Video Call Lights

Why light makes the biggest difference

Most poor pictures on a call are a lighting problem, not a camera problem. A window behind you turns you into a silhouette; a ceiling light above throws shadows under your eyes; the screen alone lights you blue. A small light in front of you, facing you, fixes all three, and it often makes a laptop's own camera look as good as a new webcam.

The kinds in this range

• Clip-on ring lights and LED clips grip the top or side of the laptop screen and plug into a USB port. They are the simplest choice for calls.
• Rechargeable clip lights have a battery and charge by USB-C, so they work away from the desk and on a phone too.
• Lights on arms and clamps fix to the edge of the desk and reach over to where you want them.
• Ring lights on tripods come in three sizes, with a Bluetooth remote, for recording and streaming.
• LED panels include ones with colour filters, a full-colour RGB panel, and one with a soft cover that spreads the light.

How to choose and where to put it

Warm or cool. Most here let you set the colour of the light, measured in kelvin. Lower numbers are warm and yellowish, like a table lamp; higher numbers are cool and bluish, like daylight on a cloudy day. Match the light already in the room, so your face is not one colour and the wall behind another.

Brightness. Most have several steps. Start low and turn it up until the shadows lift; too bright, and your face loses its shape.

True colours. Some give a colour rendering figure (CRI) of 95 or more. The higher it is, the more natural skin and clothes look, which matters more for recording than for calls.

Placing it. Put the light in front of you, a little above eye level, behind or beside the camera. Soft light from a larger source is kinder than a small bright point. If you sit by a window, face it rather than putting it behind you.

Questions people ask about video call lights

I wear glasses. How do I stop the reflection?

Raise the light higher and move it a little to one side, so its reflection falls outside the lenses. A ring light shows as a ring in glasses, so a panel to one side can suit better.

Can the laptop power it?

Yes, the USB lights run from a laptop's USB port. On a laptop with only USB-C ports, use a USB-C to USB-A adapter or a hub.

What is a ring light for?

It lights the face evenly from straight on, with the camera or phone in the middle of the ring. It is popular for recording yourself.

How long does delivery take?

Delivery is included in every price and tracked to your door. Each product page says when that light usually arrives, so check it before ordering for a set date.

More to look at

• Webcams
• USB microphones
• Headsets with a microphone
• Adjustable laptop stands
• Desk organisers
• Guide: Webcams for video calls: picture, light and sound
• Guide: Microphones and headsets for calls and recording