Tom's Guide Verdict
This is a super budget webcam with 720p picture quality and a built-in omnidirectional mic. While it’s good for casual video calls and the like, it’s probably not HD enough for use in a professional setting.
Pros
- +
Inexpensive
- +
Auto light correction
- +
Universal clip
Cons
- -
No auto correction
- -
No tilt, pan, or zoom
- -
Can’t adjust field of view
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Price: $29, £34
Compatibility: USB-A port: Windows 8 or later, MacOS 10.10 or later, Chrome OS.
Supported resolution: 720 at 30 fps
Diagonal field of view: 55 degrees
Camera megapixel: 0.9
Focus type: Fixed
Lens type: Plastic
Built-in mic: Omnidirectional mic
Dimensions: 2.87 x 1.26 x 2.62 inches
Weight: 2.65 ounces
Cable Length: 5 feet
Colors: Black
At only $29, the Logitech C270 HD webcam is a budget webcam with 720p picture quality and a mono built-in mic. Originally released in 2021, the C270 has recently been updated. Previously the webcam’s FoV was 60°, but is now 55°, meaning the width of vision has decreased and the camera’s focus is more on the central picture, which is obviously you! So, is it still one of the best webcams?
This is an easy-to-use webcam. Setup is instantaneous and its universal clip can click onto desktop monitors, laptops, and even balance on a shelf should you need it to. There are no bells or whistles, and the C270 webcam does the job you’d want it to.
The 720p picture is high-quality enough for simple web calling, but maybe isn’t professional enough for remote workers who could do with HD quality. Find out what we thought of this budget webcam in this Logitech C270 HD webcam review.
Logitech C270 HD Webcam review: Price and availability
The Logitech C270 HD Webcam is the cheapest model offered by the company. It’s currently selling for $29 on the Logitech website, and on Amazon, it’s listed at $39, but often goes on sale for around $20. However, if you’re having trouble locating it, check out our article on where to buy webcams.
Logitech C270 HD Webcam review: Compatibility
The Logitech website lists download options for the C270 companion software CameraSettings from macOS 10.12-11.0. We tested with macOS 14.5 and CameraSettings worked fine.
There are download options for Windows 7, 8, and 10, but no Chrome OS options, despite Logitech listing the webcam as compatible with Chrome OS. However, you don’t need the software to use the webcam, so this is by no means a major disappointment.
In the app you can adjust contrast, brightness, white balance, color intensity, and anti-flicker settings.
Logitech C270 HD Webcam review: Video and audio quality
The Logitech C270 HD streams and records at 720p/30fps. The lens is plastic instead of glass, and it still produces a relatively clear picture. However, it doesn’t compare to the quality of a 1080p webcam. You need to have realistic expectations regarding the type of image that a 720p webcam can produce.
For typical Zoom meetings, checking in with family or friends, and making sure your kid can participate in remote learning, the camera is fine. But the lower resolution means that there are quality differences in how clear and sharp the images are, compared to a webcam with a higher resolution. In addition, the Logitech C270 HD doesn’t reproduce the range of colors found in your environment. Instead, the colors are muted and even vibrant colors are rather washed-out.
So, if your goal is to present a polished, professional image, you may want to pay more to get a 1080p webcam.
The photos below were taken at night and my open floor plan includes a mixture of ceiling and pendant lights, along with table and desk lamps. The webcam features RightLight 2, which provides automatic light correction, and it did a pretty good job of producing natural colors, given the maze of lights it has to navigate in my home.
The webcam has a fixed focus as opposed to autofocus. In addition, it doesn’t include many of the features found in other Logitech webcams, such as pan, tilt, and zoom. It should also be noted that you can’t rotate it from landscape to portrait mode, and the field of view is fixed at 60 degrees. But for many people, these features aren’t necessary.
The built-in mono microphone is designed to reduce noise. It works pretty well, and is an obvious improvement over your laptop’s mic. However, don’t expect it to perform as well as the dual omnidirectional mics included with most higher-priced Logitech webcams. If you’re looking for a higher-quality mic for podcasting, check out the best microphones in 2021.
Logitech C270 HD Webcam review: Design
The Logitech C270 Webcam has a pretty traditional webcam design. It measures 2.9 inches high, 2.6 inches deep, and 1.3 inches wide. At 2.65 ounces, the webcam is super light, and doesn’t feel or look bulky. Since the webcam uses a universal clip, it should fit on laptops and monitors of various sizes. Technically, it doesn’t tilt, but there is enough give to slightly angle the camera up and down. The webcam includes an attached 5 feet USB-A cable. It does not include a tripod or a privacy shutter.
Depending on the brand and model of laptop, the software doesn’t start loading automatically when you attach the USB-A cable. If it doesn’t load, you’ll need to go to the Logitech website to download it.
Logitech C270 HD Webcam review: Verdict
If you’re looking for a simple, no frills webcam for yourself or your kids, we highly recommend the Logitech 270 HD Webcam. The noise-reduction microphone is certainly an improvement over your laptop’s mic, and the plastic lens means you don’t have to worry about the kids being rough with the camera. However, if you would prefer a model with 1080p/30 fps, consider the Logitech C920 webcam.
