A simple webcam update is Belkin's MagSafe Continuity Camera mount.
Additionally, you may decide to store it on your phone, which would eliminate the need to carry it about and remember it.
Despite having a terrible reputation, the iPhone Mount with MagSafe for Mac Notebooks from Belkin is a superb accessory. It enables you to attach your iPhone to your computer so you can use the Continuity Camera feature in macOS Ventura and iOS 16, which transforms your phone into a camera that outperforms pretty much everything currently included in MacBooks. And even if that were all it accomplished, I would still be satisfied, but its design and features are what really make it worthwhile to take into account, despite the fact that there are already a ton of other accessories aimed at serving the same purpose.
You just flip out a little foot with the Belkin logo and place it on top of your PC to use the mount to transform your phone into a camera. You just select your iPhone as the camera in the video chat application you're using at that point. Because the mount is circular, you can connect your phone in either portrait or landscape position. It's a rather straightforward technique that functions nicely.
However, because of its adaptable design, it lacks the additional stabilizing magnet that some other MagSafe attachments have at the bottom. That presumably won't affect the mount's strength because my iPhone 12 Mini never slipped off of it while I tested it without a cover, and none of my coworkers who have used the mount with larger phones have reported any problems. However, it does imply that you might need to take a few moment to slightly rotate the mount in order to prevent somewhat skewed footage.
The mount's construction quality and extra kickstand/grip ring truly stand out, yet the kickstand can't be used to support your phone's camera up on a table rather than your computer because it's not placed correctly. Like a rock that has been polished by flowing water, everything seems extremely solid and smooth. Additionally, it has a thin layer of rubber coating that feels amazing and is barely noticeable. The low-profile dome practically slips into my palm while I'm using it with my phone, and I hardly ever know it's there. You must always carry a mount with you if you genuinely want Continuity Camera to be functional.
I want to keep the Belkin on my phone because it is so wonderful, so I won't forget it when I leave the house.
Having said that, I don't believe this mount and Continuity Camera will completely transform how I make casual FaceTime or Discord calls with friends and family for one obvious reason: even with my mini phone, when my laptop is actually on my lap, placing a phone at the top of the lid makes it very tippy. My laptop would easily go over while I was using it with my legs crossed, and if I didn't catch it, it would throw my phone across the room. It simply takes the tiniest nudge for the weight of the phone to push my 13-inch MacBook Pro's screen back to its fully open position, even if my arm is resting on the palm rest.
To be clear, unless you're using the little 12-inch MacBook, this shouldn't be an issue on a desk. My coworker who used the mount with a Pro Max and 16-inch MacBook Pro said that it kept his MacBook Air absolutely steady while it was positioned on a table with an iPhone 13 hooked to it. But it does imply that, as opposed to the far more often video calls that I make from the sofa, I'll probably just use this device for more formal video chats where I'll be at a desk or counter. It's not Belkin's fault; it's just physics. Besides, I don't believe my mother or sister will mind seeing me in 720p in the slightest. (Or, at the very least, I haven't had any complaints in recent years).
For anybody who cares about how they seem in videos, has an iPhone, and intends to upgrade to macOS Ventura when it launches on Monday (and who doesn't want the bother of setting up a dedicated camera, tripod, and light), the Belkin mount is still worth its $29.95 price tag, in my opinion.
Waiting for the desktop version, which according to Belkin will allow you to tilt your phone to reframe the photo, may be worthwhile if you mostly operate from a desk with a display. According to Belkin's press release, that version is "coming soon," although it isn't specified if it will have a more sophisticated method of power distribution than merely plugging your phone in using a Lightning connection.
Although that kind of functionality wouldn't make sense on the portable version, it would likely be a welcome addition for individuals who spend their days in meetings.