Consumercarts

Consumercarts is reader-supported. Learn more

Genki ShadowCast 2 vs DIGITNOW! V316 4K HDMI Video Capture Card: Comparison

Genki ShadowCast 2 vs DIGITNOW! V316 4K HDMI Video Capture Card: the latency difference

The gap that matters here is latency: Genki ShadowCast 2 35 ms against DIGITNOW! V316 4K HDMI Video Capture Card 70 ms, which puts Genki ShadowCast 2 100% ahead.

Who each one is for

The Genki ShadowCast 2 is the one to take for travelers and portable streamers wanting the smallest possible capture device and console capture where 1080p60 recording is genuinely enough, though it is not built for anyone wanting established big-brand software support and long-term update cadence. It also earns its place with buyers on a 4K monitor who still want smooth passthrough while recording at 1080p60. It is not the one for 4K recording itself, this device only supports 4K passthrough, not 4K capture. The DIGITNOW! V316 4K HDMI Video Capture Card suits budget buyers wanting 1080p60 capture with 4K30 passthrough for less and casual streamers who don't need an established capture-brand name, though it is not the pick for buyers wanting deep software support or frequent firmware updates and 4K recording, this device caps capture at 1080p60. Our rating of the Genki ShadowCast 2 (7/10): an impressively small dongle that keeps 4K passthrough alongside 1080p60 capture, just know it's a smaller company than Elgato or AVerMedia. Our rating of the DIGITNOW! V316 4K HDMI Video Capture Card (5/10): A legitimate budget pick with core specs that genuinely compete above its price, at the support and polish cost typical of accessory-first brands.

Frequently asked questions

Do the Genki ShadowCast 2 and DIGITNOW! V316 4K HDMI Video Capture Card differ on connection type?

Yes. Connection Type reads USB-C / Thunderbolt on the Genki ShadowCast 2 versus USB 3.0 on the DIGITNOW! V316 4K HDMI Video Capture Card.

Is the Form Factor the same on the Genki ShadowCast 2 and DIGITNOW! V316 4K HDMI Video Capture Card?

It is. Both are listed at Camera Dongle, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.

Specs and benchmarks

  • Form Factor

    Genki ShadowCast 2
    Camera Dongle
    DIGITNOW! V316 4K HDMI Video Capture Card
    Camera Dongle
  • Brand

    Genki ShadowCast 2
    Genki
    DIGITNOW! V316 4K HDMI Video Capture Card
    DIGITNOW!
  • Model Number

    Genki ShadowCast 2
    ShadowCast 2
    DIGITNOW! V316 4K HDMI Video Capture Card
    V316
  • Connection Type

    Genki ShadowCast 2
    USB-C / Thunderbolt
    DIGITNOW! V316 4K HDMI Video Capture Card
    USB 3.0
  • Max Recording Resolution

    Genki ShadowCast 2
    1080p60
    DIGITNOW! V316 4K HDMI Video Capture Card
    1080p60
  • Passthrough Resolution

    Genki ShadowCast 2
    4K60
    DIGITNOW! V316 4K HDMI Video Capture Card
    4K30
  • HDR Support

    Genki ShadowCast 2
    No
    DIGITNOW! V316 4K HDMI Video Capture Card
    No
  • Latency

    Genki ShadowCast 2
    35 msBest
    DIGITNOW! V316 4K HDMI Video Capture Card
    70 ms-100%

    Which one should you pick?

    Choose Genki ShadowCast 2 if you want the lower latency (35 ms vs 70 ms).

    Choose DIGITNOW! V316 4K HDMI Video Capture Card if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.

    Price comparison

    RetailerGenki ShadowCast 2DIGITNOW! V316 4K HDMI Video Capture Card
    DIGITNOW!View on DIGITNOW!

    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

    Genki ShadowCast 2

    7 / 10 Expert Rating

    An impressively small dongle that keeps 4K passthrough alongside 1080p60 capture, just know it's a smaller company than Elgato or AVerMedia.

    DIGITNOW! V316 4K HDMI Video Capture Card

    5 / 10 Expert Rating

    A legitimate budget pick with core specs that genuinely compete above its price, at the support and polish cost typical of accessory-first brands.

    More comparisons in Capture Cards