I Did the Deep Dive: For SMB Tabletop AV, Owl Labs Is the Clear Pick
I turned a client question into a bigger research sprint because I hadn’t looked at affordable, tabletop AV in a while. After comparing Lenovo, Logitech, Owl Labs, and Nexvoo, my recommendation is simple: if you want meetings that start on time and just work, go with Owl Labs
Why tabletop AV—and why now?
Hybrid work has made the “front row for everyone” problem real for small teams. SMBs need gear that:
- Sets up in minutes (no integrator required)
- Captures the whole room without a multi‑camera maze
- Delivers clear audio so remote folks actually feel present
That’s exactly where Owl Labs’ Meeting Owl® 3 shines. It’s an all‑in‑one 360° camera, eight‑mic array, and speaker you drop in the center of the table. The Owl’s AI automatically frames whoever’s speaking while keeping a panoramic view of the room, which means remote attendees can follow the conversation without asking, “Who’s talking?”
What stood out about Owl Labs
1) True plug‑and‑play
Place it on the table, plug in power and USB‑C, select it in your meeting app, and you’re live. No complex wiring, no drivers, no wall‑mount decisions.
2) Designed for the tools you already use
Works with Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Google Meet—so your team’s habits don’t have to change.
3) Video + audio that fits SMB rooms
You get 1080p HD video with a 360° field of view and an optimal range for small rooms, plus an eight‑mic beamforming array for clear audio. For trickier spaces, add the Expansion Mic to extend reach.
4) Gets smarter over time
Built‑in Wi‑Fi enables over‑the‑air updates, so features keep improving without swapping hardware.
5) Scales when you need it
Pair a second Owl with Owl Connect to expand coverage in wider spaces, or bundle with MAXHUB XCore if you’re standardizing Microsoft Teams Rooms and want one‑touch join with room control.
What I compared (and why Owl won)
I looked at Lenovo, Logitech, Owl Labs, and Nexvoo:
- Lenovo & Logitech: Excellent products, but many of their room solutions are front‑of‑room bars or full room kits with more components—touch controllers, dedicated compute, wall mounts—which adds cost and setup complexity compared with a single, center‑of‑table unit. If you need a standardized, pro‑grade Microsoft Teams Rooms deployment across large spaces, they’re great. For most SMB huddle rooms? It’s often more than you need to get started quickly.
- Budget alternatives (including some Nexvoo models): There are very affordable options, and they can be fine for basic calls. In my scan, though, many “budget” units land in the 3‑star to low‑4‑star range due to trade‑offs like narrower audio pickup, less polished speaker tracking, or build quality. If you’re equipping multiple rooms and need consistency, these compromises show up fast in user experience.
In short: Owl Labs hit the sweet spot—tabletop simplicity, immersive 360° experience, and room‑friendly audio—without the extra pieces, mounts, or training.
Where a Meeting Owl fits best
Huddle & small rooms (2–6 people): One Meeting Owl 3 covers the table and keeps discussions natural for remote attendees.
- Expanding needs: Add an Expansion Mic, or pair a second Owl to stretch into longer tables or U‑shapes—no re‑architecting required.
- Teams Rooms standardization: Use the Meeting Owl 3 + MAXHUB XCore kit for a “walk in, tap once, and go” experience without giving up Owl’s 360° view.
Quick setup checklist (steal this)
- Place the Meeting Owl 3 centered on the table
- Connect power and USB‑C to your in‑room PC or host laptop
- In your UC app (Teams/Zoom/Meet), select Meeting Owl for camera/mic/speaker
- Optional: Use the Owl app to fine‑tune framing and enable features; connect Wi‑Fi for OTA updates
- Room grows? Add Expansion Mic or a second Owl via Owl Connect
Bottom line
If you’re an SMB leader who wants reliable, great‑looking hybrid meetings without a rack of gear, start with Owl Labs. It’s the fastest path from unboxing to productive collaboration, and it keeps pace as your spaces evolve.
