Tech & Gadgets

Elgato 4K S Capture Card for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2

Name: Elgato 4K S Capture Card for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2
Brand: Elgato

An external USB-C capture card that records up to 2160p60 while passing up to 4K60 with VRR through to the TV, with both cables in the box.

Every Dad Carry is reader-supported. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more.

Check price on Amazon

By Mike Manning
Marine veteran, gym owner, dad

Recon Report: full review pendingPhotos: ElgatoUpdated 2026-09-17

Quick Specs

CategoryTech & Gadgets

BrandAmazon

ReviewedSep 17, 2026

Capture resolutionsUp to 2160p60, plus 1440p60, 1080p120, 1080p60, 720p60, 567p and 480p

PassthroughLag-free passthrough up to 2160p60, 1440p120, 1080p240, with Variable Refresh Rate support

HDRHDR10 10-bit passthrough up to 4K60; HDR capture up to 1080p60, Windows only

ConnectionUSB-C 3.2 Gen1 5Gbps to the computer; HDMI 2.0 unencrypted input and HDMI 2.0 passthrough output

Audio input3.5mm TRS stereo line-in for commentary or party chat

Size and weight17 x 112 x 72 mm (4.4 x 2.8 x 0.7 in), 90 g / 3.2 oz

In the boxGame Capture 4K S, USB C-to-C cable (150 cm), HDMI 2.0 cable (150 cm)

Software and host supportElgato Studio, OBS Studio, Meld Studio, Discord; Windows 11+, macOS 14.2+, iPadOS 18+

What Stands Out

Captures up to 2160p60, and also 1440p60, 1080p120, 1080p60, 720p60, 567p and 480p
Lag-free passthrough up to 2160p60, 1440p120 or 1080p240 with Variable Refresh Rate support, so the TV keeps the picture you bought the console for
Both cables are included, a 150 cm USB-C to C and a 150 cm HDMI 2.0, so the whole install is one HDMI in, one HDMI out, one USB-C
3.5mm TRS stereo line-in for commentary or party chat, no second mixer on the desk
Works with Elgato Studio, OBS Studio, Meld Studio and Discord

What To Check

HDR capture tops out at 1080p60 and Elgato lists it as Windows only, so 4K HDR files are not on the menu
The HDMI input has to be unencrypted. Console gameplay is fine, a streaming app's copy-protected output on that input is not
Party chat from a PlayStation or Switch controller needs Elgato's Chat Link Pro cable into the 3.5mm input, and that cable is sold separately

The 4K S is Elgato's external capture box: it sits between the console and the TV, sends the picture through untouched, and hands a copy to the computer over USB-C. No card slot, no case to open. One HDMI in, one HDMI out to the TV, one USB-C to the PC, and both of those cables are already in the box.

Compatibility before anything else. It takes PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch 2, plus PC and other unencrypted HDMI sources. On the host side it needs Windows 11 or newer, macOS 14.2 or newer, or iPadOS 18 or newer, and a USB-C port. Switch 2 outputs up to 4K60, which lines up with what this card captures. Party chat from a PlayStation or Switch controller needs Elgato's Chat Link Pro cable into the 3.5mm input, sold separately.

The passthrough is the part that matters for actually playing. The TV still gets up to 4K60 with VRR while the capture is running, so recording the session does not cost you the picture.

The Numbers That Matter

2160p60 capture. The top rate for files. Below that it covers 1440p60, 1080p120 and the usual step-downs, so a 120fps clip is on the table at 1080p.

2160p60 / 1440p120 / 1080p240 passthrough, with VRR. What the TV or monitor sees. This is the number that decides whether the game still feels the way it did before the card went in the chain.

HDR capture at 1080p60, Windows only. Elgato lists 4K60 HDR10 for passthrough but caps HDR recording at 1080p60 on Windows. If the plan is 4K HDR files, read that line twice.

90 g and 112 x 72 mm. Small enough to live behind the console instead of taking desk space.

Spec	What it decides
Up to 2160p60 capture	The ceiling on your recordings
4K60 VRR passthrough	Whether the TV picture stays intact while you record
USB-C 3.2 Gen1 5Gbps	The port and cable your computer needs
3.5mm line-in	Getting commentary or party chat onto the file

Who It Is For

The dad recording a run with his kids on a Saturday, or clipping his own late-night sessions, who wants a full 4K file and does not want to open the PC to get one. For the older, cheaper option that captures at 1080p60 while still passing 4K60 to the TV, compare the Elgato HD60 S+. If the source is a camera rather than a console, the Elgato Cam Link 4K is the other shape of the same idea. Big capture files fill a drive fast, so a SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD is worth having on the desk.

Check current price on Amazon

Every Dad Carry earns a commission on qualifying purchases made through the link above, at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

The Short Version

The current Elgato external card for a dad who wants to record console gameplay without giving up the picture on the TV. Check the host side first: it needs Windows 11 or newer, macOS 14.2 or newer, or iPadOS 18 or newer, plus a USB-C port.