Webcam streaming is a significant trend nowadays. From online classes to live gameplays, everything is done through webcam streaming. It helps the audience to get live and real experiences and reactions using virtual technology.
In the old days, a person had to attend a class to learn new stuff. Those weren’t effective, neither were they scalable. A teacher could teach only so many people. They were limited by practical constraints.
Then came the invention of the computer. Schools and universities started using video clips for their conventional classes. These didn’t make a whole lot of changes in the education methodologies, but they piqued an interest. The good thing was that a person was no longer bound to a single classroom.
The age of the internet made a revolutionary change to the way students are taught. Teachers can now teach anyone around the world. The physical barrier has been removed. And they dominated the whole game. Anyone with any expertise can monetize their skillset. Teachers were no longer limited by their location or their classroom space. It was cheap and convenient too for both parties. Students no longer had to leave their house premises to attend a class. This is where web streaming started to gain traction.
About Webcam Streaming
First, it was streaming music. Then came the movie industry. And as the popularity of the internet grew exponentially, anything related to the internet piggybacked on the growth, including online tutors, gamers, podcasts, etc. The majority of the population around the world has a stable connection to the internet.
Many people have capitalized on this opportunity to create their source of income. They do this by webcam streaming and live streaming whatever activity they are good at. Teachers can now take classes online and reach hundreds if not thousands of students. Recorded lessons can reach even more audiences.
Nowadays, the trend of webcam streaming has skyrocketed since the pandemic spread around the world. The amount of people that are coming online is more than ever before. Some of those audiences are looking for entertainment. Others are looking for education. The online gaming community has been rising ever since the first live stream was made. The advancements of webcam and camera technology have been a massive contributor to this rising trend.
Webcam streaming has been used for many more activities such as recorded videos of how-to-do stuff, online reviews of different products and services, live product building videos, etc. Podcasts are another popular use-case of webcam streaming. This is where one or more people sit and have an informative discussion about a particular topic.
What Features You Should Look Out for
If you are a game streamer, you should find a high-end PC or laptop suitable for you. Nowadays, the popular choice for game streaming is a PC. Laptops with a decent number of specifications can give you a smooth experience even while running heavy programs. And the portability of the laptop cannot go unnoticed.
If you are looking for just online streaming, then a laptop with a decent quality webcam can do the work for you. This is for those who don’t need any heavy programs that need to be used. For example, online reviewers, tutors, and how-to content creators can have their requirements satisfied very quickly. They can refurbish an old laptop, and that’ll do the trick for them. Most of the laptops have decent quality webcams. However, you will need to consider the fact that you will need to edit those videos. Here, the specifications of the laptop come into play.
The trouble, however, comes when it comes down to game streaming and other heavy tasks. A game needs individual specifications to run smoothly. The smooth experience is a priority for game streamers. Every second of the game counts since it is a live event. Developers and video editors require a similar kind of specifications. These people have heavy programs that have to run alongside the video streaming software itself.
Other considerations include display quality, battery life, and the design of the laptop. These also contribute to the quality of your streaming session. Although your primary focus should be a good webcam, there are many other factors to consider.
Considering all the requirements, the minimum requirements to suit all kinds of streaming should be,
CPU: Intel Core i3 or Intel Core i5
RAM: 4 GB
Storage: 128 SSD
Display: FHD (1920×1080)
Battery Backup: At least 4 hours
GPU: Integrated Graphics
Weight: Less than 10 pounds or 4.5 kilograms
These specifications barely cover the requirements for streaming. You will need a decent webcam to match your requirements.
If, however, you are looking for a decent experience for your live streaming, you may need to invest a little bit more budget into it.
CPU: Intel Core i7
RAM: 16 GB
Storage: 512 SSD
Display: 4K(3840×2160)
Battery Backup: Up to 8 hours
GPU: Dedicated GPU with 2GB RAM or more
Weight: Less than 6 pounds or 2.7 kilograms
The CPU should be able to handle the pressure that comes with running multiple apps. The RAM is going to have to have enough space to manage various programs that are running simultaneously. The GPU is solely dedicated to smooth graphics. Storage should be a combination of both SSD and HDD. SSD is primarily for the OS and system files, while HDD saves your game files and other stuff.
The computer, as a whole, should have decent hardware to handle video editing.
5 Best Laptops for Webcam Streaming
Although the choices are many, we have filtered it down to 5 of the best laptops for webcam streaming.
Acer Predator Helios 300 (Best Performance)
Laptop Features
It has a 2.8GHz Intel Core i7-10750H processor alongside an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q. Additionally, the GPU has a VRAM of 6GB. It has a 1920×1080 display with a refresh rate of 144Hz. It comes with a storage of 512GB SSD. You can upgrade the laptop to 2TB of HDD or an M.2 SSD. It has 8GB DDR4 RAM and a battery life of 7 hours. The webcam on this laptop is a 720p HDR webcam.
Why this laptop is suitable for Webcam streaming
Acer Predator Helios is for those people who have a passion and a knack for video content creation. It comes with the best turbo technology for faster streaming. It is the best laptop for webcam streaming. The hardware specification is excellent for both regular use and streaming.
Pros
- Decent Battery Backup for a 17-inch laptop
- High system performance
- Great price for a laptop with GTX GeForce 2070
- Comfortable Keyboard
Cons
- A poorly designed cooling system
- Sound quality is not as good as expected
- Only one slot for M.2 SSD
Apple MacBook Pro
Laptop Features
It has a processor of 2.8 GHz Intel Core i7. The GPU is an NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M. The display of the MacBook Pro is just pure awesomeness. A 15.4 inch 2880×1800 display with 220 PPI. This has IPS technology with an LED-backlit display. It supports millions of colors and has Apple’s True Tone technology. The display is perfect for graphics-intensive work. It provides you with a battery life of 7 hours and 512GB SSD. It has a 720p FaceTime HD webcam.
Why this laptop is suitable for Webcam streaming
Apple’s 2019 MacBook Pro is the best MacBook series with good quality for streaming. It is a modern laptop that is suitable for anything. Apple MacBook Pro is undeniably the best laptop for high-quality video editing. This laptop has a display with good brightness and color quality. It is the best choice for almost all kinds of purposes. Whether you want to stream the podcast or reaction videos, this laptop can handle anything.
Pros
- Beautiful sturdy build
- High processing speed
- 15-hour long battery backup
- Good options for graphics
Cons
- Very expensive
- Ports are USB-C only
- Other laptops have 4K screen for a lesser price
Lenovo Flex 5 (Budget King)
Laptop Features
It has an AMD Ryzen 5 4500U processor along with AMD Radeon Graphics. With it’s 16GB DDR4 RAM, it is equipped to handle your multitasking abilities. The display is a 14 inch 1920×1080 FHD screen with an IPS touchscreen. Additionally, it has a 2-in-1 screen with folding capabilities. It has a 10-hour battery life with fast charging support. Quick charging can get battery percentage to 80% within an hour. It has 16GB of DDR4 RAM. And the storage is 256GB SSD. It has a 720p HD camera on-board.
Why this laptop is suitable for Webcam streaming
This laptop gives a quality performance, which is worth the cost. The overall specifications are excellent for a computer with a price tag like this. The battery is exceptional.
Pros
- Lenovo Active Pen
- GeForce MX130 graphics
- Dual internal storage bay
- Stiff hinges
Cons
- Very bad sound quality
- Noisy fan
- Gets pricey with additional options
- Very small cooling system
Lenovo Flex 14
Laptop Features
This is a mid-range laptop that comes with an AMD Ryzen 7 2700U processor with integrated AMD Graphics. The SSD has 256GB of space. Also, it has 16GB DDR4 RAM. It has a backup battery that can last up to 8 hours. It is very lightweight, weighing only 3.64 pounds. The camera on this laptop has a 720p HD quality image.
Why this laptop is suitable for Webcam streaming
If you live streaming who teaches for a living, then Lenovo’s IdeaPad Flex 14 is perfect for you. The most striking feature of this laptop is that it has a 14-inch 2-in-1 display. The 1920×1080 screen can be folded to be used as a tablet. And it supports touch input. It has a fantastic feature of the webcam shutter. You can ensure your privacy by physically closing your webcam.
Pros
- Affordable price
- Great design
- Good performance
- Decent battery life
- True Block Privacy Shutter
Cons
- Poor keyboard quality
- Processor sleep problems
- The screen is too dim
Dell G5
Laptop Features
It is equipped with a 9th Gen 6-core Intel Core i7 with a base frequency of 2.6 GHz. The processor can be turbo boosted to 4.5GHz. The GPU is NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060. It has 16GB of RAM, which is at the upper end of the spectrum. This much memory will help you get your tasks to be completed faster. Multitasking will not be an issue on this laptop.
The storage is upgraded to 256GB of SSD. This gives you a vast space to store your files. Files that should be able to load fast. The display is a 15.6-inch FHD, 1920×1080 resolution LED-backlit display with Anti-Glare coating. It is a non-touch IPS display. It also has a narrow border. It has a 720p HD camera at 30 fps.
Why this laptop is suitable for Webcam streaming
Dell G5 is a laptop that can give you the ultimate theater experience. You can stream live gaming or stream videos on your YouTube channel. It’s up to you. It might be a bit expensive. But it has all the specifications that you might have expected. It has a black chassis and skinny bezels that gives it a lovely look.
Pros
- Good graphics performance
- Stylish design
- Great display
- Long battery life
Cons
- Slow SSD
- Fans get loud when working too much
- Warranty lasts only 12 months
- Chassis is too heavy and thick
Testing Criteria
Testing Criteria are things that you need to consider before buying a laptop for web streaming.
CPU
The CPU is the first thing to check before buying. Because it does most of the work when your computer’s streaming, a smooth stream can be expected when the CPU has a multi threading model alongside a Quad-core processor. That is why you should buy the best possible CPU that you can afford. Because you expect to edit the videos you make on the same computer. If you have to use a separate computer just for the editing stuff, then that just defeats the whole purpose, no?
GPU
If you expect to stream programs with high expectations for graphics, you should go for a gaming laptop. Since gaming laptops are designed for an intensive workload, they are more than enough for any task. The premium laptops can handle your heavy game alongside your streaming software. And you won’t even see a glitch.
Webcam
The built-in camera should have a decent quality so that the image is clear when recording or streaming. An external camera should only be used as a last resort. It should be able to have a decent image resolution.
Memory
The memory helps you handle multiple software running simultaneously. You should at least have 8 GB of memory. However, 16 GB is recommended for better performance. Anything above 16 GB is usually overkill. DDR3 is a decent choice for all your work. These can, however, be upgraded to DDR4. They provide much better performance and cost more than DDR3.
Storage
As the price of SSDs has been plummeting, it is becoming more and more preferable to shift entirely from HDD to SSD. But, right now, it is wiser to have a combination of both of these types. SSD provides you with low latency and fast access to any files. Thus, it is recommended for OS and system files. Your games and video files don’t need such quick access. That is why an HDD is enough for those.
Battery Life
You expect a decent amount of backup from your laptop. If you are traveling a lot and need to record, access, or edit videos along the way, you should have a decent battery backup. Though many tend to overlook this part of the laptop, it is essential for those who don’t expect to be at one location every time.
Price
The price of the laptop depends on what’s inside it. What you do with the laptop determines the required specifications of the laptop. So, the price comes down to what you are doing when you are streaming. There’s no such thing as a cheap gaming laptop since they tend to be equipped with heavy hardware. However, you can buy a laptop with middle or low-end specifications if you do not expect heavy tools on your computer.
Conclusion
Laptops, PCs, and smartphones. They all have their pros and cons. You can choose any one of them depending on the tools needed for your streaming sessions.
There are tons of laptops out there in the market. Their strength and weaknesses vary from laptop to laptop. The laptops listed above are some of the best laptops in the market. The choice, however, comes down to your personal preference. That includes your specific requirements and your budget.
Since many people depend on live streaming for their livelihood, they need a sufficient amount of tools and resources to make streaming better and efficient. It has become a respectable profession like anything else.