5 Best USB Extension Cables For Webcams
For improved connectivity, you should look for USB 3.0 cables
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Key notes
- USB extenders are helpful cables that can be used to connect your webcam to your PC.
- But they're not all made the same as some are better than others.
- This guide shows you the best USB extenders for your PC.
USB cables are, without a doubt, a must-have for any professional office or home. USB is a universal tech standard with so many devices having a port supporting it.
The interface can be used to transfer data, charge your phone, or in the case of this guide, connect your webcam to your computer. But not all cables are created equally. You should look for the best possible USB cable for your webcam.
What should I look for in a USB extension cable?
The most important thing to look at is the length. People typically keep their webcam close to their monitors so it’s unnecessary to have a cable that’s long.
Having an extension cable that’s 10 feet in length behind your computer would only make a mess. Conversely, you also don’t want one that’s too short. You should look for cables that support USB 3.0.
USB 3.0 is a connection standard that ensures high-speed connectivity; as high as 5 Gbps. If you find USB 2.0, that’s fine. It’s not the best, but it isn’t slow either.
This guide will showcase a list of the best USB extensions that you can use for your webcam. It should be mentioned that these are made out of durable material, and it’s unlikely they will use any sort of breakage.
What are the best USB extension cables?
Belkin Pro Series USB 2.0 Extension Cable
- Cheapest entry on this list
- Comes in varying lengths, starting at three feet
- Works with most USB-A peripherals
- Flexible and durable
- Comes in a clear white
- Only supports USB 2.0
Kicking off the list is the Pro Series USB 2.0 cable from Belkin. From the name, you can infer that this cable only supports USB 2.0 which is certainly a disappointment. USB 3.0 is one of the best standards we have now.
USB 2.0 is decent but isn’t ideal. That said, there are still a lot of benefits to using this cable. For starters, it’s the cheapest on this list, costing you just a few dollars. And if you can believe it, it goes on sale for even lower prices.
Besides the low price point, the Pro Series cable ends in a USB-A connector, and as such, works with the vast majority of USB-A devices. It’s also pretty durable, so you won’t have to worry about the protector ripping.
The Pro Series starts with a length of three feet and has a maximum of 16 feet. This cable is great if your webcam is close to the computer, or if it’s far away. The longer cable costs more, but not by much.
UGREEN USB Extender
- Comes in varying lengths
- Low price
- Compatible with webcams, keyboards, Oculus VR, and more
- Male-to-female connector
- Supports USB 3.0
- Only comes in black
Next up is UGREEN’s USB Extender, also another cheap option. It, too, goes on sale for an even lower price. And like the previous entry, it comes in various lengths to suit your needs. You can get one that’s three feet long and up to 15 feet.
What makes this cable superior to the first is that it supports USB 3.0. The big deal about USB 3.0 is that it can transmit data at a maximum rate of 5 Gbps. There are some cables that support USB 3.2 which is slightly faster than 3.0.
Nevertheless, 3.0 gets the job done. You should also know that it’s compatible with a lot of different devices besides webcams, thereby giving the cable a great deal of versatility.
You can use the USB Extender to connect your computer to a mouse, hard drive, video game controller, and even an Oculus virtual reality headset.
Amazon Basics USB 3.0 Extension Cable
- Comes in varying lengths
- Supports USB 3.0
- Comes 10 cables to a pack
- Has protective shielding to protect against noise
- Resistant to corrosion
- Frequently out of stock
Amazon actually has its own label for everyday products called Amazon Basics. The brand covers a lot of different products, including batteries, lifting straps, and even crayons. Basics products are pretty good quality and their USB cables are no different.
Because of their high quality, Amazon Basics’ USB 3.0 cable is often out of stock. They’re high-quality cables that support USB 3.0 so you can expect high-speed connectivity.
Amazon also sells these cables in packs. You can buy singles, two in a pack, or even 10. Length-wise, they go from a little over three feet to a bit under 10 feet. The connectors are gold-plated to protect against corrosion messing up the signal.
The cable itself is wrapped inside protective shielding to repel outside noise from interfering with the signal inside. If a USB-A to USB-A cable doesn’t work for you, Amazon has other options.
For example, there are USB-A to USB-C cables available. And there are even cables that have the USB-B connector for the few people who need it.
NIMASO USB 3.0 Extension Cable
- Supports USB 3.0
- Supports fast charging
- Compatible with a variety of operating systems
- Backward compatible with USB 2.0 and 1.1
- Covered with nylon to resist knotting
- Limited length variety
Now we have USB 3.0 extension cables from NIMASO. This particular entry is a two-for-one as this product is made up of two separate cables. The only difference between the two is their lengths.
One cable is 3.3 feet while the other is 6.6. With these two cables alone, you’re pretty covered in terms of lengths. Most setups don’t really require very long cables. But if you need something longer than six feet, then this cable isn’t for you.
That said, it’s still a high-quality product. It supports USB 3.0 while also being compatible with USB 1.1 and 2.0. This is a great feature to have for older devices.
Unique to this cable is the nylon braided covering that resists tangles and knots, no matter how often it’s twisted. Plus, it comes with layers of protection against outside interference and corrosion for a longer lifespan.
The official Amazon product listing claims the cable is able to last a decade without needing to buy a new one. It’s unknown if this is true, but you can’t deny the high-quality of NIMASO cables.
VCZHS USB Extension Cable
- Comes in white
- Compatible with video game consoles
- Comes in a variety of lengths
- Supports USB 3.0
- Resistant to outside interference
- Long length can be overkill
The last entry on this list is the USB Extension Cable from VCZHS. This cable has the most radical length out of the other entries. It can be as long as 30 feet. That long length is great for webcams far from the main computer.
For smaller setups, it’s pretty impractical. Fortunately, VCZHS has cables as short as a foot long, two feet, and five feet. On top of that, the cable is compatible with a variety of devices including printers, hard drives, and video game controllers.
Best of all, it supports USB 3.0 for those quick data transfer speeds. The product is compatible with older formats if you need that old support. It’s made out of a flexible and durable material to resist outside interference.
The connectors themselves are gold plated for corrosion resistance. The cable also comes in white, if you are interested in a different look. All in all, a solid extension cable that will surely meet all your needs.
Are there other USB products or fixes that I should know about?
When it comes to USB and products surrounding the interface, there is so much to know. For example, if you have multiple computers, you should look into getting a USB switch.
A USB switch is a device that lets you connect computers to other devices via a USB cable. This is especially helpful if you want to control multiple devices from afar. You should learn how to fix recognition issues.
Sometimes your Windows 10 or Windows 11 computer may not recognize a USB device. This could be because your drivers are outdated, or you may need to disable USB3 support.
Feel free to comment below if you have any questions on other Windows 11 apps. Also, leave comments about reviews you’d like to see or information on other Windows 11 features.
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