Look and sound better on calls
A laptop's own camera, microphone and speakers are built to fit into a thin lid and a small base, not to make you look and sound your best. This department has the things that plug into a laptop to do better: a camera, a light, a microphone, a headset, speakers, and the small adapters that connect them. They suit anyone who spends part of the week on calls, teaches or studies online, records voice or video, or simply wants better sound at the desk.
Sound first
If you only change one thing, change the sound. People will put up with a soft picture, but not with a voice they cannot follow. Microsoft's own advice for Teams says the same: when the connection is short of bandwidth, Teams keeps the audio going before the video. So start with a headset with a microphone for busy or shared rooms, or a USB microphone for a quiet room and for recording. Our guide to microphones and headsets explains the choice.
Then light, then the camera
A good light does more for a picture than a sharper camera. A video call light in front of you, a little above the screen, lifts the shadows off your face, and a laptop camera often looks far better for it. After that, a webcam on top of the screen gives a sharper picture, a better angle when the laptop sits on a stand, and its own microphone. Our guide to webcams for video calls covers picture, light and sound together.
The ranges
- Webcams: 1080p, 2K and 4K cameras that clip to the top of the screen or stand on a tripod.
- Video call lights: clip-on ring lights, lights on arms and tripods, and small rechargeable panels.
- USB microphones: desk and boom-arm microphones that plug into USB.
- Headsets with a microphone: wired USB and 3.5mm headsets, and Bluetooth headsets.
- USB sound cards: headphone and microphone sockets from a USB or USB-C port.
- USB speakers: small desk speakers powered by the laptop.
Questions people ask about video calls and audio
My laptop has no headphone socket. What can I use?
A USB or Bluetooth headset, or a USB sound card that adds the sockets for a 3.5mm headset.
Do these need software?
Most here are listed as plug and play. Windows has a built-in driver for webcams made to the USB Video Class standard, and you choose the microphone and speakers in your call app's settings.
How long does delivery take?
Delivery is included in every price and tracked to your door. Each product page says when that item usually arrives, so check it before ordering for a set date.
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