Price When Reviewed

$199.99

Best Prices Today: Logitech MX Brio

$199.99

$199.99

Logitech’s MX Brio webcam produces some startlingly good photos, although you’d count on this semi-premium 4K webcam — from business icon Logitech, no much less — to ship. I’m much less impressed with a few of its different parts, nonetheless — specifically the accompanying software program and its noise filtering.

Logitech’s MX Brio is basically the Logitech Brio 4K webcam with out Windows Hello, however with an enlarged sensor that guarantees improved low-light sensitivity. It’s somewhat puzzling that Logitech excluded Windows Hello, however that selection could have been made with price in thoughts.

Further studying: See our roundup of the best webcams to study competing merchandise.

Logitech MX Brio design and options

The Logitech MX Brio is a 4K webcam, although it may possibly solely document as much as 30fps at 4K decision. If you’d like a extra video-like 60fps, you possibly can document in both 1080p or 1440p decision.

Out of the field, Logitech’s MX Brio feels surprisingly compact, in comparison with the enlarged lenses utilized by some rival 4K cameras. The webcam measures 3.75 inches backward and forward, and, when mounted, is 2 inches excessive. The noise-cancelling mics sit on both facet of the lens, which measures 4cm (1.57 inches) in diameter. Logitech makes use of a comfortably lengthy 58-inch twine to attach the digital camera to your laptop computer, with USB-C connections at both finish.

Is the MX Brio an awesome webcam? Yes. Is it a sophisticated product? Not as a lot as I’d like. But with somewhat care, the MX Brio 2 may very well be really very good.

To shut the lens, all you have to do is twist the ring on the skin of the lens. You’ll see two halves of the lens shutter shut, high to backside, making it instantly obvious that the lens can’t bodily see you. Logitech’s MX Brio webcam doesn’t embody a hoop mild, although a small LED to the fitting of the lens indicators when the digital camera is on and in use.

However, that gained’t stop a hypothetical hacker from recording the audio from the digital camera’s mics. That mic stays energetic, as I confirmed by recording a quick little bit of audio by Windows Sound Recorder. The MX Brio’s LED mild will mild yellow to point that the mic is recording, nonetheless, which is completely different than the white LED that lights whereas recording video.

Mark Hachman / IDG

Mark Hachman / IDG

Mark Hachman / IDG

Though compact, the MX Brio sat securely on each a desktop monitor in addition to a laptop computer. I believe Logitech over-engineered it a bit, truthfully. As with most webcams, there’s a “tooth,” or lip, that hooks onto the entrance of the show. Some webcams simply mount the webcam on high of it, including a 90-degree hinge to carry the webcam in place.

Logitech added a swiveling chin that strains up with the again of your monitor and coated the chin with a sticky substance that helps maintain it quick. The sticky bit comes lined with a sticker, and I believe you possibly can depart it alone — it’s sturdy sufficient as it’s, not less than on a desktop monitor. Don’t fear concerning the webcam falling off in both path, both. On a laptop computer, think about using the sticky tape, although! Everything tends to slip round.

The MX Brio additionally flips down into what Logitech calls “Show Mode,” a top-down perspective that flips the picture to point out it as you’d see it from the entrance. Nothing does this in addition to the CA Webcam Flex, which has a telescopic arm that works very nicely. Show Mode feels somewhat claustrophobic so near the monitor, nevertheless it works.

Mark Hachman / IDG

Mark Hachman / IDG

Mark Hachman / IDG

There’s one factor, nonetheless, that the mount excludes: the threaded 1/4-inch screw gap that the majority webcams embody to permit mounting them on tripods. There’s no threaded gap in any respect.

We’ll discuss extra about how nicely the {hardware} performs a bit later, however let’s point out one thing that I considerably dislike concerning the Logitech Brio 4K: the software program. Logitech manufactures a galaxy of peripherals, from webcams to keyboards, mice, and extra. It’s unsurprising that you just’d should obtain an app to make the most of the complete capabilities of the MX Brio, however Logitech presents two: Logi Options+ and G Hub. Some Logitech government thought it will be a good suggestion to attempt to promote you a Logitech mouse and keyboard alongside your new webcam.

You’ll have to spend extra effort than it’s best to inspecting the Logitech MX Brio product web page and at last concluding that Options+ is for connecting varied Logitech units, and G Hub is the utility software program that the MX Brio requires — which can be an online app, and which instantly kicked off a firmware replace. Oh, and did I point out that Logitech desires a username and password, too? Ugh. At least you should utilize an current authenticator, like Google.

What aggravated me probably the most, although, was that G Hub doesn’t truly management the fundamentals. What if you wish to swap the digital camera between resolutions? G Hub doesn’t provide that possibility. That’s left to a different app, like Windows Camera, to make that adjustment. What G Hub does do is to supply every little thing else: field-of-view changes (65, 78, or 90 levels), some guide panning or centering of the video, plus computerized or guide changes to publicity, HDR, white steadiness/colour temperature, and autofocusing. These choices are nicely organized and intuitive! It’s simply odd that probably the most primary characteristic isn’t accessible through the G Hub menu.

Mark Hachman / IDG

Mark Hachman / IDG

Mark Hachman / IDG

(Logitech did provide a mouse and keyboard as a part of its evaluation bundle, which included the MX Brio. Logitech’s MX, or “Master,” collection is designed to work collectively. Although I’ve reviewed ecosystems like the Samsung Galaxy apps earlier than, I didn’t check the Options+ app and the way it interacts with different Logitech units for brevity’s sake.)

Logitech’s MX Brio consists of as much as 82 p.c post-consumer recycled plastic, and the aluminum within the digital camera was made with renewable power. That gained’t affect the digital camera’s efficiency, simply the atmosphere.

Logitech MX Brio webcam efficiency

Remember, a lot of the top-tier videoconferencing providers don’t help 4K streaming but. However, you possibly can nonetheless stream to a service like YouTube in 4K, and document archival video in 4K as nicely. A 4K sensor can also let in additional mild and provide higher colour steadiness — that’s a part of the worth the MX Brio presents.

And photos captured by the MX Brio look nice, nearly surprisingly so.

Mark Hachman / IDG

Mark Hachman / IDG

Mark Hachman / IDG

I’m actually impressed with how nicely the MX Brio captured me in respectable afternoon facet lighting — warts and all. That is a downside of a 4K digital camera — a blemish on my face was captured fairly clearly, and I’m unsure how nicely our publishing software program captured that. The webcam even captured a number of stray hairs from a razer. The colour of the MX Brio’s photos seems very good, and flesh tones have been captured precisely.

Downstairs, the place I exploit a extra dimly lit area with a mixture of synthetic and pure lighting, my face was a bit too ruddy and the colours a bit off. Here I’m utilizing the tightest subject of view, or 65 levels.

Mark Hachman / IDG

Mark Hachman / IDG

Mark Hachman / IDG

I’m not terrifically impressed with the noise-filtering capabilities of the Logitech MX Brio’s mics, both. While I don’t assume it’s fairly practical to ask for the sort of nearly perfect noise filtering AI PC are beginning to deliver, I don’t assume it is going to be too lengthy earlier than one thing like that might be desk stakes. I check by taking part in audio again from Spotify on a telephone close by, and see how the mics filter it out. The background audio was clearly audible, and louder than I would love.

Should you purchase the Logitech MX Brio?

I’ve seen some wonderful, wonderful webcams recently. At press time, the Logitech MX Brio is similar value because the BenQ IdeaCam S1 Pro, which delivers extra for the cash at an an identical value. I believe that the Razer Kiyo Pro Ultra produces higher photos, although at a $100 premium.

At $199, the Logitech MX Brio suits properly into that candy spot between the ultra-premium cameras and the extra normal choices. I’d prefer to see it somewhat cheaper: $149, perhaps. At that value, it will be a killer upsell possibility. As it’s, there a few issues I’d repair earlier than I might wholeheartedly advocate it…nevertheless it gained’t take a lot. Logitech has nonetheless acquired it.