Razer Kiyo V2 webcam review: A great deal, even without its app

Why you can trust Windows Central

Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

Razer is known for a lot of PC and gaming accessories, but “webcams” are rarely the first thing that comes to mind. The company is apparently taking the segment seriously, though, as we now have a Razer Kiyo V2 to assess.

I’ve been using this as my primary webcam for weeks now, and I’m honestly shocked by how good it is. At $150, the new Razer Kiyo V2 manages to undercut some of the most popular premium 4K webcams, but doesn’t disappoint when it comes to image or microphone quality.

This review was made possible thanks to a review sample provided by Razer. Razer had no input nor saw the contents of this review prior to publication.

A quality webcam designed for everyone

Image 1 of 4

the Logitech MX Brio I reviewed, which moves the webcam internals into a horizontal bar (which also has the side effect of spreading out the stereo microphones).

Razer Kiyo V2

• Camera: 8.3MP Sony STARVIS sensor, 4K @ 30 FPS / 1080p @ 60 FPS support, 93-degree field-of-view (FoV), 3mm focal length (20mm full format equivalent), High Dynamic Range (HDR) support
• Microphone: Dual stereo, omnidirectional, 16-bit/48KHz resolution, auto noise reduction
• Features: USB Type-C connectivity, 1/4-inch thread mounting support, built-in privacy shutter, Razer Synapse 4 & Camo Studio support, included lifetime Camo Pro subscription license
• Dimensions: 116 x 74 x 65.3mm (4.6 x 2.9 x 2.6in), 255g (0.56lbs)

As such, the Kiyo V2 is not a compact webcam, if that matters to you, but it’s still a clean, matte black design with excellent build quality. Razer’s build quality has steadily improved over the years, and I see those efforts reflected here.

This isn’t an “ultra-premium” webcam like Razer’s previous Kiyo Pro Ultra or something like the OBSBOT Tiny 2 I reviewed (which is still my favorite webcam of all time), but the Kiyo V2 feels every bit as smartly designed and tightly constructed as the plethora of ~$200+ webcams on the market.

That includes a sturdy, permanently attached stand with a built-in pivot, support for standard 1/4-inch mounts, a detachable USB Type-C cable, and a clearly visible physical privacy shutter that you can open and close by spinning the rim around the sensor. Yes, there’s also a white LED that shows when the camera is on — but only the camera, so the microphones can still be active while the light is off (I think Razer should change that).

Speaking of microphones, the Kiyo V2 punches above its weight here. My colleagues at Windows Central expressed surprise at the quality of these webcam mics, and I share their praise. Make no mistake — this is still a webcam, so you’ll always be better off with a good headset or (even better) a dedicated microphone.

That being said, the Kiyo V2 does better than most webcams at filtering out background noise and focusing on your voice, keeping it clear and full. Any change in the distance between you and the Kiyo V2 has a huge impact on quality, though, which isn’t good for someone as twitchy as me.

The surrounding hardware is top-notch, but it’s the sensor at the core that makes or breaks a webcam.

A solid sensor supported by super software

Image 1 of 3

Sony STARVIS sensor of decent size, although it’s not as impressively vast as the Kiyo Pro Ultra that precedes it. This sensor is capable of recording at 4K and 30 frames per second (FPS), or 1080p and 60 FPS.

Strangely, the more affordable Kiyo V2 X caps out at 1440p and 60 FPS, while the Kiyo V2 is limited to 30 FPS at the same resolution. I’m not sure why that is, honestly, but in all other respects, the more expensive webcam’s sensor is dramatically superior, with a much wider 93-degree field-of-view (FoV), High Dynamic Range (HDR) support, and wider compatibility with various formats and features.

As far as sheer image quality is concerned, the Razer Kiyo V2 is capable of going toe-to-toe with those aforementioned $200 webcams; color reproduction is spot on, low-light performance is respectable, and auto-focus is accurate (if a little slow at times). This webcam’s one weakness seems to be with auto-exposure, as the Kiyo V2 has a tendency to blow out lighter skin tones (I definitely fall into that category).

At face value, the Razer Kiyo V2’s sensor is good enough to play with the biggest players in this price range, but it doesn’t outright beat them in any specific area. What sets this webcam apart is the software that supports it and the attractive price tag tying it all together.

The Razer Kiyo V2’s sensor is great, but not exceptional — it’s the software that gives it an edge.

Let’s clear the air — when I say software helps make the Kiyo V2 great, I am not talking about Razer Synapse. In this case, Synapse does the absolute bare minimum; it gives you basic settings and is functional, but it simply can’t compete with the mature platforms of more established webcam brands.

Razer clearly knows this, though, so it partnered with one of the most popular third-party solutions for upgrading your streaming and video conference setup across Windows and macOS: Camo Studio.

Every single Kiyo V2 (not the more affordable V2 X) comes with a lifetime license for Camo Studio’s “Pro” license, and includes a variety of exclusive Razer themes and presets.

Suddenly, the Razer Kiyo V2 has all the software features you could want from the absolute best webcams, including more granular image adjustments, AI-assisted backgrounds and privacy filters, automatic face tracking, and more. Camo may be partially known for transforming your phone into a high-quality webcam, but it’s genuinely a powerful and intuitive webcam software suite — and the Razer Kiyo V2 gives you access to all of it without a subscription fee.

Honestly, I’m really impressed by how responsive and intuitive Camo Studio is. The Razer Kiyo V2 doesn’t boast gimbal tracking, yet Camo’s auto-framing feature easily makes full use of the wide-angle lens to keep me in frame. It’s a great experience… but Razer Synapse is essentially useless outside of obtaining your lifetime license, so keep that in mind if you’re especially mindful of new applications eating into your system resources.

It’s only $149.99 at Razer.com, and it’s genuinely not often I can look at a Razer product and remark, “that’s a really good deal.” This is a good deal, especially if you take advantage of the included Camo Studio Pro license, which unlocks a ton of extra software features.

It’s good enough that — despite costing 33% less — I can’t really recommend the Razer Kiyo V2 X for $99.99 at Razer.com (get the OBSBOT Tiny SE I reviewed instead). The Razer Kiyo V2 is a fantastic value for frequent attendees of video conferences and streamers alike, and definitively gives the more expensive Logitech MX Brio a run for its money.

Source link