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Elgato 4K S vs Magewell USB Capture HDMI 4K Plus: Comparison

Elgato 4K S and Magewell USB Capture HDMI 4K Plus differ on connection type: Elgato 4K S at USB-C, Magewell USB Capture HDMI 4K Plus at USB-C / Thunderbolt.

Elgato 4K S (External USB-C / 4K60 Capture / 1440p120 & 1440p144 & 1080p240 Passthrough / Portable)
ElgatoElgato 4K S
Magewell USB Capture HDMI 4K Plus (External USB-C / 4K30 Capture / 4K60 Zero-Latency Loop-Through / Driver-Free UVC)
MagewellMagewell USB Capture HDMI 4K Plus

Specs

Specification
Elgato 4K S (External USB-C / 4K60 Capture / 1440p120 & 1440p144 & 1080p240 Passthrough / Portable)
Elgato 4K S
Magewell USB Capture HDMI 4K Plus (External USB-C / 4K30 Capture / 4K60 Zero-Latency Loop-Through / Driver-Free UVC)
Magewell USB Capture HDMI 4K Plus
Form FactorExternal USBExternal USB
BrandElgatoMagewell
Connection TypeUSB-CUSB-C / Thunderbolt
Max Recording Resolution4K604K30
Passthrough Resolution4K60, 1440p120, 1440p144, 1080p2404K60
Model4K SUSB Capture HDMI 4K Plus

Verdict

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.

Magewell USB Capture HDMI 4K Plus

8 / 10 Expert Rating

A dependable, driver-free 4K capture device for AV professionals who value UVC reliability over gaming-oriented extras.

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