The problem: one PC, two screens
Singh had used Windows Phone Link and the Link to Windows app on Android before, but he disliked that they required an account. His gaming PC doubles as his work machine. For video calls he had been propping up a phone or iPad, so his face was on one screen and his notes were on the monitor. A webcam on the monitor would fix that. Then he remembered a Realme phone, unused since 2023, with a 50 MP camera.
What he used and how it went
He chose Camo over DroidCam. He says both worked locally, but Camo was faster to set up. He scanned the QR code in the Windows app with the Camo app on the phone, and the connection was in place. He then tried backgrounds, filters and effects and ran a test call with his partner.
His reported results on the free plan are:
- 720p at 30 fps
- Autofocus and auto tracking
- Several lighting corrections
- Streaming support
- No ads
He clamped the phone to his monitor and keeps it plugged in because the battery is degraded. These details are his own experience. They aren't a guaranteed feature list.
Reality check: "50MP" is not the video resolution
The "50MP webcam" framing is the one thing I'd correct. A 50-megapixel rating describes the sensor's still photos. Singh's own result was a 720p stream, which is about 0.9 megapixels per frame. Camo doesn't turn a high-megapixel phone into a high-resolution webcam. A good sensor and lens still help with low-light performance and color. Treat the megapixel count as a minor factor.
What the documentation confirms
- Two parts. Camo Studio runs on your Mac or PC, lets you control and adjust your video, and makes it available to other apps.
- Versions. Camo Camera runs on iOS 15+ and Android 7.0+. Camo Studio runs on macOS 12.3+ and Windows 10+.
- Connection options. You can connect an Android device to Camo Studio over Wi-Fi or USB.
- Cross-platform support. All supported versions of Windows and Android are compatible with Wi-Fi pairing.
- App compatibility. Camo's site says it works as a virtual camera in over 40 apps. It names Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Slack, Discord and OBS, and says it works with any app that accepts a standard webcam. That is the vendor's claim.
Wi-Fi or USB on Windows?
Camo's own advice isn't uniform, so choose based on what you need.
- Wi-Fi is the simplest start on Windows. Camo says Wi-Fi is the easiest way to pair an Android device with a Windows computer, because USB pairing is more complex in that case. USB on Windows requires USB debugging to be turned on. That is why Singh's QR-code route was quick.
- Wi-Fi has a trade-off. Camo's 2022 Wi-Fi announcement says wireless avoids the USB-debugging step. A guide on WindowsForum's own coverage suggests starting with Wi-Fi and moving to USB when reliability or latency matters. It also says wired connections avoid Wi-Fi interference and network-policy problems. That is a community-style recommendation, not Camo's guarantee.
- Same network matters. For wireless pairing, the PC and phone must be on the same network. Guest networks and some office networks can block this.
Step-by-step setup
- Install Camo Studio on a Windows 10 or later PC.
- Install Camo Camera from Google Play on an Android 7.0 or later phone.
- Open both apps. In Camo Studio, choose Device, then Pair a device. Tom's Hardware describes this flow.
- On the phone, tap the Wi-Fi+ icon and scan the QR code.
- Select the phone in Camo Studio and check the preview.
- In your calling app, choose Camo as the camera.
For USB instead, enable USB debugging on the phone first. Then connect the cable and select the device in Camo Studio's Devices list.
Troubleshooting
- "No devices connected." Camo's support page says this screen appears when a phone is connected but isn't running Camo. Make sure Camo Camera is installed and open on the phone.
- You closed Camo Studio. That's fine. Camo says the Studio window can be closed safely and doesn't have to be open for video to reach other apps. The taskbar icon opens a flyout with pause, resume and scene controls.
- Lag or stutter over Wi-Fi. Move closer to the router or use a 5 GHz network if you have one. Switch to USB if that doesn't help.
- Phone gets warm or drains quickly. Tom's Hardware advises powering the phone externally for long sessions, because the process can drain the battery. Camo's screen curtain dims the phone display during use. The manufacturer says it is on automatically and can be set to Automatic, On or Off under Settings > Mobile Devices.
- Old, swollen or damaged battery. Don't rely on a plugged-in phone to hide a bad battery. If it's swollen or hot, replace it or don't use the phone.
Placement and lighting
Camo's guidance recommends putting the camera near eye level and framing your head and upper torso. Put light in front of or beside you, not behind you. A cheap phone clamp on the monitor, as Singh used, works. Rear cameras are usually better than front cameras, so mount the phone with the rear lens facing you. That's general industry knowledge, not something from the report.
Privacy and accounts
Camo says video is processed on your device and that it never captures or transmits it. It also says the app has no ads or tracking. These are the vendor's statements. Singh said he wanted an account-free setup. I couldn't confirm from the documentation that every feature or future version works without an account. Check the current plan details before you rely on specific free-tier limits.
Is it worth it?
For many remote workers, this is a good way to avoid buying a $30–$40 webcam. Singh's price figure is his own estimate. The payoff is a 720p, 30 fps webcam at the monitor, which is fine for team calls. If you need 1080p or higher, check what Camo's paid tier offers. Compare that with a dedicated webcam before you spend money. Singh also notes that reusing an old phone avoids sending it to a landfill. I can't quantify that benefit.
The caveats are real. Not every old phone will work. Old phones can be slow, hot or short on battery. Wi-Fi quality varies. Even so, trying it costs only a few downloads and a clamp.
He also lists other uses for a spare phone, such as a PC performance monitor, stream deck, DNS ad-blocker or file server. I haven't tested those.