If you're a streamer or creator, you may rely on a teleprompter to look directly at the camera while reading your script or chatroom. But you have to provide a screen, usually a smartphone or tablet, and find a good teleprompter app. Elgato's new $279.99 Prompter solves that problem by including a small USB-C display.

Anyone who has used an affordable teleprompter has probably felt the pain of getting it just right. You'll need to find something that'll hold your preferred smartphone or tablet, and while there are teleprompter apps, they tend to be clunky or often require ongoing subscriptions for basic features. With its built-in display and provided software, Prompter may simplify things a bit.

You'll still need a computer, of course, to power and drive the display. But since it's essentially a USB-C monitor, you can drag and drop anything you want onto it. For instance, if you're a streamer, you could move your chat feed onto the display, making interacting directly with viewers more natural. You'll look into the camera as you read and respond to comments. At 1024 by 600, it's not the highest resolution, but it should do for the intended purpose. Just don't expect to watch episodes of Loki on it.

And if you have other ideas for the Prompter, the Camera Hub software should help you along. You can adjust the size of the camera feed, add scripts, and enable a chat mode, all in one place. And if you're using Elgato's webcam, Cam Link, or iPhone with EpocCam, you can control the camera directly from the software.

Even if you aren't using one of those cameras, there's a decent chance you can use what you have with the Prompter. The kit comes with a DSLR/Mirrorless backplate, 9x DSLR/Mirrorless step-up rings, Facecam Pro backplate, Universal shroud backplate, and a Universal bracket. Elgato has a running list of camera compatibility on its tech page, and promises to update that list over time.

Preorder the Prompter from Elgato's site, with an expected delivery sometime in December.