Lighting is crucial in so many parts of life, and streaming is no exception. If you’re planning to stream or record video, lighting can make or break your visual quality. It’s not just about being visible — it’s about letting viewers see your facial expressions, your setup, and even your personality through the lens.
In most cases, your camera doesn’t come with built-in lighting, which makes a key light an essential addition. While many people turn to a ring light or a simple desk lamp, today we’re focusing on a name synonymous with streaming gear: Elgato. Known for its capture cards and the ever-popular Stream Deck, Elgato has built a strong reputation among creators. This time, I tested their Key Light Neo — a small, compact, and discreet option designed to fit into just about any setup and did I mention budget friendly?
The Elgato Key Light Neo measures 1.49 x 5.9 x 5.9 inches, and it definitely delivers on compactness. During my testing, I almost forgot it was even there. It’s available in black or white, both of which blend easily with most desk aesthetics.
Mounting is flexible — it includes a mount that can attach to your TV, monitor, or tripod, much like a traditional ring light setup. Weighing just over half a pound, it’s incredibly lightweight and easy to reposition on the fly.
A nice touch is the cable management feature on the back, allowing you to wrap the cord neatly and prevent tangles. Elgato also includes an extension cable for added reach, which is a thoughtful inclusion.
Lighting power depends on the type of power source you use. With a USB-A, USB-C, or 3A power supply, brightness ranges from 400 to 1000 lumens. The Key Light Neo includes a hard/soft light toggle, a dimmer, and Wi-Fi control — all controllable through the Elgato Control Center app.
You also get two customizable lighting presets, letting you quickly switch between your preferred brightness and color temperature settings. It’s ideal for creators who want consistency across different recording sessions.
I tested the Key Light Neo over a week of streaming and general use to see how it performed in different lighting scenarios.
Design-wise, Elgato nailed the execution. It’s compact, versatile, and feels well built. The combination of physical adjustability and wireless control makes it easy to integrate into any workspace.
When it comes to lighting quality, results were mixed. The Key Light Neo performs well when used alongside ambient light — for example, an overhead room light or natural window lighting. However, in complete darkness, it struggled to properly illuminate my face. My camera tended to render skin tones with a noticeable red tint, and no matter how I repositioned the light, it couldn’t serve as a standalone source.
That said, once I introduced an additional light source, the Key Light Neo provided great fill lighting that softened shadows and improved overall clarity.
Here’s where things get a bit tough. On Elgato’s official site, the Key Light Neo retails for $89.99 with the mount or $79.99 without it. While it’s a well-designed and feature-packed device, I find you should be using this with another light.
If you’re new to streaming and need your first key light, there are more affordable options that might serve you better. However, if you already own other Elgato products or need a secondary light for travel or side fill lighting, the Neo makes sense. It’s targeted toward creators who value convenience and brand integration rather than raw lighting power.
The Elgato Key Light Neo is sleek, portable, and easy to use — a great addition to an existing setup, but not ideal as your only light source. It excels in versatility and user experience but falls short in overall brightness and color accuracy when used alone in dark environments.
If you already have some ambient lighting and appreciate Elgato’s ecosystem, this little key light could be the perfect sidekick for your streaming rig. And for newcomers, the price-to-performance ratio is something you’ll need to see if you want to get into the Elgato ecosystem.
