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 geared 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 discipline of view (configurable to 78º or 65º), twin microphones, a built-in privateness shutter, and each Logitech’s RightLight 4 picture adjustment expertise and an experimental “RightSight” AI auto-framing function.
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 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 often is 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 really greater than the C920s, C930e, and Brio 4K), nevertheless it’s low-profile and light-weight (2.8oz, not together with stand), so I’ve no complaints.
It’s not a wildly revolutionary design, nevertheless it does (lastly) embrace a built-in privateness shutter, which slides upward to disclose the digicam while 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 digicam’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 digicam 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 raise the lean adjustment; I saved unintentionally pulling the webcam off of the mount if I attempted to tilt it too rapidly. It’s not inconceivable; it’s simply not completely seamless — which is simply too dangerous, as a result of the webcam’s “Present Mode” function is designed to point out off what’s in your desk, and presumably entails a number of tilting.
Effectively-lit Efficiency of the Brio 500
My residence workplace is extraordinarily effectively lit, because of my 4 displays (three 27-inch and one 24-inch), in addition to precise lighting (Elgato Ring Gentle, Elgato Key Gentle 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 provide 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 sort of all the time a wrestle. Whereas the Brio 500 might 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 in the case of webcam efficiency.
One of many options Logitech is touting with the Brio 500 is RightLight 4 — the newest evolution of Logitech’s RightLight expertise – which makes use of face-tracking and different elements to verify the topic is evenly-lit in less-than-ideal lighting conditions.
Sadly, RightLight 4 continues to be making an attempt to do that even in very ultimate lighting conditions, which is why my well-lit setting seems sort of flat. I attempted enjoying round with my lighting to see if I might create a extra dynamic image, however RightLight 4 thwarted me at each flip, evenly-lighting me regardless of how dramatic I attempted to make my lighting. Once more, this isn’t actually a difficulty contemplating it’s a webcam — nevertheless it may not be the perfect webcam for creating dramatic YouTube shorts.
Low-Gentle 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 displays, leaving only one 27-inch monitor as my solely mild supply. The Brio carried out fairly effectively — it’s clear that I’m sitting in a darkish room, however you possibly can see each me and my background. That is in all probability partly due, as soon as once more, to RightLight 4,
Additionally, whereas the Brio 500 positively needed to pump up the achieve to compensate for the dearth of sunshine on this setting — you possibly can see this within the lack of element in my facial options — it nonetheless managed to provide a decent-looking total picture. The Brio 4K’s low-light picture is fairly much 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 all the lights in entrance of me, in addition to three of my 4 displays, leaving my background lights and one 27-inch monitor on. The Brio 500 did a superb job of holding me well-lit, although my background nonetheless seems fairly over-exposed. It’s not good — in the event you look intently, you possibly can see that there’s nonetheless a number of element misplaced in my facial options as in comparison with the well-lit setting — however the total picture seems excellent, and I’m particularly impressed with how evenly-lit and un-grainy my pores and skin seems.
Microphone of the Brio 500
The Brio 500 has built-in twin microphones with beamforming noise-reducing expertise designed to choose up your voice even in the event you transfer round in entrance of the digicam. Whereas most webcam mics are…sort of horrible, the Brio 500’s mics usually are not dangerous — they have been capable of simply decide up my voice, even from a number of toes away, as long as I used to be going through 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 — corresponding to a primary headset mic: not unbelievable, however positively 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 suppose (Logitech has a number of completely different peripheral apps). You should use Logi Tune to replace the Brio 500’s firmware, activate options comparable to “RightSight” (AI auto-framing, nonetheless in beta) and “Present Mode” (makes issues in your desk extra simply readable/seen), and alter the sphere of view. Logi Tune can also be designed to be a productiveness app, and integrates with calendar and video conferencing apps to (kind 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. If you happen to 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 offers 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 holding 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 acquired 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 might you need? Higher peripheral software program and a cheaper price 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 discipline 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 expensive for 1080p, the Dell Professional Webcam WB5023 is price a glance — it additionally has glorious auto-exposure and auto-white stability, and provides a bit further with 2K 1440p/30fps in addition to 1080p/60fps streaming.
