AVerMedia PW313C Webcam: Review, Pros & Cons

Summary

An entry-level USB 2.0 webcam that shoots 1080p at 30 fps from a 2 MP sensor, sold as the Live Streamer CAM 313 under the PW313C name. It is fixed focus and narrow, so check that you will sit 40 to 100 cm from the lens before you buy.

Strengths

The privacy shutter is a real sliding cover over the lens, not a software toggle.
Sharp image with good color, brightness and contrast once it is set up.
The base swivels a full 360 degrees, so you can reframe without moving the mount.
Plug-and-play on both old and new PCs, because USB 2.0 keeps compatibility broad.
A 36-month warranty with a free 2-year extension on registration.

Weaknesses

Image quality falls apart in low light.
Auto white balance and exposure are unreliable, so expect manual tuning for each lighting setup.
Fixed focus: stay inside the 40 to 100 cm band or the picture softens.
The field of view is narrow at 65 degrees, framing a close head-and-shoulders shot rather than a wide room.
The built-in filter effects are not available in every app and drove an 8-core Ryzen to about 50 percent system usage with CPU encoding.
Audio is dual-mono, not stereo.

Verified specifications

Video	1080p at 30 fps over USB 2.0, output as MJPEG and YUY2.
Sensor	1/2.7-inch CMOS, 2 MP.
Focus	fixed focus at f/2.0, working distance 40 to 100 cm (1.31 to 3.28 ft).
Field of view	65 degrees horizontal, 40 degrees vertical, 70 degrees diagonal.
Microphones	two built-in mono mics.
Software	a UVC device that works with OBS Studio, XSplit, Zoom and Teams, and with AVerMedia CamEngine, RECentral and Assist Central.
Mount	a flexible base that swivels 360 degrees, sits on a standard tripod thread, and carries a built-in sliding privacy shutter.
Cable	1.5 m; powered over USB with no external supply.
Dimensions	90 × 53 × 47 mm (3.54 × 2.08 × 1.85 in); 130 g (4.6 oz).
In the box	the camera and a quick guide only; no tripod, despite the tripod-ready base.
Warranty	36 months standard, plus a free 2-year extension when registered within 90 days on a purchase made on or after 2025-07-01.

Full research notes and sources

Software and image quality

The camera shows up as a UVC device with no driver, but the picture is poor until you install AVerMedia’s software and adjust it. After tuning, the same review called it sharp, with color, brightness and contrast roughly on par with a Razer Kiyo. The filter effects live in the companion app, run through CamEngine or plugins for OBS Studio and XSplit, and are CPU-heavy.

Mounting, framing and field of view

The base swivels a full 360 degrees and threads onto a standard tripod, but there is no tripod in the box. The lens is fixed focus and set for a 40 to 100 cm working distance, so it is built for a person at a desk rather than a wide room. At 65 degrees horizontal and 40 degrees vertical the frame is tight: a head-and-shoulders close-up, not a full-room shot. If you need autofocus or a wide angle, this is not that camera.

Warranty and support

AVerMedia covers webcams for 36 months, and a purchase made on or after 2025-07-01 can add a free 2-year extension by registering the product and uploading the invoice within 90 days. Terms depend on the country of purchase, proof of purchase is required, and units brought in through unofficial importers are not covered. The PW313 is not on AVerMedia’s end-of-service list; the retired webcams there are the PW310O, PW310 and PW510. It is a small sealed bus-powered unit with no published parts catalogue, so there is nothing to service, and the software and firmware updates are free.

Is it worth it?

The case for it is cheap, plug-and-play beginner streaming with a genuine privacy shutter and 360-degree positioning. If you need autofocus, a wide field of view, stereo audio, 60 fps or strong low-light video, look at other models.

Which model this is

AVerMedia lists the hardware as the PW313, the Live Streamer CAM 313, and also hosts a PW313C page, but whether PW313C is a distinct revision or the same camera under a retail part number could not be confirmed. Do not confuse it with the other AVerMedia webcams: the PW313D is dual-camera, the PW315 is a 1080p60 wide angle, the PW310P autofocuses, and the PW513 and PW515 are 4K.