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The gaming specialist Razer has introduced a new streaming webcam – Kiyo Pro that promises excellent HDR video quality. Given the high price, however, important features are missing, especially the ability to record 4K videos or unlock the PC using Windows Hello.
The new Razer Kiyo Pro webcam for streaming uses a 1/2.8 inch CMOS sensor from Sony, which as part of the Starvis series is intended for surveillance cameras. This means that the image sensor is quite large for webcam conditions, but it only offers a resolution of 1080p, both for photos and videos. By using this sensor, however, Razer promises particularly good image quality in low light – but the inability to record videos in 4K hurts a lot at this price.
The face cam for gaming webcam records videos either at 60 frames per second without HDR or at 30 fps with active HDR. The gaming camera’s field of view can be set to 103 degrees, 90 degrees, or 80 degrees, but the Razer Synapse software is required. The image quality can already be seen in the example image embedded below. According to a first hands-on test by The Verge, the stream webcam delivers decent exposure even under difficult conditions, but due to the low resolution, the level of detail is not outstanding, and the autofocus is not overly reliable.
Also noticeably absent is support for unlocking a computer via Windows Hello – a function offered by the similarly expensive Logitech Brio Pro (approx. $193.99 on Amazon), which also supports 4K recordings. The Razer Kiyo Pro Streaming Webcam offers stereo speakers, flexible mounting options, a protective lens made of Corning Gorilla Glass 3, a cover to protect privacy, and a 1.5 meter long USB cable. The webcam for streaming can now be purchased for $199.99 from the Amazon.com website.
If you’re not satisfied with this 1080p only video quality then we have the Live Streamer Cam PW513 from the Taiwanese manufacturer AVerMedia, this 4K webcam characterized by high functionality at an affordable price of $249.99, support 3840 × 2160 resolution at 30 FPS or 1920 × 1080 at 60 FPS.
