Belkin iPhone Mount with MagSafe, for using your phone as a webcam
(Picture: Belkin)With MacOS Ventura out today (October 24), Apple has introduced a brilliant new feature: the ability to use your iPhone as a webcam.
Despite the obvious positives of many Londoners’ new hybrid work setup, there’s one significant downside: more video meetings. It’s no coincidence that sales of webcams shot up during the 2020 lockdown as people realised their weak WFH setup was letting them down.
Good webcams are expensive, so why not use your phone instead? Why endure the low-quality, noisy image provided by your average webcam when even mid-range handsets have a far better camera just going unused?
Yes, there are downsides: you can’t use your phone during meetings if it’s now your camera and you may consider it an unnecessary drain on battery life. But, with the best webcams costing hundreds of pounds, this is a simple way of improving your call quality without spending a penny.
How to use your iPhone as a webcam on Mac
With iOS 16, Apple introduced a brilliant feature called “Continuity Camera” where your Mac or MacBook can automatically and wirelessly switch to your iPhone’s camera when it’s in range.
There are a few things you need for it to work. First of all, you need the right software — which is iOS 16 and macOS Ventura. The former arrived with the iPhone 14, and the latter is out today.
Secondly, you need both your Mac and iPhone to be signed in with the same Apple ID and using 2FA. Thirdly, both need WiFi and Bluetooth enabled.
Finally, you need to make sure Continuity Camera is enabled on your iPhone. Open the Settings app, then tap “General” followed by “AirPlay & Handoff” and “Continuity Camera Webcam”. Make sure the toggle is on.
If all of that is in order, then just bring your iPhone near your Mac when you open FaceTime, Zoom, or any other video app that uses your camera. Your Mac should automatically connect to your iPhone’s camera but, if it doesn’t, just select the video preferences for your app and select your iPhone from the list of available cameras.
How to use any smartphone as a webcam
That’s only a solution if you have an iPhone that will run iOS 16 and a Mac, of course. What about those who use an Android phone, an older iPhone, and/or a Windows PC?
There are a few options here and, while you have to pay to unlock advanced features, some will offer the main functionality free of charge.
Reincubate Camo is one such option — though it doesn’t offer the wireless convenience of Continuity Camera. It works with Android, iPhone, macOS, and Windows, and the free version will let you use the front or back cameras with up to 720p streaming.
The paid option unlocks access to more lenses, portrait mode, zoom controls, focus adjustments, and more. It costs £4.39 per month, £34.99 per year, or is available for life with a one-off payment of £69.98
If you’re happy with paid software, then NDI HX Camera is cheaper overall, requiring a one-off payment of £17.99 on Android or iOS.
It’s a wireless solution and, as long as your phone and computer (Windows only) are on the same network, then the livestream of your smartphone camera can broadcast straight to the video-calling software of your choice.
Finally, DroidCam offers both free and a super-cheap £4.99 one-off paid option if you can handle the slightly less flashy interface. It works wirelessly if you’re okay with the hit to battery life, but currently is only compatible with Windows and Linux systems — sorry, Mac users.
Keeping it steady and upping sound quality
We wrote earlier that you don’t need to spend a penny, and that’s true — but you might want to, for quality-of-life reasons.
The main problem with using your phone as a webcam is positioning. Webcams may often be lacking in the quality department, but they are at least designed with viewing angles and stability in mind. The same isn’t true for your smartphone.
The most elegant solution is for the iPhone 12 and later, where the phone can be held above a MacBook’s screen via MagSafe with Belkin’s £29.95 Continuity Camera accessory (pictured at the top of the page). But, if you have an older iPhone or an Android device, you can always invest in something a bit more utilitarian, like a gooseneck-phone holder, a table stand, or a mini tripod.
Finally, it’s worth remembering that, while your phone’s camera may be better than your PC’s, its microphone isn’t, so consider purchasing a USB model for your PC or Mac. Bluntly, almost any microphone will be better than your phone’s, but the Blue Snowball ICE offers excellent sound quality at a reasonable price.
