If you keep dual displays in your setup but you stack them rather than placing them side by side, where does the webcam go? That question came up with today’s MacBook Pro setup. And the user had a surprising answer that he claims works well.
M2 Pro MacBook user stacks 32-inch external displays with webcam underneath
Redditor Putrid-Caregiver-308 (“PC”) showcased the bright white setup with stacked dual displays in a post entitled, “Once you go Mac…” And of course a commenter dutifully responded, “You never go back.” PC uses a 14-inch M2 Pro MacBook Pro to drive a pair of stacked 32-inch Lenovo displays, but he also runs a PC of some sort.
“WFH/personal setup, converted to Mac for personal use about a year ago, and have not regretted it. Still stuck on Windows for work,” PC said.
Dual displays stacked, not side by side (but 32 inches is too big)
Do you like the stacked Studio Displays?” a commenter asked, not noticing they’re not Studio Displays. “I have 2 but they’re side to side. I thought about doing this but I’ve never had monitors stacked before.”
PC replied replied that he wishes they were Studio Displays, but instead they’re 32-inch Lenovo 4K monitors. “If you have 32 inches as well, I would say no, I don’t like them,” he added. “If I could go back in time, I would have gotten 27 inches to see how that feels. 32 inch is way too uncomfortable to look at the top monitor, while having the bottom monitor at a normal height.”
Slanting screens, or maybe a small portable monitor as the bottom one
What about slanting the bottom screen and making the top one at eye level, another commenter inquired.
Here’s PC’s reply:
I kinda tried this and the bottom slant would have been way too much that it was weird and taking up all the desk space (32 inch is just way too big, I think 27 you could do this much better). I also tried having the bottom monitor just sit at desk level, slightly angled like a laptop but that was also not comfortable for long periods. I’m slowly becoming more convinced that a portable 14 inch – 15 inch at the bottom is going to be my next setup. I would just rock one monitor but I need it for work when screen sharing and taking people through things and still being able to monitor the teams chat/cam.”
Where’s that webcam hiding?
Commenters tend to find stacked external displays interesting as a departure from the typical side-by-side orientation. But one practical consideration is, where does the webcam attach, if anywhere?
“I have been thinking about this stacked monitor orientation,” noted a commenter. “Do you use a webcam at all?”
“Yep, if you look closely, you’ll see the webcam mounted at the bottom of the screen using double sided tape,” PC replied. “[It] does require using software to zoom in about 30% and pan upwards (or somehow angling it upwards more), after that it’s great for meeting. Software used is Logi Tune for my Logitech Brio [webcam].”
How well does mounting webcam under dual displays work?
Hearing that PC’s webcam is taped to the bottom of the lower display gave some commenters pause.
“If your camera is under your sightline, its very unnatural for the other people,” one asked. “Why not move it to between the monitors?”
“Purely for aesthetic reasons, the gap between the monitors would annoy me,” PC replied.
“Do you not have people looking up your nose during meetings?” asked another commenter.
“Haha no, not much different to people typically having [their] laptop on the desk and using the built-in cam, which is somewhat common, camera angle is kinda normal,” PC replied.
Shop these items now:
Stacked displays, webcam and light bar:
Computer and stand:
Input devices:
Audio:
If you would like to see your setup featured on Cult of Mac, send some high-res pictures to [email protected] (iPhone pics usually suffice). Please provide a detailed list of your equipment. Tell us what you like or dislike about your setup, and fill us in on any special touches, challenges and plans for new additions.
