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.
- Best Video Conferencing Webcam
- Best Camera For Macbook Pro
- Best Camera For Macbook Air
- Best Webcams For Video Conferencing 2020
![Camera Camera](https://weneedfun.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Texture-Wall-Painting-Ideas-5-1024x576.jpg)
Logitech is a brand well known in peripheral devices for computers and BRIO its top of the line product for external cameras. It is being recommended virtually by every technology-minded site, and there are many reasons behind the recommendations. The best gear for online classes or meetings: Webcams, lights, mics, tripods and more. Zoom call for work? Remote school session? This gear will enhance all your video chats. Logitech Circle View Apple HomeKit-Enabled Security Camera Apple HomeKit. $159.95 All Colors. Eve Cam - Previous Gallery Image; Eve Cam - Next Gallery Image; Apple HomeKit.
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.
Best voice recording software for windows 10. I reviewed multiple webcams, and the following are my best recommendations.
Product Comparison: 3 Best External Cameras for Macbook Air And Pro
Camera | Rating |
---|---|
Logitech BRIO – Ultra HD Webcam for Video Conferencing, Recording, and Streaming | Best 4K Camera★★★★★ |
Logitech C930e 1080P HD Video Webcam | Best USB 2.0 camera★★★★★ |
Allinko 880 Auto Focus Webcam 1080P with Camera Cover | Budget Pick★★★★☆ |
How to Choose A Webcam For A Mac
Image 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Let’s start with the fact that 720p cameras outdated.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?
Free easy to use video editing software download. 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?
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:
- If your goal is to produce YouTube videos, then pick a camera with the highest resolution. While 4K videos maybe overkill now, I am confident that in a couple of years, they will be mainstream for YouTube. If you don’t invest in a good quality camera, later, when your channel will have hundreds of videos, you will regret that you didn’t shoot them with the best hardware. I heard some YouTubers had to redo videos for the same reason.
- If the goal to use webcam in video calls and conferences, then Full HD (1080p) is good enough for the quality. At the same time, it does not require too much bandwidth, which is critical during the calls. You may need to allow webcam access for a particular app.
- Avoid 720p cameras. They are the thing of the past, even if Apple does not recognize it yet.
Our Recommendations for Best External Camera for MacBook
Logitech 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.
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:
- 4K video resolution, it can also produce 1080p and 720p videos
- 5x digital zoom
- Autofocus
- Premium Light Correction
- Support for USB type A and C (can be used with old and new MacBooks)
- Built-in microphone
- Privacy cover
Things I don’t like:
- Background removal beta feature does not work well on MacBook
- Expensive
Logitech C930e 1080P HD Video Webcam – 90-Degree Extended View
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).
Best Video Conferencing Webcam
Things I like:
- 1080p video qiality
- 4X Digital Zoom
- Autofocus
- Light Correction
- H264 Compression allows having good quality videos with smaller file sizes and bandwidth
- Built-in microphone
- Privacy cover
Things I don’t like:
- Does not support USB type C
Allinko 880 Auto Focus Webcam 1080P with Camera Cover, Noise Cancelling Mic
Best Camera For Macbook Pro
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:
- 1080p video qiality
- Plug and Play
- Automatic Light Correction
- Built-in microphone
- Privacy cover: there are multiple versions of the camera, so make sure to get the one with the cover
Things I don’t like:
- No Autofocus: you have to focus manually
Make your Mac invincible
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Every year, we become more and more connected. Our laptops, phones, and now even microwaves and toasters have access to the internet and are able to exchange data freely.
While such extra connectivity is meant to benefit us and make our lives easier, it also creates its own problems, especially when someone gains access to our network without our explicit permission.
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A few recent scandals, for example, involved hacked webcams of unassuming targets, which led to lots of sensitive information being exposed. In 2015, a woman from Toronto was sent her own webcam-captured photos watching Netflix from a day before. Sounds like a nightmare, doesn’t it? Luckily, there are a few easy ways to prevent this from happening.
How To Use Trustworthy Webcam Protectors
You might be wondering how does it even happen that hackers gain access to your laptop? Most frequently, they do it through the type of malware known as a remote administration tool (RAT), which lets them control the target’s computer (including their webcams) from anywhere in the world.
Good news is MacBooks are much more resistant to RAT software than Windows-based laptops, due to their closed ecosystems. Still, hackers are able to infiltrate your Mac through downloaded scripts, phishing emails, and unsecured networks.
In an environment like this, the easiest way to maintain your privacy is to purchase a laptop webcam cover — a physical barrier to fend off any privacy intrusion. Hey, if even Mark Zuckerberg has one, then you know it’s something you should seriously consider as well. Let’s then go over the most popular ones on the market.
Top MacBook webcam cover sliders
Just look at the Amazon webcam cover category and you’ll be flooded with choice. It seems like computer camera covers come in all shapes, sizes, and prices. Nevertheless, here are some of the webcam shields we recommend.
One of the original sliding webcam covers is a C-Slide 1.0 Laptop Privacy Cover. Its thin and lightweight design sticks easily to any laptop, doesn’t scratch the camera lens, and makes sure your MacBook will close completely (at just 0.06 inches thick).
![Best webcams for video conferencing 2020 Best webcams for video conferencing 2020](https://rumorscity.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Brilliant-Bathroom-Ideas-For-Your-Pet-Dog-08.jpg)
If you’re looking for something more slick, try the Steagle Original Laptop Webcam Cover. Manufactured out of anodized aluminum, the cover is the perfect companion to any MacBook and measures just 0.03 inches thick. Additionally, it doesn’t use the magnetic closure so none of your electronics will be affected in any way. The Steagle covers are, however, more expensive than most at around $10 each.
For someone on the budget, there’s nothing better than the Cimkiz MacBook Pro Camera Cover. These super thin (0.02-inch) metal covers come in packs of three or six, and start at just $7. So if any get lost, you can just replace with another one from the pack, or gift a few to your friends, since they should be protecting their privacy too!
Those who’d like a Mac camera cover with some semblance of design and decent looks will surely appreciate Mosiso Webcam Cover. These aluminum sliders come as a pack of three in different colors (black, silver, and rose gold), are durable as well as ultra-thin (just 0.02 inches). Moreover, you can easily stick one on your iPhone or iPad.
Finally, we can’t omit the Wirecutter webcam choice of imluckies as the best webcam cover on the market today. Indeed, this webcam shield is made of metal, thinner than a credit card, and doesn’t use magnets. It’s also cheap enough, easy to install, and is gentle on your devices. Overall, a good no-brainer option and the official Amazon’s Choice as well.
How to get rid of malware on your Mac
Even though having a computer camera cover is a foolproof way to protect your privacy in case you have a virus spying on you, it’s also a good practice to check for those viruses in advance and delete them before they can do any damage. All you need here is a trustworthy malware scanner.
CleanMyMac X is the world’s leading optimization software for Mac. It not only regularly scans your laptop against the most up-to-date database of viruses but also gives you options to monitor your privacy (trackers, cookies, ads, etc.) and optimize your Mac’s performance overall.
To check your Mac for viruses with CleanMyMac X:
- Navigate to Malware Removal under the Protection tab
- Click Scan
- Remove any malware found
- Repeat every few weeks
How to avoid unsecured networks
Every time you’re in a public space and see a WiFi with no password, your first reaction is probably to connect. Don’t! Or rather don’t until you get a proper VPN (virtual private network).
Since public WiFi is not private, it’s not secure either. Which means that essentially anyone with enough skills can gain nearly unrestricted access to your laptop. To protect yourself, you need a VPN, which encrypts the connection right from your laptop and makes it impossible to penetrate. Additionally, VPNs let you go around any geographical restrictions online (e.g. when your favorite sports game is not accessible to those outside of a specific continent or country).
Best Camera For Macbook Air
Shimo is a top-rated VPN manager that supports multiple connection protocols to deliver the most comprehensive and safe coverage available. This app will choose the most appropriate VPN channel and send out everything from your Mac encrypted via 256-bit AES. In plain terms, it doesn’t get more safe than that.
How to escape dangerous phishing emails
Most hacked webcams are the direct result of various phishing email tactics — when you get an email from a seemingly legitimate organization, such as your bank, which asks you to click on a link to confirm something, for example. The link turns out to be a script that gets downloaded to your Mac and could potentially take your webcam under its control.
Canary Mail is the best answer to any email threats. This secure email client is encrypted by default, which means that only you and your recipient can read the messages. Additionally, Canary Mail is able to send you read receipts, deal with emails in bulk (using actions such as snooze, star, pin, and archive), and even come up with frequently used templates. You also don’t need to create new email accounts, since the app supports all the most popular providers right off the bat.
So once you select your go-to MacBook webcam cover, you can relax, knowing that no one will be physically able to invade your private space. But to be completely secure from any attacks, make sure to check your Mac for malware every few weeks using CleanMyMac X, always turn on a VPN in public spaces through Shimo, and strongly consider switching your email client to completely private Canary Mail.
Best of all, CleanMyMac X, Shimo, and Canary Mail are available to you absolutely free for seven days with a trial of Setapp, a platform for top-quality Mac apps (160 and counting), which can not only secure your computer but also help you with design, finance, management, productivity, and much more. Step up to a new level of privacy and peace, and see for yourself!
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