Are ring lights still worth buying?

Yes — ring lights can still be worth buying, but mainly for specific use cases. They’re a solid choice for close-up talking-head videos, makeup tutorials, beauty content, and other situations where you want simple, even front lighting and the familiar circular catchlights in the eyes.

For broader content creation, streaming, or remote work, many people prefer LED panels or softboxes because they can be more flexible in how they shape light and are often easier to place around a desk or room. Ring lights can also create reflections in glasses, so they may be less ideal if you wear glasses, though they’re still usable.