I always thought that buying a 4K webcam was only something streamers and influencers should worry about. I mean how much better I am Really Will I watch when I’m on a Teams call with my editors or on a Skype call with my mom? It seemed pretty silly to think about.

But I tested several webcam options to see what difference they actually make in video calls and daily meetings – and it turns out there are real benefits to 4K webcams. There are also some negative points. (And I don’t just mean that suddenly everyone can see that pimple you didn’t bother to cover up.)

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

Related: How we test webcams at PCWorld

Advantages: 4K image quality is actually better

I know, mind-blowing take here…but bear with me.

Yes, 4K webcams obviously look better than their 1080p or 720p counterparts, and that’s thanks to more detail captured in their images. The improved sensor quality of 4K webcams makes a huge difference in how you and your surroundings appear on camera.

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

Jon Martindale / IDG

Jon Martindale / IDG

Jon Martindale / IDG

These were taken with ambient light, the two main sources being the window (behind me) and a static ceiling light (above me).

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

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

Related: Why are laptop webcams so bad?

Disadvantage: 4K webcams are ridiculously expensive

With most laptops – and even some monitors – having their own built-in webcam, it might seem silly to spend any money on a separate webcam, even less a lot cash. But if you are planning to buy a 4K webcam, then you will you have to spend quite a bit for one.

The Logitech C920s Pro (1080p) webcam I used in these comparisons is available for around $70 at most retailerswhich is quite affordable and perhaps even justifiable. But the Logitech MX Brio (4K) webcam is sold for around $200. It’s… not cheap.

Add to that that anyone spending this much on a webcam should also consider some sort of external lighting setup – see below – and the price for looking hot on camera starts to seem a little crazy, especially if you’re only using it to chat with loved ones. or for your virtual D&D game.

Pros: Software tweaks make a big difference with 4K webcams

Jon Martindale / IDG

With a 4K webcam, you’re actually getting a lot more than just physical hardware for your money. For example, the Logitech MX Brio comes with a range of software features that make it (more) worth it.

Also keep in mind that with 4K resolution you have more pixels to work with, which means digital zoom is much more capable. You can zoom or crop to any shape and size you want, all without compromising image quality. Meanwhile, 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 feature.)

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

Disadvantage: A non-4K webcam can be just as effective with proper lighting

Remember when I said it was worth getting an external light to use with your webcam? Well, it turns out that you can get a really nice image even with a cheaper webcam, as long as you have good lighting.

This is because cheaper cameras reduce costs in areas such as low-light compensation and high dynamic range. If you can provide enough light for the webcam to work and if you position those lights to illuminate you in the right way, your webcam will produce a much better image.

The best part? The price of a good lighting setup and a modest webcam is usually cheaper than a high-end webcam.

Jon Martindale / IDG

Jon Martindale / IDG

Jon Martindale / IDG

See above for another comparison of my three webcams, except this time I’m using a Logitech Litra Beam for better lighting.

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

Of course, the Litra Beam is an expensive diffusion light and completely overkill for most people. You can just as easily take a cheap ring light for $20 to achieve a similar result, which would make the whole thing much cheaper than buying an expensive 4K webcam.

Pros: Build quality is better in 4K webcams

A $200 webcam has better 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 better piece of equipment than the C920s Pro. It’s made from aluminum (and low-carbon aluminum, at that) instead of plastic for a premium feel, and the case doesn’t flex or creak when you apply pressure or move it.

The mount is also excellent and has a magnetic attachment rather than a thread. Combine this with a tilt mechanism for the camera, which allows you show it at your desk to show off documents and trinkets, and you have a clearly superior option. It’s simply easier to maneuver the camera to the desired position.

Related: The best webcams that are definitely worth buying

Downside: 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 have to worry about data caps and bandwidth limits.

If you’re like me, you could it’s all good for downloading 5 Mbps of 1080p webcam video while your kids stream Netflix in the other room. But if you were to upgrade to a 4K webcam, you’d suddenly be sending 20 Mbps upstream – and that could be a real internet bandwidth bottleneck.

The problem is even worse if you plan to use the 4K webcam while traveling, where your 5G signal might be too weak to stream properly, where roaming charges may increase, or where public Wi-Fi is not available. just not suitable. manage your 4K webcam.

This also goes both ways. Your own Internet may be great, but what about your grandmother’s? It might not be able to handle the barrage of video data from your 4K webcam. How much time do you want to spend troubleshooting for her the next time you have a call together?

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

Whenever I write about my own experiences with something and some of the material was provided to me, I have to express all my opinions about the fact that I didn’t actually spend my own money on it.

Which raises the question: Would be Do I pay for this?

Well, the Logitech C920s Pro 1080p webcam is something I did in fact, I would buy it myself and 100% buy it again. It’s much better than the built-in webcam of any laptop I’ve used – and it’s not just about image quality, but also the ability to move the webcam and even unplug it whenever I need additional, guaranteed privacy. That alone is enough for me to recommend it.

The 4K Logitech MX Brio is without a doubt the best webcam, and I am I’m glad I have it because it makes me look better on conference calls and virtually D&D sessions. But would I pay $200 for this? Probably not. An external light and a 1080p webcam are enough for me.

Further reading: What to do when your webcam is on for no reason

Disclosure: For full transparency, I would like to say at the outset that some of the material discussed in this article was provided by outside sources. Specifically, the MX Brio was sent to me by Logitech and the gaming laptop was provided by another publication I write for. The C920s Pro was purchased myself.