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Blackmagic Design Web Presenter vs Elgato 4K S: Comparison
What is the difference between Blackmagic Design Web Presenter and Elgato 4K S?
They are built to different briefs, and connection type shows it, Blackmagic Design Web Presenter USB 3.0 / 3.2 Gen 1 against Elgato 4K S USB-C. They differ on max recording resolution too, 1080p60 on the Blackmagic Design Web Presenter versus 4K60 on the Elgato 4K S. They differ on passthrough resolution too, 1080p60 on the Blackmagic Design Web Presenter versus 4K60, 1440p120, 1440p144, 1080p240 on the Elgato 4K S.
Who each one is for
Buy the Blackmagic Design Web Presenter for professional presenters switching between two SDI or HDMI camera feeds and corporate or house-of-worship AV setups needing hardware switching with tally, though it is the wrong buy for simple single-camera streamers who don't need hardware switching. It is equally the pick for studios that need a clean UVC webcam output for Zoom or Teams from broadcast gear. Avoid it for console or PC gaming capture, since there's no HDR or 4K support. The Elgato 4K S suits buyers on a 1440p high-refresh monitor specifically. The same goes for laptop and iPad streamers wanting genuine 4K60 capture without an internal PCIe card. It is the wrong buy for desktop-only setups where an internal PCIe card's lower latency and higher bandwidth ceiling would be preferable. Our rating of the Blackmagic Design Web Presenter (8/10): excellent for professional two-camera presenting setups that need to output as a plain webcam. Overkill and the wrong tool for gaming capture. Our rating of the Elgato 4K S (9/10): the most portable way to get genuine 4K60 capture, ideal for laptop and iPad streamers, especially on a 1440p high-refresh monitor.
What Blackmagic Design Web Presenter and Elgato 4K S have in common
Everything else lines up. Form factor read the same on both, so those are not worth weighing.
Specs and benchmarks
Form Factor
- Blackmagic Design Web Presenter
- External USB
- Elgato 4K S
- External USB
Brand
- Blackmagic Design Web Presenter
- Blackmagic Design
- Elgato 4K S
- Elgato
Model Number
- Blackmagic Design Web Presenter
- Web Presenter HD
- Elgato 4K S
- 4K S
Connection Type
- Blackmagic Design Web Presenter
- USB 3.0 / 3.2 Gen 1
- Elgato 4K S
- USB-C
Max Recording Resolution
- Blackmagic Design Web Presenter
- 1080p60
- Elgato 4K S
- 4K60
Passthrough Resolution
- Blackmagic Design Web Presenter
- 1080p60
- Elgato 4K S
- 4K60, 1440p120, 1440p144, 1080p240
Which one should you pick?
Choose Blackmagic Design Web Presenter if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Choose Elgato 4K S if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Price comparison
| Retailer | Blackmagic Design Web Presenter | Elgato 4K S |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | View on Amazon | |
| Best Buy | View on Best Buy |
Disclaimer: The price and specification of the given product may differ from the actual product. Please confirm on the retailer's website before buying.
Verdict
Blackmagic Design Web Presenter
8 / 10 Expert Rating
Excellent for professional two-camera presenting setups that need to output as a plain webcam.
Elgato 4K S
9 / 10 Expert Rating
The most portable way to get genuine 4K60 capture, ideal for laptop and iPad streamers, especially on a 1440p high-refresh monitor.