UGREEN

UGREEN Video Capture Card CM489

Expert rating4 / 10

Capture CardsView on ugreen.com

Form Factor:: Camera Dongle
Max Recording Resolution:: 1080p60
Passthrough Resolution:: 4K60 (loop-out)
HDR Support:: No

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Manufacturer: UGREEN Last updated: 2026-09-12

UGREEN Video Capture Card CM489 (External USB Dongle / HDMI In / 1080p60 Capture / 4K60 HDMI Loop-Out / Budget) Review

If you're shopping for a cheap HDMI-to-USB capture dongle and keep seeing UGREEN's capture card in the search results, the CM489 is a driver-free, plug-and-play stick that records HDMI at up to 1080p60 while looping a 4K60 signal through to a monitor.

It's a genuinely budget device built around a generic UVC chipset, not a premium capture card, so expect noticeably more passthrough lag than an Elgato or AVerMedia card and no HDR at all. For casual recording of a console or retro system on a tight budget, it does the basic job; for competitive gaming or professional streaming, the lag and lack of HDR will show.

Comparison to Alternatives

Against the Elgato Cam Link 4K, the UGREEN CM489 costs a fraction of the price but uses a generic UVC chipset with noticeably higher passthrough latency and no branded driver ecosystem, where the Cam Link 4K uses Elgato's proven encoder pipeline built for DSLR and camcorder capture. Compared to the AGPTEK USB 3.0 HDMI Video Capture Card, both sit in the same budget generic-dongle tier, though the CM489 adds a 4K HDMI loop-out that many AGPTEK units skip.

Specifications

Identity

Brand	UGREEN

Design

Form Factor	Camera Dongle
Connection Type	USB-A / USB-C

Performance

Max Recording Resolution	1080p60
Passthrough Resolution	4K60 (HDMI loop-out)
HDR Support	No

Signal handling

Latency	120 ms

Model	CM489
Driver	Driver-free UVC/UAC

Expert Review

Reviewed by Burooj Alam. Rated by us, not by users.

Expert rating4 / 10

A budget dongle that does the basics for very little money. Fine for casual recording, not for competitive gaming or anything latency-sensitive.

Best for

Casual recording of a console, camera, or retro system on a tight budget
Occasional video calls or lecture capture where latency doesn't matter
Buyers who just need a 4K HDMI loop-out to a monitor alongside basic 1080p recording

Not for

Competitive gaming, where the passthrough lag is noticeable
HDR capture or passthrough of any kind
Anyone who has used a premium card before and will notice the latency difference

FAQs

What are the key specifications of the UGREEN Video Capture Card CM489 (External USB Dongle / HDMI In / 1080p60 Capture / 4K60 HDMI Loop-Out / Budget)?

The UGREEN Video Capture Card CM489 (External USB Dongle / HDMI In / 1080p60 Capture / 4K60 HDMI Loop-Out / Budget) is a capture card from UGREEN. Key specs: Connection Type USB-A / USB-C, Max Recording Resolution 1080p60, Passthrough Resolution 4K60 (HDMI loop-out), HDR Support No, Latency 120.

Who is the UGREEN Video Capture Card CM489 (External USB Dongle / HDMI In / 1080p60 Capture / 4K60 HDMI Loop-Out / Budget) best suited to?

It suits casual recording of a console, camera, or retro system on a tight budget, occasional video calls or lecture capture where latency doesn't matter, buyers who just need a 4k hdmi loop-out to a monitor alongside basic 1080p recording.

What are the drawbacks of the UGREEN Video Capture Card CM489 (External USB Dongle / HDMI In / 1080p60 Capture / 4K60 HDMI Loop-Out / Budget)?

It is a poor fit for competitive gaming, where the passthrough lag is noticeable, hdr capture or passthrough of any kind, anyone who has used a premium card before and will notice the latency difference.