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Dec 06, 2023

Best lights for zoom calls in 2023

Look more presentable when videoconferencing, with the best lights for Zoom

Look more presentable when videoconferencing, with the best lights for Zoom calls available today

The best lights for Zoom calls will instantly make you look more appealing on a webcam. So whether you're having a one-to-one with the boss, pitching to a client, or addressing a meeting, you'll project a clear, crisp, and flattering image and look much more professional and confident.

• Best webcams for home working• Best conference room webcams• Best ring lights• Best LED light panels• Best TikTok lights

Certainly, if you’ve spent money on the best 4K webcam, then it makes sense to invest in lighting too. And the best lights for Zoom calls are normally powered by LEDs, due to their longevity, reliability, and low energy consumption.

They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, too, so there are a lot of choices available. You might want a tabletop light, a larger free-standing lamp, or a small light with a suction-cup light that can be mounted anywhere. Bigger lights tend to offer more brightness, color flexibility, and more flattering light, although they also tend to be more expensive, so there's a compromise to be made there.

Below, we've listed the best Zoom lights you can buy right now. And we've included all the information to help you make the right choice for your needs.

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Our expert review:

Want to look your best? YouTubers, Twitch streamers, and TikTokers know all about that, and typically use a ring light, which produces constant light, and sculpts the face in a flattering way.

Why not emulate this 12-inch model from Razer? The light quality is great and is softly diffused to cast your face in the most attractive manner. The included tripod is sturdy and substantial.

And the wired remote lets you tweak the brightness and cycle between three color temperatures with one hand. That means you can adjust things discreetly during your Zoom call, without drawing attention to yourself.

Overall, this ring light is easy to use, well made, and offers great performance for the price.

For more information, read our Razer Ring Light review for more details

Our expert review:

Willing to stretch your budget? The Lube Cube Wireless ring light is packed with premium features. While it's much more expensive than the Razer Ring Light (number 1 on our list), it's also much bigger, at 18 inches in diameter. The light itself is really bright, and the two included batteries promise up to 1.5 hours of run time at full brightness. You can also run it off the mains if you prefer.

The built-in 3200-5600K color temperature range and high levels of brightness minimize shadows and reduce facial imperfections for the most flattering look. There's an LED readout for settings. Plus it comes with a carry case, a 6.5-foot stand, and mounts for iPhones, other smartphones, digital cameras, and action cameras up to 10 lbs.

In truth, this is probably overkill for just Zoom calls. But if you need a ring light for multiple professional uses, such as streaming or professional selfies, it could be a wise choice.

For more information, read our Lube Cube Wireless ring light review for more details

If you're not bothered about a ring light and just want a good value light for Zoom calls, this is probably your best bet. The Lume Cube Video Conferencing Kit comes with an excellent Panel Mini LED, plus an included suction cup that allows it to be mounted to pretty much anything.

Though the obvious choices would be at the top of your laptop or computer monitor, you could also mount it to a wall for a side light if you wanted, or to a tall piece of furniture. In short, there are plenty of possibilities.

The light itself is excellent. It offers a good range of brightness and color temperature options, making it easy to customize the quality of the light and get it just the way you want it. Also, while it's powered by a built-in battery, you can use the included USB-C to USB-A cable to connect the panel to your computer and power it that way, meaning you never have to worry about the battery dying mid-call.

This 10-inch table-top LED ring light from Neewer has an in-built, adjustable smartphone holder perfect for Zoom calls and vlogging alike. An attractive integrated light stand can fold forward 90 degrees for table-top compositions to show documents or other types of flat lays. The stand isn't height adjustable, unfortunately, but it does have a universal 1/4" thread to mount to a light stand.

With three color modes to choose from, it can easily match interior lighting for more realistic colors and skin tones, though a dimmable slider option would be better for those requiring precise balancing. Powered by USB, it plugs straight into a laptop or power bank for quick startup.

Ready to push the boat out? Rotolight is deservedly one of the most respected names in video lighting, and this pricey kit includes the Rotolight NEO 2. With ease, you can rig up this light to give yourself soft, flattering, professional-quality lighting on your calls. The fully dimmable set of LEDs can be white-balanced from 3150K to 6500K, ensuring accurate colors in all conditions.

If this all sounds a little overkill for just Zoom calls – well, it probably is. However, the Rotolight NEO 2 is cheaper these days thanks to the introduction of the NEO 3, and this video conferencing kit represents good value for money, throwing in a desktop light stand, a 360-degree ball head, and four-piece filter set to further diffuse the light.

This LED panel from Neewer is an attractive item for those that need a good Zoom light but require flexibility when it comes to lighting for photos or videos. A slim profile and robust metal finish makes it easy to transport for use out of the home office, too.

Dimmable and capable of matching color temperatures between 3200-5600K it can render skin tones accurately. A universal 1/4" thread mounts directly to light stands and the U-mount bracket allows full vertical tilting. Also included is a useful diffusion panel for softer, more flattering light.

About the size and weight of a smartphone, this LED panel from LituFoto doubles as a power bank should you need to charge mobile devices when out and about. When fully charged though, this pocket rocket can output for up to 90 minutes and has three handy 1/4-inch threads to connect to light stands or selfie sticks.

Tactile button controls on the side of the device make it easy to operate and the screen on the rear of the device, though quite small, aids in accurate setup. Perfect for Zoom calls thanks to its compact design and simple operation it also benefits from creative lighting modes to mimic emergency vehicles, flash, or candlelight.

Setting up a Zoom call but have limited desk space, or perhaps you just need some more light while in a virtual meeting while on a train? Then opt for the Lumimuse 8, a lithium-ion powered LED light that will easily add more light to your video call. It's incredibly bright considering its compact dimensions and so lightweight it's easy to throw in the pocket before leaving the house.

Simply prop it up on the desk or attach it to one of Manfrotto's many accessories for flexible positioning. The only drawback is a limited stepped brightness control and snap-on filters for adjusting color balance, but for most Zoom users it's a great value LED panel to add a splash of light.

Read more:Best ring lightsBest USB microphonesBest boom arms for microphonesBest laptop standsBest light standsBest tabletop tripods

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Jason Parnell-Brookes is an internationally award-winning photographer, writer, and an optics specialist. He currently serves as the Channel Editor for Cameras and Skywatching over at Space.com and is the former Technique Editor of N-Photo magazine. He won Gold in the Nikon Photo Contest 2018/19 and was named Digital Photographer of the Year in 2014. Jason is a qualified teacher, Masters graduate and works with many high-profile international clients.