Elgato has unveiled its most powerful game capture devices yet. Supporting HDR and VRR passthrough at 4K high refresh rates, they check many boxes for content creators without taking up much space. Equipped with the latest chipsets and features, the Elgato 4K X and 4K Pro should cover all your game recording needs.
Let’s take a look.
Elgato 4K X
The 4K X is a portable recording device roughly the size of a wallet, measuring 112mm x 72mm x 18mm. It aims to deliver a no-compromise gaming experience on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and more. Thanks to its HDMI 2.1 ports and USB 3.2 10Gbps connectivity, the 4K X can pass through up to 4K resolution at 144Hz. It also supports HDR10 and VRR for a rich and tear-free experience.
When it comes to capturing gameplay video, this little box can record up to 4K at 144Hz or 1080p at 240Hz. However, note that you can only capture the latter in SDR. The 4K X is compatible with Windows, Mac, and, for the first time, the newer iPads with a USB-C port.
Elgato 4K Pro
The 4K Pro is a PCIe capture card for desktop PCs, aimed at users seeking top-of-the-line capabilities. This internal card takes only one slot, measuring 121mm x 65mm x 19mm, and connects via a PCIe 2.0 x4 interface. The 4K Pro offers two HDMI 2.1 ports for up to 8K60 HDR10 passthrough, alongside VRR support.
Regarding video capture, this one can record up to 4K 60Hz or 1080p 240Hz, including HDR10. Unfortunately, the 4K Pro doesn’t record 4K 144Hz for some reason. This may be a deal breaker for some since 4K 144Hz displays are now widely available.
Lastly, the Multi App support enables you to send your capture feed to multiple software at the same time, so you can record raw gameplay while streaming. Both the 4K X and 4K Pro work seamlessly with popular broadcast apps, including OBS Studio, Twitch Studio, Streamlabs, vMix, and more. Both cards come with extra HDMI cables, and the 4K X also includes a USB 3.2 C-to-C cable to get you connected right away.
The 4K X is available from Elgato’s store at £229.99 / €249.99 / $229.99, with the 4K Pro sitting at £279.99 / €299.99 / $279.99, both backed by a two-year warranty.
