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Logitech has been in the webcam game long before the pandemic made its presence a necessity. But for some reason, none of them were good enough to be part of the main productivity suite alongside peripherals like and. That’s changing now with the introduction of the $200 MX Brio which has a new sensor for dramatically improved image quality, upgraded microphones and a remote control. A special hinge that can be really useful for presentations.
Even before you get to photo and video quality, the MX Brio impressed me with a more premium design compared to the old model . It is available in three colors (silver, gray and black) and has an aluminum body instead of plastic as on the previous model. But what I really like are details like the built-in shutter that can be opened and closed by twisting the ring on the front of the camera. This means you don’t have to worry about losing your lens cap like you do with some of its competitors like the DSLR.
The MX Brio also comes with a clip to mount it to your laptop or monitor. However, if you prefer a more advanced setup using a tripod, the clip will magnetically detach to reveal a hidden 1/4-inch thread. However, the coolest thing about the clip is the extra hinge that allows you to tilt the camera down into what the company calls “viewing mode,” which automatically rotates the field of view (FOV) to provide a bird’s-eye view of your desk.
This simple feature makes it easy to share notes or demo a product without having to reconfigure your entire setup or add a second camera to the mix. It’s something I’ve wanted to do countless times (back when we were still streaming), but I couldn’t because my workspace didn’t have room for a dedicated top-to-bottom camera boom.
As for image quality, the MX Brio relies on a Sony Starvis sensor that supports recording at up to 4K/30fps while also offering much better dynamic range and low-light sensitivity than before. To test this, I compared the MX Brio to its predecessor and the difference was immediately apparent. Even when using the basic Windows Camera app, the new model’s photos were more accurate and colorful. Furthermore, my desk placement means I often have to deal with bright backlighting that makes my face look unusually dark, but the MX Brio overcame that in a way the old model never could. And with adoption for many major apps including Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet, you’ll look your best when you use the right video conferencing software.
Another thing I appreciate is that Logitech gives you a lot of options to adjust things like white balance, field of view, exposure and more. The addition of dual-configuration microphones also helps voice come through clearly while AI works to reduce distracting ambient noise. But one of the best nods to overall ease of use is that you can now use both the Options+ app or Logitech’s G Hub app to control the webcam. This is great for anyone who needs to answer work calls but also wants to stream live at night without having to switch between multiple devices or programs. The only thing really missing is the ability to quickly set a custom white point using grayscale cards like you would in a traditional digital camera.
Granted, I only had a short time to play with the MX Brio. But despite this, it’s clear that Logitech finally has a webcam that can work with the company’s lineup of best-in-class productivity devices.
The MX Brio goes on sale today, though the black model will only be available from Best Buy for the first 90 days.
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