Elgato Facecam Mk. 2: Superb, but it still can't hear you

Elgato's next-generation Facecam offers premium features at a somewhat premium price.

- MARK HACHMAN

If Elgato’s Facecam Mk. 2 sounds like a sequel, that’s exactly what it is. Unfortunately, the lack of a key feature—a microphone—still hasn’t been resolved, leaving this 1080p webcam still a little overpriced. Otherwise, it’s quite good.

Our review of Elgato’s original Facecam (fave.co/3wXLvlk) noted several features were left out, including a privacy shutter and HDR. To its credit, Elgato listened, and those features have now been built in. The Facecam is one of the few webcams that captures at a TV-like 60Hz, though at fixed focus. It also maintains its Sony CMOS sensor, a strong point in favor of the original Facecam.

If 1080p resolution is too limiting, Elgato also sells a 4K60 Pro version for $299 (fave. co/3ZGAeWL)—though that webcam lacks a mic too. (Elgato’s argument is that these mics were originally built for streamers, and streamers will have already purchased an upgraded, standalone mic anyway.) If the Facecam’s MSRP of $149.99 is too much, Elgato also has a cheaper 1080p model, the Facecam Neo. Our review of the Facecam Neo (fave. co/3Bi4xtu) found it somewhat limiting, however.

BUILD QUALITY

The Elgato Facecam Mk. 2 is average size, about 3 inches wide and 2.5 inches deep. It’s about 1.25 inches high when the mount is excluded. A removeable USB-C cable plugs into the back of the webcam, connecting to a USB-A port on your PC. I took a yardstick and confirmed the cable’s 79-inch (about 6.5 feet) length. Elgato recommends that you plug the cable into a USB 3.0 (5Gbps) port on your PC, instead of a hub; this shouldn’t be an issue on a new PC, but double-check if you use an older one.

Elgato's Facecam Mk. 2 wasn't heavy enough to overburden my laptop.