Isn't it just the worst when poor lighting casts a shadow over your well-prepared Zoom video calls, making you look less than your best?
We get it, and that's why we're here to help you put your best face forward.
You see, good lighting is like the secret sauce to a flawless video conferencing experience. It's the difference between appearing washed-out and tired, and looking vibrant and engaged. Just like hunting for the perfect café with strong Wi-Fi and great coffee, finding the right lighting can truly enhance your video calls, making you look professional and clear, no matter where you are.
This article will be your treasure map to finding the best laptop lights for your video conferencing needs. So get ready to compare your options.
The 3 Types of Laptop Lights for Video Conferencing
There's a whole universe of options out there, each with its own unique features. Here are the light types you would be choosing from:
Clip-on lights
These are as portable as your backpack, ready to light up your video calls wherever you are. They're compact, easy to use, and can attach to almost any surface. Perfect for digital nomads and remote workers.
Ring lights
As the secret weapon of vloggers and influencers, ring lights can make you look like a pro on every call. They provide even, diffused lighting that's perfect for eliminating harsh shadows.
Light bars
Want that professional studio feel right in your home office? Light bars are the way to go. They provide a broad, balanced light source that can brighten up your entire workspace.
What is the Best Laptop Light for Video Conferencing?
After scouring the internet and checking tons of reviews from remote workers, this is our selection of the 9 best lighting options for video conferencing:
- Overall Best Laptop Light for Video Conferencing: Lume Cube Kit
- Best Ring Light for Video Conferencing: Razer Ring Light
- Best Comprehensive Lighting Kit: Cyezcor Video Conference Lighting Kit
- Best Compact Ring Light: Neewer Table Top 10-inch USB LED Ring Light
- Best Flexible Lighting Solution: Ruyilam Lighting Kit with Clip and Tripod
- Best Portable Light for Digital Nomads: Auxiwa Clip-on Selfie Ring Light
- Best Premium Light for Streaming: Logitech Litra Glow Premium LED Streaming Light
- Best Light Bar for Video Conferencing: Hioume Light Bar
- Best Light for Vlogging or Virtual Calls: Joby Beamo Ring Light
1. Lume Cube Video Conference Lighting Kit
Overall Best Laptop Light for Video Conferencing
The Lume Cube Video Conference Lighting Kit is a compact, portable lighting kit that's designed for versatility and it's, therefore, our best choice. It features adjustable brightness levels and color temperatures, allowing you to customize the lighting to suit your needs. It's also known for its durability and sturdiness, making it a reliable choice for video conferencing. Its portability makes it an excellent choice for digital nomads and remote workers who, by nature, need a reliable light source on the go.
Price: $37.95
2. Razer Ring Light
Best Ring Light for Video Conferencing
The Razer Ring Light provides even, diffused lighting that's perfect for video conferencing. It's designed to reduce shadows and helps you achieve just the right look on camera. The ring light design is particularly beneficial as it provides a more uniform light source, which can help to eliminate harsh shadows and create more flattering light for those low-lighting Zoom video calls.
Price: $27.75
3. Cyezcor Video Conference Lighting Kit
Best Comprehensive Lighting Kit
The Cyezcor Video Conference Lighting Kit is a great fit for those of us who appreciate having everything we need in one package. It includes everything you need: a light with adjustable brightness and color temperature, a clip for easy attachment to your laptop or monitor, and a tripod for alternative setup options! This comprehensive kit offers flexibility and adaptability, allowing you to create the perfect lighting setup for your video conferencing needs.
Price: $21.99
4. Neewer Table Top 10-inch USB LED Ring Light
Best Compact Ring Light
The Neewer Table Top 10-inch USB LED Ring Light is a lifesaver when space is at a premium. It's easy to set up and provides excellent lighting for video conferencing. It also features adjustable brightness levels and color temperatures, allowing you to customize the lighting to suit your needs. On top of that, the compact design makes it easy to use and store, making it a great choice for those with limited space.
Price: $35.99
5. Ruyilam Lighting Kit with Clip and Tripod
Best Flexible Lighting Solution
The Ruyilam Video Conference Lighting Kit is all about flexibility. With its clip and tripod setup, it allows us to adjust the lighting to perfectly suit your needs. The light itself has adjustable brightness and color temperature, allowing you to customize the lighting as you wish. And the inclusion of both a clip and a tripod means you can set up the light in a way that best suits your workspace and video conferencing space.
Price: $16.99
6. Auxiwa Clip-on Selfie Ring Light
Best Portable Light for Digital Nomads: Auxiwa Clip-on Selfie Ring Light
Auxiwa Clip-on Selfie Ring Light is a game-changer for us digital nomads. It's easy to use and carry, making it the perfect choice for remote workers and full-time travelers. The light provides even and diffused lighting that's perfect for video conferencing while its clip-on design means you can easily attach it to your laptop or monitor. This is the best laptop light for portability and it's definitely a great choice for those who need a reliable light source on the go either for your smartphone or your laptop.
Price: $13.99
7. Logitech Litra Glow Premium LED Streaming Light
Best Premium Light for Streaming
The Logitech Litra Glow Premium LED Light is a standout for us as it provides professional-quality lighting, making it ideal for streaming and high-quality video conferencing. It features adjustable brightness and color temperature, allowing you to customize the lighting to suit your needs. Its high-quality design and features make it a great choice for those who want a premium lighting solution for their video conferencing needs.
Price: $48.00
8. Hioume Light Bar
Best Light Bar for Video Conferencing
The Hioume Light Bar provides broad, balanced lighting, making it a great choice for those who want to illuminate a larger area. It's easy to set up and use, and its broad light source can help to reduce shadows and enhance your appearance on camera. The light bar design means it can provide more even lighting across a wider area, making it a great choice for larger workspaces.
Price: $19.99
9. Joby Beamo Ring Light
Best Light for Vlogging or Virtual Calls
Last but not least on our list of laptop lights is the Joby Beamo Ring Light. This is a 12-inch ring light that's ideal for both vlogging and virtual calls. It provides high-quality and even lighting that can make you shine on camera, especially if you are you don't want just a light for your computer but also a good light for vlogging your adventures. But if you still need it for virtual calls, the ring light design provides a more uniform light source, which can help to eliminate harsh shadows and create a more flattering light for video calls. So it's a win-win for both use cases!
Price: $66.28
So, Which Lighting is Best for Video Conferencing?
The best lighting for video conferencing really depends on you - your specific needs, your workspace, and your personal preferences.
Overall, our best pick is the Lume Cube as it's a great compact and portable light. For those of us who want even, diffused lighting, the Razer Ring Light or the Joby Beamo Ring Light could be the way to go. If you need a comprehensive solution, the Cyezcor Video Conference Lighting Kit or the Ruyilam Video Conference Lighting Kit might be just what you need.
For a premium lighting solution, you might want to consider the Logitech Litra Glow Premium LED Streaming Light. If you need instead to illuminate a larger area, the Hioume Light Bar could be your best fit. And for those of us who are always on the move, the Auxiwa Clip-on Selfie Ring Light is a reliable and portable option.
Ultimately, the best lighting for video conferencing is the one that helps us look our best and feel confident during our calls so pick the one that helps you do just that.
How? Check our tips below to figure out how to choose the most suitable laptop light for your needs.
Other remote work gear may also be interested in:
Luca Mussari
Luca Mussari
Luca Mussari
Luca Mussari
Luca Mussari
How to Choose the Best Computer Light for Video Conferencing
When it comes to choosing the best laptop light for video conferencing, it's all about finding the right balance that suits our needs. Here are some factors we consider:
Brightness Levels
The ability to adjust brightness levels is crucial. Sometimes we might need a brighter light, while other times a softer glow might be more appropriate. Look for a light that offers a range of brightness levels.
Color Temperature
Different lights can cast different hues, from cool blues to warm yellows. We prefer lights that allow us to adjust the color temperature to create the most flattering and natural-looking light.
Portability
As digital nomads, we obviously value portability before anything else. A light that's easy to pack and set up can make all the difference when we're on the move.
Price
While we're willing to invest in good lighting, we also keep an eye on the price. There are great options available at various price points, so it's about finding the best value for our needs.
You may also be interested in:
Luca Mussari
Luca Mussari
Luca Mussari
Luca Mussari
How to Set Up Your Laptop Light for Optimal Lighting
Setting up the laptop light for the best lighting effect can make a big difference in our video conferencing experience. Here are some tips we've found helpful:
Positioning the Light
We usually aim to position the light in front of us, at eye level. This helps to eliminate shadows and evenly illuminate our faces.
Adjusting Brightness and Color Temperature
We adjust the brightness and color temperature to suit the natural light in our workspace. It's about complementing the natural light, not competing with it.
Testing the Setup
Before jumping into a video call, we always do a quick test to see how we look on camera. This allows us to make any necessary adjustments to the light setup.
Using Natural Light
Whenever possible, we try to take advantage of natural light. Positioning ourselves near a window can provide a soft, flattering light that's hard to replicate with artificial sources. Just be mindful of the time of day and how the changing light might affect your video calls.
Adjusting Room Lighting
Sometimes, the overhead lighting in a room can create harsh shadows. We've found that turning off the overhead light and using a desk lamp or our laptop light can often result in better lighting for video calls.
Using Virtual Backgrounds
If all else fails, or if our background is less than ideal, we sometimes use a virtual background. This can help to minimize distractions and keep the focus on us. Just remember that good lighting is still important to make sure we stand out clearly against the virtual background.
Ready To Shine on Your Next Video-Conference Call?
If you want to receive digital nomad guides like these, sign up for our free newsletter and get upcoming articles straight to your inbox!
You can also follow us on Instagram and join our Facebook Group if you want to get in touch with other members of our growing digital nomad community!
We'll see you there, Freaking Nomads!
Disclosure: Hey, just a heads up that some of the links in this article are affiliate links. This means that, if you buy through our links, we may earn a small commission that helps us create helpful content for the community. We only recommend products if we think they will add value, so thanks for supporting us!
