Editing Webcam (section)

=== 2020–present ===

With [[remote work]] entering the mainstream, the built-in cameras of average laptops were sometimes considered inadequate. Consequently,
during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], a shortage of external webcams in retail occurred.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/4/9/21199521/webcam-shortage-price-raise-logitech-razer-amazon-best-buy-ebay |title=Webcams have become impossible to find, and prices are skyrocketing |work=[[The Verge]] |date=9 April 2020 |access-date=4 May 2021 |archive-date=19 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210519105831/https://www.theverge.com/2020/4/9/21199521/webcam-shortage-price-raise-logitech-razer-amazon-best-buy-ebay |url-status=live }}</ref> Most laptops before and during the pandemic were made with cameras capping out at 720p recording quality at best, compared to the industry standard of 1080p or 4K seen in smartphones and televisions from the same period.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.techradar.com/news/computing-components/peripherals/what-webcam-5-reviewed-and-rated-1027972 |title=Best webcams 2021: Top picks for working from home |work=[[TechRadar]] |date=5 August 2021 |access-date=4 May 2021 |archive-date=6 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506195713/https://www.techradar.com/news/computing-components/peripherals/what-webcam-5-reviewed-and-rated-1027972 |url-status=live }}</ref> The backlog on new developments for built-in webcams is the result of a design flaw with laptops being too thin to support the 7mm camera modules to fit inside, instead resorting to ~2.5mm.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/2/25/17050098/huawei-matebook-x-pro-webcam-mwc-2018 |title=Huawei's new laptop has a mechanical pop-up webcam in the keyboard |work=[[The Verge]] |date=25 February 2018 |access-date=4 May 2021 |archive-date=4 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210504002531/https://www.theverge.com/2018/2/25/17050098/huawei-matebook-x-pro-webcam-mwc-2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/laptops-need-better-webcams/|title = In the Age of Zoom, Bad Laptop Webcams Are a Big Problem|date = 8 April 2020|access-date = 4 May 2021|archive-date = 4 May 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210504002532/https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/laptops-need-better-webcams/|url-status = live}}</ref> Also the camera components are more expensive and not a high level of demand for this feature, <ref>{{Cite web |title=New MacBook Pro Finally Features a 1080p Webcam Within a Notch |url=https://www.macrumors.com/2021/10/18/new-macbook-pro-1080p-facetime-camera/ |access-date=2023-04-25 |website=MacRumors |date=18 October 2021 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.imore.com/macbook-air-2020-so-much-love-except-crappy-facetime-camera|title=Dear Apple, please stop putting crummy cameras on your MacBooks|date=19 March 2020|access-date=4 May 2021|archive-date=4 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210504002533/https://www.imore.com/macbook-air-2020-so-much-love-except-crappy-facetime-camera|url-status=live}}</ref> Smartphones started to be used as a backup option or webcam replacement, with kits including lighting and tripods or downloadable apps.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url = https://www.wired.com/story/use-your-phone-as-webcam/|title = How to Turn Your Smartphone into a Webcam|magazine = Wired|access-date = 2021-05-04|archive-date = 2021-05-13|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210513121455/https://www.wired.com/story/use-your-phone-as-webcam/|url-status = live}}</ref>