Webcams are a staple today, and if your laptop’s built-in camera doesn’t do you any favors, Razer’s new Kiyo Pro promises you’ll look good even in poor lighting.
The $ 200 Kiyo Pro points to popular premium webcams like Logitech’s Brio and SteamCam, among others, but also has some major upgrades to Razer’s older webcam.
The biggest change is that unlike the standard What about $ 100, the Kiyo Pro does not include any built-in ring light. Instead, Razer upgraded the Kiyo Pro with a larger 1 / 2.8-inch Sony Starvis CMOS full HD rear illuminated sensor, which has been modified to offer even improved image quality. in harsh conditions, such as low light or illuminated background. The ultimate goal of the Kiyo Pro is to offer solid image quality without the need for additional lighting.
The Kiyo Pro can capture video up to 1080p / 60 fps or 1080p / 30fps with HDR to enhance color and exposure. The webcam also offers three fields of view: 80 degrees, 90 degrees, or 103 degrees. And for audio, the Kiyo Pro also includes a 16-bit stereo microphone with an omnidirectional polar pattern, which looks good for general use, but isn’t really meant to replace a high-quality external support microphone. .
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While I haven’t had a chance to fully test the Kiyo Pro yet, I have to say I like its design. It’s simple and surprisingly underestimated in a way that should work for both gamers and people who work from home and comes with a removable stand that can be used to support the Kiyo Pro on a desk or back. a monitor. I’m also grateful that Razer included two tripod mounts for more flexibility: one at the bottom of the camera and another at the bottom of the detachable mount.
Razer even throws out a plastic lens cap, which is nice, but I have to admit it looks a bit later. Unlike privacy shutters, which are becoming more common on new laptops, the cover of the Kiyo Pro is closer to what you’d get with a DSLR or mirrorless camera, and when you take it out, there’s really no place where to save it. it ends up being an extra mess on your desktop. I wish Razer had made the lid so that it would flip over or behind the camera when not in use.
The Kiyo video seemed to be a little sharper and more eye-catching in my early tests than the Logitech Brio I’ve used over the last year. Razer said it specifically designed the Kiyo Pro to handle more gamer-style environments, including configurations with RGB lighting, but I still haven’t been able to compare quality in different lighting conditions.
Logitech still dominates when it comes to high-end webcams, but it’s good to see a competitive alternative from Razer. Many jobs are expected to move permanently to part-time remote work after the pandemic, so the time has probably come for many people to start considering the possibility of upgrading the reserved panic devices they bought in the year. past.
The Razer Kiyo Pro is available online today directly from Razer for $ 200, with additional availability from third-party retailers before the end of the first quarter.