Pro Tips and Gadgets to Instantly Level Up Your Video Calls and Livestreams!

A lot of office workers and entrepreneurs do hours of video calls and conferences daily due to the ‘Work from Home’ situation brought about by the pandemic. The status quo is to use whatever camera is in your phone and laptop and just ride with it. However if you wanna level things up, here are a couple of things (and gadgets) that you can apply to up your video call game.

Use a Laptop Stand to Get a Better View Angle

If you’re doing video calls with your laptop, chances are the camera is pointed upwards which is one of the most unflattering angles ever. A quick remedy is to prop up your laptop on a box or something so that you get a level angle. Alternatively you can buy the MOFT laptop stand. You stick it to the back of your laptop and it now has a kickstand! It also helps with your typing. Here’s a video of the MOFT Laptop Stand being featured by Unbox Therapy.

You can buy one today at Lazada for just P1,499.

Stop Holding Your Phone While Doing Video Calls and Use a Phone Stand

A shaky hand during a video call will just make everyone you’re talking to dizzy AF. You have a lot of solutions for this — you can prop your phone up against a box or you use a selfie stick with a tripod base. If you want an elegant solution, you can try out the MOFT X Phone Stand (same brand as above). It can pop your phone up in multiple angles and it’s not as weird as those pop socket add-ons or cases. Here’s a video of it in action.

You can get it for just P1,199 on Lazada.

If you want to go with a nice selfie stick with a tripod base, you might want to consider the BENRO Mefoto. It’s made from high quality materials (won’t break easily) and it already has a bluetooth remote control. It also extends pretty high so if you want a standing shot, this should also work. You can buy one here for P1,170.

Get a Dedicated Web Camera for Your Laptop

Usually the default web camera on your laptop is horrible (haha). Not only do you get pixilated shots, but it underperforms more in low light condition and it’s usually limited to tight angles. One solution is to buy an HD (or 4K) Wide Angle dedicated USB Web Cam. Among all the web cams we’ve encountered, the very best has been the Logitech Brio. It can do 4K, has wide angle, works spectacularly well in low-light, and even has built-in HDR. Only problem is that it’s pricey at P13,899. We’ve embedded a review below of the Brio if you want to watch it.

Click here to buy it for P13,899.

Now obviously there are more affordable options. We would actually recommend the Logitech C920 Pro which sells for less than P5,000 but it’s almost always out of stock. If you can find one though for that price point, it’s a solid buy.

Use Wireless Earphones for Your Microphone

Aesthetically, it would be best to avoid massive headsets or wired earphones during video calls. The headsets will make you look like drive thru staff from your favorite fastfood while the wired earphones can be distracting. A great alternative is to invest in wireless earphones with good microphones. If you’re an Apple user, you can go with the tested (but expensive) AirPods. If you don’t have those yet, consider the SoundPEATS TruePods. They’re just P1,891 and they have great sound quality and a clear microphone. Works with Android, iOS, and whatever laptop you’re using. You can get one here.