Updated: October 13, 2026

Your console might play at 4K60 while your capture card records something lower. Most capture card specs list two different numbers, and the gap between them is where people get caught out. In our view, the capture number matters more than the passthrough number for most creators.

Scope: four USB capture cards from Genki, Elgato and AVerMedia, linked to each maker’s own US store (Genki store, Elgato store, AVerMedia US store).

Quick picks

• Best overall: Elgato Game Capture 4K S. Our pick because: Elgato’s spec page lists 4K60 capture and names Nintendo Switch 2 as a source [2].
• Best budget: Genki ShadowCast 3 Pro. Our pick because: Genki lists 4K60 or 1080p120 capture with HDMI passthrough, and it’s the lowest tier here [8].
• Best premium: AVerMedia Live Gamer ULTRA 2.1 (GC553G2). Our pick because: AVerMedia lists HDMI 2.1 with 4K144 pass-through, plus headset jacks for party chat and 5.1 audio capture [9].

How we chose: research-based. We used each maker’s own US store pages (the Genki store, the Elgato store and the AVerMedia US store), plus Elgato’s help-centre spec pages and articles and AVerMedia’s spec page (cited below). We picked cards with HDMI passthrough that list console capture. We have not physically tested these cards. All performance figures are the makers’.

Two numbers to check first

• Passthrough is what your TV or monitor gets. Capture is what gets recorded. They are often different [2][3][9].
• HDR capture on the Elgato cards is, in Elgato’s words, “currently only available on Windows” [2][3]. AVerMedia says “HDR capture is not available for macOS” [9]. Genki’s page doesn’t list HDR capture [8].
• PS5 owners: Elgato says its capture devices “cannot capture HDMI signals with HDCP protection enabled”, and that “PlayStation 5 enables HDCP by default”. You have to turn it off under Settings → System → HDMI [4]. Elgato also notes HDCP stays on for purchased movies and streaming apps, so those can’t be recorded [4]. That advice is Elgato’s; applying the PS5 setting to the other cards is our inference.

Side-by-side

	Genki ShadowCast 3 Pro	Elgato Game Capture 4K S	Elgato Game Capture 4K X	AVerMedia GC553G2
HDMI in / out	HDMI in, HDMI passthrough [8]	HDMI 2.0 [2]	HDMI 2.1 [3]	HDMI 2.1 [9]
PC connection	USB-C [8]	USB 3.0 Type-C [2]	USB 3.2 Gen2 (10Gbps) Type-C [3]	USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C (10Gbps) [9]
Max passthrough (maker)	Not listed on product page/datasheet	2160p60, 1440p120, 1080p240, VRR [2]	2160p144, 1440p240, 1080p240, VRR [3]	2160p144 HDR/VRR, 1440p240, 1080p360 [9]
Max capture (maker)	4K60 or 1080p120 [8]	2160p60, 1440p60, 1080p120 [2]*	2160p144, 1440p144, 1080p240 [3]	2160p144 (Windows), 2160p60 (macOS) [9]
HDR capture	Not listed on product page/datasheet	Up to 1080p60, Windows only [2]	Up to 4K144 (spec page also lists “2160p30 HDR”), Windows only [3]	Not on macOS [9]
Headset / analog audio	Not listed on product page/datasheet	3.5 mm line-in [2]	3.5 mm line-in [3]	Headset and gamepad 4-pole 3.5mm jacks [9]
Switch 2 named by maker	Yes [8]	Yes, spec page [2]	Product page yes [7]; spec page “Nintendo Switch” only [3]	Not listed on product page/datasheet
HDMI cable in box	Not listed on product page/datasheet	Yes (HDMI 2.0) [2]	Yes (“8K HDMI cable”) [3]	Yes (HDMI 2.1) [9]
Price tier	Budget	Mid	Premium	Premium

\*Elgato’s own pages differ here. See the 4K S section below.

Price tiers are relative to the products in this article. Each tier is based on the maker’s own US store listing, checked October 13, 2026 (ET). We don’t list street or retail prices because they change. “Not assigned” means we couldn’t find a price on the maker’s own US site. Check the current price before you buy.

Genki ShadowCast 3 Pro: the budget pick

Genki says: “Stream and capture your gameplay in stunning 4K60 or 1080p120.” It adds that “ShadowCast 3 Pro also supports HDMI passthrough to a TV or monitor while you capture,” and calls it “the easiest capture card for Nintendo Switch 2, PS5, Xbox, and any HDMI source — no drivers, no software install” [8]. Genki lists it as working with “Nintendo Switch 2, Switch, PS5, Xbox, and other HDMI consoles/PCs” [8].

Genki’s page doesn’t give passthrough limits, HDR capture or box contents [8]. The same Genki page also sells the cheaper ShadowCast 3; Genki names passthrough as a ShadowCast 3 Pro feature [8]. Our link selects the Pro.

• Good fit: a small, driver-free card for Switch 2 or a laptop/iPad setup.
• Trade-off: fewer published specs than the Elgato and AVerMedia cards [8].

Buy the Genki ShadowCast 3 Pro at the Genki store

Elgato Game Capture 4K S: 4K60 for Switch 2

Elgato’s spec page lists capture up to 2160p60, 1440p60 and 1080p120, and passthrough up to 2160p60, 1440p120 and 1080p240 with VRR and HDR [2]. HDR capture tops out at 1080p60, Windows only [2]. Elgato’s Switch 2 article goes further and says the 4K S captures “up to 4K 60, 1440p 120, or 1080p 240” [5]. We’ve used the spec page’s lower figures in the table.

Elgato quotes Switch 2’s TV-mode output as a “maximum of 3840×2160 (4K) resolution at 60 fps”, with 120 fps at 1080p/1440p [5]. Elgato says the HD60 X “maxes out at 4K30 SDR” by comparison [6].

• Good fit: recording Switch 2 or PS5 in 4K60 SDR.
• Trade-off: 4K HDR is passthrough only, not capture [2].

Buy the Elgato Game Capture 4K S at the Elgato store

Elgato Game Capture 4K X: HDMI 2.1 headroom

Elgato lists HDMI 2.1 passthrough up to 2160p144 and 1440p240, with capture up to 2160p144, 1440p144 and 1080p240 over USB 3.2 Gen2 (10Gbps) [3]. Elgato’s HDR line reads “capture (up to 4K144)”, but the same page also lists “2160p30 HDR” and “1440p60 HDR” capture modes [3]. Expect HDR capture limits to depend on resolution.

Its spec page lists “Nintendo Switch” rather than Switch 2 [3]. Elgato’s product page lists it as recommended for Switch 2, PS5, PS5 Pro, Xbox Series X and PC [7].

• Good fit: high-refresh PC or PS5 capture.
• Trade-off: its extra headroom goes beyond what Elgato quotes for Switch 2’s output [5].

Buy the Elgato Game Capture 4K X at the Elgato store

AVerMedia Live Gamer ULTRA 2.1 (GC553G2): the premium pick

AVerMedia describes “4K144 pass-through and 4K60 capture”, and its spec list reads “Max Capture Resolution: 2160p144 (Windows*), 2160p60 (macOS)” [9]. AVerMedia adds that “A Monitor/TV that supports HDMI 2.1 (4K144) VRR HDR input is required” and to “Ensure the Type-C port on your streaming PC or laptop supports USB 3.2 Gen 2 or above” [9].

For chat, AVerMedia says you can “Connect your headset directly to the GC553G2 4K capture card and manage game/chat volume while streaming or recording, no extra party chat cable needed, with added 5.1 channel audio capture” [9]. In the box, AVerMedia lists an HDMI 2.1 cable, a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C cable and a 4-pole 3.5mm audio cable [9]. AVerMedia calls it “specifically designed for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S”; its page doesn’t name Switch 2 [9].

• Good fit: PS5 or PC streamers who want party chat in the recording.
• Trade-off: HDR capture isn’t available on macOS, and full pass-through needs an HDMI 2.1 display [9].

Buy the AVerMedia Live Gamer ULTRA 2.1 at the AVerMedia US store · AVerMedia GC553G2 (specs)

Our take: For Switch 2, the 4K S and ShadowCast 3 Pro cover the 4K60 output Elgato quotes for the console, and the HDMI 2.1 cards mainly help PC and PS5. (Opinion, not a test result.)

How to choose

If you…	Look at
Want the lowest tier, Switch 2 named	Genki ShadowCast 3 Pro [8]
Record Switch 2 at 4K60	Elgato Game Capture 4K S [2][5]
Want high-refresh capture on Windows	Elgato Game Capture 4K X [3] or AVerMedia GC553G2 [9]
Want headset party chat in the card	AVerMedia GC553G2 [9]
Need HDR recordings	Windows PC, and check each card’s HDR capture limits [2][3][9]
Play on PS5	Turn HDCP off first [4]

FAQ

Why is my PS5 showing a black screen in the capture app?
Elgato says PS5 enables HDCP by default, and its devices won’t display HDCP-protected video. Turn it off under Settings → System → HDMI [4].

Can I still buy the Elgato HD60 X?
Elgato’s page lists it as “Discontinued” and points to the 4K S [6].

Will these record games while I play on my TV?
Yes, through HDMI passthrough, according to each maker: Elgato’s spec pages [2][3], Genki for the ShadowCast 3 Pro [8] and AVerMedia [9].

Related: Best microSD Express Cards for Nintendo Switch 2 · Best Portable SSDs

Related comparisons: Elgato 4K S vs 4K X capture cards · SanDisk vs Samsung microSD Express for Switch 2

Nintendo Switch 2 is a trademark of Nintendo. PlayStation and PS5 are trademarks of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. GearSift is not affiliated with or endorsed by Nintendo or Sony.

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Sources (checked October 13, 2026, ET, unless noted)

1. Elgato US store, product listings and prices (Game Capture 4K S, 4K X): https://www.elgato.com/us/en/p/game-capture-4k-s
2. Elgato Help, Elgato Game Capture 4K S Technical Specifications (checked October 12, 2026): https://help.elgato.com/hc/en-us/articles/37196014096017-Elgato-Game-Capture-4K-S-Technical-Specifications
3. Elgato Help, Elgato Game Capture 4K X Technical Specifications (checked October 12, 2026): https://help.elgato.com/hc/en-us/articles/23658118721421-Elgato-Game-Capture-4K-X-Technical-Specifications
4. Elgato Help, HDCP and Elgato Game Capture devices (checked October 12, 2026): https://help.elgato.com/hc/en-us/articles/360040482032-HDCP-and-Elgato-Game-Capture-devices
5. Elgato, What’s the best capture card for Nintendo Switch 2 (checked October 12, 2026): https://www.elgato.com/us/en/explorer/products/capture/whats-the-best-capture-card-for-nintendo-switch-2/
6. Elgato, Game Capture HD60 X page (discontinued) and The Difference Between 4K S and HD60 X (checked October 12, 2026): https://www.elgato.com/us/en/p/game-capture-hd60-x · https://www.elgato.com/us/en/explorer/products/capture/whats-the-difference-between-4k-s-and-hd60-x/
7. Elgato, Game Capture 4K X product page: https://www.elgato.com/us/en/p/game-capture-4k-x
8. Genki store, ShadowCast 3 Pro product page: https://www.genkithings.com/products/shadowcast-3-pro
9. AVerMedia US store, GC553G2 Live Gamer ULTRA 2.1 product page: https://shop-us.avermedia.com/products/avermedia-live-gamer-ultra2-1-gc553g2 · AVerMedia GC553G2 (specs): https://www.avermedia.com/US/product-detail/GC553G2