If you're playing on a console, though, you may want to look at investing in a capture card so you're able to stream gameplay live to your PC at a higher quality than what's available as standard on your console of choice. If you're on a PC, software like OBS can bypass the need for a capture card by capturing your gameplay directly. Best capture cards - FAQs Do I need a capture card for streaming? This capture card can also act as a storage box, which means you can use the whole device as a card reader via USB, so you won’t have to worry about corrupting any files or losing previous gameplay clips. You can record in 1080p60 with lagless 4K passthrough both when connected to a PC and Mac, or you can go entirely computer-free and record footage to an SD card. The AverMedia Live Gamer Portable 2 Plus excels above some of its competition in the mid-range market because of its versatility. You can expect to pay around $159.99 / £141.99 / $AU221.45, though you can frequently find it cheaper than this as discounts are common. ❌ You want to record 4K: While the AverMedia Live Gamer Portable 2 Plus supports 4K60 passthrough, you're capped at 108060 here, so you'll want to consider an alternative if a higher resolution is desired.ĭespite being nearly five years old, the AverMedia Live Gamer Portable 2 Plus continues to thrive as one of the best capture cards in terms of its price to performance. Still, for the price tag, it’s hard to argue against if you’re after something multi-purpose for console streaming. Now, we should stress that you won’t get the same level of consistent quality as you would from a larger box with better encoding. For the relatively low asking price of $49.99 / £54.44 / AU$89.99, that’s some serious bang for your buck all wrapped up in a form factor that no other capture card can quite compare to right now. You can mirror the gameplay from a smaller screen to a larger one, and record through the Genki Arcade program on your computer. It plugs into any compatible games console, such as the PS5, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, or Steam Deck via HDMI input and then outputs via USB-C to USB-A in 1080p60 to devices such as a gaming TV or gaming monitor. The Genki ShadowCast is a full-featured screen capture and mirroring device that’s the size of a typical USB thumb drive.

Have you ever wanted a pocket-sized capture card? If so, you can search no longer. ❌ You need consistent results: Due to how the Genki Shadowcast works, the video quality from certain devices can vary if you're after a catch-all solution. While an investment, there’s no denying the quality and versatility here. Should you want to plug into a PC, the capture card features USB 3.0 connectivity and full support for the likes of OBS Studio and direct access to Twitch and YouTube. What’s particularly impressive about the 4K60 S+ is the HEVC chip which allows for lossless encoding for reliable picture quality with little to no artifacts over the native picture. We can only recommend this to seasoned streamers looking for an upgrade or those with serious cash to burn. With its asking price of $399.99 / £389.99 / AU $628, this isn’t going to be the capture card that you start with. These innovations don’t come cheap, though ultimately, that’s what stops the Elgato 4K60 S+ from taking the top spot.

However, its biggest selling point is that you can record entirely without a computer, as it can record footage to an SD card. In terms of raw features and resolution support, the Elgato 4K60 S+ can certainly be considered the best capture card for 4K.

❌ You're working with a budget: The Elgato 4K60 S+ is one of the most expensive external capture cards available, so the functionality doesn't come cheap. As well as recording your console gaming footage, you can also use it as a passthrough box for DLSR cameras and professional-grade video cameras for a higher-end picture than what a typical webcam can deliver. There’s also a dual focus of the EVGA XR1 Lite. This includes the ability to record in 1080p60 while maintaining 4K60 passthrough, so you won’t notice any slowdown or visual impacts to the overall picture quality on either Xbox Series X or PS5. Despite the humble price, you’re still getting the full functionality you would hope for from a capture card in 2023. At $99.99 / £105 / AU$176, this capture card is for the money-conscious streamer. The EVGA XR1 Lite is an affordable solution that doesn’t sacrifice recording or build quality. There’s no reason why a quality capture card should cost the earth. ❌ You stream or capture in specific formats: There's a limited amount of encoding options available, so double-check that the file types align with your capture software and video editor.

Game capture card for xbox 360