mode, enable low-light compensation, adjust color balance and temperature, and even change focus manually. This can be great if you don’t want the autofocus to overreact every time you adjust your position.

Cons: A non-4K webcam can be just as good with proper lighting

Remember how I said it would be helpful to get an external light to use with your webcam? It turns out that as long as you have good lighting, you can get a pretty great looking image even with a cheaper webcam.

This is because cheaper cameras cut corners in areas like low-light compensation and high dynamic range. If you can provide enough light for the webcam to work and position those lights to illuminate you correctly, your webcam will produce a much better image.

The best part? A modest webcam along with a good lighting setup is often cheaper than a high-end webcam.

Jon Martindale/IDG

Jon Martindale/IDG

Jon Martindale/IDG

See above to see how my three webcams compare again, but this time I’m using the Logitech Litra Beam to better illuminate myself.

To be fair, the 4K webcam still looks the best – but the difference between 4K and 1080p images is now much smaller, surprising considering the price is less than a third of the price of the C920s Pro. Even the built-in 720p laptop webcam looks noticeably better with improved lighting.

Of course, Litra Beam is an expensive light stream and is completely overkill for most people. You can catch one just as easily cheap ring light for $20 Achieving a similar result would make the overall package much cheaper than buying an expensive 4K webcam.

Pros: Build quality is better on 4K webcams

Does a $200 webcam have higher build quality than a $70 webcam? Ha! This shouldn’t surprise anyone. But it’s true.

Sarcasm aside, Logitech’s MX Brio is a much nicer piece of equipment than the C920s Pro. It’s made of aluminum (and low-carbon aluminum) rather than plastic for a premium feel, and the body won’t flex or creak when you apply pressure or move it.

The assembly is also excellent and has a magnetic connection rather than a screw thread. Combine this with a tilting mechanism for the camera; point it at your desk for displaying documents and trinkets, and you clearly have a superior option. It is now much easier to move the camera to the desired position.

Relating to: The best webcams actually worth buying

Con: Higher bandwidth costs are a concern

While some of you are undoubtedly living your best life with Google Fiber and 10Gbps up and down, some of us aren’t so lucky. We need to worry about data caps and bandwidth limits.

If you’re like me, you maybe It’s okay to upload 5Mbps 1080p webcam video while your kids are streaming Netflix in the other room. But if you were to upgrade to a 4K webcam, you’d suddenly be sending 20 Mbps upstream, which could be a real internet bandwidth bottleneck.

The problem is exacerbated if you plan to use the 4K webcam on the go, where your 5G signal may be too weak to broadcast properly, roaming charges may increase, or public Wi-Fi is unavailable. Managing your 4K webcam.

It goes both ways. Your own internet may be great, but what about your grandmother’s internet? It may not be able to handle the barrage of video data coming from your 4K webcam. How much time do you want to spend troubleshooting next time you meet together?

I’ll keep it but I’m not sure I’ll buy it

Every time I write about my own experiences about something and some of the hardware is provided to me, I have to back up any opinion I have with the fact that I didn’t actually spend my own money on it.

This raises the question: To want Am I going to pay for this?

The 1080p Logitech C920s Pro webcam is a big deal for me I did I would actually buy it on my own and would 100 percent buy it again. It’s much, much better than the built-in webcam of any laptop I’ve used; It’s not just about image quality, but also the ability to move the webcam around and even unplug it when I need extra, guaranteed privacy. This alone is enough for me to recommend it.

The 4K Logitech MX Brio is undoubtedly a better webcam and I I I’m glad I have this because it makes me look better on conference calls and online D&D sessions. But would I pay $200 for this? Probably not. An external light and 1080p webcam are enough for me.

Further reading: What should you do when your webcam turns on for no reason?

Explanation: In the interest of full transparency, I want to say up front that some of the hardware discussed in this article is provided by external sources. Specifically, the MX Brio was sent to me by Logitech, and the gaming laptop was provided by another publication I write for. C920s Pro purchased myself.