Elgato 4K S vs AVerMedia GC553Pro: which 4K capture card should you buy?
Updated 15 October 2026 · Prices checked 15 October 2026, and they change often
These are the two cheapest mainstream USB capture cards that record console gameplay in 4K at 60 fps while passing it through to your TV with HDR and VRR. PC Gamer reviewed both in 2025 and compared them directly. On paper they're very close, so the right choice comes down to your computer, your software habits and the price on the day.
Short answer: on a Windows PC, if you want the most features for the least money, get the AVerMedia GC553Pro. Get the Elgato 4K S if you're on a Mac, want the simpler software, or want to plug a mic or chat audio straight into the card.
Spec comparison
| AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra S (GC553Pro) | Elgato Game Capture 4K S | |
|---|---|---|
| Max capture | 4K60, 1440p144, 1080p240 | 4K60, 1440p120, 1080p240 (Elgato's current specs; launch reviews listed 1080p120) |
| HDR capture | Up to 1440p30 / 1080p60 (Windows only) | Up to 1080p60 (Windows only) |
| Passthrough | 4K60, 1440p144, 1080p240, with HDR and VRR | 4K60, 1440p120, 1080p240, with HDR10 and VRR |
| HDMI / PC connection | HDMI 2.0 in and out; USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 1, 5 Gbps) | HDMI 2.0 in and out; USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 1, 5 Gbps) |
| Audio | 5.1 surround capture (Windows, via Streaming Center or its OBS plugin); no analog input | Stereo; 3.5 mm line-in for a mic or chat audio |
| Uncompressed capture | RGB24 at up to 1440p30 / 1080p60 (Windows only) | Not listed |
| Software | AVerMedia Streaming Center, Assist Central Pro; works in OBS | Elgato Studio; works in OBS |
| OS support | Windows 10/11, macOS 13+, iPadOS 17+ | Windows 11, macOS 13+, iPadOS 18 (USB-C) |
| Mac limits | No HDR or RGB24 capture; 4K60 capture needs an M1 Ultra, M2 Ultra or later | No HDR capture; Apple M1 or better |
| In the box | HDMI 2.0 cable, USB-C to USB-A cable | HDMI cable, USB-C to USB-C cable (both 1.5 m, braided) |
| Size / weight | 112.6 × 66.2 × 26 mm, 99 g | 112 × 72 × 18 mm, 90 g |
| Price (15 Oct 2026) | $139.99 at AVerMedia's US store ($149.99 list) | $159.99 at Elgato |
Specs come from AVerMedia's and Elgato's own pages, plus the spec tables in the PC Gamer and Windows Central reviews. Neither card captures HDCP-protected signals, so turn HDCP off on a PS5 (Settings → System → HDMI). Check the live price before you buy.
Where the AVerMedia GC553Pro wins
AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra S (GC553Pro)
- Price. It was $20 cheaper than the 4K S at the makers' own stores on 15 Oct 2026. TechPowerUp's July 2025 review found it for $110.
- More capture options. It adds 1440p144 capture, HDR capture at 1440p30 (the 4K S stops at 1080p), and uncompressed RGB24 capture at 1080p60 on Windows. TechPowerUp said RGB24 recording at 1080p60 "delivered excellent quality, with no noticeable compression artifacts".
- 5.1 surround audio. PC Gamer marked the 4K S down for not having it. To capture 5.1 in OBS you need AVerMedia's OBS plugin.
- Measured low latency. TechPowerUp measured on-screen lag going from 3.8 ms direct to 4.4 ms through the card's passthrough, and called the difference negligible.
- Reviews. PC Gamer scored it 91/100, calling it "the most affordable and reliable piece of kit I've found for recording high quality content." Their reviewer recorded about six hours at a time on Xbox Series X and PS5 without a problem. TechPowerUp said it "behaved exactly as expected in all test scenarios", with no signal drops or corruption.
Keep in mind: PC Gamer called the Streaming Center app "clunky" and said you need it for full settings. TechPowerUp found OBS setup simple but said Streaming Center "lacks depth", and you need it to record with VRR. High-frame-rate capture (1440p120/144, 1080p240) and ultrawide 3440×1440 capture use MJPEG compression only. Only preset resolution and refresh combinations work, so a 1080p180 monitor falls back to 144 Hz passthrough. The HDMI ports and the USB-C port are on opposite sides, which TechPowerUp said makes cable management harder. On a Mac you lose HDR capture, and 4K60 capture needs a high-end Ultra-series chip.
Where the Elgato 4K S wins
Elgato Game Capture 4K S
- Easier software. PC Gamer called Elgato Studio "intuitive and easy to use, if a little barebones", and found setup took "no more than a couple of minutes". Windows Central called the new software "sublime" and more stable than Elgato's older tools.
- Mac-friendly 4K. Elgato lists Apple M1 or better as the requirement. AVerMedia needs an M1 Ultra, M2 Ultra or later for 4K60 capture on a Mac. Neither card captures HDR on a Mac.
- Mic or chat input on the card. The 3.5 mm line-in lets you add a mic or party-chat audio straight onto the capture. The GC553Pro has no analog input.
- Better cables in the box. It comes with braided USB-C to USB-C and HDMI cables, which Windows Central described as high quality.
- Reviews. Windows Central gave it 5/5, calling it "as close to perfect as Elgato has ever made one of their capture cards". PC Gamer scored it 86/100. Their reviewer compared passthrough on a monitor beside the TV and found "nearly no latency", and played hours of games through it on Switch 2 and other consoles.
Keep in mind: PC Gamer still preferred the AVerMedia, which "does everything the 4K S does and more for a little cheaper". No 5.1 audio. HDR capture tops out at 1080p60, and only on Windows. Windows Central's one hardware complaint was that the light unit slides around when the cables pull on it. Elgato lists Windows 11 as the minimum, while AVerMedia also supports Windows 10.
Which one fits you?
- Windows PC, PS5 or Xbox, best footage for the money: AVerMedia GC553Pro. Use it through OBS, and open Streaming Center only for VRR recording.
- Mac or iPad: Elgato 4K S. It does 4K60 capture on any M1-or-newer Mac.
- You stream with party chat or want a mic recorded onto the gameplay: Elgato 4K S, because of the 3.5 mm input.
- You want 5.1 surround in your recordings, or a high-refresh 1440p monitor: GC553Pro.
- You only stream at 1080p60: you may not need either. The Elgato Game Capture Neo records 1080p60 with 4K60 HDR passthrough for less.
Prices on these two cross over often. Windows Central's price widget showed the 4K S at $134.99 at Best Buy on 15 Oct 2026, below AVerMedia's $139.99. If the 4K S is the same price or cheaper when you buy, the cost argument for the GC553Pro goes away.
Setup tips that apply to both
- Use a real USB 3 port (5 Gbps or faster), plugged straight into the PC rather than a hub, with the supplied cable. TechPowerUp said this is the usual cause when high resolutions don't show up in OBS.
- Your PC does the encoding. Neither card has an onboard encoder. AVerMedia recommends at least a GTX 1060 or RX 5700 with an Intel 6th-gen Core i5 or Ryzen 3000 on desktop. Elgato asks for an 8th-gen Core i5 or Ryzen and a GTX 10-series GPU.
- 4K recordings are big. PC Gamer's reviewer noted their laptop would have filled its storage quickly. Record to a large drive, or record at 1080p if you only upload at 1080p.
- The rest of the stream matters too. See our budget streaming setup for the mic, light and webcam to go with it.
Sources
- GC553Pro specs, box contents, Mac limits and system requirements: avermedia.com; price: AVerMedia US store ($139.99, list $149.99), checked 15 Oct 2026
- GC553Pro review (June 2025, 91/100): PC Gamer
- GC553Pro review with latency test (July 2025): TechPowerUp: software, performance, conclusion
- 4K S product page, capture and passthrough table, and price ($159.99): elgato.com, checked 15 Oct 2026; 4K S vs Neo comparison; system requirements
- 4K S review (Aug 2025, 86/100), including the head-to-head verdict: PC Gamer
- 4K S review (Aug 2025, 5/5), spec table and box contents: Windows Central (retailer prices from its price widget, 15 Oct 2026)