Joby Beamo Ring Light Review

A handy device that provides useful lighting for your phone or laptop ideal for conference calls or content creators.

Now, working from home is the new normal for many people, and more and more people are taking their phones out and creating content for social media. Lighting is a very important factor in creating the perfect video, and in a world where pulling out your phone, you can turn into a photographer or videographer in an instant. 

In this review, Joby has created an attachment for your phone that is perfect for helping you create that content in a lightweight and portable Ring light. Introducing the Joby Beamo Ring Light, available for £45.95. 

First Impressions

The Joby Beamo Ring Light is a magnetic attachment suitable for iPhone 12 and above with MagSafe technology. If you do not have a MagSafe iPhone, you can also use the supplied metal sticker to attach it to your phone so that you can still use it. The device is a ring-shaped light designed to always put you in the perfect light. It provides additional portable lighting for taking selfies or front-facing video recordings.

Unboxing

The Joby Beamo Ring Light for Magsafe comes in quite an eye-catching packaging that shows you exactly what this accessory does on the front. On the sides, it shows you how to use it and on the rear of the packaging it provides the main features:

• Colour temperature of 5600K
• Up to 100 Lux @ 0.5m
• 4 brightness levels
• Built-in rechargeable battery
• Up to 4 hours run time.

The rear of the packaging also shows you can use this accessory on a MacBook or iPad and also shows you what is included inside the packaging such as:  

• Beamo MagSafe Ring Light 
• Magnetic Ring Sticker
• Carry Bag
• USB-C Charging Cable
• User Manual

Design/Ease of Use

The Joby Beamo Ring Light for MagSafe comes in two colours white or grey and is very portable measuring 95x70x9mm and also lightweight at only 50g. The device comes with a built-in lithium rechargeable battery with a run time of up to 4 hours but this could be a lot less depending on the level of brightness and colour temperature. When you need to recharge this it should take no longer than 90 minutes using the provided USB-C charge cable. (Remember to give it a full charge before first use) 

Finally, you will also notice the Joby Beamo also comes with a handy little mirror ideal for checking out your appearance before a recording. 

When you use this handy little accessory you will notice it connects even when you have a MagSafe-compatible phone case I was a little concerned I might have to remove my case but that concern soon disappeared. The Joby Beamo comes with 4 brightness levels ranging from dim to very bright. The dim setting should give you 4 hours of use but the very bright will only provide you just over 50 minutes of use so consider the level of brightness and where you decide to record.  

Using this accessory is so simple it simply attaches to your MagSafe-compatible iPhone stays in place nicely and feels very secure. The Beamo light will not block your camera lens either to use the light you just open up the light as it’s on a hinge and the light will unfold and come up over the top of your phone if using the front camera.

If you’re using the rear camera keep it in the folded position.  

The power button is easy to find at the top of the device and once switched on you press the button to cycle through the brightness levels before being able to switch it off.

If you want to use this on a non-Magsafe phone it comes with a metal stick-on ring that can be placed on the back of your device. It is worth considering on non-Apple phones the positioning might cause some of your camera lens to be blocked. 

When not in use Joby also provides you with a handy carry bag to protect it when not attached to your phone which is a nice touch and keeps it in good condition. 

 Verdict

I have been using the Joby Beamo Ring Light for a couple of weeks now and it’s a great aid for adding perfect lighting for creating content and also for those who just want to look better in photos or when you’re having a video conference call. Below is just a sample of the improvement this device has had for photos in low-light conditions.

This accessory is not too intrusive when attached to your phone and is very simple to use and also when switching between brightness levels. I was also very pleased with the MagSafe connection meaning it’s easy to remove from your phone when not in use. 

When you are using the Joby Beamo you keep it flat against the back of the phone when using the rear camera or when using the front camera it opens easily to 180 degrees allowing the light and mirror to stand above the top of your iPhone. I found when open the hinge keeps it firmly in place which adds to how useful this is for providing additional light placement. 

The 4 brightness levels are excellent from dim to ultra bright work well, especially in darker spaces. I found the lighting to provide even and consistent lighting for your photos and videos. They light up the moment, help eliminate shadows and make your shots look even more professional.  

Overall, If you’re looking for a Christmas gift for someone who likes creating content or just capturing memories. The Joby Beamo is that simple and easy-to-use accessory for providing quality bright and flicker-free lighting. 

Product Rating    

Overall ranking: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0 – 5 stars

The Joby Beamo is available from the Joby website for £45.95

 

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