It’s been…fairly some time since Logitech launched a webcam for non-creators — the Logitech Brio 4K was launched in 2017, whereas the corporate’s ride-or-die C920 first hit cabinets in 2012.
So, after solely a decade, Logitech is lastly releasing a brand new 1080p full HD webcam aimed toward private {and professional} customers: the Logitech Brio 500. Whereas a 1080p webcam may not sound that thrilling, particularly when Dell’s new similarly-priced webcam is 2K and particularly when the 10-year-old C920s is…additionally a 1080p full HD webcam, there’s extra to webcams than simply decision! (Plus, it’s not like most video conferencing apps will allow you to stream at greater than 1080p, anyway.)
Along with its 1080p/30fps; 720p/60fps decision, the Brio 500 additionally has a 90-degree subject of view (configurable to 78º or 65º), twin microphones, a built-in privateness shutter, and each Logitech’s RightLight 4 picture adjustment know-how and an experimental “RightSight” AI auto-framing characteristic.
The Brio 500 is available in three colours, together with off-white and rose (pink), and prices $129. That’s not fairly budget-priced, and is approaching some 4K webcams on sale (together with Logitech’s personal Brio 4K), however the webcam market continues to be a little bit skewed from the pandemic.
That stated, you’ll find many 1080p/30fps webcams for lower than $100, and the Brio 500 doesn’t have any specs that notably stand out. However whereas its principal promoting level stands out as the inside enhancements Logitech has made, do not forget that, pre-pandemic, Logitech was virtually the one webcam recreation on the town. The corporate has a lot of expertise right here, and whereas the specs might not present it, the Brio 500’s efficiency does.
Design of the Brio 500
The Logitech Brio 500 has a distinct, extra fashionable design than its predecessors — not that that’s saying a lot, contemplating its predecessors are between 5 and 10 years previous.
The Brio 500 is housed in a large, cylinder-shaped plastic chassis, which is available in three colours: graphite, off-white, and rose (my overview unit was rose). The webcam is licensed carbon impartial, and the chassis is made with post-consumer recycled plastic (68% for graphite, 54% for off-white and rose). It’s not the sleekest or smallest webcam (it’s truly larger than the C920s, C930e, and Brio 4K), but it surely’s low-profile and light-weight (2.8oz, not together with stand), so I’ve no complaints.
It’s not a wildly revolutionary design, but it surely does (lastly) embrace a built-in privateness shutter, which slides upward to disclose the digital camera once you twist the correct end-cap. I dislike having to the touch my webcam as soon as I’ve it completely positioned on my monitor, however I’m additionally paranoid sufficient to not belief non-physical privateness shutters; the Brio 500’s privateness shutter hits the correct stability of being a bodily shutter that’s simple to maneuver with out disturbing the digital camera’s place.
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The Brio 500 has a 5-foot, non-detachable USB-C cable, so that you’ll must plug it right into a USB-C port or discover a USB-C to USB-A adapter (not included). The webcam additionally comes with a magnetic monitor mount, which clamps onto your monitor and has an adjustable “foot” lined with microsuction tape — whereas I don’t love adhesive, detachable or not, on monitor mounts, it’s comparatively simple to take away/transfer and it does make the mount extraordinarily steady.
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The webcam attaches to the mount magnetically; the attachment level is spherical, which permits the digital camera to rotate whereas it’s on the mount, and the mount additionally has built-in tilt adjustment. The magnet unscrews to disclose a regular tripod mounting level.
Adjusting the webcam on the mount is fairly simple, the one minor hiccup is that the magnet is a tiny bit too weak to effortlessly carry the lean adjustment; I saved by chance pulling the webcam off of the mount if I attempted to tilt it too shortly. It’s not unattainable; it’s simply not completely seamless — which is simply too unhealthy, as a result of the webcam’s “Present Mode” characteristic is designed to point out off what’s in your desk, and presumably includes numerous tilting.
Properly-lit Efficiency of the Brio 500
My house workplace is extraordinarily effectively lit, because of my 4 screens (three 27-inch and one 24-inch), in addition to precise lighting (Elgato Ring Mild, Elgato Key Mild Air, Logitech Litra Glow), plus an overhead lamp and a desk lamp. Whereas most webcams learn this as overexposed, the Brio 500 did job of adjusting publicity and white stability to supply a nicely-lit, balanced picture out of the field.
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I used to be particularly impressed with the Brio 500’s auto-white stability, which is nearly all the time a wrestle. Whereas the Brio 500 may nonetheless use some tweaking, in my view, its auto-white stability and auto publicity are very spectacular, particularly for a webcam that isn’t $200 or $300.
The Brio 500 does produce a flatter, less-dynamic total picture than different webcams we’ve examined, such because the Insta360 Hyperlink. This isn’t actually a difficulty that may concern most individuals — a flat, evenly-lit picture is, for essentially the most half, a best-case situation relating to webcam efficiency.
One of many options Logitech is touting with the Brio 500 is RightLight 4 — the latest evolution of Logitech’s RightLight know-how – which makes use of face-tracking and different elements to ensure the topic is evenly-lit in less-than-ideal lighting conditions.
Sadly, RightLight 4 continues to be attempting to do that even in very ultimate lighting conditions, which is why my well-lit setting seems to be type of flat. I attempted enjoying round with my lighting to see if I may create a extra dynamic image, however RightLight 4 thwarted me at each flip, evenly-lighting me irrespective of how dramatic I attempted to make my lighting. Once more, this isn’t actually a difficulty contemplating it’s a webcam — but it surely may not be the most effective webcam for creating dramatic YouTube shorts.
Low-Mild Efficiency of the Brio 500
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To check the Brio 500’s low-light efficiency, I turned off all of my lights and three of my screens, leaving only one 27-inch monitor as my solely gentle supply. The Brio carried out fairly effectively — it’s clear that I’m sitting in a darkish room, however you’ll be able to see each me and my background. That is most likely partly due, as soon as once more, to RightLight 4,
Additionally, whereas the Brio 500 undoubtedly needed to pump up the acquire to compensate for the dearth of sunshine on this setting — you’ll be able to see this within the lack of element in my facial options — it nonetheless managed to supply a decent-looking total picture. The Brio 4K’s low-light picture is fairly just like the Brio 500’s, however shows much less element and has a grainier texture.
Overexposed Efficiency of the Brio 500
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To check the Brio 500’s efficiency in an overexposed setting, I turned off the entire lights in entrance of me, in addition to three of my 4 screens, leaving my background lights and one 27-inch monitor on. The Brio 500 did a wonderful job of retaining me well-lit, although my background nonetheless seems to be fairly over-exposed. It’s not good — in the event you look carefully, you’ll be able to see that there’s nonetheless numerous element misplaced in my facial options as in comparison with the well-lit setting — however the total picture seems to be superb, and I’m particularly impressed with how evenly-lit and un-grainy my pores and skin seems to be.
Microphone of the Brio 500
The Brio 500 has built-in twin microphones with beamforming noise-reducing know-how designed to select up your voice even in the event you transfer round in entrance of the digital camera. Whereas most webcam mics are…type of horrible, the Brio 500’s mics aren’t unhealthy — they have been in a position to simply choose up my voice, even from just a few ft away, as long as I used to be dealing with the webcam.
My voice additionally sounded fuller and richer than it does on most webcam mics (which are likely to make you sound hole and distant). After I was near the Brio 500 and talking instantly at it, the mic high quality was — dare I say — similar to a primary headset mic: not unimaginable, however undoubtedly usable.
Options and Software program of the Brio 500
The Logitech Brio 500 works with Logitech’s Logi Tune software program, which is Logitech’s … non-creator webcam software program for newer peripherals, I assume (Logitech has numerous totally different peripheral apps). You need to use Logi Tune to replace the Brio 500’s firmware, activate options similar to “RightSight” (AI auto-framing, nonetheless in beta) and “Present Mode” (makes issues in your desk extra simply readable/seen), and alter the sector of view. Logi Tune can also be designed to be a productiveness app, and integrates with calendar and video conferencing apps to (type of ) streamline your schedule.
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Logi Tune additionally has a picture changes part, with toggles for autofocus, auto-exposure, auto-white stability, and HDR, in addition to brightness, distinction, saturation, and sharpness sliders. For those who flip off autofocus, auto-exposure, or auto-white stability, guide sliders will seem. Logi Tune isn’t essentially the most exact or detailed webcam app — it provides you barely extra management than Logitech’s Digicam Settings app, however I nonetheless miss Logitech’s previous Webcam Software program.
Backside Line
The Logitech Brio 500 is definitely a reasonably spectacular webcam that not solely does an excellent job of retaining you evenly-lit (too good of a job, arguably), but in addition manages to make you look…actually good in less-than-ideal settings. It’s bought a cute, light-weight, carbon impartial design, an easy-to-use built-in privateness shutter, and a microphone that doesn’t make you sound such as you’re speaking over a walkie-talkie in an underwater tunnel — what extra may you need? Higher peripheral software program and a lower cost level, maybe.
The Brio 500 is $129, which isn’t insane, however the C920s, which has the identical 1080p/30fps decision, can usually be discovered for lower than half that. The C930e, which has the identical decision and the identical 90-degree subject of view, can usually be discovered for round $80, and even the Brio 4K will usually go on sale for round $150, which is simply $20 extra. There’s extra to the Brio 500 than simply decision, but when $129 nonetheless appears too dear for 1080p, the Dell Professional Webcam WB5023 is value a glance — it additionally has glorious auto-exposure and auto-white stability, and provides a little bit further with 2K 1440p/30fps in addition to 1080p/60fps streaming.