The Razer Kiyo V2 is an excellent webcam, even though its fancy new AI features aren't really that exciting
by https://www.techradar.com/uk/author/christian-guyton · TechRadarTechRadar Verdict
The Razer Kiyo V2 is a fantastic webcam that delivers high-quality 4K video performance, with an intelligent design and rich feature set that make it ideal for streamers (or anyone who really wants to look good on Zoom calls). But USB-C is mandatory - like, really mandatory - and the new AI features integrated into the Kiyo V2 feel a little half-baked, more like an effort to put AI front and center in the marketing material than an actual game-changer.
Pros
- +Excellent image quality
- +Sturdy and functional design
- +Far better priced than the Kiyo Pro
- +Synapse software offers lots of customization options
Cons
- -Must use included cable for 4K
- -Stand can't be detached
- -Autofocus is a little slow
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Razer Kiyo V2 webcam: Two-minute review
Razer is a household name in the webcam space, with its Kiyo brand being one of the most popular choices for streamers and PC gamers. The latest Kiyo V2 is another sterling example of Razer's commitment to premium build quality and high-end components, and for the most part, it's a great product.
Delivering either 4K recording at 30 frames per second or 1080p at 60, the Kiyo V2 captures quality video with a high degree of customization via the Razer Synapse software. It's fairly pricey (don't expect to see it on our list of the best cheap webcams), but for a 4K webcam with this sort of build quality and feature set, it's actually quite competitively priced.
Coming in black, white, and pink colorways (mine is the pink 'Quartz' model), the Razer Kiyo V2 is an extremely well-constructed product. It's durable and pleasingly tactile. The base can be extended and rotated to capture the perfect angle, and it easily clasps onto any monitor; I tested it both with the two monitors in my home desktop setup and my laptop, and it snapped into place with no issues. It's a little heavy, however, so laptops with flimsier display hinges might struggle.
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The design is a departure from previous Razer webcams, which typically opted for a singular large casing surrounding the lens construction. Instead, it's a smaller lens housing with an oblong body, immediately reminiscent of the Logitech MX Brio 705.
Not everything has been abandoned with this new design, however. The lens housing, like previous Kiyo models, includes a pleasingly tactile rim that can be twisted to close the built-in physical privacy shutter. I'm always a fan of privacy solutions like this, though given the large size of the glass lens face, it would've been nice to see a lens cap included to keep it dust- and scratch-free.
It would potentially be nice if the webcam could be detached from the attached mount in order to fit it to a different mount; many content creators will have their own video setups and may want to use their own camera stands. However, the mount does have a threaded screw connector on the base, letting you fit it atop most industry-standard camera mounts.
In terms of video quality, it's great. 4K video is sharp and colorful, and even zoomed in, I found I looked perfectly detailed in the footage I recorded. Color reproduction is great, and the camera performed well in a range of light conditions. Low-light performance resulted in some mild oversaturation, but I've seen worse performance in more expensive cameras. It also supports HDR, though only at 30fps even at lower resolutions.
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