The shift to hybrid work has introduced a new challenge for organizations of all sizes: choosing the right meeting room hardware. With a host of devices available, from all-in-one cameras to complex ecosystem setups, selecting the perfect gear can be confusing, especially when company size, room dimensions, budget, and meeting purpose vary.
Owl Labs, with its range of AI-powered video collaboration tools, offers a solution for every stage of growth.
The start-up/small team solution (~2–10 employees)
For burgeoning businesses and tight-knit teams, the focus is typically on affordability, portability, and plug-and-play simplicity. You likely operate in small huddle spaces and need reliable, high-quality hardware for daily stand-ups, client calls, and quick check-ins.
Recommended device: The Meeting Owl 3
The Meeting Owl 3 is the quintessential “go-to” choice for huddle spaces and small conference rooms. This all-in-one 360° camera, mic, and speaker sits in the center of the table, using its AI-powered Owl Intelligence System (OIS™) to automatically focus on whoever is speaking.
- Key specs: 1080p HD video output, 360° panoramic view, and an 18 ft (5.5 m) audio pickup radius.
- Benefits: Affordable, highly portable, and extremely simple to set up. Its inclusive 360° view ensures remote participants feel like they have a seat at the table, promoting equitable meeting participation without breaking the bank.
Example use case: the daily stand-up
A design start-up with an 8-person hybrid team uses the Meeting Owl 3 in their small, central huddle space. Since the device sits in the middle of the table, their remote developer can easily see the body language of the entire team, and the automatic speaker focus ensures they never miss a key comment, making their daily 15-minute stand-ups efficient and engaging.
The mid-size company ecosystem (~10–50 employees)
As your company grows, so does the complexity of your workspace. Mid-size firms often manage multiple meeting rooms (small breakouts and a main boardroom), host more formal presentations, and require technology that scales and offers superior clarity.
Recommended device: The Meeting Owl 4+
The Meeting Owl 4+ is designed for the maturing enterprise. It takes the simplicity of the Meeting Owl 3 and enhances it with next-generation processing and camera capabilities, making it ideal for medium-sized rooms where visual detail is paramount.
- Key specs: 4K Ultra HD output resolution, a high-resolution 64MP camera sensor, and enhanced processing power.
- Benefits: The 4K resolution provides significant future-proofing for your investment, ensuring remote participants receive the clearest possible video quality, which is especially important for shared documents or detailed presentations.
Example use case: executive conference call
A 30-employee mid-size firm places the Meeting Owl 4+ in their main conference room (medium room, up to 9 participants) for executive meetings and detailed hybrid presentations where image clarity is critical. They deploy Meeting Owl 3s in their smaller breakout and focus rooms, creating a cost-effective, multi-room standard.
The enterprise/large-scale setup (50+ employees)
Large organizations, global companies, and enterprises have the most demanding hybrid needs. They require solutions for large boardrooms, training/classroom-style setups, and rooms where both 360° table views and a front-of-room presenter view are necessary.
Recommended setup: The Owl Labs ecosystem
For maximum coverage and professional-grade video, enterprises leverage the combined power of multiple Owl devices through wireless device pairing.
- Core setup: Meeting Owl 4+, Owl Bar (or two paired Meeting Owl 4+ devices), and Expansion Mic (as needed).
- Owl Bar Key Specs: The Owl Bar is a 4K front-of-room camera, mic, and speaker system. When wirelessly paired with a Meeting Owl, the system intelligently switches between the 360° table view and the front-of-room bar, ensuring the best angle is captured at all times.
Example use case: non-traditional spaces
A global company conducts quarterly all-hands meetings in a large U-shaped training room. They use a Meeting Owl 4+ paired with an Owl Bar and an Expansion Mic. The Owl Bar captures the presenter and the main screen head-on, while the Meeting Owl captures the 360° audience discussion. This combined feed ensures remote attendees are fully included, seeing both the presenter’s focus and the reactions from the in-room audience.
Hybrid Hardware FAQ
- Q: What room size should I consider when choosing a Meeting Owl?
A: The Meeting Owl 3 and Meeting Owl 4+ are recommended for rooms up to about 15 ft x 20 ft (4.5m x 6m). For larger spaces, you should use Owl Connect to pair two Meeting Owls, or use an Expansion Mic to extend the audio pickup radius by an additional 8 feet (2.5m). - Q: Do I need multiple devices for my office?
A: It depends on your meeting frequency and room setup. A good rule of thumb is one Owl device per dedicated meeting space where hybrid collaboration occurs. For medium to large rooms, combining a Meeting Owl with an Owl Bar (or pairing two Meeting Owls) provides the most comprehensive coverage. - Q: How does Owl Labs integrate with popular video platforms (Zoom, Teams)?
A: All Meeting Owl devices are plug-and-play and certified for or compatible with all major video conferencing platforms, including Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, and Webex. They simply connect to your host computer via USB-C and act as the room’s camera, mic, and speaker. - Q: How many employees do I need before I choose the “enterprise” bundle?
A: The decision is based less on employee count and more on room size and meeting complexity. If you have a single conference room larger than 20 feet long, or if you run formal presentations/training with U-shaped seating, the multi-device Owl Bar + Meeting Owl ecosystem is the recommended choice, regardless of your total headcount.
The right hybrid hardware is the foundation of an effective and equitable remote working strategy. By evaluating your team size, meeting frequency, budget, and the physical configuration of your rooms, you can easily map your needs to the perfect Owl Labs solution.
