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The Razer Kiyo Pro is the new version of the original Kiyo. It doesn’t have the built-in ring light that the original did, but it does have high-quality video for streamers, content creators, and people who just want to look better in meetings.
For the latter, who may have been using their laptop’s built-in webcam for Zoom meetings during the pandemic, the Razer Kiyo Pro can offer a big visual upgrade with Full HD at 60 frames per second, optional HDR (at 30fps), a field of view of up to 90 degrees, and autofocus. For everyone else, like streamers, YouTubers, and other content creators, the Kiyo Pro is an alternative to the Logitech Brio and StreamCam.
Razer Kiyo Pro specifications
| Frame rate | Up to 60fps at 1080p |
| Cable Length | 1.5 meters braided cable |
| Video encoding | H.264 codec |
Razer Kiyo Pro review: Design
Right away, you’ll notice that the Kiyo Pro is much bigger than most cameras. This is likely because it needs powerful sensors and hardware to record at 60 frames per second. We didn’t find the size to be a problem, but if you want to use the webcam on a laptop, it might be distracting.
The webcam is shaped like a cylinder and looks like a DSLR camera lens. It even has a textured surface around the front of the camera that looks like a zoom ring. This is just for looks, since the Kiyo Pro doesn’t have any manual controls on the hardware, but it makes the device look good from all sides. There is also a lens cap for privacy that matches the design of the DLSR.
Razer Kiyo Pro review: Video and audio quality
The image quality of the Kiyo Pro is much better than that of the best gaming laptops’ built-in cameras. Compared to the Logitech C920, the Razer Kiyo Pro does a much better job with image exposure, so it can keep details that the C920 can’t. The STARVIS technology in the Kiyo Pro, which is powered by a Type 1/2.8 sensor with a wider f2.0 aperture, makes sure that light coverage is always the same. This has been done.
In the photos below, this is shown by the sharpness of the shadows in the background and the even lighting on my face. Even though the overall image on the Kiyo Pro is a little darker than on the Logitech C920, things are much more clear. When used with the camera software on the computer, the Razer Kiyo Pro took great photos and videos. You can get this digital camera from its official website.
Razer Kiyo Pro review: Performance
With the new sensor, STARVIS, and HDR, the Kiyo Pro is all about low-light performance. Sony owns the technology behind STARVIS, and I’ve never seen it in gaming hardware before. It has been a popular choice for security cameras for a while, though, because it lets users record in almost total darkness in full colour with much less noise than a traditional camera sensor. In this case, it means that you can stream even when it’s almost dark out and still get a much better picture than a webcam should.
Razer Kiyo Pro review: Software
Even though we were impressed by how well the Kiyo Pro worked in low-light and brightly lit places, we didn’t like the photos we got right out of the box of my room in what we would call normal lighting conditions. We didn’t like how warm they were, and the fish-eye effect around the edges was too distracting.
But this is where the software of the Kiyo Pro comes in, which is a first for me in reviewing webcams. Since the Kiyo Pro is made by Razer, it works perfectly with Razer Synapse. Instead of changing the webcam’s RGB lighting, which doesn’t exist, Razer Synapse changes settings like brightness, contrast, saturation, and white balance.
Razer Kiyo Pro review: Price and availability
The Kiyo Pro also has a lot of brand-new features, like HDR and the ability to record at 1080p 60fps. These features make it appealing to game streamers, office workers, and even amateur filmmakers. With these new features, however, comes a new price tag of $199, which is much higher than both the $99 Razer Kiyo and the $79 Logitech C920, which we recommend as the best webcam for most people.
Final Words
The Razer Kiyo Pro is by far the most advanced webcam I’ve looked at so far, but that doesn’t mean that everyone should buy it. It’s also the most expensive webcam we have reviewed at $200, and its HDR and 1080p 60 fps recording features are likely to only appeal to a small group of content creators.
It also boasts a new light sensor that is really impressive and will probably put you at ease if you’re recording in a dark or unevenly lit area. However, you’ll probably still need to use post-processing software to tune the sensor’s results to your liking.
Razer Kiyo Pro Ratings
Pros
- Sharp video for 1080p
- Good exposure even in low light
- Crisp, clear microphone
Cons
- High price
- Lacks 4K and Windows Hello
FAQs
Is Razer Kiyo Pro worth it?
The Razer Kiyo Pro is a great webcam that looks and feels like a high-end product, is easy to use, and makes high-quality videos. But it should, since the recommended retail price is $200/£200 (although thankfully you can find this on sale for almost half this amount).
Does the Kiyo Pro have a microphone?
Other improvements to the Kiyo Pro include HDR (which is turned off by default), 1080p resolution at 60fps, a wide-angle lens, and a microphone that can pick up sound from all directions. It’s a webcam with lots of features for streamers.
Why is Razer so popular?
Razer’s unique product got a lot of attention because it was both cheap and made of separate parts. Customers see Razer as a brand that is always on the cutting edge because it is always moving into new markets and trying new things. It also supports and creates cutting-edge technology.