Blue Eyeball 2.0 review

The Eyeball 2.0 from Blue Microphones is a webcam that's all about the sound

Blue Eyeball 2.0
You see that little thing poking out the side of the Eyeball 2.0? That's the camera!

TechRadar Verdict

Great sound can't make up for the Eyeball's poor image quality

Pros

  • +

    Superior sound quality

Cons

  • -

    Serious image noise

  • -

    Doesn't work with iMovie

  • -

    Doesn't like too much movement

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The Eyeball 2.0 from Blue Microphones is squarely aimed at those who want improved video conferencing, or want to record better quality YouTube uploads, with a focus on superior audio performance.

First, let's get the aesthetics out of the way. Take one look at the Eyeball 2.0 and the focus on audio becomes glaringly obvious. While the camera is nestled away – almost apologetically – in the retractable side appendage, the Eyeball's mic is a bulbous adornment that simply shouts 'I'm all about the audio!'.

Before we even get into the camera's performance, this could well be an issue for the more style-conscious among you. It just looks really weird! But looks aren't everything.

To get started with your Mac, all you need to do is hang the camera from the top of your monitor, and plug it in via USB. The camera is auto-detected, and there's no need for third-party software.

This initial setup couldn't be simpler. Be warned, though; there are issues with iMovie. You first have to record videos using Photo Booth and then import them into your iMovie project – an irritating additional step for some.

At 640x480, the iSight camera built in to most Macs doesn't take much beating, and though the Eyeball boasts a sharper, more contrasted picture (1600x1200), there's some serious image noise and blurring with movement.

Audio's a different story, though, with the Eyeball trumping a built-in mic for pick-up, bass, and pretty much every aspect of audio quality. But this is a webcam, not a mic!

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Dan Oliver

Dan is the editor-in-chief at 5Gradar, where he oversees news, insight and reviews, providing an invaluable resource for anyone looking to stay up-to-date with the key issues facing 5G. He is a British journalist with 20 years of experience in the design and tech sectors, producing content for the likes of Microsoft, Adobe, Dell and The Sunday Times. In 2012 he helped launch the world's number one design blog, Creative Bloq. In 2016 he founded Oliver Media Limited, where they work directly with brands and agencies to produce engaging content, with none of the large agency overheads.