Best Current Capture Cards in 2026: Elgato 4K S vs AVerMedia Ultra 2.1 vs MINI+
Compare Elgato 4K S, AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 and StreamLine MINI+ by capture, passthrough, HDR, VRR, USB bandwidth, software and platform fit.
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Prices and availability are accurate as of the time of publication and are subject to change.
Elgato 4K S is the most balanced current capture device here because it records up to 4K60, preserves useful high-refresh modes, and works with Elgato Studio, OBS Studio, and iPadOS capture. AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 is the performance choice for HDMI 2.1 displays, reaching 4K144 HDR/VRR passthrough and specialized 4K144 capture on Windows. StreamLine MINI+ is the simpler 1080p60 recorder for creators who still want 4K60 HDR passthrough.
The replacement shortlist uses three active Amazon US listings with matching canonical product identities, new primary offers, and active purchase controls. Direct product images were also checked as JPEG files. Seller, inventory, and buy-box status can change, so confirm the ASIN rather than relying only on a similar product name.
The three current capture devices at a glance
| Product | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Elgato 4K S Capture Card | 4K60 capture with 4K60 HDR/VRR passthrough and broad creator-software support | View |
| AVerMedia GC553G2 Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 | HDMI 2.1 gaming at 4K144, ultrawide, 1440p240, or 1080p360 passthrough | View |
| AVerMedia StreamLine MINI+ GC311G2 | Straightforward 1080p60 capture while a display receives up to 4K60 HDR | View |
Match capture limits to the display signal
Passthrough and capture are separate limits. A device can send a high-resolution, high-refresh signal to the gaming display while recording a lower mode over USB. The Ultra 2.1 has the widest passthrough envelope: AVerMedia specifies 2160p144 HDR/VRR, 3440x1440p120 HDR/VRR, 1440p240 HDR/VRR, and 1080p360 HDR/VRR over HDMI 2.1. That advantage matters only when the console or gaming PC, display, cables, and capture host support the selected chain.
Elgato 4K S uses HDMI 2.0 and passes through up to 2160p60, 1440p144, or 1080p240 with VRR and HDR support. It can capture up to 2160p60, 1440p144, or 1080p120. HDR10 passthrough reaches 4K60, while HDR capture is limited to 1080p60 and currently requires Windows. StreamLine MINI+ also uses HDMI 2.0, passing up to 2160p60 HDR, 1440p144 HDR, or 1080p240 HDR, but its recording ceiling is 1080p60.
USB bandwidth and host capability are equally important. Ultra 2.1 requires a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port running at 10 Gbps to expose its intended performance. Its 4K144 MJPEG capture path on Windows also has much higher stated system requirements than ordinary 1080p60 work. Elgato 4K S and StreamLine MINI+ use USB 3-class connections, but they still need a compatible host port and capture application. None writes recordings internally.
Elgato 4K S: best balanced 4K60 capture
Elgato 4K S connects through USB 3.0 Type-C and provides HDMI 2.0 input and lag-free output plus a 3.5 mm stereo line input. Its combination of 4K60 capture and 4K60 HDR passthrough fits current consoles, while 1440p144 and 1080p240 passthrough preserve faster display modes. Capture can reach 1440p144 or 1080p120 when those modes suit the production.
The verified Amazon listing is B0FFTFYGLV, identified as “Elgato 4K S Capture Card.” Elgato lists PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch models, PC, iPhone, iPad, Pixel, and other unencrypted HDMI sources. Supported applications include Elgato Studio, Elgato Capture on iPadOS, OBS Studio, and Meld Studio. The package includes a USB-C cable and HDMI 2.0 cable.
Elgato 4K S Capture Card
Choose Elgato 4K S when the production target is clean 4K60 or high-frame-rate capture without moving to an HDMI 2.1 display chain. It records up to 2160p60, 1440p144, and 1080p120 while passing 2160p60, 1440p144, or 1080p240 with VRR and HDR. The stereo line input is useful when analog audio must enter the capture workflow, and the published software list covers Elgato Studio, OBS, and iPadOS. Its important boundary is HDR recording: 10-bit HDR passes through at up to 4K60, but HDR capture tops out at 1080p60 on Windows. It also requires a connected host and has no microSD recording mode.
Pros
- Captures up to 4K60 and supports useful 1440p144 or 1080p120 recording modes
- Passes through 4K60, 1440p144, or 1080p240 with VRR and HDR support
- Works with Elgato Studio, OBS Studio, Meld Studio, and Elgato Capture on iPadOS
- Includes a separate 3.5 mm stereo line input plus HDMI and USB-C cables
Cons
- HDR capture is limited to 1080p60 and is currently available only on Windows
- HDMI 2.0 cannot match the Ultra 2.1's 4K144 HDMI 2.1 passthrough
AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1: best for HDMI 2.1 high refresh
Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 is the specialist option for a display chain beyond 4K60. Its HDMI 2.1 input and output support 4K144 HDR/VRR, 3440x1440p120 HDR/VRR, 1440p240 HDR/VRR, and 1080p360 HDR/VRR passthrough. The USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C interface carries video to the host at 10 Gbps. AVerMedia also provides two four-pole 3.5 mm connections for headset and gamepad audio.
The active B0CGD86HNB listing is “AVerMedia GC553G2 Live Gamer Ultra 2.1.” AVerMedia now documents capture up to 4K144 MJPEG on Windows through Streaming Center, subject to a substantially stronger host, and up to 4K60 on macOS. HDR capture is not available on macOS. Streaming Center is Windows-only, while the supported toolset also includes Assist Central Pro, its OBS plug-in, and firmware utilities.
AVerMedia GC553G2 Live Gamer Ultra 2.1
Choose Ultra 2.1 when preserving a high-refresh HDMI 2.1 gaming experience is more important than simplicity. It can pass 4K144 HDR/VRR, ultrawide 3440x1440p120, 1440p240, or 1080p360, provided the source, display, cables, and USB host all support the mode. Current firmware and Streaming Center enable 4K144 MJPEG capture on Windows, but AVerMedia calls for at least a recent Core i5-class CPU, RTX 3060, and 16 GB of RAM for that workload. Mac capture reaches 4K60 and excludes HDR capture. The headset and gamepad audio jacks are useful for party-chat routing. It has no standalone storage.
Pros
- HDMI 2.1 passthrough reaches 4K144 HDR/VRR, 1440p240, and 1080p360
- Supports ultrawide 3440x1440p120 HDR/VRR and 2560x1080 input modes
- Current Windows software can capture 4K144 MJPEG on a sufficiently powerful host
- Four-pole headset and gamepad jacks support more flexible commentary and party-chat routing
Cons
- Requires a genuine 10 Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2 connection for intended performance
- The highest Windows modes demand a strong PC, while macOS lacks HDR capture
AVerMedia StreamLine MINI+: best for 1080p60 simplicity
StreamLine MINI+ targets creators whose deliverable is 1080p60. It uses HDMI 2.0 input and output, passes 4K60 HDR, 1440p144 HDR, or 1080p240 HDR, and captures at up to 1080p60 in YUY2, NV12, or MJPEG. At 112.5 by 66.1 by 20.9 mm and 85 g, it is the lightest of these published designs.
The verified B0F9FN7PYY listing is “AVerMedia StreamLine MINI+ GC311G2.” AVerMedia supports Windows 10 or 11, macOS 14 or 15, and iPadOS 17 or later on a Type-C iPad. Streaming Center is available only for Windows, alongside Assist Central Pro and the firmware updater. The box includes a Type-C-to-Type-A cable, but no HDMI cable is listed.
AVerMedia StreamLine MINI+ GC311G2
Choose StreamLine MINI+ when the stream or archive is deliberately 1080p60 and the gaming display should keep a sharper or faster signal. It passes 4K60 HDR, 1440p144 HDR, or 1080p240 HDR while recording at no more than 1080p60. That is a sensible split for Twitch-style output, camera capture, or a compact travel setup, but it is not a 4K recording device. Support spans Windows, recent macOS, and USB-C iPads, although AVerMedia Streaming Center itself is Windows-only. HDMI carries the audio; this model does not list the separate analog audio connections found on the other two. It needs a connected USB host and cannot record to removable storage by itself.
Pros
- Preserves 4K60 HDR, 1440p144 HDR, or 1080p240 HDR for the gaming display
- Records straightforward 1080p60 in YUY2, NV12, or MJPEG formats
- Supports Windows, recent macOS versions, and iPadOS through a Type-C iPad
- Compact 85 g design suits a portable console, camera, or streaming kit
Cons
- Capture resolution stops at 1080p60 even when passthrough is 4K or high refresh
- The package lists no HDMI cable, analog audio jack, or standalone recording storage
Which current capture device should you buy?
Buy Elgato 4K S for the broadest balance: 4K60 capture, useful high-refresh modes, HDR/VRR passthrough, analog line input, and software choices across desktop and iPad. Choose Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 when an HDMI 2.1 monitor and powerful Windows host justify 4K144, ultrawide, 1440p240, or 1080p360 operation. Select StreamLine MINI+ when 1080p60 is the actual delivery format and lower complexity matters more than 4K capture.
Do not select any of these for recording without a computer or tablet. The retired LGP2 Plus comparison emphasized microSD recording, but that capability is absent from all three current verified listings. Also disable HDCP on supported game sources where required; capture devices cannot record protected HDMI video.
Frequently asked questions
Can any of these capture devices record without a PC?
No. All three send captured video over USB to a compatible computer or tablet and require recording or streaming software. None lists an internal encoder with microSD storage. Buyers replacing an LGP2 Plus specifically for its standalone mode need a different verified product category.
Do I need HDMI 2.1 for console capture?
Not for ordinary 4K60 or 1080p60 production. Elgato 4K S and StreamLine MINI+ use HDMI 2.0 and cover those workflows. HDMI 2.1 becomes relevant when Ultra 2.1 must preserve 4K120 or 4K144, very high 1440p refresh, or 1080p360 on a compatible display.
Which option fits Mac or iPad best?
Elgato 4K S explicitly supports Elgato Capture on iPadOS and several desktop applications. Both AVerMedia devices publish macOS and iPadOS support, but Streaming Center is Windows-only. Ultra 2.1 captures up to 4K60 on macOS and does not support HDR capture there, so confirm the intended software and format before buying.
Prices, sellers, firmware, and availability can change after verification. Confirm the exact ASIN, canonical title, new condition, seller, active purchase controls, included cables, host requirements, and current resolution table before ordering.