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  • ✇CGMagazine
  • Elgato Neo Series: A Complete Set-up For New Creators or Home OfficesJoe Findlay
    As far as I have seen, no company has released a complete line of products all at once, allowing you to be fully broadcast-capable on day one. Companies have taken products that they have made separately and sold them as a combo after the fact, but until now, there has been no effort to create a complete ecosystem in one launch. Elgato, a pioneer in all things for content creators, has done it again with the Elgato Neo series. What’s most interesting about this move, though, is that it is not o
     

Elgato Neo Series: A Complete Set-up For New Creators or Home Offices

7. Srpen 2024 v 18:00
Elgato Neo Series: A Complete Set-up For New Creators or a Home Office

As far as I have seen, no company has released a complete line of products all at once, allowing you to be fully broadcast-capable on day one. Companies have taken products that they have made separately and sold them as a combo after the fact, but until now, there has been no effort to create a complete ecosystem in one launch. Elgato, a pioneer in all things for content creators, has done it again with the Elgato Neo series. What’s most interesting about this move, though, is that it is not only a perfect starter set for any creator but also a total setup for a home office, and it is simple enough for either to use.

The Elgato Neo series is a collection of slightly scaled-back versions of some of the products that made them famous, including the Elgato Facecam Neo, Stream Deck Neo, Wave Neo, Key Light Neo and Game Capture Neo. All of the Neo products are designed to be one aesthetic that, for the most part, is prettier than their original versions. They are generally specced down, but that is not to say they are inferior products. Rather, they are no more than someone purchasing products at this level may need.

Elgato Neo Series: A Complete Set-up For New Creators or a Home Office

The Elgato Facecam Neo has a more rounded design for the webcam than their Facecam Mk. 2 or Facecam Pro, both of which have sharper lines. It comes with a slightly smaller sensor than the Facecam Mk. 2 and a slightly smaller field of view at 77 degrees, but still offers a 1080p/60fps resolution at a price where most webcams wouldn’t offer more than 30fps. The Facecam Neo sports a privacy shutter for its lens and a 1/4“ mount to attach either to its provided mount or anything else with the correctly sized screw. Quality-wise, it’s perfectly serviceable, particularly if you are well-lit.

Elgato Facecam Neo – Full HD Webcam with Easy-Slide Privacy Shutter, Light Correction, for Video Calls, Streaming, Teams/Zoom/Slack/OBS/Twitch/YouTube, and more – USB-C/Plug & Play on PC/Laptop/Mac
  • True HD image with smoother motion: Capture more detail in ultra-sharp 1080p video while moving naturally with less motion blur in 60 fps
  • Seamless Plug-and-Play Functionality: Ready out of the box with no software setup required. Ultra versatile, it works on laptops, desktops, setups with extra monitors, and in the apps you love
$99.99 Amazon Prime
Buy on Amazon

Speaking of well-lit, that brings us to the Elgato Key Light Neo, a beautifully diffused and simple to use light with, unlike any other light Elgato offers, controls on the light itself which  are easy as pie. With buttons to turn the light on/off, change colour temperature and a dial to adjust brightness all on the front of the light for easy access.

“There are huge savings for a complete set, making the Elgato Neo line the best option for a complete beginner’s setup.”

Since it is a much smaller light than the original Elgato Key Light (or the Key Light Air, for that matter), having it too close to your face will be a little more spot-light-like than you want it to be. It is perfect as a head-on camera light to give you some nice, even lighting or as a fill light if you want to get into specific lighting design, but the Key Light Neo equals the excellence in quality that made its predecessors the standard among many setups.

Elgato Neo Series: A Complete Set-up For New Creators or a Home Office

The product with the least similarity in look to its original is the Elgato Wave Neo, their latest microphone and the first USB microphone to be released by the company since 2020. The clean pill design is gorgeous, and its single LED light/capacitive mute button is a beautiful highlight. The condenser microphone has a bit depth of 24 bits and up to 96kHz sample rate. With its raised mic stand and ability to mount to a mic arm, you can get the mic as close to your face as your specific needs dictate.

Elgato Wave Neo – USB Condenser Microphone, Tap to Mute, for Gaming, Streaming, Meetings, Voice Recording on Teams/Zoom/OBS/Twitch/YouTube & more, Plug-’n-Play, Works on Laptop, PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone
  • Sound Pro: Minimize distortion often associated with built-in microphones or ear/headphone mics, ensuring clear and pristine audio quality
  • Seamless integration: Ready out of the box with plug ‘n play functionality, and ultra versatile compatibility with laptops, iPads, PS5, iPhones, and more, all controlled effortlessly through the Stream Deck app
$89.99 Amazon Prime
Buy on Amazon

The foam pop filter is even replaceable with different coloured pop filters to better match your setup’s overall look. I’d say that, out of the whole Elgato Neo line, this is one of the products that is potentially a total improvement over its original.

The other device that I would call an improvement is the Stream Deck Neo. While it has fewer buttons than the original Stream Deck (although more than the Stream Deck Mini) with only 8 buttons, the Stream Deck Neo includes capacitive page navigation buttons that let you easily work your way through your options.

Elgato Neo Series: A Complete Set-up For New Creators or a Home Office

Add to that the folder structure that you can create, and you can organize your way to near-unlimited button options. Also available on the Stream Deck Neo is a feature that exists on the Elgato Stream Deck +, but no other iteration of the device, is a beautiful, customizable display across the bottom. No part of the Stream Deck Neo feels like a cheaper version of the original.

“No part of the Stream Deck Neo feels like a cheaper version of the original.”

Lastly, we have the Elgato Game Capture Neo, a capture card which is in line with Elgato’s sleek, compact designs of the company’s external cards. With a status light on the front and well-organized I/O in the back of the device, the Capture Card Neo is capable of 1080p/60fps capture and 4K/60fps passthrough. It is even capable of connecting directly to an iPad for play and capture. The overall quality of the Game Capture Neo is on par with previous Elgato capture cards with similar specs, but it would be a lite version of most of their latest releases. It is also the most affordable capture card on offer from Elgato which contains a passthrough solution.

Sale
Elgato Game Capture Neo – USB Portable Capture Card 4K60 HDR Passthrough, 1080p60 Video Recording – For PS5/Xbox/Switch/iPhone – In OBS, Quicktime and more – Plug & Play/Works on Laptop, PC, Mac, iPad
  • Compact and powerful: Easily set up your gaming experience with premium Elgato Capture hardware, no larger than a smartphone, connecting your console, gaming screen, and computer or iPad effortlessly
  • Seamless integration: Enjoy super compatibility with the ability to capture gameplay from PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, or any console, coupled with zero limitations such as no time constraints, watermarks, or subscriptions
$119.99 −$20.00 $99.99 Amazon Prime
Buy on Amazon

The best part about all of these devices is that you have full access to Elgato’s software solutions, giving you the best control over your devices possible. The same Stream Deck App, Camera Hub, Wavelink Software, Control Center, and Capture Utility that are available to their highest-end products are available for the Elgato Neo series. So if you buy a Stream Deck Neo and then, some time down the road, decide to upgrade to a Stream Deck +, you already know the software and the transition will be seamless.

“The Elgato Neo Series also has the same level of connectivity to each other as is expected of all true ecosystems.”

The Elgato Neo series also has the same level of connectivity to each other as is expected of all true ecosystems. Your Stream Deck Neo, via the Stream Deck app, comes ready with controls for all of the other apps listed above. You can control your camera, microphone lights and capture card all from one place, and because they are built for each other, it will be a seamless operation. Nobody has come close to Elgato in terms of creating an ecosystem for creators and creating this simplified, more affordable version of a complete setup with the Elgato Neo lineup; it has become more accessible than ever before.

Elgato Neo Series: A Complete Set-up For New Creators or a Home Office

Looking at prices, the Elgato Facecam Neo is $99.99 USD compared to the Facecam Mk. 2’s MSRP of $149.95, the Wave Neo is $84.99 compared to the $199.99 price tag on the Wave 3. The Stream Deck Neo comes in at $99.99, between the Stream Deck Mini’s $59.99 and Stream Deck Mk. 2’s $149.99. The Elgato Key Light Neo is $89.99, whereas the comparable Key Light Air is $129.99. Finally, the Game Capture Neo is $119.99, whereas the closest offer by Elgato, the HD60 X, is $174.20. There are huge savings for a complete set, making the Elgato Neo line the best option for a complete beginner’s setup.

No matter what combination of products you get from the Elgato Neo line, you are getting solid products from a company that consistently delivers at a price point that few can beat. I’ve called this a beginner’s setup which, for a creator who may want to grow in the future, is true, but for people who stream for fun or anyone working from home, the Elgato Neo lineup is your one-stop shop.

Elgato Wave Neo Facecam Neo Key Light Neo Stream Deck Neo Bundle – Micro USB à Condensateur, Webcam Full HD, Éclairage Professionnel Pour Visio, 8 Touches Personnalisables
  • Son professionnel : limitez la distorsion souvent associée aux micros intégrés ou aux micros des casques et écouteurs, pour une qualité sonore impeccable.
  • Intégration parfaite : prêt à l’emploi, avec fonctionnement plug-and-play et compatibilité ultra polyvalente avec les ordinateurs portables, iPad, PS5, iPhone et plus encore, tous contrôlables facilement via l’application Stream Deck.
$364.96 Amazon Prime
Buy on Amazon
  • ✇CGMagazine
  • The OnePlus Open Apex Challenges Samsung Foldable DominanceBrendan Frye
    The market for foldable smartphones has exploded, with every major manufacturer offering its own take on the concept. While Samsung led the pack when it first introduced the Galaxy Z Fold to the world, things have gotten a lot more competitive recently, with brands like OnePlus offering better value for money with the OnePlus Open for people looking to make the leap to a foldable device. Now, months after its initial launch, the new OnePlus Open Apex Edition is here, and even in this competitiv
     

The OnePlus Open Apex Challenges Samsung Foldable Dominance

7. Srpen 2024 v 16:47
The OnePlus Open Apex Challenges Samsung Foldable Dominance

The market for foldable smartphones has exploded, with every major manufacturer offering its own take on the concept. While Samsung led the pack when it first introduced the Galaxy Z Fold to the world, things have gotten a lot more competitive recently, with brands like OnePlus offering better value for money with the OnePlus Open for people looking to make the leap to a foldable device. Now, months after its initial launch, the new OnePlus Open Apex Edition is here, and even in this competitive market, it manages to hold its own as a great option for people looking to make a foldable phone their next investment.

Starting things off, the OnePlus Open Apex Edition is a special version of the OnePlus Open inspired by the iconic Hasselblad 503CW 60 Years Victor Red Edition. It features a premium vegan leather back with a diamond pattern, complemented by bold orange accents on the Alert Slider. The changes don’t stop there, though; it also features 1TB of storage, compared to the 512GB on the standard edition, and will feature VIP Mode, a special mode that also allows you to cut off access to the camera and microphone, at the same time you mute sound.

First and foremost, even though this is the top-of-the-range edition of the OnePlus Open, the Apex still manages to match Samsung’s $1,899.99 price tag for their base model of the latest Z Fold 6. If you can do without the special extras the OnePlus Open Apex offers, the standard edition with 512GB of storage will set you back $1,699, $200 less than Samsung’s base model. That’s no small chunk of change, especially when you consider that the Open comes standard with 512GB of storage, compared to the Fold6’s 256GB. More bang for your buck right from the start.

The OnePlus Open Apex Challenges Samsung Foldable Dominance

The differences only grow from there, because the Open isn’t just about being cheaper. OnePlus has packed this thing with some seriously impressive hardware that, for most of what you do on your phone, rivals Samsung’s offering. The foldable inner screen is a gorgeous 7.82-inch OLED panel, which is brighter and sharper than the 7.6-inch screen on the Fold6. When unfolded, you’re treated to a mini-tablet experience that feels more expansive and immersive.

“The OnePlus Open Apex Edition is a special version of the OnePlus Open inspired by the iconic Hasselblad 503CW 60 Years Victor Red Edition.”

Even the display on the outer cover is impressive: at 6.31 inches, it’s a hair bigger than the Fold 6’s and has a more traditional smartphone aspect ratio. This makes the Open feel much more like a ‘normal’ phone when folded. No more awkwardly stretched apps or cramped typing. As someone who has bigger hands, this has made it possible for me to actually use the OnePlus Open, while I found the Z Fold tedious and annoying for doing quick tasks. 

Turning to the SoC, this is the one area where the OnePlus Open falls a little behind Samsung’s Fold6, but not by much. It’s powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip—the same silicon found in early 2023 flagships, including the Z Fold5 (which is currently priced at $1919.99 USD for the 512 GB model, a $220 difference). It’s not quite as cutting-edge as the Fold6’s Gen 3 processor, but real-world performance is still blazingly fast, with gaming and productivity comparing very well for most tasks. Couple that with a generous 16GB of RAM (4GB more than the Fold6), and you’ve got a multitasking powerhouse that can be used for everything from content creation to gaming with little issue. 

The OnePlus Open Apex Challenges Samsung Foldable Dominance

Even with the slightly less modern SoC, battery life is another area where the Open manages to keep pace and even surpass Samsung’s foldable flagship. Its 4,805 mAh cell edges out the Fold 6’s 4,400 mAh battery, but the real kicker is the charging speed. The Open supports 67W fast charging, juicing up from empty to 100% in just 42 minutes. The Fold 6, meanwhile, is still stuck at 25W charging speeds that feel downright sluggish by comparison.

“The OnePlus Open boasts a versatile triple lens setup, headlined by a 48MP main shooter.”

For creators, OnePlus brings one of the best foldable camera systems to the party, with three solid rear cameras all ready to take on a variety of tasks. The OnePlus Open boasts a versatile triple lens setup, headlined by a 48MP main shooter. Early reviews praise its image quality as being on a par with, if not better than, the Fold 6 in many scenarios. The 64MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom is particularly impressive, offering more reach than Samsung’s 3x telephoto.

The OnePlus Open Apex Challenges Samsung Foldable Dominance

To be fair, the OnePlus Open falls short in a few areas, even if it excels in others. Samsung still has a few tricks up its sleeve with the Fold6. Its IPX8 water resistance rating trumps the Open’s IPX4 splash resistance. The Fold6 also supports the S Pen stylus, which could be a big draw for productivity-minded users. There’s no denying that Samsung has more experience in folding games, which could translate into better long-term durability.

“For those on the fence about taking the foldable plunge, the OnePlus Open Apex is an enticing proposition, especially with the new additions the phone brings to an already great device.”

Even with that, OnePlus makes a solid case for the Open Apex, thanks to the advantages the phone brings to the market, especially if you want your phone to be more than a device you show off at parties. OnePlus has crafted a device that feels like it was built from the ground up to be a foldable, rather than a regular phone that happens to bend in half. The hinge mechanism is smooth and sturdy, with a barely perceptible crease when unfolded.

For those on the fence about taking the foldable plunge, the OnePlus Open Apex is an enticing proposition, especially with the new additions the phone brings to an already great device. It delivers flagship-level specs and performance in an innovative form factor, while undercutting the competition on price. The OnePlus Open proves that you don’t have to empty your wallet or make major compromises to get in on the foldable action.

The OnePlus Open Apex Challenges Samsung Foldable Dominance

Of course, personal preference will always play a role in smartphone choice. Some users may prefer Samsung’s more established ecosystem, the Fold 6’s specific feature set, or even its new AI capabilities. But purely from a value and capability perspective, it’s hard to deny that the OnePlus Open has set a new standard for what we should expect from a premium foldable device.

The OnePlus Open Apex is undoubtedly a stunning piece of technology, offering some solid additions to an already impressive package. As the foldable phone market continues to heat up, competition like this can only be good news for consumers. It pushes manufacturers to innovate faster and offer better value for money. The OnePlus Open isn’t just a great phone in its own right; it’s a wake-up call to other companies to do better, and the Apex only pushes this further. 

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