Have you ever seen a cute TikTok video of Bella Poarch and thought, why are there specular highlights in her eyes? Well, those are the light shades of a ring light. Millions of content creators on different video platforms use these ring lights.
These ring lights not only create an attractive video but also provide the necessary lighting for your videos. In fact, lighting is the thing that draws the border between a true influence and an average content creator.
But, there is a catch. When there are thousands of options available in the market, how come a person decides that this is the best ring light for him?
Well, worry not because I’m here to help you in this regard. I’ve been in the vlogging industry for almost 6 years, and after using different ring lights, I’ve prepared the best ring lights review guide for you.
This guide includes top-performing ring lights for every content creator and it also contains some of your burning questions at the end of the guide.
What Should You Look for in a Ring Light?
Before buying a ring light, there are a few things that you should keep in your mind.
1- Size:
Know your preferences about the size of the ring light. If you want to create closeup videos like makeup tutorials, you should choose a 10-inch ring light. Otherwise, go for a 15-18-inch ring light, as these can illuminate your entire room quite perfectly.
2- Adjusting the Temperature:
Being a content creator, you often need to change the temperature to change the ambiance. Most of the ring lights have 5500k temperature. Before selecting a ring light, look for the option of changing the temperature.
3- CRI:
It is an important factor to look for in a ring light. CRI (color rendering index) determines how naturally your light source presents your subject.
4- Control Over Light:
Before buying a ring light, consider its dimming capacity. If you have control over the light, you can change the amount of light on your subject. If your ring light doesn’t have this ability, you can control the light by simply moving the ring light farther from the subject.
1- The Neewer 18” Ring Light Kit
Overview:
The first on the list of best ring lights for vlogging, youtube & TikTok is The Neewer 18 inches ring light kit. This ring light is regarded as the no. 1 bestseller on Amazon. It comes under the price bracket of $100 and provides all the necessary things that a person is looking for.
Ring Light Review:
The first thing you’ll notice in the kit is the 18-inches ring light. It works at a fixed 5500K color temperature, which can be a good daylight alternative balanced light source. I appreciate the inclusion of two color filters, orange and white, through which I can adjust the scene’s color temperature between 3200 – 5500K. Though, I used the white filter most of the time as it exposes more details.
Another feature of the Neewer ring light is its dimming ability with 1% to 100% brightness. Plus, the company also provides you with a diffuser in the box to give a soft touch to your lighting conditions.
I highly appreciate it if you use this ring light at 70% brightness with a diffuser because more light can overexpose your subject. There is this wireless remote option to adjust the brightness from a distance.
Other Things In The Box:
- 155 cm aluminum tripod stand
- Hot shoe adapter with ¼ screw that can hold not only your smartphone but also a digital camera
- A 360 rotatable plastic smartphone holder
- A universal power adapter with the plug
- A handy carry bag
- Remote control
Reason To Buy?
- 18 inches ring light with adjustable brightness between the range of 1% – 100%
- 5500K color temperature to mimic daylight
- Provide the best value for money
Reason To Avoid?
- Limited range of color temperatures
- The wireless option does not work from a far distance (more than 2 meters)
2- Ivisii 19″ Wireless Ring Light Kit
Overview:
IVISII 19-inch wireless ring light kit is the absolute choice for YouTubers, TikTokers, and content creators. Compared to other ring lights on the list, this one has the advantage that you can attach your iPad to it if you use it as your do-it-all device.
Ring Light Review:
The 19 inches ring light is the main highlight of the kit. Like the Neewer ring light, it also has this dimming feature that can easily be set between 0% to 100%. The color temperature range is 3000-5800 with 97+ CRI.
For some people, this ring light can be a bit expensive at $200, but it is big enough to brighten an entire room. Plus, 19 inches wide ring diameter can accommodate everything, including smartphones, tablets/iPad, or cameras. However, the articulating base is not that strong, and I recommend you not to attach a big camera to it.
Advantage & Performance:
Another advantage of this big size is that you don’t need to come close to make your video as it has enough light to illuminate a medium-sized room. Plus, You can change the brightness wirelessly.
Talking about the performance of the ring light, it produces a bright yet super soft, shadow-free, flattering light that can be adjusted between the range of 0% to 100% brightness.
Smart LCD:
Yes, there is this smart LCD with the light. This monitor can adjust brightness, color temperature range, and group setting. The display is quite bright, and the touch response is good. One caveat is that this screen sometimes shows a lag in the response. But this issue is not that common.
Overall, this ring light is a useful package that includes all the essentials. A person who wants to make his/her vlogs on a camera or uses an iPad can opt for the IVISII 19″ Wireless Ring Light kit without hesitation.
Other Things In The Box:
- One 74 inches tripod stand
- A phone holder
- A white color filter
- A horseshoe adapter for cameras/smartphones
- A 1/4″ cold shoe mounting bracket
- A screwdriver
- A carrying pack
Reason To Buy?
- Wide selection of color temperatures
- It can be operated wirelessly
- The large diameter lets you use it with any smartphone/tablet/camera
Reason To Avoid?
- A small lag in the touch screen response
- It can be an expensive option for some people
3- Ubeesize Selfie Ring Light Kit
Overview:
If you are a person who is looking for a ring light that is not too heavy on the pocket, the UBeesize ring light kit can be an option for you. It is a 2-in-1 kit that can be used as a ring light and a tripod stand.
Ring Light Review:
The ring light is 10.2 inches wide and contains a holder to carry a smartphone. Now, the size of the ring isn’t too big, but it’s large enough to illuminate your subject.
Also, the led light is dimmable to adjust as per your requirement. Using the light at high brightness drains the battery and overexposes your subject.
So, I recommend you use it somewhere between 60%-70% brightness. Speaking of the battery, the ring light gets its power directly from the smartphone through a USB-type C port.
Operating Modes:
The cherry on top is that the UBeesize ring light comes with 33 different operating modes, including 3-color changing modes (Cold, warm and neutral) and 11 brightness modes. You’re getting all of these features for less than $50.
And the best part of the ring light is that there is a Bluetooth remote. You can control your phone or change the brightness via that remote.
The final verdict is that Ubeesize ring light can be a good option for beginners. It doesn’t contain too many accessories, but I won’t pass on it at the price they are offering. A good device for your money.
Other Things In The Box:
- A phone holder
- Bluetooth remote control
- One 51 inches tripod stand
Reason To Buy?
- Multiple modes and various color filters
- Budget-friendly
- Powered via the USB
Reason To Avoid?
- Less brightness than other rings on the list
- You can’t use big cameras with it
4- Inkeltech Ring Light Kit
Overview:
A kit that is best designed for makeup vloggers/YouTubers, the Inkeltech ring light kit is one of the kits that are easiest to use.
Ring Light Review:
The ring light itself has a diameter of 18 inches and is made of 416 pcs of LED beads that allow more light in the room. When I tested this ring light, there was not enough light in the room, but the results were too good to be true. The photos were full of detail and properly exposed.
I used the ring light at 75% of the brightness as higher light can cause overexposed footage. But, if you have a diffuser, you can use the ring light at its maximum strength.
Modes:
Inkeltech ring light is powered by a 60W power supply and has seven light modes, including cold, warm, neutral, and night. And you know, there is an IR remote that lets you control the light’s modes and brightness from a distance (up to 5 meters).
Color Temperature:
The best thing about the ring light is that you can adjust the color temperature with a knob without using any filter down to the tiniest detail on the subject. This ring light has the highest color temperature range on this list as it can go up to 6000K.
Besides, the ring light has a rotating smartphone holder that can firmly grasp your phone (with the help of a mounting screw)
Wrapping it up:
Concluding the review, the Inkeltech ring light has a wide range of temperature colors and is the brightest on the list.
Unlike The Neewer ring light kit, which also has an 18 inches ring light, the Inkeltech ring light has seven different color filter modes. A lightweight ring light, perfect for both indoor and outdoor shooting.
Other Things In The Box:
- A tripod stand that can be extended up to 190 cm
- 1 IR remote control
- 1 selfie controller
- 1 power adapter
- 1 travel bag
- 1 phone and 1 camera holder
Reason To Buy?
- 7 different modes
- Brightest ring on the list
- Big diameter of 18 inches
- Easy to operate and carry
Reason To Avoid?
- It can be costly for some users
- Can emit heat when used in the brightest settings
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
1- Is ring light good for vlogging?
Ring lights are inevitable for a vlogger. Not only do they increase the audience’s attention by creating catchlights but also they eliminate the shadows of the subject. Besides, ring lights provide proper lighting, which is very important for making a professional vlog.
2- What type of ring light is best?
Choosing a good ring light depends on a vlogger’s preference. If you are new in the vlogging journey and want to save some bucks, I suggest you go for the Ubeesize selfie ring light.
On the other hand, if you don’t have any cuts on budget, you can choose the Inkeltech ring light.
3- What is the best ring light size for YouTube videos?
If you are in the makeup niche or make close-up videos, a 10-inch ring light like Ubeesize is perfect for you. If you have more than one subject or want to fill the room with light, an 18/19-inch size will work for you.
4- What ring light do most YouTubers use?
Most YouTubers use 10-inch to 18-inch ring lights.10-inch ring lights are the selfies ring light and only brighten the close-up subject. Meanwhile, 18-inch ring lights are used when you want to illuminate a medium-size room, rather than only the subject.
5- LED panel vs. ring light: which one is better?
Ring lights are better for making close-up shots or for portraits. They also create beautiful catchlights in the eyes of the subjects to enhance the attention of the audience.
On the other hand, LED panels are best to illuminate the entire subject or to brighten both the foreground and the background.
