Is buying a cheap webcam on Amazon worth it?

Date:
Mon, 02 May 2022 16:33:29 +0000

Description:
Many cheap webcams on Amazon are worth buying. You just have to know what to look for.

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You can usually tell when theres a high demand for something when you start seeing numerous knockoffs and dupes from internet-based independent sellers and retailers popping up on Amazon. At the height of the pandemic, with everyone on Earth seemingly looking for ways to connect with others without leaving their homes, webcams had their time in the spotlight. Naturally, lesser-known manufacturers and even unknown brands had to get in on the action.

This proved to be a blessing then, especially because big-name manufacturers like Logitech and Microsoft couldnt keep up with the demand. Most of the best webcams were sold out for months, leaving a chunk of the population seeking alternatives. Enter the new breed of webcam brands from Amazon, which not
only helped ease the burden but also offered cheaper options.

Now that webcams from trusted manufacturers are mostly back in stock, is it still worth buying a cheap webcam on Amazon? Let's find out. (Image credit: Sansisco/DEPSTECH) Cheap webcams: low price may not be what it seems

In general, webcams from unknown Amazon brands with names that look like a bunch of letters randomly strung together (HZQDLN and DEPSTECH) are cheaper than their big-brand counterparts.

Youll find, for example, that a 1080p webcam from XPCAM or even the better-known NexiGo would set you back at least half of what youll pay for were you to get it from Logitech, Microsoft or Razer . In fact, they cost about the same as Logitech and Microsofts 720p offerings. Not only that but these webcams are often discounted on Amazon, allowing you to save even more.

Thats excellent news, especially for the average consumer simply looking for
a functional webcam that wont set them back more than $50/50.

When you start to go into the realm of 4K webcams, that rule doesnt always apply. Sure, youll find sub-$100 options like the DEPSTECH DW49 and the Sansisco 4K . But, youll also see many cheap 4K webcams that either cost just as much as their big-name counterparts or are only $20 or so cheaper. The WyreStorm Focus 210 Webcam 4K and the NexiGo N950P are good examples.

If youre going on Amazon to find a cheap webcam, it might be worth exploring what Logitech and Dell have to offer first, especially if youre using that webcam for work or business, which well discuss more later. (Image credit: NexiGo/XPCAM) The battle of 1080p webcams

Looking in the budget aisle already shows that you want to spend as little as possible, but that doesnt necessarily mean that youre also willing to sacrifice features or picture quality. Whether buying a cheap webcam on
Amazon is worth it or not largely depends what youll be using it for.

If youre looking at cheap webcams because you want something thats good
enough for video calls with friends and family, then the combination of their cheap price tag, 1080p resolution and positive reviews on Amazon make them worth considering, even if youre not familiar with the brand. Same for remote workers who dont need anything fancy, just a working webcam for those daily standups and meetings with the team.

The XPCAM FHD Webcam , for example, enjoys a 4.3 out of 5 rating on Amazon
and mostly positive reviews from verified customers praising it for its
build, easy set up and included accessories (tripod and privacy shutter).
Many have also praised it for its good picture quality.

Meanwhile, the NexiGo N60 has a higher 4.4 out of 5 rating and more than 21,000 reviews. Verified customers applaud not just its easy installation,
but also its picture quality and auto focus feature. One reviewer even said that its picture quality is better than that of his iMac .

Even if you need something with special features like a ring light or a noise-cancelling mic, its worth scouring Amazon for a cheap option. The
NexiGo StreamCam N930E , for example, comes with both those things while
still costing less than any 1080p webcam Logitech has on offer currently. (Image credit: DEPSTECH) Going 4K

People who spend money on a 4K webcam are typically using it for business. And, by that we mean everyone from owners of local brick-and-mortar establishments and content creators to those with high positions in financial institutions. After all, 4K webcams are still pretty expensive and most
people do not need that ultra high-definition resolution for their video calls.

If youre considering getting a 4K webcam for your business, you might be better off going with a trusted brand. Thats because you dont really know anything about those vendors on Amazon, which means you dont know whether or not they themselves are manufacturing those webcams and if theyre even developing the firmware being used. When youre dealing with sensitive information, that firmware could easily be used (and that webcam could easily be hacked) to obtain that information.

Those cheap 4K webcams might be $20/20 or $30/30 cheaper, but theres also a higher risk of a security breach that might cost you even more money or worse, your actual business.

If youre just getting a 4K webcam just because you want super sharp picture quality when on your personal calls, something like the DEPSTECH DW40 or the Sansisco 4K Webcam should suffice. However, if youre dealing with sensitive
or classified information that might be used against you, its not worth the risk even if there are a few things you can do to minimize that risk. Check out the best cheap webcams



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/news/is-buying-a-cheap-webcam-on-amazon-worth-it/


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