Windows Hello allows you to unlock your computer using face recognition. Think of it as a technology similar to Face ID on an iPhone. When you install a Windows Hello-compatible camera on your PC, the computer will look for your face every time you wake it up. Once your face is detected, your computer is unlocked and ready to use. Sounds convenient, right? If you too want to automate the unlocking process, here are some of the best webcams with Windows Hello support. But before that –
Don’t trust facial recognition? You can get a Windows Hello USB fingerprint reader instead. Wondering how to use smart unlock methods on your PC? You can set up Windows Hello by following a few simple steps. If you’re an upcoming streamer, you might want to consider budget webcams for streaming.
1. Elecom Facial Recognition Webcam
Resolution: 1080p Field of view: 80°
For most people, 1080p clips should suffice for online meetings. Additionally, the lens is 80° wide and can cover a wide field of view. This is beneficial if you often take calls with your team or a lot of people in the background. As per reviews, the picture quality is decent in good lighting. But it does get slightly grainy if you are in a dark environment. As for the Windows Hello performance — users say the camera’s facial recognition tech works flawlessly 80 percent of the time. On a few occasions, the camera fails to trigger facial recognition so it doesn’t look for your face at all. While this is a minor inconvenience for some, for others, it can be a deal-breaker. If you’re willing to spend more — you should take a look at more premium options with better reliability.
2. Lenovo 510
Resolution: 1080p Field of view: 95°
The Lenovo 510’s FoV is on par with an ultra-wide camera on most smartphones. As such, if you don’t want to splurge on dedicated webcams, then you can get one that can accommodate your entire team for seamless video conferencing. Do note that a large FoV may not be ideal for personal use or if you work from home. Don’t worry though, as Lenovo offers 4X digital zoom via its own software. You can zoom in to crop out the background and have the camera focus on your face. However, users have said that this results in degraded quality (naturally) so it’s not the best option. As for facial recognition — it works well according to several users and they haven’t faced any major issues. And for what it’s worth, the Lenovo 510 looks quite appealing so it would also add an aesthetic touch to your setup.
3. NexiGo HelloCam
Resolution: 1080p Field of view: 90°
For all of you who are worried about privacy — the NexiGo HelloCam’s shutter is the best solution. While several webcams have a manual shutter, you may forget to close them every time. This is where the automatic shutter on the HelloCam comes in handy. The excellent shutter feature and quick Windows Hello face recognition have impressed most users if we go by the reviews. The camera offers good picture quality too. Unsurprisingly, the output takes a hit in less-than-ideal lighting. As such, you might notice the feed to be a bit grainy without ample light. All things considered, the NexiGo HelloCam offers great value and brings enticing features to the mix, thereby cementing it as one of the best Windows Hello webcams on the market.
4. Yealink UVC30
Resolution: 4K Field of view: 70°, 90°, and 120°
If you stream games or conduct live sessions online, it’s always nice to upgrade your video output so your viewers have a pleasant experience. The Yealink UVC30 lets you do exactly that along with providing Windows Hello facial recognition features. Reviews indicate face recognition via the camera works as expected and is also quick. Apart from that, another exciting highlight of the UVC30 is its FoV options. To wit, you can variate the FoV from 70-degree to 90-degree and even 120-degree if you have too many people in the frame. Needless to say, the UVC30 offers the broadest coverage on any webcam out there. Thanks to the 4K resolution, you won’t lose out on a lot of detail even when you’re using the webcam’s digital crop feature. If there’s one slight downside to the Yealink camera, it’s the size. The webcam is rather large so you may be unable to mount it on a laptop. It may also look odd if you have a small monitor.
5. Logitech Brio Webcam
Resolution: 4K Field of view: 65°,78°, and 90°
Like Yealink’s offering, you get multiple FoV options with the Logitech Brio. There’s also a manual privacy shutter that you can use which is handy, but not as convenient as the automatic one on the NexiGO HelloCam. What is convenient though is Logitech’s software suite which allows you to sync multiple Brio webcams to your account. This way, you can connect and monitor the status of several webcams. The webcam’s built-in HDR capabilities ensure the exposure levels are correctly handled. To no one’s surprise, then, reviews cite that the Logitech Brio 4K offers the best video output on a webcam. So much so, the footage doesn’t suffer much even if you don’t have a lot of ambient light. Facial recognition also works as expected with little to no failures. If you want a reliable webcam that offers a no-frills experience, the Logitech Brio is the way to go. Logitech’s software experience is also superior compared to other brands.
6. Dell UltraSharp HDR Webcam
Resolution: 4K Field of view: 65°, 78°, and 90°
Apart from superior video quality thanks to a custom Sony sensor, there’s yet another USP of the Dell UltraSharp webcam. The facial recognition algorithms built-in constantly scan for your face. When the IR camera detects that you’re not in front of your computer anymore, it automatically locks it. When you walk back into the frame, the camera scans your face and unlocks your PC. This safety feature is extremely convenient and can be a big selling point for a lot of users. Dell also uses AI to automatically adjust the frame based on the position of your face. The UltraSharp webcam is relatively large and expensive. But if the features impress you, these points can be overlooked.
Unlock With Convenience
If you use an iPhone, you know how convenient it is to just look at your phone and have it unlocked. Using Windows Hello Webcams, you can replicate the same convenience even on your PC. So the next time you want to unlock your computer, you no longer have to enter your passcode. A quick glance at your monitor and you will be logged in seamlessly. The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.
