A tripod mount is a useful asset here, as it enables you to place the webcam on a desktop tripod at approximately the same height as your face.

Thats a shame, because as more of us use Skype and similar services to keep in touch, a webcam is starting to feel essential.

Whats more, some of us are now expected to join in video-conferences and chats for work.

And if you plan to take up streaming, a decent webcam is every bit as essential as a microphone.

How else will you do those bizarre close-up facial inserts and reaction videos Even if you use a laptop you might still want a better webcam, for the simple reason that many built-in webcams arent that good.

Many still have a maximum video resolution of 720p, or struggle to maintain a decent picture in normal indoor lighting.

Colours tend to be either dull or hopelessly over-saturated, and the angle your webcam shoots at is dictated by the angle of the screen, with some recent laptops placing it below the display so that it shoots right up your nose.

We all want to show the world our best side, not a face straight from The Walking Dead, just as no sensible person outside US politics or daytime TV thinks its great to look bright orange.

How to buy the best webcam for you How much do I need to spend Webcams can cost anywhere from 15 to 150 and upwards, though the most expensive models are usually designed for video conferencing in the corporate boardroom rather than the home.

These often have wide-angle lenses to cover more participants in a meeting, which doesnt look so great when its just you, on your tod.

See related How to turn off your webcam and stop it spying on you Best office chair 2020: The best office chairs still in stock Best monitor 2020: The best 1080p, 1440p, 4K, 5K and ultrawide monitors to buy from 124 The key factor that separates the cheapest webcams from the priciest is resolution, stretching from the hoary old 640 x 480 (VGA) resolution through to the now-standard 1,280 x 720 (720p) or 1,920 x 1,080 (1080p) resolutions.

Even 720p is perfectly adequate for general video chat purposes until the iPhone 7, it was the resolution for all iOS FaceTime calls.

However, 1080p makes more sense for making videos or streaming purposes and allows you to take advantage of zoom and pan features without completely ruining the image quality.

As webcams dont have zoom lenses, these functions effectively just crop part of the 1080p image and expand it to fill the screen, thus lowering the effective resolution.

K is better still, but it remains overkill for most of us.

In fact, while there are some 4K webcams targeting boardrooms and YouTube streamers, you might want to think about whether you want others to see a close up of your face in that much detail.

Does a high resolution guarantee good image quality If youre looking for the next step-up in image quality, remember that resolution isnt the be-all and end-all.

Webcams differ massively when it comes to capturing colours, handling gloomy conditions or coping with bright lights from a window.

Where a good camera gets you a bright, clear picture with lifelike hues, a bad one will give you something noisy, blocky, too dark to see anything or spoilt by over-saturated colours and washed-out highlights.

Effective autofocus with face tracking is also a plus, as it ensures the camera stays focused on your face even if you move around a little in the frame.

If youre working on a desktop PC or a laptop with a low-quality built-in microphone, look for a webcam with a built-in stereo or array microphone.

This will improve the quality of the audio being captured no end, giving you better chats and calls and clearer broadcasts, if thats your thing.

Are all webcams suitable for both laptop and desktop use Some webcams are designed primarily for desktop use, while others have been built to attach to a monitor or laptop lid.

This will impact everything from their size and weight to the length of the cable and the way the webcam is supported or mounted.

On the desktop, you want something really steady that allows the camera to sit at a comfortable position tilting upwards to see your face, plus a cable that allows you to position the camera wherever you need it.

Best Quality Webcam For Mac