Do you want the best headset? 
These days, many of us have become more comfortable being on camera due to the work from home spike that took place during the pandemic. And that included staying in touch with coworkers, and customers through video conferencing.
In this blog, I’ll introduce you to one of the newer webcams that was recently released from Logitech; the company that’s well-known for producing good quality office products. Specifically, I’ll be reviewing the Brio 500 webcam.
But before I get started, here’s what comes in the box, and the Brio 500 tech specs.
What’s comes in the box
- Brio 500 webcam with attached (non removable) USB-C cable
- Mounting clip with magnet and removable mount adapter
- User documentation
Tech Specs
- 1080p/30 fps (1920 x 1080 pixels) & 720p/60 fps (1280 x 720 pixels)
- Camera megapixel: 4mp
- Camera cable length: 5 feet
- Diagonal field of view (dFoV): 90/78/65 degrees
- Hardware zoom: 4x digital zoom w/autofocus
- Built-in microphone type - 2 Stereo beamforming
- Mic pickup range: Up to 4 feet (1.22 meters)
- USB connectivity: USB-C plug-and-play - hardwired
- Privacy shutter: Integrated - rotate to open/close
- Lighting adjustment: Rightlight 4 with HDR for clear image in various lighting conditions that range from low light to sunlight.
- Mounting hardware: Detachable universal mounting clip fits laptops, LCD displays, or monitors.
- Software: Supported within Logitech’s Logi Tune software
- Works with: Windows, MacOS, ChromeOS, and all the leading video calling platforms
- Certifications: Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Google Meet, Chromebook - OS requirements: Windows 8 or above (v 8.1 or higher for resolution greater than 1080p). MacOS 10.10 or later, and ChromeOS.
Reasons to consider this webcam:
- Easy to use privacy shutter - dial on the side rotates to open/close.
- Sharp picture, with many video/audio adjustments available
- Three color choices; Off white, Graphite, and Rose
- The Show Mode feature allows you to tilt the camera down for sharing your desktop which gives you more ways to use it.
- Compatible with the leading video conferencing platforms such as Teams, Zoom and Google and others.
- RightSight 4 tracking keeps you centered in the frame even when standing and moving. No more vanishing out of the field of view.
- Software. The Brio 500 can be used with the Logi Tune software which allows you to make many different adjustments to the video and audio characteristics easily.
- Mounting flexibility. The unique design of the mounting clip allows it greater mounting flexibility compared to typical webcam mounts.
To purchase the Brio 500 on the Headset Advisor website, click here. And use coupon code BLOG for an even better price.
Reasons to not consider this webcam:
- Its size is a bit large compared to a lot of other webcams, though most people will find its size to be just fine.
- The built-in microphone sounds just ok - could be better
- It could be better at removing background noise
- Comes with a hardwired USB-C connector, and no USB-A adapter.
- No 60fps at 1080p, though 30fps is sufficient for most needs.
- 6. Price. Webcams are typically priced around $80.00, where the Brio 500 is priced at $129.00. This price difference can make large deployments more expensive. Though the Brio 500 is priced a bit higher than typical webcams, it’s less than the Brio.
- No 4K resolution. Though 4K is awesome in terms of sharpness of image, most of us don’t need that level of definition, and many applications we commonly use don’t support 4K anyway. So no deal breaker here in my opinion.
Need some help finding a compatible product?
Reach out to us here at Headset Advisor, and one of our helpful, knowledgeable Advisors will be glad to help you find a solution that’s right for your situation.
Let's dig into the Brio 500 details
One of the most trusted, and respected names in office products is Logitech. For decades, Logitech has been producing many of the things office professionals use to get their work done. This includes keyboards, mice, webcams, and headsets to name a few. Without question, Logitech is a name that people trust.
Unique Shape and you choose your color
Adding to their long list of successful products, Logitech recently launched a new webcam called the Brio 500. Unlike your traditional webcam design, the Brio 500 breaks the mold with its cylindrical shape. Not exactly your typical looking webcam. But I personally really like the look of this new webcam. I like that it looks different from the rest, and it looks cool. And if looks matter to you, you’ll probably like the way it looks as well. Add to that, it’s available in three different colors;
- Graphite
- Off White
- Rose
So if you have a color preference, or just want to make a fashion statement, the Brio 500 lets you express yourself.
Camera for the masses
But looks only get you so far, because as with any webcam, Logitech or otherwise, it has to perform, and that it does. The Brio 500 gives you a sharp image that runs at 1080p at 30fps, or 720p at 60fps. Either way, you get very nice image quality. And though the Brio 500 doesn’t provide you with 4K definition like the earlier Brio, it’s by no means a deal breaker. And when you stop to consider that many of the applications we use regularly don't support 4k, it’s easy to see that 1080p is perfectly fine for most needs.
The Brio 500 comes with three preset fields of view at 98, 78 and 65 degrees. You can override that through the zoom feature so you’re assured that everything you want is in the frame, and things you don’t want, aren’t.
The camera auto focus feature can be turned off from within the Logitech software, and you can also access several filters to change the image.
In terms of connecting the camera to a computer, it uses a hardwired USB-C connector with USB-C being the new standard. So if you’re using a computer that has a USB-A port, like many still have, then you’ll need to purchase a USB-C to USB-A adapter. Otherwise, this camera won’t work with your computer. And because the cable is hardwired, it’s not detachable, nor interchangeable.
Face in frame auto tracking
Another thing that makes this camera appealing is it has a feature called “RightSight 4” which auto tracks to keep you in the frame. So if you want to stand up, or move a bit, the Brio 500 will track you so that you don’t vanish from the field of view. And anyone who’s ever been on a video call knows that being out of the field of view is something that can easily happen.
Automatically adapts to your lighting
Besides keeping you framed, and in the picture, you also want to look your best. Lighting plays a very important role in this way, and the Brio 500 has a feature called “BrightLight 4” which automatically adjusts for your specific
lighting. So whether you have low light, or are dealing with sunlight, this webcam makes the necessary adjustments so you look good.
Privacy to keep you protected
Privacy is a concern for all of us, and the Brio 500 has a very easy to use privacy shutter. On the side of the webcam is a dial that when turned, slides a cover in front of the camera lens. It’s super easy to use, and it’s also easy to see that the camera lens is covered. This gives you peace of mind knowing that the camera lens is blocked.
Pan and tilt the Brio way
Apparently the Logitech Engineers had their creative juices flowing when they designed the Brio 500. They came up with a feature that Logitech refers to as “Show Mode”. This feature allows the camera to tilt downwards to show what’s on the surface of your desk. This feature is useful for things like sharing a diagram, a physical product, or, if you want to boast a little, you can demonstrate your supreme typing skills. However you might use it, this is a feature that’s not all that common on monitor mounted webcams, so hats off to Logitech for adding this useful feature. And by the way, the camera can also be rotated side to side as well. Bravo.
Mounting bracket - funky, flexible and fantastic
Logitech put some thought into the development of the camera mount. It allows the Brio 500 to be mounted to just about any kind of monitor, no matter its shape. The mounting bracket is very adjustable, and it has a sticky section that helps to keep it attached to the monitor.
This bracket also allows the camera to face down as I mentioned a moment ago, and it also attaches to the camera magnetically. This means you can easily remove the camera from the bracket to point the camera where you like, and then easily return it back to the mount on the monitor.
Finally, the magnet that’s located on the bottom of the camera can be unscrewed which then gives you a threaded tripod mount. All in all, Logitech did a nice job to make this mount extremely versatile.
Hear and be heard
Like many other webcams, the Brio 500 comes with a built-in speaker and microphones. You get two beamforming, noise reducing microphones to allow you to be heard clearly, including background noise reduction. This microphone is located on the side of the webcam. And though the speaker and microphones work as advertised, they’re nothing to write home to Mom about. Words like adequate, average, acceptable, decent and satisfactory come to mind.
My take is the sound quality and noise reduction could both be better. But, in all fairness, enhanced, or premium sound isn’t something you get, or should really expect in a small webcam. They aren’t really designed for that, and there is the matter of the limited amount of real estate to house the components you’d need to deliver that level of sound quality. If you set your expectations around what you typically get from a laptop speaker and microphone, I’m guessing that you won’t find yourself disappointed. So with that said, it would be hard to argue that the Brio 500 sound doesn’t get the job done. In fact, I’d say it sounds every bit as good as a laptop setup, and probably better than most.
Software makes the hardware
Logitech, like other companies today, offer device software which they refer to as Logi Tune. This software allows the Brio 500 user to make personalized, customized modifications and adjustments to the webcam. For example, you can make adjustments to the field of view, mute the microphone, adjust color and image resolution, adjust the digital zoom, make adjustments to the auto framing or perform firmware updates among other things.
Some of the webcams available today don’t have software available at all, and if they do, it’s a watered down version of what you get with the Logi Tune. Having the ability to customize, and personalize your device really helps you to get the most out of it, and it gives you the best possible user experience.
Download required
One thing to take note of regarding this software is that it requires a download. If you work for a company that doesn’t allow employees to download software, then you’ll need to find a workaround, or get the
approval from your IT department. One workaround is to download the Logi Tunes software on a personal computer, and not one managed by your company. By doing this, you can have access to the many features offered through the software.
Eco minded?
If you’re someone who pays attention to environmental details, then you’ll be happy to know that the Brio 500 was created using certified post consumer plastics. Specifically 68% in the graphite model, 59% in the off white, and rose models. The repurposed plastics used have come from old consumer electronics.
The packaging for the Brio 500 comes from FSC certified forests and other controlled sources, so you can feel good about the packaging origins. As with any manufacturer, packaging can always be better, and more environmentally friendly, but it’s nice to see Logitech placing emphasis on this. The Brio 500 is rated as certified carbon neutral.
To learn more about how Logitech's sustainability practices, go here.
Pricing
Yes, this is a nice Logitech webcam, but how much does it cost?
$129.00 with a 1-year warranty
Great deal? Bad deal, or does that price fall somewhere in the middle? Only you can answer that question as to how you perceive its value. As for me, I think $129.00 is about right for what this camera offers. Yes, there are decent webcams that are priced below the Brio 500, and there are webcams that are priced above it. For $129.00, I think Logitech is bringing a good value to the market in this webcam based on the image quality, its unique design, the many useful features like the ShowMode, and RightLight4, tracking and more.
But if you’re someone who’s thinking that the camera is cool, and that it has a bundle of nice features, but leaves you pondering the price, well I have something you’ll probably be interested in.
When you shop on our website and you’re at checkout, make sure to use coupon code BLOG for a nice discount on your Brio 500 purchase.
Need some help, or have questions?
Headset Advisor has been in business since 1997 helping customers with their technology needs. So if you have questions about webcams, headsets, speakerphones or video conferencing, make sure to reach out to us here for some good old fashioned personal support.
Our California based Advisors are available to help Monday - Friday, from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. PST. So don’t hesitate to reach out if we can help.
