The Razer Kiyo Pro and Elgato Facecam have been vying for some time now for the coveted title of ultimate webcam. But, while it may look like the much more expensive and feature-rich Razer Kiyo Pro in the bag, the more important question is, “Which webcam is best for you?” And the answer to that is not as simple as it seems.
when it comes to The best webcamsIt is about what you will need more than anything else. Anyone can benefit from getting the absolute Best laptop In the market, for example. After all, we all have ever-changing and ever-expanding computing needs. But when it comes to webcams, most of us probably won’t need anything more than an affordable or even one Cheap webcam Because our needs likely won’t evolve from video conferencing with co-workers and loved ones who video call every day.
Of course, with these two premium models, it’s a little different. If you’re here trying to figure out the differences between the two, chances are you’re already into online content creation (whether that’s streaming, creating high-quality YouTube videos, or making money on TikTok) or are thinking about it. And you are looking for an HD webcam with features that could be very useful for such an undertaking.
However, the original premise is the same. The most ideal for you is not necessarily the one who is at the absolute top. nope the Razer Q Pro and the Elgato Facecam They do have their own strengths and weaknesses, after all. Fortunately, we’re here to break all of that down because we’ve used, tested, and reviewed webcams ourselves.
In the case of the Razer Kiyo Pro and Elgato Facecam, here’s everything you need to know before making up your mind.
Razer Kiyo Pro vs Elgato Facecam: Price and availability
- Razer Kiyo Pro is slightly more expensive
- Elgato Facecam is better for consumers who save money
The $199.99 (£199.99, AU$329.95) Razer Kiyo Pro Wallet isn’t quite right for those on a budget, and that really makes all the difference for some people. That’s not to say that the Elgato Facecam’s $169.99 (£189.99, AU$299.95) price tag is more suitable for your bank account. In fact, we put both in the premium price range. But why spend an extra $30 on a webcam that might not be the best for you?
Although on the flip side, $30 isn’t much more if you’re going to get more out of the Kiyo Pro’s features like auto focus, variable field of view, and HDR support—features that the Facecam doesn’t have.
We’re not trying to be evasive here, just pointing out that it’s a matter of perspective (and again, your needs). However, if it is just a matter of saving as much money as possible, Elgato Facecam has an advantage.
Winner: Elgato Facecam
Razer Kiyo Pro vs Elgato Facecam: Design
- Q Pro is heavier
- Elgato Facecam’s cube design is more unique
We love the spherical design that Razer has adopted for its webcams. At the same time, we also appreciate the Elgato Facecam’s cube design with its rounded corners, rounded sides, and concave front that give it a more interesting look. But, last time we checked aesthetics, it’s still a matter of personal taste, for the most part, so we leave it up to you to see which look you like best.
An important thing that some people may find helpful is weight. The Razer Kiyo Pro, at 196.3g, is much heavier than the Facecam, which at just 103g, is also quite a heavyweight. This isn’t much of an issue in the grand scheme of things, especially because both the hinge and the mount that holds the camera are very sturdy and can keep everything in place. But, if you install it on a small or thin laptop, that extra weight can eventually take its toll.
While the Kiyo Pro has the advantage of a braided USB-C to USB-A cable, that cable is much shorter than the one in the Facecam, which means the closer you get to the the computer, Best. This is especially because while the Facecam works beautifully when connected via a hub, the Kiyo Pro needs to be transferred directly to a PC to function properly.
Winner: Elgato Facecam
Razer Kiyo Pro vs Elgato Facecam: Features
- Razer Kiyo Pro has more advanced features
Marketed as a “professional video standard for streaming and video conferencing,” the Razer Kiyo Pro offers some premium features you won’t find on the Elgato Facecam. This includes a variable field of view, auto focus, and an omnidirectional microphone—all of which are extremely useful for professionals, businesses, and small work teams who put more than your usual share of hours into video calls.
It also comes with HDR support for higher dynamic range in low light. In addition, Razer Synapse software provides access to more advanced settings than Elgato’s Camera Hub software to allow users to further tweak video and image quality.
Elgato’s Facecam, meanwhile, is missing a microphone, has fixed focus, and only digital zoom. Then again, it’s set up as a dedicated streaming webcam. As such, it makes sense not to have an autofocus that might just distract viewers and a built-in mic since most broadcasters use a dedicated mic which provides better broadcast-quality audio.
And while Camera Hub is a bit lighter on customizable settings, it does come with an ISO range from 100 to 6400 that you can set yourself. If you’re not familiar with the camera lingo, it has to do with the camera sensor’s light sensitivity. The higher the number, the higher the sensor’s sensitivity to light, making it ideal for low-light situations. The smaller the number, the less sensitive it is, making it ideal for bright lighting situations.
The program also allows you to set shutter speed, which is how long the camera’s aperture opens to let in light, anywhere from 1/200th to 1/10th of a second. Experimenting with these two settings, which you can only do if exposure compensation is turned off, should allow you to take better low-light videos and photos when dealing with low light.
Just keep in mind that anything over ISO 2500 will leave your image with very noticeable lighting noise, and it will get worse the higher that number gets. Meanwhile, using shutter speeds slower than 1/60th of a second will result in a lot of ghosting.
In terms of features, it’s fair to call the Razer Kiyo Pro a winner here.
Winner: Razer Kiyo Pro
Razer Kiyo Pro vs Elgato Facecam: Setup
- Setting up the Razer Kiyo Pro was a pain during testing
- Both are plug and play
Both webcams are designed to be plug and play. However, we did run into a few hiccups connecting the Razer Kiyo Pro the first time around. Elgato Facecam worked like a charm. We plugged it in via the monitor’s USB hub, and our computer recognized it right away. As did Camera Hub and Zoom. It also worked beautifully the first time we tested it.
We didn’t have such luck with the Kiyo Pro. We plugged it into the same USB hub before we realized that for it to work properly it needed to be plugged directly into the computer. Even then, neither the computer nor the Razer Synapse 3 software detected it. We had to first update and then fix the software before it finally detected the webcam. It took a while for us to get it to work.
Winner: Elgato Facecam
Razer Kiyo Pro vs Elgato Facecam: Overall video quality
- Every webcam has strengths and weaknesses
- The wide dynamic range on the Kiyo Pro is impressive
- Noise handling is better on the Elgato Facecam
Both webcams boast professional-grade lenses and sensors designed to deliver crisp, clear 1080p images at 60 frames per second. However, Razer is very proud of the Kiyo Pro’s light sensor and pixel size array, as they work together to deliver better image quality than many 4K cameras. And we must say, you can tell the difference.
Don’t get us wrong. The Facecam’s image quality is also great, especially when there’s enough light in the room to work with. We noticed that the webcam is very good at minimizing artifacts. You won’t notice too many shadows, it keeps highlights and color noise low, even in dark areas, and exposure compensation is spot on. And it does a great job of keeping you sharp – maybe the slightly smaller f/2.4 helps with that.
The only thing to complain about here is that its dynamic range isn’t very wide, which means you’ll lose a lot of detail in the bright highlights and dark shadows. In contrast, this is where the Kiyo Pro shines. The dynamic range on the Kiyo Pro is, for lack of a better word, awesome. Razer makes a fuss about its low-light performance, and that wide dynamic range certainly contributes to that.
Of course, Kiyo Pro has its issues, too. We noticed some purple fringing and a lot of color noise even in situations that aren’t too bright and aren’t overly dark. We noticed more ghosting and some stuttering, too, with HDR turned on. There’s also the fact that since the lens has an aperture of f/2.0, which means the aperture is larger, even a small movement forward or backward will get you out of focus. Fortunately, autofocus, while not the fastest or smoothest, is very responsive – although at the same time very distracting.
Winner: They’re just tied up
Razer Kiyo Pro vs Elgato Facecam: low-light performance
- The Razer Kiyo Pro has excellent low-light performance
The Razer Kiyo Pro is the clear winner in low-light performance. Not only does it boast what Razer calls an adaptive light sensor that works beautifully, but it comes with an f/2.0 aperture and an impressively wide dynamic range. Therefore, it is able to let in more light while managing to preserve a lot of detail in shaded and shaded areas. These are key when shooting in low light conditions or at night.
We are seriously impressed. Details we lost with the Facecam (due to its narrow dynamic range) we mostly regained with the Kiyo Pro, which also means more videos and better-looking photos.
Of course, with Elgato Facecam you can always turn off exposure compensation, increase the ISO and slow down the shutter speed. But, by doing so, you also run the risk of adding lighting noise and lots of shadows, two things you don’t want when you’re trying to create professional-looking content. There is a noise reduction toggle in the Camera Hub software, but this effect doesn’t look at all natural because it over-smoothes to compensate for the noise.
Winner: Razer Kiyo Pro
Razer Kiyo Pro vs Elgato Facecam: The Verdict
With both (-ish) webcams losing some battles and controlling another, there is no clear winner here, and no one webcam is controlling the others. But, can there really only be one? (Queen Cue Princes of the Universe). We already know that both the Razer Kiyo Pro and Elgato Facecam are a cut above the rest, but beyond that, whatever is best still depends on your needs.
If you love shooting in low light, need a wider dynamic range for your videos, or would benefit from the extra features it offers, the Razer Kiyo Pro might be the one for you. This is even if it costs a lot more than other webcams out there. However, if steady focus, the ability to set your own ISO, or an option that’s easier on your wallet is what you need, then the Elgato Facecam may be the right fit for you.