Logitech Brio 500 is a unique webcam with a compact layout that features a neatly blended physical privacy shutter and a “Show Mode” to broadcast what’s on your desk.
It’s 1080p rather than 4K, identical to Logitech’s classic C920 webcam. It’s vending for $129 alongside a new Bluetooth headset named the Zone Vibe 100, which will retail for $99.99.
Regarding image quality, the Brio 500 is a 1080p webcam, and you have to drop its resolution down to 720p if you like 60fps rather than 30fps. Although that’s the same on paper as the C920, Logitech spokesperson Wendy Spander notifies me it features an upgraded sensor, hopefully enhancing image quality.
Its field of view is 90 degrees, but the webcam can digitally crop into 78 or 60 degrees for a tighter stance. In addition, Logitech advertises that it can automatically center the camera on the person speaking and adjust lighting if you’re in a dimly lit or backlit environment.
The Brio 500 has a cylindrical composition, with its 4-megapixel camera flanked by a pair of beamforming microphones designed to reduce background noise during calls. The privacy shutter design is pretty slick and can be brought down by turning a dial on the right side of the webcam. Showing off your desk is achieved by “tilting the camera angle towards the desk.”
Finally, the Brio 500 has an interesting magnetized mounting mechanism for monitors. It’s formed of two parts. First, there’s the standard plastic mount that’s designed to clamp onto the top of your monitor like normal, and then the webcam itself is magnetically attached to this plastic mount. It’s a design that means you can rotate the webcam 360 degrees if you choose. If you’re not into magnets, you can unscrew the magnetic mount from the bottom of the webcam to reveal a standard tripod mount.
Alongside the Brio 500, Logitech is also announcing a new headset today, the Zone Vibe 100. It’s a Bluetooth-only version of the previously released Zone Vibe 125 headset, which could also connect via a wireless USB-A receiver. The new Vibe 100 has up to 20 hours of battery life while listening to music, or 18 hours if you’re using it for calls. Its mic arm is flip-to-mute, and the headset is available in gray, off-white, and light pink similar to the Brio 500.
Logitech International S.A., a Swiss-American international firm, is a computer peripherals and software manufacturer with headquarters in Switzerland, Lausanne, Newark, and California. It is a constituent of the flagship Swiss Market Index.
The company creates and markets personal peripherals for PC navigation, video communication and collaboration, music, and smart homes. Its title is derived from logiciel, the French term for software. In addition, the company has offices throughout Europe, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas. It is the leading global manufacturer of input and interface devices for PCs and digital products. It includes tablet accessories, headphones, keyboards, mice, headsets, webcams, Bluetooth speakers, universal remotes, and more.