When it comes to webcams most of us think of Logitech. Today they have grown their family of webcams by announcing Brio – a 4K HDR webcam with Windows Hello facial recognition. The webcam is also known as the Logitech 4K Pro Webcam.
What Does It Do
The Logitech 4K Pro Webcam comes with a 13-megapixel sensor that can stream.a 4K image. Right now only VidyoRoom supports 4K video conferencing. You will also need to be connected to a USB 3.0 port to handle the compressed Ultra HD data in real time along with a desktop or laptop that supports Ultra HD 10-bit HEVC decoding on the hardware side such as PC powered by Intel’s seventh-generation Kaby Lake processors.
BRIO works with all popular business applications, including Skype for Business and Cisco-compatible certifications, as well as all Logitech Collaboration Program cloud video partners such as BlueJeans, BroadSoft, Vidyo and Zoom.
There is more than just 4K to make this web cam special. There is a second infrared LED and sensor, which paired with the primary sensor makes the webcam Windows Hello certified, meaning you can use it for facial recognition and login securely – the infrared sensor stops people from logging in to your system by holding photo of you in front of it. Allegedly, Microsoft even claims that the system is so accurate that identical twins won’t be able to log into each other’s systems.
“Microsoft is pleased that Logitech has chosen to bring enterprise-grade security with Windows Hello facial recognition to the BRIO webcam,” said Matt Perry, partner group program manager at Microsoft. “By qualifying BRIO with Windows Hello, Logitech is providing its consumer and enterprise customers with a Windows 10 login experience that is secure, password-free and seamless.”
Logitech Rightlight 3 and HDR ensure that the lighting will look notably better than most webcams in bright or high-contrast situations, and due to the large sensor, users can opt to adjust the viewing angle to 65-degree, 78-degree, and 90-degree fields of view. Letting users select between 65°, 78°, and 90° field of view (FOV) allows them to have camera focused only on the area they want others to see.
During our press briefing we found the cam gave a sharp and detailed image. The auto-focus was speedy with true to life color balance.
When we asked about about the HDR specs, such as does it support HDR10, Ziva Nissan, head of product management for Logitech Video Collaboration told us:
10 or 12-bit standard HDR is a measurement applied to image capture. As we have the first webcam to do HDR in live video streaming or calling, we developed our own algorithm tied to our sensor design that allows for an 7-8 db enhancement, resulting in 3X the clarity and image quality with HDR.
The Brio image sensor (4,096 x 2,160) supports the following resolutions:
- 3,840 x 2,160 at 30 frames per second (Ultra HD)
- 1,920 x 1,080 at 30 or 60 frames per second (Full HD or 1080p)
- 1,280 x 720 at 30 or 60 frames per second (HD or 720p)
4K streaming works at 30FPS, whereas the webcam can stream 1080p at 60FPS and even 720p at 90FPS. Do note, the 4K functionality only works when the webcam is plugged into a USB 3.0 port. It also comes with a 5x zoom feature with which it can stream a 1080p image zoomed in 5x without any upscaling.
The webcam comes not only with a standard adjustable clip you can use to place it atop your monitor, but also a tripod thread, privacy shutter, and a USB Type-C connector at the rear. Included with it is a USB Type-C to a USB 3.0 Type-A connector. In the past Logitech’s business side was not as strong with design language and theme as the gaming side of the house, But the Brio and the Spotlight are examples of Logitech’s new attention to design in the business and consumer areas.
Logitech is targeting YouTube streamers that want an easy step up in video quality, as well as business users that need the additional security. Logitech cameras are use in many security apps such customs and company ID systems. There is a background replacement app which you can test but it is still in beta. We here at TOT think this camera will find it way into training rooms and other education venues, as well.
Pricing and Availability
Logitech BRIO is available today through the Logitech Video Collaboration reseller network, on Amazon.com, Best Buy or on Logitech.com at a suggested retail price of $199 in the U.S. and €239 in Europe.
Product Specifications
Camera Size:
- Width: 4 inches
- Height: 1 inch
- Depth: 1 inchWeight: 2.2 oz.
BRIO Clip
- Width: 1.4 inches
- Height: 3.9 inches
- Depth: 0.22 inches
- Weight: 1.5 oz.
USB Cable Length
- 4.9 ft (1.5 m)
- Weight: 2.2 oz (63 g)
System Requirements
- Windows 7, Windows 8.1 or Windows 10
- Mac OS X 10.7 or higher
- Google Chromebook Version 29.0.1547.70, Platform 4319.79.0 with:
- 2.4 GHz Intel® Core 2 Duo processor
- 2 GB RAM or more
- Hard drive space for recorded videos
- USB 2.0 port (USB 3.0 required for 4K)
- 3-year limited hardware warranty
