Are cheap Amazon ring lights worth it, or should I spend more?

Community consensus is mixed but pragmatic: many creators say an inexpensive kit does the job since the light sits close to your face, and one widely-cited thread notes the difference between a $50 and $150 light can be 'negligible' at close range. The trade-off with budget kits is build quality, flimsy tripods and sketchy phone mounts are the most common complaints.