What’s in a ‘Good’ Webcam Now? The New Non-Negotiables for Remote Life

There was a time when a blurry laptop webcam was fine. You looked vaguely like yourself, people could hear you, and no one cared much. But that time is gone. Between daily Zoom calls, remote interviews, hybrid meetings, and digital presentations, your webcam is now your face—sometimes your entire first impression. And whether you’re using it for work, content creation, or calling your gran, the bar for what counts as a “good” webcam has been quietly raised. So what should you actually look for? Here’s what matters now—and what’s just marketing noise.

1080p Is the New Bare Minimum

If your camera’s still shooting in 720p, you’re basically in potato territory. Most built-in laptop webcams (unless you’ve got a newer model) max out at 720p, which is passable but noticeably soft, especially when viewed on larger screens.

Today’s standard? Full HD (1080p). Crisp, clear, and widely supported by Zoom, Google Meet, Teams, and streaming platforms. It’s the new baseline, and honestly—it makes you look like you showed up on purpose.

If you're splurging or creating content, 4K webcams exist, but they’re still overkill for daily video calls.

Autofocus > Manual Adjustments

Modern webcams should automatically adjust when you move, lean in, or hold something up to the screen. Good autofocus makes everything look smoother and more professional—especially if you tend to talk with your hands, pace around, or show physical documents.