Apple recently released a new MacBook Pro, and it has all the latest specs: latest generation CPU, blazing-fast SSD, and keyboard so good that they call it Magic. One thing that didn’t change is the camera.
Close window shortcut mac. Our favorite picks for the best webcam and external mic options are below, and we'll update this periodically. (Note that prices are accurate at time of original publication, but may fluctuate. There's a simple camera app available for Windows users, but Mac users can just use it as a straightforward plug-and-play USB webcam with Mac apps such as FaceTime or Zoom.
In fact, Apple didn’t change its webcams since 2012. If you check specs for 2020 MacBook Pro and specs for Late 2012 Mac, they both have “720p FaceTime HD camera”.
So, if you are a YouTube blogger or need a good camera for school or work, you either have to use iPhone or buy an external device.
I reviewed multiple webcams, and the following are my best recommendations.
Product Comparison: 3 Best External Cameras for Macbook Air And Pro
How to Choose A Webcam For A MacImage Quality
Let’s start with the fact that 720p cameras outdated. Apple had it on its laptops for 8 years, and eight years is a long time in the technology world.
Why did Apple not change it yet? I guess the reason is that the company likes big margins on its products. While they don’t provide sales numbers, I remember reading somewhere that they sell iPhones with a 50% margin, i.e., they sell a phone that costs them $200 for $400.
And one way to increase margins is to buy cheap parts. Since they can put cheap slow CPU into MacBook, Apple saves on non-essential parts such as webcam or audio.
But let’s compare 720p and 1080p cameras. It sounds that 1080 is not much bigger than 720; however, the difference is quite big.
A 720p camera has a resolution of 1,280 x 720 (921,600 pixels per image), and 1080p has a resolution of 1,920 × 1,080 (2,073,600 pixels per image). In other words, the 1080p camera has a twice higher resolution.
More pixels mean a more detailed image. Have you ever tried to zoom in a picture until it gets blurry? Well, the depth of how far you can zoom in depends on the number of pixels. If the image has fewer pixels, it means the image quality is lower.
How about 4k cameras?
A resolution in 4K cameras is 3,840 × 2,160, or 8,294,400 pixels per image. As a result, they produce the highest quality.
![]() Image Size
More pixels are better, right?
Dvd tools mac. The answer, as always is it depends. Besides, image quality twice more pixels also means twice more space. And the same length video will be about twice larger as well.
If you have limited storage on the MacBook, then very big files can be a problem. Fortunately, this problem can be easily fixed by purchasing a large external hard drive. These days it is easy to buy a good brand name 4TB drive for less than $100.
Another issue with large size files is it takes longer to transmit them over the network. So, if you need a webcam for video conferencing, getting a 4K camera may not be a good idea because the connection can be quite choppy with the higher video quality.
Privacy Cover
Yesterday I received an email from one of my readers, which reads as follows, “I suspect my MAC has been compromised (I have a Macbook Pro) and all the software is up to date. I got a email from someone stating that they have recorded items via my macbook camera.”
I suggested purchasing a webcam cover on his MacBook.
The same recommendation applies to external cameras. Fortunately, some of them have privacy cover included, so there is no need to research and buy an extra part.
Microphone
Many webcams come with microphones as well. While MacBooks have a decent mic, sometimes it makes sense to use the one included in an external camera. It’s just one more feature to consider before making a purchase.
Connection Type
When choosing an external device, you have to know which ports are available on your computer.
For instance, if you have only USB-C ports, then having a camera which only supports USB 2.0 will not do any good. They are simply incompatible. It is true that you can buy an adapter, but having extra adapters is such a hustle, especially with MacBooks.
Ideally, I’d love to have Bluetooth devices whenever it is possible for two reasons. First, I don’t like to have extra cables around my laptops; managing them is a nightmare. Second, if all ports are being used by other devices, you may not have a free one to attach the camera.
Unfortunately, I was not able to find good Bluetooth cameras. I believe it’s because its bandwidth is not enough to transfer lots of data reliably. So, you have to choose between USB type A and type C.
Use USB type-A connectors with older Apple laptops: MacBook Pro 2015 or older and MacBook Air 2017 or older.
Use USB type-C connectors with newer Apple laptops: MacBook Pro 2016 or newer and MacBook Air 2018 or newer.
How to choose a camera for YouTube, FaceTime, Zoom or Skype
I have three simple rules when choosing webcams:
Our Recommendations for Best External Camera for MacBookLogitech BRIO – Ultra HD Webcam for Video Conferencing, Recording, and Streaming
Logitech is a brand well known in peripheral devices for computers and BRIO its top of the line product for external cameras.
Best External Camera For Macbook
It is being recommended virtually by every technology-minded site, and there are many reasons behind the recommendations.
The video quality is very high. You can see how BRIO compares to cameras built-in on MacBook, iMac, and Dell Inspiron laptop.
If you go to Amazon, you can see how BRIO compares to other Logitech cameras. BRIO supports multiple view angles (90, 78, or 65 degrees), which can be selected by its software. At the same time, the camera is UVC-compliant, which means it’s a plug and play device.
Things I like: Mac microphone not working.
Things I don’t like:
Logitech C930e 1080P HD Video Webcam – 90-Degree Extended View![]() Best Webcam For Macbook
Another good product from Logitech. This camera is best for video calls when you want a good image quality without taxing network bandwidth. This camera is being used by many users for many years, and it’s more appropriate for older MacBooks (without USB-C ports).
The Best External Webcam For Mac
Things I like:
Things I don’t like:
Allinko 880 Auto Focus Webcam 1080P with Camera Cover, Noise Cancelling MicBest Webcam For Mac Mini
If you are on a budget, this webcam worth looking at. The truth is that not everyone needs a premium device, especially if you need for video calls only. It has the decent image quality and the longest cable to connect to the USB port.
Things I like:
Things I don’t like:
Best Webcams For Mac
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