Review – Logitech MX Brio

For professionals working with desktop displays in either a home or office setting, an external webcam is often a necessity, and Logitech is a leading choice. With a long history of reliable and effective solutions, the company is a key player in this market. During the surge in webcam usage during the pandemic, we reviewed the Logitech Streamcam, awarding it a favorable rating. Logitech has since expanded its MX series, now including the Logitech MX Brio webcam.

A reasonable question is: what further advancements are possible in webcam technology?

The answer is: significant advancements, in fact.

Especially when incorporating the MX designation.

A Solid First Impression

The premium quality is immediately evident, presenting both elegance and a confident, stylish design. Consistent with our experience with previous MX series products, its capabilities extend well beyond aesthetics. The package includes the camera and a USB-C to USB-C cable for straightforward connectivity. The traditional mounting system, designed to rest against the back of the screen, has been refined with a shallower tab for securing to the front. While this design choice aligns with the trend of increasingly narrow screen bezels, we found it occasionally less secure.

Technical Specifications Logitech MX Brio

The Logitech MX Brio supports resolutions of 4K/30FPS (UHD), 2K (QHD), 1080p/60FPS (FHD), and 720p (HD), delivering sharp image quality. The integrated microphones employ AI-powered noise reduction to minimize background and peripheral sounds. AI is also utilized to enhance the camera’s ability to adapt to various lighting conditions. A physical privacy shutter is included, providing clear visual confirmation of lens coverage.

It Wouldn’t Be MX Without Some Edge

The Logitech MX Brio shares several features with the Logitech Brio, including light correction, automatic framing, and Show Mode. While the functionality of the first two is self-explanatory, Show Mode, accessible via Logi Tune, warrants further explanation. The camera can be tilted downwards to display the user’s desk. In Show Mode, the image is automatically inverted for proper viewing of documents, sketches, or other items on the desk – a useful feature. However, the Logitech MX Brio offers an additional advantage: integration with Logi Options+. This integration enhances the overall MX series experience with a suite of sophisticated features.

Logitech MX Brio and Logi Options+

Logi Options+ features Smart Actions, a macro functionality within the Logitech ecosystem that allows users to automate a wide range of tasks. Smart Actions also enables customization of key and button functions based on the active application. To illustrate the benefits for the MX Brio, consider the following example:

Assign a keyboard button as a hotkey. Pressing this hotkey launches the ZOOM video conferencing application and activates the corresponding ZOOM profile in Logi Options+. In this profile, configure the forward button on the MX Master 3S mouse to toggle the microphone on and off, and the back button to control video transmission. This customization improves efficiency and streamlines the user experience, eliminating the need to locate the cursor to manually unmute the microphone.

Light Conditions

The Logitech MX Brio’s software effectively compensates for varying lighting conditions using HDR (High Dynamic Range) technology. HDR captures multiple images with different exposure levels and combines them to produce a balanced image. A common scenario is when a user is backlit by a window, appearing dark to the viewer. This occurs because the high contrast causes the camera to reduce the strong background light.
HDR addresses this issue.

In our example, despite the extreme lighting conditions, the MX Brio effectively compensates to reveal more detail in the image.

What We Miss

Although a minor point, the MX Brio would have achieved a perfect score with the addition of wireless connectivity via Logi Bolt. This would have allowed seamless portability between computers, alongside a compatible keyboard and mouse. Such a feature would have been exceptionally advantageous.

Conclusion Logitech MX Brio

It is unusual for a webcam to inspire confidence. The MX Brio delivers consistent performance, presenting the user in the best possible light and maintaining accurate framing.

Is the price justified? At launch, the MX Brio is priced at approximately 2,300 Swedish kronor. Two alternative Logitech webcams, the Brio and the Brio Stream, are comparable options within the Logitech ecosystem. The Brio is similarly priced, while the Brio Stream is approximately 500 kronor more expensive. While both offer similar features and capabilities, the MX Brio uniquely benefits from integration with Logi Options+. For users with existing MX series products integrated with Logi Options+, the MX Brio is the clear choice.

There is a paradox inherent in evaluating high-quality webcams, similar to the saying “it is better to live in a cave and have a view of the palace than the other way around.” How often have we been in video meetings where colleagues are poorly framed or lit? Therefore, it would be beneficial if everyone were equipped with the MX Brio. Until then, we recommend setting a good example.

Logitech provided review samples for this test. Material providers have no editorial influence on our tests, and we maintain an independent perspective with our readers and consumers as the priority.