The maker of our current pick for the best webcam, the Elgato Facecam MK2, recently released a brand new facecam. The Facecam Neo is slightly cheaper than the MK2, retailing for $50 less at $99. You can get even cheaper when bundled together, making the Facecam Neo a budget contender.
Like the rest of the Neo range, the Facecam is packaged in a simple white recycled box. It comes with a matching monitor stand with a transparent front lip for screens and has a hardwired braided USB cable. When I took the pill-shaped camera out of the box, the first things I noticed were how light it feels, almost like empty plastic, and the mechanical notch for the privacy shutter.
Unfortunately, moving the shutter doesn’t feel satisfying. It’s very easy to use and feels noticeably different when it’s in place and not, so it’s at least unlikely that you’ll accidentally have it in the wrong position. Also, the cover slides in front of the lens but behind the main body, which should make it safer when driving.
This camera also has no microphone at all, which I think is great. Webcam microphones are never good and are usually too far away to begin with. Because the Elgato doesn’t have a microphone, it has saved me a lot of frustration, whether it’s my programs choosing it as the default microphone or just another device listening in. No microphone and a privacy shutter mean you can leave this camera plugged in and not worry about another digital spy or accidental embarrassment. Plus, the LED is large and lights up when the camera is active.
Facecam Neo Specifications
Supported resolutions: 1080p60, 1080p30 HDR, 720p60, 720p30, 540p60, 540p30
Optics: Elgato AF lens
Focus: Fixed (30 – infinity)
Field of view: 77°
Sensor: CMOS sensor 1/2.9 inch
Connection: USB Type C
Dimensions: 88x32x40mm
Price: 100 USD | 100 £ | 170 AUD
All in all, it’s a huge improvement over having a piece of insulation tape over the lens.
The Elgato Facecam Neo delivers 1080p at up to 60 fps, which is more than enough for most streams and meetings. With these specs, it’s not the best choice for video, but it still does a good job.
For a lightweight, small webcam that fits easily into most environments, it’s very capable. It does a great job of reproducing colors and skin tones, but it does have a bit of a tendency toward oversaturation, which increases when it tries to compensate for low light. I’ve hooked it up to a few PCs with different software and everything worked smoothly every time. However, you’ll want to get Elgato’s free Camera Hub software to get access to all of its features.
The Hub has controls for many things, like zoom and brightness, that can be saved in the camera and then used in other apps. I was able to leave most of these on automatic just fine, but that was also the only way to enable the coveted HDR setting.
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Enabling HDR will limit you from 60fps to just 30, but it makes a huge difference when bright lights like windows are messing up your shot. I can have a bright window behind me and still be nice and clear, as opposed to a scary shadow creature. I just wouldn’t recommend using it in all scenarios.
Not only did I lose those 30 images, but I also found that turning HDR on at my well-lit desk made no difference and really messed up the autofocus. The focus became very sluggish and would sometimes get stuck on a blur and not be able to focus at all. The autofocus isn’t particularly snappy in general, which has bothered me on occasion, but at least it usually gets on target within a couple of seconds max and then holds it well until drastic changes occur.
Thankfully, I didn’t have this issue as HDR was on and I had a large window behind me, which is more in line with what it’s designed for. So in that sense, it’s not really a problem, but it does raise some questions about autofocus. There are also options in the software to switch focus from automatic to fixed, which could be a workaround if needed. Unfortunately, all of this means you may actually need the Elgato Camera Hub to make changes. The ability to save settings in the camera is a big help here, but I wish there were profiles or even just a button to toggle HDR. The good news is that the app is free and easy to use, so this shouldn’t be a major hindrance.
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Buy if…
✅ You are looking for a simple plug-and-play camera that is easy to transport: Not only is it light and small, I’ve tried it on PCs, laptops and even my iPad and it works out of the box. Plus, thanks to HDR, it can work well in environments with poor backlighting.
✅ You are particularly struggling with poor window light and want an inexpensive HDR camera: If your desk is constantly backlit by a window and you want a reliable camera that can handle it, the Facecam Neo is for you.
Do not buy if…
❌ Your desk is really well lit: Depending on your budget, something with a faster autofocus or higher resolution might be a better choice.
While it’s wonderfully versatile, the Facecam Neo might not be the best choice if you’re looking for a dedicated webcam for your already well-lit workspace. You could trade some of that versatility and opt for something with a fixed focus for desks and a better sensor that might produce a higher quality image, like the Elgato Facecam MK2. Or even opt for something fancier and 4K if you want to do video as well. This isn’t necessarily the webcam I’d recommend first for a single, already well-lit desk setup.
Instead, this is a camera that works pretty well even in low light, requiring just a few adjustments to make it work just as well on a streamer’s intentionally lit desk as it does in an awkward office. It’s lightweight, small, works out of the box with all the programs I’ve tried it with (including FaceTime on my iPad), and without doubling up as a microphone, plus 1080p at 30 – 60 fps is still more than enough for streaming and video calling.
Those are pretty big benefits, especially for under $100. All in all, the Facecam Neo is a smart choice, especially if you have strong light or can easily use this camera in different setups.
