Webcam Resolution Test
See the resolution and frame rate your webcam actually delivers.
Resolution
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Measured FPS
n/a
Requested FPS
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Nothing is recorded or uploaded. The camera is released the moment you stop the test.
Your test runs locally in your browser. No device data is uploaded.
How to use the resolution test
Start the camera and the test reports what the browser actually received. It asks the camera for the highest resolution and frame rate it can manage, so the numbers are close to the best a web page will get from your hardware. Frame rate is measured from delivered frames rather than read from a setting, because the setting is the request rather than the result.
Why the numbers are often lower than the box claims
A camera negotiates its format with whatever asks for it. Browsers frequently settle for 720p unless something explicitly asks for more, and a USB bus shared with other devices, or a hub, can cap it lower still. A spec sheet quotes the sensor maximum under ideal conditions with the vendor's own software, which is a different situation entirely.
Frame rate is the more variable of the two. Almost every webcam drops its rate in dim light, because the sensor holds each frame open longer to gather enough light. Testing in a bright room and testing at night can easily differ by half.
Browser limitations
Measuring delivered frames needs per-frame timing, which Chrome, Edge and Safari expose and Firefox currently does not. On Firefox the resolution still reports correctly but the measured frame rate is unavailable, and the test says so rather than showing a guess.
Frequently asked questions
- Why is my 1080p webcam reporting a lower resolution?
- A camera negotiates its format with whatever asks for it. Browsers commonly settle for 720p or less unless a higher resolution is requested, and bandwidth limits on a shared USB bus or hub can force it lower still. This test asks for the maximum, so what you see is close to the best it will give a web page.
- Why is the measured frame rate lower than the requested one?
- Frame rate drops in low light on almost every webcam, because the sensor holds each frame open longer to gather light. A busy CPU and USB bandwidth limits do the same. Try again in a brighter room before assuming a fault.
- Does this match the camera's spec sheet?
- Not exactly. A spec sheet quotes the sensor maximum under ideal conditions with the vendor's own software. This shows what your browser actually receives right now, which is the number that matters for video calls.
- Is any video saved?
- No. The preview is rendered locally and discarded, nothing is recorded or uploaded, and stopping the test releases the camera immediately.