Tech & Gadgets · Head-to-head
NEEWER GL1 PRO 15.5 inch Key Light vs Elgato Key Light
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full The Best Webcam Lights: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
The GL1 PRO publishes the fullest specification here, including CRI97+ and TLCI98+, and it is the only light that can be controlled without depending on your Wi-Fi. The Key Light matches it on power and colour range with better documented optics and a cleaner app ecosystem.
NEEWER GL1 PRO 15.5 inch Key Light
Buy itThe highest published colour accuracy here, and the only one that works without Wi-Fi.
- A full specification: 192 LEDs, 332 by 231 by 36 millimetres, DC 12 to 15V at up to 45W maximum, 3700 lux maximum illuminance at half a metre, 0 to 100 percent dimming and 2900K to 7000K.
- CRI97+ and TLCI98+, both published as numbers, which is the highest stated colour accuracy in this comparison, on a flicker-free circuit.
- Three control paths: a 2.4GHz USB dongle that needs no Wi-Fi at all, a Wi-Fi app for PC and Mac, and Bluetooth from a phone, plus Elgato Stream Deck compatibility, with a desk stand, power adapter and cable included.
- Output is quoted as illuminance in lux at half a metre rather than in lumens, so it cannot be compared directly with the Elgato's figure.
- No weight is published.
- No warranty terms appear on the product page.
Elgato Key Light
Buy it2800 lumens through a four-stage diffusion stack, on a clamp that frees your desk.
- 160 premium OSRAM LEDs producing 2800 adjustable lumens across 2900K to 7000K, with CRI above 92 percent and consumption up to 45W.
- A proper optical stack rather than a plastic sheet: a reflector for even distribution, a precision scatter plate to eliminate hot spots, a double-layer diffuser and opal glass.
- Dual-band Wi-Fi on 2.4GHz and 5GHz with full app control, a desk clamp that expands to 6 centimetres and is padded, and a ball mount for angle.
- CRI above 92 percent is well below the CRI97+ that NEEWER publishes.
- Wi-Fi only, with no dongle and no Bluetooth, so control depends on your network being up.
- Mains powered rather than USB, so it needs an outlet and it is not portable.
Side by side
The 10 criteria below are the ones our full comparison judged every product on, narrowed to these two.
| NEEWER GL1 PRO 15.5 inch Key Light Our pick | Elgato Key Light | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Streaming and calls where colour accuracy matters and you would rather not put a light on your Wi-Fi. | A permanent desk setup where you want the softest light and the tidiest mounting. |
| Price tier | $$ · mid-range | $$$ · premium |
| Output | 3700 lux at 0.5 m | 2800 lumens |
| Colour temperature | 2900K to 7000K | 2900K to 7000K |
| Colour rendering | CRI97+ and TLCI98+ | CRI above 92 percent |
| LED count | 192 | 160 OSRAM |
| Power | DC 12 to 15V, up to 45W | Up to 45W, mains |
| Control | 2.4GHz dongle, Wi-Fi app, Bluetooth | Wi-Fi 2.4 and 5GHz app |
| Dimensions | 332 x 231 x 36 mm | 30 x 350 x 250 mm |
| Diffusion | Edge-lit plane light source | Scatter plate, double-layer diffuser, opal glass |
| Mounting | Clamp-mounted desk stand included | Padded desk clamp to 6 cm, ball mount |
| Weight | Not published | 2.86 lb / 1.3 kg |
Which one is right for you?
Pick the NEEWER GL1 PRO 15.5 inch Key Light if
streaming and calls where colour accuracy matters and you would rather not put a light on your Wi-Fi.
Know before buying: output is quoted as illuminance in lux at half a metre rather than in lumens, so it cannot be compared directly with the Elgato's figure.
Pick the Elgato Key Light if
a permanent desk setup where you want the softest light and the tidiest mounting.
Know before buying: cRI above 92 percent is well below the CRI97+ that NEEWER publishes.
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the NEEWER GL1 PRO 15.5 inch Key Light - The highest published colour accuracy here, and the only one that works without Wi-Fi. Choose the Elgato Key Light instead if a permanent desk setup where you want the softest light and the tidiest mounting.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Webcam Lights: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).