Choosing between the Cisco Room Bar and the Neat Bar Generation 2? Here's how they differ on room size, platforms, camera, audio and price, and which one fits your room.
Short answer: pick the Cisco Room Bar if you want the one that is sized for smaller rooms, so you don't pay for range you won't use and also supports Webex. Pick the Neat Bar Generation 2 if you want the one that covers bigger rooms (up to medium rooms) and also supports Zoom and Google Meet.
Both are appliance+USB video bars; the difference is camera and audio.
Side by side
| Cisco Room Bar | Neat Bar Generation 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4,466 | $4,790 |
| Rooms | Huddle, Small | Huddle, Small, Medium |
| Platforms | Webex, Teams and BYOD/USB | Teams, Zoom, Google Meet and BYOD/USB |
| Camera | 12 MP, 1/2.3" CMOS, 30 fps | Wide camera 50 MP, ƒ/2.8, 113° horizontal FOV |
| Field of view | 120° horizontal, 95° vertical | — |
| Zoom | 5x digital | 4x digital |
| Microphones | 4-element beamforming array plus front-facing mics for speaker tracking | 5 mics in end-fire array + 4 tracking and sensor mics |
| Speakers | Stereo, two full-range drivers, 100 Hz–20 kHz, 93 dB SPL max | Speakerbox, opposing full range drivers |
| Power | — | Built-in 100-240V; in call 10-13W |
| Dimensions | 53.4 x 8.2 x 6.4 cm (21 x 3.2 x 2.5 in) | 650 x 70 x 70 mm (25.59 x 2.76 x 2.76 in) |
| Weight | 1.5 kg (3.3 lb) | 1.7 kg (3.75 lb) |
| Warranty | 1-year limited | — |
| Connections | Video inputs: 1x HDMI (up to 4K30), 1x USB-C (up to 4K30); Video outputs: 2x HDMI (up to 4K60), 1x DisplayPort/USB-C; Network: Gigabit Ethernet, PoE port for Room Navigator, Wi-Fi 802.11ac 2x2 (radio models) | Ports: Ethernet, 2 × HDMI-out, HDMI-in, USB-C (BYOD, dp.alt mode); Wireless: WiFi, Bluetooth (proximity join in Teams), ultrasonic sharing |
Specs are Cisco and Neat's published figures. Prices can change.
The key differences
- Camera: Cisco Room Bar: 12 MP, 1/2.3" CMOS, 30 fps. Neat Bar Generation 2: Wide camera 50 MP, ƒ/2.8, 113° horizontal FOV.
- Microphones: Cisco Room Bar: 4-element beamforming array plus front-facing mics for speaker tracking. Neat Bar Generation 2: 5 mics in end-fire array + 4 tracking and sensor mics.
- Speakers: Cisco Room Bar: Stereo, two full-range drivers, 100 Hz–20 kHz, 93 dB SPL max. Neat Bar Generation 2: Speakerbox, opposing full range drivers.
- Zoom: Cisco Room Bar: 5x digital. Neat Bar Generation 2: 4x digital.
- Platforms: the Cisco Room Bar lists Webex, Teams and BYOD/USB; the Neat Bar Generation 2 lists Teams, Zoom, Google Meet and BYOD/USB.
Which should you buy?
- Choose the Cisco Room Bar if you want the one that is sized for smaller rooms, so you don't pay for range you won't use and also supports Webex. Best for huddle and small rooms, with Webex, Teams and BYOD/USB. See the Cisco Room Bar
- Choose the Neat Bar Generation 2 if you want the one that covers bigger rooms (up to medium rooms) and also supports Zoom and Google Meet. Best for huddle, small and medium rooms, with Teams, Zoom, Google Meet and BYOD/USB. See the Neat Bar Generation 2
Also compared
- Barco ClickShare Bar Pro vs Cisco Room Bar
- Jabra PanaCast 40 VBS vs Cisco Room Bar
- Logitech Rally Bar Huddle vs Cisco Room Bar
- Barco ClickShare Bar Pro vs Neat Bar Generation 2
- Jabra PanaCast 40 VBS vs Neat Bar Generation 2
Still deciding? Read the Cisco Room Bar guide and the Neat Bar Generation 2 guide, see Room Bar alternatives and Bar Generation 2 alternatives, compare them interactively, or send us your room details for a recommendation.
Related guides
- Neat Bar Generation 2 vs Cisco Room Bar Pro: which to buy?
- Barco ClickShare Bar Pro vs Cisco Room Bar: which to buy?
- Jabra PanaCast 40 VBS vs Cisco Room Bar: which to buy?
- Logitech Rally Bar Huddle vs Cisco Room Bar: which to buy?
- Logitech Rally Bar Mini vs Cisco Room Bar: which to buy?
- Logitech Rally Bar vs Neat Bar Generation 2: which to buy?
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