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What is an IR camera on a laptop? Your questions answered
All your IR camera laptop queries answered
Updated: Oct 25, 2023 10:38 am
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An IR laptop camera? But what is an IR camera on a laptop? I hear you cry! IR stands for Infra-Red. Infra Red cameras don’t just detect light in the visible spectrum, but also Infra-Red wavelength light. This gives them additional functionality when utilised as laptop webcams, in particular for security.
Read below for everything you need to know about IR cameras on laptops and what they’re used for. Also, do check out our best laptop deals section below if you’re planning on picking up a new device, or take a look at our Black Friday laptop deals and Black Friday gaming laptop deals pages for the biggest discounts this November.
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What is the point of an IR camera on a laptop?
The primary purpose of having an IR camera on a laptop is security. Essentially an IR camera allows a similar level of security to prevent people who aren’t you from accessing your laptop as a fingerprint reader does, but by using face authentication.
Most commonly this is done via the Microsoft technology known as Windows Hello. Basically, rather than (or in addition to) entering a password to unlock your laptop, you can scan your face with the IR camera, which will recognize your unique features and let you in.
This can be accomplished because InfraRed light penetrates the surface layers of your skin, meaning it can pick out your unique facial features (such as surface vein patterns) that are harder to replicate. Basically, it gives more detail to your unique facial pattern compared to cameras which just detect the visible light spectrum, making it a more secure method of accessing your device.
IR laptop camera FAQs
Do laptops have IR cameras?
Some laptops have IR cameras, others do not.
If a laptop is compatible with Windows Hello then this means it does indeed have an IR camera.
Is an IR camera the same as my webcam?
If you laptop has an IR camera, then it may be incorporated into your usual webcam, but sometimes it is added as a separate camera alongside the standard webcam.
In either case, just position your face in front of it as you would a regular webcam.
What is an IR camera on a laptop? Final Word
What is an IR camera on a laptop? Well we hope we have satisfactorily answered this question above. If not, then sadly you are beyond our help sweet child. Good look in life – you will need it.
Before you go though… do please have a read of our various other best laptop and best gaming laptop guides in the main menu on top of this page.
