Even if you don’t have aspirations of making it big on YouTube, ring lights also come into their own in the new world of increased home working. Indeed, pair them with the best webcams and your home setup will instantly look more professional – vital for making the best impression when on an important video conference! They haven’t skimped on build quality either, unlike a lot of ring lights, the Razer feels very sturdy and reliable. It’s a fantastic 12-inch ring light perfect for video conferencing, vlogging or streaming and you won’t be disappointed with your purchase. Lume Cube Wireless Light The best portable ring light packs a powerful punch Specifications Color temperature: 3200-5600K Power source: Li-Ion batteries, mains Dimensions: 18 inches TODAY’S BEST DEALS Prime View at Amazon View at Walmart View at Moment Reasons to buy + Mains or 90 minutes of wireless power + LED readout for settings + 6.5-foot light stand included Reasons to avoid – Pricier than rivals If you’re looking for a ring light to shoot flat lays or unboxing videos, we’re not convinced the plastic mounting bracket is the best but if you’re using it in a normal upright position, look no further.
It’s on the smaller side for a ring light, but still a perfectly good size for self-taping, vlogging, TikToks and other quick and easy uses. It plugs in via USB, and comes with a 54-inch tripod, meaning it’s very easy to get started the instant you take the Neewer 10-inch LED Ring Light out of its box.
But the Neewer 10-inch LED Ring Light is an all-around solid choice that will suit the vast majority of users perfectly, and that’s why it nabs our top spot.
ESDDI PLV-R432 18-inch Ring Light Best ring light for YouTube – big, bright and bicolor Specifications Color temperature: 3000K-6500K Power source: Mains power Dimensions: 458mm outer dia / 318mm inner dia TODAY’S BEST DEALS View at Walmart Check Amazon Reasons to buy + 18-inch diameter with 48W power + Includes light stand, case, phone clip Reasons to avoid – Requires lots of space – Phone holder isn’t great Its sheer size makes it perfect for beauty and makeup work, too, giving you plenty of room and abundant light. Prominent dials adjust brightness and temperature, and the light can even rotate 180°, making it useful for shooting flat lays or macro work.
For example, it delivers a massive 1,840 lux at a distance of 3 feet which makes it perfect as a key or fill light for both stills and videos. Rotolight Ultimate Vlogging Kit Best ring light for streaming with a smartphone Specifications Color temperature: 6300K, 5600K, 4100K, 3200K (using filters) Power source: 3x AA batteries Dimensions: 130mm outer dia / 38mm inner dia Weight: 170g TODAY’S BEST DEALS Prime View at Amazon Low Stock View at Walmart View at BHPhoto Reasons to buy + 80W equivalent power + Ultra compact + Includes filters to adjust temp Reasons to avoid – Changing filters is fiddly
Now it’s back in an all-in-one kit, which also includes a Rotolight mini tripod, stand adapter, phone clip and accessory bar – making it the perfect partner for a tabletop smartphone setup.
The Neo 2 is a bit heavy and unwieldy for the hotshoe, but this smaller model is just the right size (though this kit doesn’t include a foot for the shoe), and the hole in the middle is perfect to poke a microphone through! While it’s the largest ring light on offer here, with 44W of dimmable output from 352 LEDs, it doesn’t have quite as much power or temperature range as ESDDI’s 18-inch 48W model. Also bundled are a 6’5″ light stand, ball head adapter and vertical / horizontal phone holder, wireless remote and carry case.
The ESDDI 10-inch ring light is Ideal for smartphone shooters, with a two-way grip that holds your handset both horizontally and vertically, along with a Bluetooth remote for stills and video. They’re great for taking on nights out so you can capture well-lit selfies, on holiday or even when travelling away from home so that you can Facetime loved ones no matter how much light is around you.
Smoovie Flexi Selfie Ring Light Best mount-anywhere ring light that can also hold your phone Specifications Color temperature: (Three white light settings) Power source: USB Dimensions: 6-inch TODAY’S BEST DEALS Check Amazon Reasons to buy + Flexible clip arm mounts anywhere + Second flexi arm can hold smartphone + 3 tone settings & adjustable brightness + USB powered Reasons to avoid – Less color temp control Ring Lights are fantastic but, unless you’re sitting at a desk or table, you might struggle to find a surface or enough space to erect a tripod. The clip also has a second flexible arm that can hold your camera phone, so this can either be used strictly as an adaptable ring light or as a dedicated smartphone setup.
The best ring lights of 2021
Long used by professional portrait and macro photographers as well as makeup artists, and perfect for selfies, streaming, vlogging and most photo and video tasks, they have become favorites of social media influencers and content creators of all kinds. But you don’t have to be a top Twitch streamer or overnight TikTok sensation to appreciate being cast in a better light on Zoom calls — they’re also the perfect addition to work-from-home office setups. The convenient clip mounting fits on your phone or laptop, and won’t scratch your screen.
It brings it all together at an affordable price point, making it a clear winner among the ring lights we tested.
This flexibility gave the EMart major bonus points, as it was the only ring light we tested that peeked above laptop height even at its lowest setting. But what, er, shone brightest during our tests was the flattering light cast by the EMart, which came across as natural sunlight in both portraits and selfies. In photos taken during both day and night, the lighting gave us high-quality images, highlighting everything it was supposed to without producing distracting shadows. One of them is quite handy, clipping onto the thinnest part of the tripod stand with a small metal clasp that wraps around the pole; it can hold your phone vertically or horizontally. This isn’t a deal breaker since the other phone holder gives you plenty of options, but it is annoying nonetheless.
Whether you’re using this light for a professional appearance in virtual meetings or for fun and creative content making, this is a great option. The Whellen Selfie Ring Light is extremely lightweight and small, so it easily fits in pockets, purses, backpacks — you name it. We stuffed it in a purse while grocery shopping, and even with keys, a phone, a wallet and some spare change around it, the light didn’t so much as get scratched.
The Whellen’s clip has rubber padding on the reverse side to prevent it from scratching your screen. Once the light is at its dimmest, you can click and hold the top button again for it to come back to brighter levels until you reach the brightest setting.
While on par with the entire field (almost all averaged the same life span), the included USB charging cable is only 10 inches long. We then established parameters to test, looking in particular at brightness, color options and results in photos and videos.
Portable lights were carried in purses while running errands and checked for scratches or cracks. This is a bright LED light that has a cold shoe mount for a camera, a tripod mount and a magnetic back to attach to other surfaces, but it isn’t easily usable with a phone, and you’ll have to supply a small tripod to use it with a laptop.
The photos we took with this light seemed to have a white film over them that made them look unnatural or poorly edited. Fotodiox Selfie Starlite Vlog Pro Ring Light and Tabletop Set ($99.95; amazon.com)
This is a good desktop option if you’re looking for a ring light to use while applying makeup, while filming videos or during virtual meetings.
The tripod included is very short, so it sits at a good height on a desk but doesn’t adjust tall enough for use with a laptop’s built-in camera.
The light looked great in photos and worked really well for video calls, but overall was overly bright and distracting during use.
The Best Ring Lights
If you’re a streamer, a vlogger, or someone who’s on video calls a lot for work, good lighting is essential. A ring light is a simple tool whose diffuse glow can bring you out of the dark and make you look more professional. Unlike many ring lights, which can draw power from a laptop’s USB port, this Neewer model requires an outlet to work.
The stand’s flat, fold-out feet make the light easy to position behind a monitor.
The 7 Best Ring Lights on Amazon for Zoom Calls, Photos, and More
As many of us are still meeting over Zoom for weekly conference calls and family chats, or simply looking to up our Instagram game, allow us to introduce you to the vlogger and certified work from home expert’s secret weapon: the best of the best ring lights.
The Best Ring Lights for Perfect Lighting in Zoom Meetings, Social Videos & Selfies
If you examine the photos ring light retailers use to promote their products, you might expect the only people who put these devices to use are young models obsessed with taking the perfect bathroom mirror selfie. But in the age of ubiquitous video conferences and remote work, the ring light serves multiple masters. For work-from-home warriors, the ring light can create a better image for Zoom, Skype or FaceTime conferences. As its name makes clear, the ring light is an angled circle of focused illumination designed especially for modern cameras, webcams and video feeds.
The lights for video conferencing are smaller and designed to take up as little space as possible on a desk so you don’t look like a zombie on your 9 a.m. team huddle call. If you often use your smartphone for video conferences and need a small ring light that’ll fit on your desk — then this is absolutely your best bet. If you’re looking for a beginner model with less confusing features, this LED ring light is a great budget bet. Whether you’re looking for a device to plop down on your dining room table or something you can use on the road, this one is a good bet because it’s compact and easy to set up and take down.
So you’ve decided that your setup for work Zoom calls isn’t cutting it, but you don’t necessarily need a studio-grade lighting solution for those twice-weekly, 30-minute meetings. Powered by six AA batteries (or an AC adapter), the Rotolight has more than 1000 Lumens, while having a CRI color accuracy rating of 96.
Color temperature and brightness are both fully adjustable and the four different diffusion filters ensure you have the best light on you at all times. You can adjust the color brightness and temperature depending on what you’re looking for, and it’s super small, portable and easy to carry so your lighting needs won’t weigh you down.
It’s worth noting this one operates on a standard desk stand that doesn’t tilt up, so you’ll definitely want to make sure you’re seated before using it. It comes with a sturdy metal bracket and weighted round base, rather than a plastic tripod, increasing stability so that it’s less likely to topple over during a call. The kit includes the LED ring light, white and orange color filters if you’re interested in experimenting with different hues, a stand and a smartphone holder.
The light is lightweight, portable and built on a flexible soft tube up top that’s easy to adjust.
That tripod stand extends from 17.5 to 59 inches high, and the phone holder rotates to horizontal, vertical, high-angle, low-angle and other positions. For the influencers out there on a budget, there are times when you need to get the perfect selfie off and you’re not able to carry an entire studio’s worth of gear around to do so.
Luckily, for the price of an avocado toast, you can grab this little clip-on ring light which has 36 LEDs and three brightness settings to help you achieve photographic perfection. Armed with 120 dimmable LED bulbs, the QI-EU selfie ring toughens up with its iron foldable desktop tripod.
The phone holder rotates 360 degrees to catch the right angle and will support iPhones and Android devices vertically or horizontally. The tripod legs can extend or minimize between 16″ and 50″ depending on your preference, and the ring is big enough to place a smartphone inside so you can orient the light directly rather than at an angle.
NanLite LED Ring Light with USB Power Passthrough and Smart Touch Control Whether you’re streaming a makeup tutorial or doing portrait photography, this 16-inch ring light will give you some of the most versatile color settings on the market.
The touch-control makes the device extremely easy to use, while the overall design features many small extras that pack a big punch — such as the USB pass-through that ensures your phone won’t run out of juice while filming. It also has a 0 to 100% dimming feature and provides a near shadowless light for those times when you’re live streaming after-hours, making it a coveted 24-hour pick.
For the filmmakers, YouTubers and Twitch streamers out there who want to take their game to the next level, the Savage Luminous Pro is here to deliver results. The power levels and color temperature of the Luminous Pro are fully adjustable, and there’s a shoe mount which will let you stick a phone or camera at the bottom of the ring to ensure your shot looks as natural as possible. Plus, this thing comes with a remote and an LCD screen that offers up info such as the current power level, color temperature and remaining battery life. It comes with tons of features and options that pros will undoubtedly take advantage of, and is great for everything from capturing video, to food portraits, to still life and more. It boasts a high color accuracy and features a built-in diffuser, and it’s great to take on the field thanks to its dual adapter-battery power options. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook and be the first to hear about new product launches, the latest trends and can’t miss deals you won’t find anywhere else.
Best ring light 2021: The best lights YouTube videos, video calls and selfies
The diffused light evenly illuminates faces, softening shadows, flattering the facial features and creating iconic halo catchlights. Ring lights cover a wide range of creative ground and so you’ll find a lot of options to choose from. Ring lights were originally invented for even illumination in medical photography, but have since become popular across a wide range of applications.
While some ring lights feature a single fluorescent tube, you’ll most commonly find them employing an arrangement of LED bulbs. Ring lights can illuminate a subject from multiple sides, which results in a pleasing, well-lit appearance, free of harsh shadows – a look that is generally flattering on faces. An LED panel or softbox capable of producing a similarly sized diffuse light is likely to be significantly bulkier, pricier – or both.
Larger ring lights also facilitate a greater working distance, so you don’t need to position them as close to your subject. If you’re buying a large, bright ring light, you’ll definitely want to opt for a model with a dimmer so you can manage the output.
It may be worth taking the ratings advertised by cheaper lights with a pinch of salt but, in general, anything with a CRI of 90 or more should be fine for photo and video work. The articulation points on the base are rather plasticky and you likely won’t want to fix a large camera directly onto the included ball head.
Key specs – Ring diameter: 48cm; Brightness: 3000 lumens; Dimmable: Percentage increments; Colour temperature: 3000-5800k; Advertised CRI: 97; Internal mount: Phone or camera; Power source: Mains adapter While it’s not the brightest light in our lineup, its lightweight frame, flexible design and small footprint allow it to be positioned closer for more flattering results.
However, unlike a lot of large lights, it features a solid desk-mounting stand, rather than a traditional tripod, which means it’s easier to position and takes up no floor space. While there are controls built into the rear of the light, the Elgato can be paired with a companion app, allowing you to adjust the brightness and colour temperature without having to leave your seat. Key specs – Ring diameter: 43cm; Brightness: 2500 lumens; Dimmable: Percentage increments; Colour temperature: 2900-7000K; Advertised CRI: 94; Internal mount: Camera; Power source: Mains adapter If you want to add a professional pop to your Zoom and Skype calls but don’t fancy turning over your whole desk to a larger lamp and stand, Elegiant’s 6.3” Ring Light is ideal.
The light features a clamp so you can mount it directly on your laptop, monitor, or the edge of your desk with no need for an additional stand. Once set up it can then be angled to suit, and can be plugged directly into your computer’s USB port, which keeps messy cable runs to a minimum. 10 user-selectable brightness increments let you set a comfortable level of illumination, and there’s a trio of colour temperature options so you can best match your ambient lighting. Key specs – Ring diameter: 16cm; Brightness: n/a; Dimmable: 10 levels; Colour temperature: 2700, 4400, 5500K; Advertised CRI: n/a; Internal mount: None; Power source: USB
Key specs – Ring diameter: 13cm; Brightness: 1000 lumens; Dimmable: No; Colour temperature: 3200, 4100, 5600K; Advertised CRI: 91; Internal mount: None; Power source: 3xAA While its size limits the light’s softness, it works great for TikTok, Instagram stories and casual video calls – and looks much better than the standard smartphone flashlight. Key specs – Ring diameter: 7cm; Brightness: n/a; Dimmable: Three levels; Colour temperature: n/a; Advertised CRI: n/a; Internal mount: None; Power source: USB-rechargeable The light can be powered using the included mains adapter or, for a cable-free setup, you can use a set of six AA batteries (although we’d recommend looking into rechargeables).
However, if you’re on the hunt for a smart-looking, premium quality light to use within a professional or a serious piece of kit for your photo and video work, the Rotolight should be on your shortlist. Key specs – Ring diameter: 13cm; Brightness: 2500 lumens; Dimmable: Percentage increments; Colour temperature: 2900-7000K; Advertised CRI: 96; Internal mount: None; Power source: 6x AA or included mains adapter
The best ring lights in 2021
The best ring lights offer a simple and effective way to improve the quality of your videos and photos, whether you’re streaming to YouTube, creating a TikTok or simply on a Zoom call. Black Friday deals are already here and we’re seeing big discounts on all types of cameras and accessories — including some of the best ring lights. We’re tracking the best sales in our Black Friday camera deals hub, so bookmark it now to make sure you don’t miss out on a bargain. The Nanolite Halo 16C is another good choice, offering touch controls and lots of versatility in terms of light output.
However, if you’re not looking to spend quite as much or need something smaller and more portable, consider the 10-inch Raya Bendie-Brite Folding USB Bi-Color LED Ring Light. It’s relatively inexpensive (in fact see above for a Black Friday discount on it), weighs just a little over one pound and gives you the ability to adjust both the color temperature and the brightness. (DC) / Unlimited (AC) Watt-Hours: 32.6Wh Removable Battery: Yes Color: Bi-Color Dimensions: 21.8 x 21.0 x 4.0 inches Weight: 11.1 pounds. Westcott has a long history producing top-notch lighting equipment for pros, and is an excellent choice, whether you’re using it for vlogging, live streaming, capturing video or shooting still photos for portraits, food, still life and many other types of genres.
It also has a built-in diffuser which produces soft, beautiful lighting that fills in shadows on your subject’s face with iconic catchlights in the eyes. Nanlite Halo 16C Bicolor and Tunable RGB 16-Inch LED Ring Light A very versatile ring light with touch controls and Wi-Fi capabilities Specifications Brightness—Dimmable Range: 1-100 percent Mount Type: 5/8-inch Receiver Color Render Index (CRI): Up To 97 CRI Color Temperature (K)—Range: 2700-6500K CRI: 95 TLCI: 93 Lumen Output 6500K: 2340 Lumens Lux @ 1m 6500K: 490 Lux Power Source: 15v DC Max Power Draw: 31w Dimensions: 16 inches diameter (12 inches inner) Weight: 5 pounds. Warranty: Limited 2 Year Warranty TODAY’S BEST DEALS Prime View at Amazon View at BHPhoto Reasons to buy + Unique touch-control design to adjust settings + USB pass-through feature lets you power a phone while in the fixture + Wireless capabilities Reasons to avoid – A bit pricey, but worth the price The USB pass-through feature is another useful addition, as this lets you charge a phone while it’s positioned in the fixture, ensuring you won’t lose power during your shoot.
Other interesting touches include a unique touch-control design — rather than traditional knobs — for adjusting the color of the light, and built-in wireless (so you can control the fixture remotely from your phone or other mobile device). In addition to the ring light, this model comes with a mirror, carrying case, AC adapter and smartphone bracket.
TODAY’S BEST DEALS View at Amazon View at Walmart Reasons to buy + Stepless dimming from 1-100 percent + Kit includes a 61-inch light stand + Includes Bluetooth for remotely controlling the ring light Reasons to avoid – Color temperature is fixed at 5500K However, it also includes two color filters (white and orange), made from high-light-transmission plastic, which allow you to easily switch temperature from 5500K to 3200K. This portable LED kit also comes with a 61-inch light stand, constructed from aluminum alloy, giving it exceptional strength. As you might expect from its name, the Rotolight Ultimate Vlogging Kit is designed for content creators making videos or streaming to YouTube, TikTok and Instagram.
With that in mind, it comes with a mini tripod that can turn into an extended camera grip: very helpful if you often switch between shooting in a studio and on the go. TODAY’S BEST DEALS View at BHPhoto View at Amazon Reasons to buy + Light head rotates 180 degrees + USB ports can charge phones and devices + Offers a variety of mounting options for phones and stand-alone cameras Reasons to avoid – Doesn’t have an option to run on battery power
Warranty: Limited 1 Year Warranty TODAY’S BEST DEALS Prime View at Amazon Reasons to buy + Lightweight, portable and folds for easy carrying + Touch controls Reasons to avoid – Build isn’t as sturdy as pro-level models – On-camera labels and decals may fall off over time It’s lightweight (weighing less than a pound) and can fold in half, so you can take it with you to shoot your vlogs or video chats or capture some casual selfies. However, although it’s small, it has some more advanced features, such as the ability to adjust the color temperature and brightness for your project via touch-sensitive controls. (The manufacturer recommends that If you’re only carrying a smartphone, use a small power bank to run the light when you’re ready to record or talk.)
XINBAOHONG Rechargeable Portable Clip-on Selfie Ring Light A very good value for a budget ring light Specifications Color temperature: 6000K (one setting) Brightness: 3 modes: low, normal, high Power: B built-in, rechargeable, lithium-ion battery Cable: 1 USB-micro cable Dimensions: 3.4 x 3.4 x 1.2 inches Weight: 2.4 ounces. Although this inexpensive ring light has a barebones design and feature set, it can be used on various mobile devices, including most phones and tablets, as well as on laptops.
Top 10 Ring Light For Laptops of 2021
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