Logitech MX Brio vs Elgato Facecam MK.2: Which Premium Webcam Should You Buy?

If you are upgrading from a laptop camera, these two keep coming up in the same shortlists, and they cost a similar amount once discounts are factored in. They are built for different people, though. The Logitech MX Brio is Logitech's premium 4K webcam: an 8.5MP Sony STARVIS sensor, automatic exposure that reviewers say makes ordinary rooms look good, two built-in microphones and a twist-to-close privacy shutter. The Elgato Facecam MK.2 is a 1080p camera that runs at a smooth 60fps, sends a lightly compressed signal over USB 3.0, and leans on Elgato's Camera Hub app for DSLR-style manual control. It has no microphone at all, because Elgato assumes you already own one. Below we lay out the specs, what reviewers praised and criticized for each, and which one fits which kind of desk.

A note on the scores: the 0.1-point gap is not a verdict that one camera is better. The Facecam MK.2 edges ahead mainly because reviewers judged it excellent at the specific job it was designed for and it currently costs noticeably less; the MX Brio is the more complete all-rounder. Read the use-case section before deciding.

Logitech MX Brio: what reviewers say

Windows Central called the MX Brio "the new benchmark" for premium webcams and singled out its improvement in dim rooms over the older Brio 4K, along with fast autofocus and dependable exposure and white balance. Tom's Hardware found it produced a bright, evenly lit image with accurate color in a normal home office and concluded it will make most people look good straight out of the box. PCWorld called its images "startlingly good" in decent light, and AppleInsider rated it 4 out of 5, finding it sharper and brighter than a MacBook Pro's built-in camera. TechRadar's reviewer used it for months as a daily business camera and praised its build and flexible mount.

The criticism is consistent too. Tom's Hardware's headline verdict is that it is "a good 4K webcam for a target audience that doesn't really need a 4K webcam": its processing smooths away fine detail, so the 4K picture looks flatter than some rivals, and Tom's did not recommend it for content creators. The built-in mics drew mixed reviews, from "good for a webcam" (Tom's Hardware) to hollow and weak at filtering keyboard noise (Windows Central, PCWorld). The software is thin, with no consumer background blur or auto-framing, and unlike the older Brio 4K there is no IR sensor, so no Windows Hello face login.

Elgato Facecam MK.2: what reviewers say

Trusted Reviews called the Facecam MK.2 "an excellent webcam for streaming," crediting smooth 1080p/60fps output with good detail in well-lit rooms, easy mounting, and Camera Hub software that lets you adjust exposure, white balance, noise reduction, zoom and pan, then save the settings to the camera itself. Windows Central's Jez Corden went further, saying it replaced his Razer camera as his go-to webcam; he praised the build, the integrated privacy shutter, the HDR mode in a difficult, dimly lit office, and background blur he called among the best virtual depth-of-field effects he had used. Dexerto gave it 4 out of 5 and described its image as "DSLR-like" once Camera Hub was running.

The weak spots are just as clear. Trusted Reviews found its low-light footage noisy and slightly red by default, and said turning noise reduction up smooths away detail. There is no microphone, which Trusted Reviews called a shame for casual users. Windows Central noted fixed focus, no Windows Hello, a stiff USB 3.0 cable that can tug the camera out of position, and a privacy shutter that is awkward to slide. Dexerto said the body feels like cheap plastic and that adjusting the angle can move the whole camera on its mount. The AI effects (background removal, NVIDIA eye contact) need an NVIDIA RTX graphics card, according to Dexerto and the German site Techtest.

Image quality: what the evidence does and doesn't show

We could not find a published side-by-side test of these exact two cameras from a major outlet, so treat any "which looks better" claim with care. The closest data point is the German site Techtest, which compared the Facecam MK.2 with Logitech's older Brio 4K (the 2017 model the MX Brio replaced, not the MX Brio itself). In bright light it gave the Logitech a slight edge for sharpness, contrast and dynamic range, but found the Facecam more detailed; in a dark room it found the Brio 4K smeared detail with heavy noise reduction while the Facecam stayed sharper and held its frame rate. Logitech says the MX Brio's sensor has much larger pixels than the Brio 4K, and Windows Central saw big low-light gains, so that result may not carry over. What reviewers of each camera agree on: the MX Brio is tuned to look good automatically, and the Facecam MK.2 rewards a little time in its app and decent lighting.

Head-to-head: which should you buy?

You spend most of the day on Zoom, Teams or Meet: the MX Brio. It is certified for all three, it looks good without setup, and its built-in mics mean one less device, even if reviewers suggest a headset if you care about audio.

You stream games on Twitch or YouTube: the Facecam MK.2. Reviewers repeatedly highlight its smooth 60fps and the manual exposure and ISO controls, and Windows Central notes it slots into Elgato's wider ecosystem of lights and controllers such as the Elgato Stream Deck MK.2.

You don't own a microphone: the MX Brio, since the Facecam MK.2 has none. If you plan to buy a proper mic anyway, this stops mattering.

You want 4K for recording or cropping: the MX Brio is the only one of the two that records 4K, though Tom's Hardware warns its 4K is softer than some rivals and most call apps output 1080p anyway.

You're on a tighter budget: the Facecam MK.2 launched at a lower list price than the MX Brio's $199.99, and that gap has generally held. Check current prices for both. Prices move often, so check both.

You want to log into Windows with your face: neither. Reviewers of both cameras confirm there is no Windows Hello support, so look at an IR-equipped camera instead.

What owners say on Amazon

When we checked the listings on October 15, 2026, the MX Brio (Graphite, ASIN B0BFJ4CRKD) held 4.4 out of 5 from about 1,710 ratings and the Facecam MK.2 (ASIN B0CW1S7XP5) held 4.3 out of 5 from about 1,603 ratings. That is a near tie with similar volume, consistent with the professional reviews: both are well liked by most buyers. We have not analyzed individual low-star reviews, so we can't say what drives them.

FAQ

Does the Elgato Facecam MK.2 have a microphone?
No. Trusted Reviews and other reviewers note it has no built-in mic; you will need a headset or a USB/XLR microphone.

Can the Facecam MK.2 record in 4K?
No. It tops out at 1080p at 60fps. The MX Brio records 4K at 30fps and 1080p at 60fps.

Do I need a USB 3.0 port?
Both are best on USB 3.0. Techtest notes the Facecam works on USB 2.0 but at lower quality, and Tom's Hardware notes the MX Brio wants a USB 3.0-capable port.

Do either support Windows Hello?
No. Reviewers of both cameras list this as a missing feature.

Sources

• Tom's Hardware — Logitech MX Brio Review: 4K, but not for content creators (March 30, 2024)
• Windows Central — Logitech MX Brio review (March 6, 2024)
• TechRadar Pro — Logitech MX Brio webcam review (July 1, 2024)
• PCWorld — Logitech MX Brio webcam review (April 11, 2024)
• AppleInsider — Logitech MX Brio review (March 6, 2024)
• Trusted Reviews — Elgato Facecam MK.2 Review
• Windows Central — Elgato Facecam MK.2 review, Jez Corden (June 18, 2024)
• Dexerto — Elgato Facecam MK.2 review: A quality upgrade, Rosalie Newcombe (March 28, 2024)
• Techtest (German) — Elgato Facecam MK.2 im Test, Michael Barton (June 5, 2024)
• Amazon — Logitech MX Brio listing, 4.4/5 from about 1,710 ratings (checked October 15, 2026)
• Amazon — Elgato Facecam MK.2 listing, 4.3/5 from about 1,603 ratings (checked October 15, 2026)