I use my Stream Deck+ every day, and I enjoy mechanical keyboards, so it's great to see Corsair combine the two products into one. The Galleon 100 is a regular full-size mechanical keyboard, but instead of the number pad, you get an Elgato Stream Deck instead, with 12 buttons that can be easily configured to do the same set of actions as any standalone Stream Deck.

If anything, Corsair is going beyond that by adding game-level integration, and it is pretty nifty. The keyboard itself has a lot going for it thanks to a new linear switch and gasket-mounted design, and having used it for all of January, I can say with some confidence that it is one of the most distinctive — and fun — mech keyboards available today.

How much does the Corsair Galleon 100 cost?

Corsair debuted the Galleon 100 on January 29, and the keyboard is now available in all the countries where the brand has an official presence. It costs $349 in the U.S., CAD $499 in Canada, £309 in the U.K., and the equivalent of $349 in most global markets. Similar to other Corsair keyboards, you get a standard two-year warranty. The keyboard comes with a single switch option (the MLX Pulse linear switch) and is sold in a black color variant.

Is the Corsair Galleon 100 a good keyboard?

The Galleon 100 is a definite upgrade over other Corsair boards, and while it isn't quite as heavy as some of the DIY keyboards I used — like the Angry Miao Cyberboard R4 or the Keychron Q1 Pro — it has a reassuring heft, and the build quality is excellent. The keyboard has a gasket-mounted design, and it has much better feedback than the usual top-mounted designs. It isn't quite as bouncy as the Q1 Pro, but it is much better than the magnetic switch-based keyboards I tested in recent months.

The ANSI version of the Galleon 100 gets the standard 87 keys, with a 5-inch panel on the right that doubles as a Stream Deck. It's a pretty cool idea to integrate the control center into the keyboard, and the Galleon 100 isn't any bigger than regular full-size boards.

It doesn't have RGB lighting zones on the sides like the K100, but there's an RGB Mood Bar above the keys that immediately identifies this as a gaming keyboard, and while it doesn't diffuse lighting that well, it is a cool ambient effect nevertheless.

If anything, the keys are the only letdown on this keyboard; the quality and feel of the keys don't quite mesh with the switches that it comes with. That said, I like the matte texture, and the keys are PBT double-shot and have shine-through legends with decent RGB lighting. It's easy enough to switch out the keys should you wish to do so, and I plan to do just that — a set of clear keys would look terrific on this board. On that note, Corsair only sells the Galleon 100 in black, and I would've liked to see a white variant.

The switch is a delight to use; it is a custom Corsair MLX Pulse pre-lubed linear switch with exquisite feedback, and there isn't much better you can get on a pre-built gaming keyboard. I prefer slightly heavier switches, but even with this one, the 45g actuation is pretty great, and it is the highlight of the Galleon 100. It has a 2.0mm actuation point with 3.6mm total travel, and while it isn't a magnetic switch with adjustable keystrokes, that isn't a huge limitation.

The keyboard has two USB-C connectors, but you need to use just one to power the board itself — the secondary cable is to enable USB passthrough. If you don't need the feature (I didn't), you can just use a single USB cable with the Galleon 100. As I use a custom CableMod coiled keyboard cable, this is what I did. Corsair bundles two decent USB-C to USB-A cables in the box, and you get a magnetic wrist rest with good padding.

Stream Deck integration brings limitless customizability

Obviously, the biggest differentiator with the keyboard is a 5-inch 720p full-color LCD display that's located where you would normally see a number pad. This is where the dedicated Stream Deck with 12 buttons is housed, and there are two rotary dials above it as well. You get to take full advantage of the panel; there are six preset screensavers, and you can cycle through these with relative ease — that's just plain cool to see on a keyboard.

What I like about this implementation is that you can easily toggle between a standard number pad and a Stream Deck; it's the defining feature of the keyboard. As someone who likes using full-size boards, it is a definite bonus. The keys on the Stream Deck are similar to those on my Stream Deck XL, and the feature-set itself is nearly identical.

The Galleon 100 gets additional extras by way of game profiles; basically, you get the ability to customize the buttons according to individual games, and that unlocks an additional layer of customizability. I tested it with Train Sim World 6, and it was pretty cool. But it's beyond gaming where I saw the most amount of use with the Stream Deck; it's just effortless to control Spotify, view system stats in real-time, and launch utilities.

My only point of contention with this keyboard is that it needs two different software utilities to control; the keyboard part of it is handled by Corsair's Web Hub, and it's easy enough to change settings, assign lighting, and so on. I have a half-dozen Corsair products, so there isn't any way to sync lighting with the rest of the gear that connects via iCUE. With the Stream Deck, you'll need to use Elgato's utility, and it would've been nice to just have a single location to change everything.

The customizability extends to the hardware as well; you can easily change the keys or the switches, with standard 3- and 5-pin switches slotting in without any issues. That said, a big draw with the Galleon 100 is the MLX Pulse switch, and it is one of the main reasons why I used the keyboard for most of the month. The linear switch is great for gaming and regular use, and I like the feedback it offers, and the acoustics are on point within the case.

Should you buy the Corsair Galleon 100?

You should buy this if ...

✅ You need a great mechanical gaming keyboard

✅ You have a need for the Stream Deck

✅ You need a keyboard with extensive hardware and software customizability

You should not buy this if ...

❌ You don't need the extras

❌ You want VIA integration, or a custom gasket-mounted board with other switch choices

It's hard to stand out in the keyboard category, but that's exactly what Corsair did with the Galleon 100. You're essentially getting two products here, and the pricing reflects that — it is considerably costlier than the rest of Corsair's portfolio and the best gaming keyboards.

If you need the usability of a Stream Deck that's built into the keyboard, there really isn't anything quite as good. Otherwise, there are plenty of regular mechanical keyboards available, with Corsair's own Makr 75 Pro (which I'll be reviewing next) coming with hall effect switches in a smaller design.

Elgato practically has the monopoly on video game capture at this point. There are dozens of solutions from other companies, but Elgato has been at the forefront for so long that its offerings have simply pulled ahead. The Elgato 4K S takes all of that to the next level.

Anyone who watches my very occasional Xbox game streams on YouTube and with the Xbox Two Podcast will know that I have occasionally seen issues with game capture. Whether it's HDMI sources not registering or capture feeds getting corrupted, my weird and extreme setup has often caused strange issues as I've tried to use Elgato products beyond their intended parameters.

The new Elgato 4K S not only accommodates my idiosyncratic HDMI-switch heavy routing set up, but it massively streamlines the software experience with a far more stable, far more intuitive interface. It also incorporates every signal you could possibly want coming from your Xbox Series X|S or PS5, complete with a very fair price point without requiring a dedicated power supply.

This is arguably the best capture card on the market for Xbox Series X|S and PS5 users today, and even older console users, too.

Elgato 4K S Review: Tech Specs

The tech specs on the Elgato 4K S are very focused on targeting current-gen visual targets, namely 4K at 60 FPS, 1440p or 1080p at 120 FPS, complete with VRR (variable refresh rate) and HDR10 pass-through.

One of the irritating things about using capture cards with modern consoles has often been the overlapping and incompatible signals, particularly at the start of the generation. Some of the capture cards I've used didn't support HDR pass-through so you'd get the TV flickering black and the capture card freaking out when games switched back and forth between signals. Part of this was the fault of the Xbox dashboard not supporting HDR, but a lot of these issues have now been ironed out.

The full tech spec sheet for the Elgato 4K S are as follows.

Elgato 4K S Review: Design and Features

Elgato has strongly positioned this capture card as an option for current-gen consoles, namely the Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch 2. You can use this with a PC as well, but PCs generally have good native software capture solutions these days.

The way it works is, it sits between the HDMI signal between your TV and your console, and extracts the video out to a connected PC into Elgato's Studio software. It then records the footage you want to a file directly, which you can then slap into editing software or stream live via StreamLabs, OBS, or other software.

Previous Elgato cards have often required dedicated power supplies, but their console offerings generally keep things simple, given the target audience. We want plug and play, and the Elgato 4K S exemplifies this.

With a click of a button, you can capture 4K footage at 60 FPS, 1440p footage at 120 FPS, and 1080p footage at 120 FPS, too. You can go all the way down to 720p if you fancy as well, and the resulting footage is crisp and artifact-free.

On top of that, you also get HDR10 and VRR pass-through, which is increasingly crucial for modern setups. More and more games are starting to offer "balanced" graphics modes that are exclusive to VRR TVs and monitors, which don't incorporate the typical 30 or 60 FPS frame rates.

VRR compatibility is necessary to prevent screen tearing in these scenarios, so having it on a capture card is always welcome for frequent players.

In the box, you get the capture unit, an HDMI 2.1-certified cable, a USB-C data and power cable, and an instruction manual. The cables are braided and high-quality, and the capture unit itself looks similar to previous versions. It's also similarly lightweight, which can be a tad annoying if you want it to hold a specific position. The taut cables will pull it all over the place, but it's a minor gripe.

It's powered via the USB-C data cable connected to your PC, which is where the game capture files will wind up. An LED on the box informs you of available power and also signifies when recording is in progress. It also has a 3.5mm audio socket on the front so you can feed in an additional microphone for recording audio directly on top of the captured footage, which is always a nice touch.

Speaking of nice touches, the biggest surprise here for me wasn't necessarily the capture card itself, but the capture software, which has undergone a huge transformation.

Elgato 4K S Review: Software and Capture

I should note that I'm probably not the typical Elgato user. I've been using their cards for years, but I also have a remote working setup that is overly and probably unnecessarily complicated. Elgato cards haven't always played nice with that setup, but I was delighted to discover that the Elgato 4K S not only seamlessly incorporated my setup, but was far more efficient at capturing footage than previous cards, despite the various bottlenecks.

I've tried troubleshooting my setup in various ways, including downsamplers, adjusting my laptop's power delivery, and my Thunderbolt dock, among others. For most, having a single USB-C port available on your laptop or PC is going to be enough for any Elgato card, but I have so much stuff plugged into this thing that it probably needs its own power grid. I was delighted at how well the Elgato 4K S worked out of the box, despite everything I've got overlapping here.

I use HDMI switches so that I can get a raw feed through to my TV, and then on one switch port I have an HDMI downsampler to force the signal to 720p for streaming. The Elgato 4K Capture software does allow you to do this via the settings, but I've often found that I get corruption artifacts this way, likely due to my HDMI switch not processing the signal properly.

The new 4K S seems to be far more efficient at processing video than previous cards, making it play nice even when there are potential bottlenecks. People with normal setups should have no issue whatsoever here.

Another great aspect of the new setup is the new Elgato Studio software. It's been out for a while, but I didn't realize it until I got my hands on Elgato's new card here.

The Elgato Studio software is based on Microsoft's modern Windows 11 app SDK, and runs far better than the previous software, which I found to be quite crashy. The 4K capture software previously would also require you to dig into the Task Manager to fully close it if it did crash, which was a bit irritating.

The Elgato Studio software feels far more intuitive and far more responsive in every regard. Hitting record now feels instantaneous, rather than unresponsive. The captured footage is crisp and near 1:1 with what's displaying on your TV, with minimal artifacting or stuttering — even with my laptop running in low power mode.

Previously, to prevent artifacts, I'd have to set my laptop to "high," which suggests Elgato's new recording features are far more efficient.

Elgato capture cards are always solid when you're using them as intended in my experience, but seeing how well the new card can incorporate even complex setups is nice.

The only downside is that Elgato's new Studio software doesn't let you use PC microphones to record onto the footage directly, as far as I can tell. You'd need to use the 3.5mm port instead. It's not a huge deal, but with that feature on top of everything else, it would be absolutely perfect.

Elgato 4K S Review: Conclusion

It's very difficult to find anything to seriously criticize this product for. I think the price is right at $159.99 (and I'm going to buy a second one for use at my partner's place!), the design is small and discreet. The software is stellar, and the capture quality is top shelf.

The only criticisms I could explore are, I'd like to see these devices get a bit more weight and heft to them, to prevent the sliding that happens when they're pulled around by the cables. I wouldn't mind seeing the software get more features, too, like local microphone audio injection, but it's likely Elgato prioritized efficiency and stability above everything else here. And in that, it absolutely delivers.

✅ You should buy this if:

• You want to capture game footage from any modern console.
• You need 4K 60 FPS footage for highest-quality videos.
• You want a capture card that can pass-through HDR and VRR.

⛔ You could skip this if:

• If you don't need or want VRR pass-through or 4K recording, the cheaper 1080p recording Elgato Game Capture Neo might be a better option for you.

As far as capture cards go, this is quite easily the least painful experience I've had incorporating a new card into my setup. Most people won't have any issues with other cards, but even if you have an "extreme" setup like mine, you should have no problems here whatsoever.

Elgato has another big winner on its hands, and the 4K S exemplifies how mature its software suite has gotten, too. Fantastic.

Elgato has officially unveiled the Facecam 4K, a new addition to its webcam lineup and a direct successor, it seems, to their Facecam Pro released in 2022, which we previously reviewed. This marks a long-awaited upgrade.

Similar to how the Facecam Pro was touted as the first webcam to do 4K60, the Facecam 4K also supports 4K60 but boasts a better sensor, a 49mm lens, improved control, and more.

Key features at a glance

The Facecam 4K supports 4K60 video capture (MJPG only), along with uncompressed 4K30 output for those using USB 3.0. This ensures smooth, high-resolution footage with minimal latency, whether you’re streaming or recording.

Another standout is the Sony STARVIS 2 sensor, which delivers sharp, color-accurate video with a wide 90-degree field of view.

Elgato has also included onboard flash memory, allowing users to save settings directly to the device. It’s a useful feature for creators who travel or switch between multiple setups, as there’s no need to reconfigure everything each time.

However, 4K60 is not available when shooting with HDR, with only 4K30 (MPJG only) being the highest support resolution when recording in HDR. If you’re yet to have USB 3.0, you’ll also be restricted to just 1080p60, but the improved sensor should still be noticeable.

Camera Hub 2.1 brings DSLR-like control

Elgato’s Camera Hub software helps unlock the full potential of the Facecam 4K, offering creators DSLR-like control over their image. Users can manually adjust ISO, shutter speed, white balance, and more to dial in a professional look that suits their setup.

The app also includes PTZ controls, letting you pan, tilt, and zoom across your scene while maintaining impressive sharpness. This can be especially handy for streamers who want to present and frame their shot without physically moving the camera.

There’s built-in LUT support too for color grading, along with optional background blur powered by NVIDIA RTX GPUs. This enables a soft, depth-of-field style effect typically reserved for DSLR cameras.

To access these features, as well as the latest firmware updates, you’ll need Camera Hub version 2.1, currently only in beta through Elgato’s website.

49mm lens, filters and more with the Facecam 4K

According to Elgato, the Facecam 4K is the first webcam to support 49mm lens filters, a standard size commonly used in photography and film. This allows users to screw filters directly onto the webcam, just like they would with a DSLR camera.

Among the supported options is a CPL (Circular Polarizer) filter, which helps reduce glare and reflections, particularly on screens. Elgato is including a free CPL filter or a privacy cap with purchases made through their webstore at launch.

The Facecam compatible filters include diffusion, star, black mist, and macro, with a wide range of additional 49mm filters also supported, as long as they can use the standard 49mm size.

Launch notes and availability

If this kind of product excites you, the Facecam 4K is available to order now (July 29th 2025) via Elgato’s store. As part of the launch, buyers can choose between a free CPL filter or a privacy cap at checkout.

Here’s the regional price breakdown:

• United States - USD: $199.99
• Canada - CAD: 259.99
• Europe - EUR: €199.99
• United Kingdom - GBP: £179.99
• Sweden - SEK 2,390
• Poland - PLN 870
• Australia - AUD 289
• Japan - JPY 29,980

It’s worth noting that Low Light Mode is currently disabled due to a last-minute bug. The toggle will appear within Camera Hub 2.1, but it doesn’t function just yet. A future update will restore this feature.

Inside the box, you’ll find the Facecam 4K, a ¼ inch thread mount, and a detachable USB-C to USB 3.0 cable measuring 200cm (79 inches).

For those using the Elgato Prompter, a new backplate is required for compatibility with the Facecam 4K. You can 3D print one yourself, or purchase it separately, though all future Elgato Prompters will ship with the updated backplate by default, replacing the version designed for the Facecam Pro.

Personally, I’ve got quite a few Elgato products already, but I’m still using a Logitech Brio 4K. This definitely looks like a tempting upgrade — especially with the Nintendo Switch 2 compatibility, making it one of the better camera options available for the console.

Elgato is no stranger to the capture card space, and their newest piece of kit makes some strong promises. The new Elgato Game Capture 4K S is the company’s latest external capture card, built with streamers and content creators in mind.

Designed for next-gen consoles and modern PCs, the Game Capture 4K S offers a portable, plug-and-play solution that delivers cinematic quality with near-zero latency.

It is positioned as an effortless way to record or stream gameplay at a professional level, without the usual complexity of traditional capture setups.

What is the Elgato Game Capture 4K S

The Elgato Game 4K S is a portable USB-C external capture card compatible with Xbox Series X, Series S, PS5, Nintendo Switch 2, Mac, PC, and iPad (and I assume any other device with HDMI output).

Before this, Elgato released the HD60 X in April 2022, which marked their last portable capture card launch.

Like the 4K S, it offered 4K60 and HDR10 performance, but it was limited to 1080p60 HDR capture.

The 4K S is designed for simplicity and ease of use, with no drivers required and seamless support for popular apps like OBS Studio, Discord, Zoom, and more.

The card also comes equipped with a 3.5 mm analog audio input, allowing creators to capture in-game chat or add live commentary with ease.

The 4K S feels like a long-awaited upgrade, delivering the higher quality many creators have been hoping for, especially those who are always on the move and can’t take devices like the 4K60 Pro MK.2 on the go.

Headline Features for Creators

The device supports 1080p240fps passthrough and capture, as well as:

1. 4K60 capture for cinematic record
2. High Frame Rate passthrough and capture with up to 1440p120 or 1080p240 passthrough and capture
3. Variable Refresh Rate passthrough to eliminate screen tearing on supported displays
4. HDR10 passthrough up to 2160p60
5. HDR10 capture up to 1080p60 (windows only)
6. Ultra-low latency HDMI passthrough to see your recording in real time
7. USB-C connection for ease of use and portability
8. OBS, Streamlabs, and TikTok Live Studio compatible
9. Compatible with MacOS 13, iPadOS 18, and Windows 11 with no drivers needed.
10. Analog audio input

All-new Capture Software, Elgato Studio

If you are anything like me, you may have spent plenty of time using Elgato’s capture software. I have a lot of personal experience with Elgato’s 4K Capture Utility, which has long been the go-to app Elgato recommends for its capture card devices.

That is set to change in the coming months, as Elgato Studio is poised to replace the 4K Capture Utility.

Elgato Studio is designed to make recording simpler and to make tools like the snapshot feature, which lets you capture memorable moments, much easier to access.

The new software allows you to adjust 4K S settings and experiment with beta features directly within the app, giving creates more control.

When Can You Get It and How Much does it cost?

The Elgato Game Capture 4K S is available now through the official Elgato website, retailing for 159.99 USD, backed with a two-year warranty.

Each unit ships with a high-quality HDMI 2.0 cable and a USB-C to USB-C cable included in the box, giving creators everything they need to get started straight away.

What you need to know

• Corsair has partnered with Call of Duty for a multi-year promotional deal that includes limited edition, custom gaming peripherals.
• The crossover includes Black Ops 6 themed peripherals from Corsair, DROP, SCUF, and Elgato along with BO6-themed PC gaming systems from Origin.
• Five limited in-game rewards are included in the crossover.

Corsair has entered into a multi-year, multi-brand partnership deal with Microsoft-owned IP, Call of Duty, starting with a crossover promotion for Black Ops 6. The deal has spawned a limited edition drop of Corsair products from Origin PC, SCUF, Elgato, and DROP ahead of the game's October 25 release.

Fans who tuned in to Call of Duty: Next earlier this year may have seen the elaborate Black Ops-themed setups surrounding the stage. Esports pros, content creators, and other celebrities sat at battle stations that were kitted out with Black Ops-branded ORIGIN PCs, Elgato Wave 3 microphones, and SCUF controllers. If you were pining to get your hands on any gear seen on the COD Next stage, now is your chance. Corsair and Call of Duty's newest promotional deal will bring a whopping 16 new Black Ops 6-branded peripherals to market that you can use for your very own battle station.

Corsair x BO6 hardware

If you're in need of a new PC to play Black Ops 6, Origin and Corsair have you covered with five options decked out in the black and orange colorway with redacted bars and Black Ops 6's signature orange Cerberus head logo. Origin is offering the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Edition EON16-X laptop, for those who want to take high-performance gaming on the go while staying on theme. 

The EON16-X laptop has a few configurations to choose from, with the lowest priced option including a 16-inch WQXGA 240Hz display, Intel i9 14900HX CPU, and Nvidia RTX4080 GPU starting at $2,617. A 16-inch variant with the Intel i9 14900HX and an RTX4090 GPU is also available for an additional $530. 16 GB, 32 GB, and 64 GB RAM options are also available. For storage, options include Corsair or Samsung 1 TB, 2 TB, and 4 TB options. A Corsair 8 TB option is also available.

Origin PC is offering a desktop with the Black Ops 6 colorway with a starting price of $2,891. The desktop PC from Origin has options for AMD Ryzen 7000 or 9000 series CPUs, 32 or 64 GB of RAM, and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4000 series GPU or AMD Radeon RX 7800 XTX GPU bundled inside of a Corsair iCUE 5000X case.

Corsair is offering three Black Ops 6-branded Vengeance desktop PCs featuring similar redacted black and gray colorways, with the orange Cerberus head logo in the lower corner. Prices start at $2,599 for a build that includes the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X, Radeon RX 7900 XT, 32 GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 2 TB M.2 for storage. 

If those aren't custom enough for you, Corsair also has revealed a 3500X Mid-Tower PC case for your own custom-builds is on the way. The case features A silhouette of Black Ops 6's Russell Adler, complete with redacted bars over his eyes and the orange Cerberus head logo on the back. The side glass features etching that looks to be Adler, as well. No price is listed for the custom case yet.

Corsair x BO6 peripherals 

Any good loadout needs to include slick peripherals, and Corsair has successfully managed to cover every single part of your gaming setup for Black Ops 6. Starting with inputs, Corsair is offering the K65 Plus wireless 75% keyboard starting at $169.99. You can cap off your least used key with a striking artisan keycap featuring the three Cerberus heads surrounded by an orange shield outline from DROP, available now for preorder for $49.

For a mouse, the M75 Wireless Lightweight RGB Gaming Mouse will have its own Black Ops 6 edition for $139.99. Call of Duty's award-winning audio can be paired up with the HS80 RGB Wireless gaming headset, a peripheral Windows Central has previously dubbed one of Corsair's most comfortable headsets. The HS80 wireless headset in the Black Ops 6 edition starts at $159.99, and they're a great way to get the most out of Black Ops 6's audio enhancements.

Console players aren't completely left out in this partnered drop, as SCUF has four new Black Ops 6-themed controllers to choose from: the Reflex FPS, Reflex Pro, Envision Pro, and the Instinct Pro. Prices range from $199 to $269.

And for the content creator inside all of us, Elgato has put together a content creator loadout with a Black Ops 6-themed stream deck and Wave 3 microphone. Both are available now and will cost you $149 each. A new mic also requires a new mic arm, and Elgato's already sleek, low-profile mic arm is a positive addition to your desktop. It's even better when it's Black Ops 6-themed and under $100.

All of it comes together with the Call of Duty MM300 Mouse Pad from Corsair, which gives your desktop a neat, finished look. It's also the most affordable option from the drop, coming in at just $49. Sadly, there's no RGB, but the mat does have reinforced stitching and is 2XL. That anti-fray tech can also come in handy when you put in a couple of hundred hours improving your omnimovement skills.

In-game rewards

"He's one shot! One shot!" is whatever an incapacitated or eliminated player says after losing a battle (even when the enemy is very-not-one-shot) but now it can be your emblem in Black Ops 6. Only if you purchase any of the above-listed Black Ops 6 x Corsair products, however. These limited in-game rewards include the "Going Live" emblem, which features a skull and the phrase "ONE SHOT!" with a comic book aesthetic, the "Settle Down" emblem, the "Clicking Heads" calling card, the "Time to Game" calling card, and the "Focused Fury" calling card.

These limited edition in-game rewards will require Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 to use and can only be acquired by purchasing a Black Ops 6-themed Corsair product, with the lowest costing $49. The in-game rewards are the same regardless of whether you purchase the mouse pad or one of the PCs, or everything from the limited edition drop. You only need to purchase one Black Ops 6 collaborative item to receive all five rewards.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 releases on October 25 on Xbox, PlayStation, and PC via Steam, Battle.net, and the Microsoft Store. The game will be available on day one to Xbox Game Pass subscribers and will be playable via the cloud on Xbox Cloud Gaming or NVIDIA GeForce NOW. There's still plenty of time to preorder Black Ops 6 and get access to the game's preorder rewards. We have a helpful guide on how to choose a version of Black Ops 6 to preorder.

🎃The best early Black Friday deals🦃

• 🎮Xbox Series S (512 GB) |   $284.99 at Amazon (Save $15!)  
• 📺xScreen for Xbox Series S (11.6-inches) |   $159.99 at Amazon (Save $90!)  
• 🔊2.1ch Soundbar for TVs & Monitors |   $36.99 at Walmart (Save $63!)  
• 💾Seagate Expansion Card (1TB) |   $129.99 at Best Buy (Save $70!)  
• 🎧HyperX Cloud III Wired Headset |   $69.95 at Amazon (Save $30!)  
• 📺LG C4 OLED 4K TV (42-inches) |   $899.99 at Best Buy (Save $500!)

I've been looking to upgrade my podcast streaming setup for some time, and today I finally came across a deal I simply couldn't pass up. The Elgato Facecam MK.2 is now on sale for just $119 for Amazon Prime Day, that's down from its usual $149.99 price tag, making this a deal you shouldn't miss!

Thanks to this webcams great software and sensor, my podcasting setup is going to visually look so much cleaner. With 1080p 60fps output, HDR-compatible video recording, and built-in background blur, and a privacy shutter to boot, you can't go wrong with Elgato's latest webcam, which we gave a 4.5 out of 5 in our review.

Today's top Amazon Prime Day deals

• Logitech MX Master 3S wireless mouse | was $100 now $86 at Best Buy
• EVGA X20 wireless gaming mouse | was $70 now $20 at Newegg
• GameSir G7 SE gamepad | was $60 now $42 at Newegg
• MATEIN travel laptop backpack | was $40 now $22 at Amazon
• Baseus 9-in-1 USB-C hub | was $70 now $39 at Amazon
• Kensington SD2480T Thunderbolt 3 dock | was $180 now $55 at Amazon
• SK hynix Tube T31 1TB SSD | was $100 now $70 at Newegg
• SK hynix Beetle X31 1TB SSD | was $135 now $88 at Amazon

What is the Elgato Facecam MK.2?

The Elgato Facecam MK.2 is the company's second attempt at a webcam. In our review, Xbox editor Jez Corden said that Elgato had perfected the webcam, dethroning Razer as the previous champion of streaming webcams.

It features a great build quality with a built-in privacy shutter, a universal screw mount for attaching it to things like tripods, an improved app for effect and control, and doesn't break the bank at its $119 deal price.

What resolutions does it support?

The Elgato Facecam MK.2 features a Sony Strava sensor, which can output multiple different resolutions ranging from low-resolution 540p at 30fps all the way up to 1080p 60fps. The camera can also capture in HDR, which allows for the webcam to handle highly contrasted environments with ease.

The webcam also supports "Pro" image performance, which helps achieve lifelike visuals with smooth motion and professional grade video quality that enhances colors, even in low-light settings. 

You can even adjust the field of view to show more or less or your surrounding area, and the built-in software effects include life-like depth of field blur effects that are beating the competition.

What is Amazon Prime Day 2024?

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Webcams went from a fun social accessory to a critical part of the home office, post-pandemic, and the overall quality of webcams has risen to match demand. Say hi to the Elgato Facecam MK.2, which runs at $149.99 from retailers like Amazon. 

I've used tons of webcams over the years, from the cheapest no-brand ones to the most expensive offerings from the likes of LG, Razer, and Elgato. I also use a DSLR mount with an Elgato Cam Link when I'm feeling fancy, but the vast majority of people don't need to go so crazy with their setups. I typically use the Razer Kiyo or the previous Elgato Facecam depending on where I am, but always felt like Razer had a bit of an edge here. Until now. 

Indeed, whether you're streaming video games on Twitch and YouTube or joining remote meetings, a typical option from round ups like our best webcams list is usually enough to get the job done. But if you want to go to the next level, you may need to spend a bit extra. Luckily, you won't need to spend too much to get a high-quality experience, thanks to brands like Elgato, who have been iterating rapidly on its camera options in recent years. 

Recently, I've been reviewing the Elgato Facecam MK.2 from the firm, which actually comes in cheaper than its predecessor did, at just $149.99, despite being far more potent in features. Should you buy it, though? 

This review was made possible with a review sample provided by Elgato. The company did not see the contents of the review before publishing.

Elgato Facecam MK.2 Review: Pricing and Specs

Perhaps the most notable thing about the Elgato Facecam MK.2 at a glance is its price point. Yes, it's more expensive than other 1080p60 webcams out there, but it also does a lot more. Owing to the Facecam MK.2's powerful software, we have full DSLR-like control to take advantage of the camera's impressive sensor, which has an incredibly broad 84 degree field of view complete with software face tracking and powerful background blurring. It also has integration for NVIDIA's augmented reality SDK which adds dynamic eye contact adjustments, so you can appear as though you're looking at the camera directly at all times. 

The Facecam MK.2's predecessor had far fewer features than this overall, but came in at $199.99 originally which even back then, I felt was far too expensive. The $149.99 price point here feels far more fair, especially given all the features that it's packing in the box. The Elgato ecosystem is also a lot more "mature" now, meaning integrations with other Elgato devices alongside the software ecosystem is generally better and more usable than other options on the market right now. It's frankly impressive that they were able to pull it off without it being more expensive, especially given the current economic landscape. 

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Elgato Facecam MK.2 Review: Hardware and Design

The Elgato Facecam MK.2 sports quite a similar design to its predecessor, all black plastic with rounded corners, a textured front-face with a central Sony Strava Elgato Prime camera sensor right in the middle. It has a blue activation light embedded on the left side, and sits on a highly adjustable monitor clamp complete with a universal screw beneath for mounts and things of that nature. 

Where it diverges a bit from its predecessor is its height and width. Elgato has managed to shrink the overall footprint of the device, decreasing its height and giving it a more elongated shape. The device retains the subtle hoods on top and bottom to reduce potential monitor glare, and houses a powerful internal heatsink to distribute heat. Indeed, there's a lot of hardware packed into this device, with onboard memory for storing settings, as well as onboard encoding and processing to increase response times. 

The Facecam MK.2 sports an integrated physical privacy shutter, which is a nice touch, although it's a little awkward to open unless you have long nails. Even still, it's better than the separate privacy cover included in the previous version, which could easily get lost if your desk is a little messy, like mine often is. Elgato included a USB 3.0 high-speed cable in the box to accommodate its onboard processing features, but it's incredibly rigid and difficult to maneuver, as a result, it can interfere with the position of your camera in some situations. It's by no means a deal breaker, though, and you can always buy a different cable as long as it meets the required speed specs if it doesn't work for you. 

Overall, the Facecam MK.2 represents functional and sleek design conventions, with some welcome refinements over its predecessor. It remains cool while in operation, and its wider footprint makes it a little less bulky and a little more balanced than the MK.1. But webcams are less about the physical presence, and more about your virtual presence. How's the camera sensor?

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Elgato Facecam MK.2 Review: Cam Quality and Features

The Elgato Facecam MK.2 goes up to 1080p 60 FPS which is ideal for streamers. If you're someone who streams games at 60 FPS, this camera will ensure that your frame rate matches your gameplay, with resolution to match. The wide angle also gives you a lot of options for framing your content and your background, with field-of-view sliders and other adjustments available within the Elgato Camera Hub app. 

Indeed, a ton of the Elgato Facecam MK.2's primary functionality and features can be controlled down to minute details within the app, which has become very good over the last few years. When I initially used the Camera Hub back in the day, I found it quite unstable and crash-prone in some situations, but in 2024, that simply isn't the case. It has become very stable, and also has mountains of features to elevate your webcam experience. 

Elgato addressed many of my concerns about the Camera Hub from my previous review. There are now mountains of post-processing and configuration features that can also be saved directly into the camera's onboard storage. Previously, I had to use an external solution to get decent background blurring and virtual depth of field, but Elgato has it built in now, and it's among the best virtual depth of field solutions I've ever used. It also incorporates NVIDIA's camera SDK for virtual eye contact tracking, if you want to make sure you appear to be looking into the camera at all times. 

You can adjust the field of view to a large degree, zooming far out to show off your entire space or zooming in for a more intimate headshot. It also has head tracking, which is a great addition, although the motion isn't the smoothest out there. Elgato could include some easing animation there to make it look a little less jerky, perhaps. It's a minor gripe, though. 

The app also has plenty of standard options, such as contrast and saturation adjustments. It also sports powerful auto HDR control as well, which is a welcome boon as someone who works in a very strangely lit environment. We have two windows in this room, both of which glare on the screens if I don't close them. As such, it's often very dark in my office. To accommodate that, I have backlights to improve my camera quality, but even without these turned on, the Elgato Facecam MK.2 offered great picture quality. It has denoising smoothing as well, which is decent as well if you're in a darker room. Professional setups will want to use some sort of lighting perhaps, but if you're just streaming for fun and not taking it too seriously, the auto HDR here is a great half-measure without breaking the bank or rearranging your setup. The video feed is also incredibly smooth, and allows you to adjust the refresh rate to accommodate the flicker rate of LED backlights, at 60 Hz and 50 Hz. 

While the Facecam MK.2 will struggle in dark environments like almost any web camera on Earth, it fares far better than most solutions I've used. The background blurring is incredibly sharp and realistic, and the camera is likely to only get better overtime as more features get injected into the software. I am incredibly satisfied. 

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Elgato Facecam MK.2 Review: Competition

Perhaps the most obvious competition here is the Razer Kiyo Pro. The Razer Kiyo Pro is similarly priced, RRP at $199.99, however, and also has HDR, 1080p 60 FPS, and a wide angle lens for a highly adjustable experience. The Razer Kiyo Pro is also down to $99 as of writing, which is a steal if you can get it at that price. There's also the Logitech Streamcam as well, which comes in a bit cheaper. 

I feel like the Elgato Facecam MK.2 beats the Razer Kiyo in some ways, notably with anti-flicker tech and onboard background blurring. I think the Razer Kiyo Pro has an edge when it comes to brightness in challenging conditions, however. But, where I feel the Elgato Facecam has a big edge is when it comes to the overall ecosystem. Coupled with Elgato Key Lights and Elgato Stream Deck and other accessories, I feel like Elgato offers an overall more complete control package than Razer right now, although the gap may close over time. 

It boils down to price ultimately. Typically, you'll get a better $50 saving on the Elgato Facecam MK.2, but the Razer Kiyo Pro is quite old at this point, and is frequently on sale. If you can get the Kiyo Pro cheaper, that might be a better option, given that it sports many of the same features and provides at least comparable results. If you don't need all the bells and whistles, there are cheaper options too, like the Logitech Brio. 

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Elgato Facecam MK.2 Review: Final thoughts

My gripes with the Elgato Facecam MK.2 are relatively minor. The tautness of the cable and awkwardness of the privacy shutter are not exactly deal breakers by any means, and the HDR brightening capabilities are generally standard for this price point. All cameras operate on light after all, and if you want a better experience you may struggle to find a comparable option at this price point. 

Elgato addressed many of my previous complaints with the MK.1 version. The software is vastly improved, the privacy shutter is now integrated rather than separate, and the overall footprint is reduced with a more evenly distributed weight profile. 

You should buy this if ...

You should not buy this if ...

The Elgato Facecam MK.2 is another step up for the firm, whose suite of capture cards and other accessories are challenging long-standing front-runners like Razer in the streaming space. Elgato has become my go-to brand for simple mic interfacing, stream control, lighting rigs, and now visuals too. I'm intrigued to see how much further Elgato will push the quality bar in the coming years ahead, and can't recommend the Elgato Facecam MK.2 enough. Just make sure you actually need it, though. 

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Practically everyone in the gaming space has heard of Elgato. It's one of, if not the biggest, companies that deal with PC peripherals and, more specifically, streaming equipment. It's known as one of the best in the business for delivering exceptional quality and value for money, and its latest Neo range is no different.

For those unfamiliar, Elgato's Neo series is a cost-effective and environmentally friendly range designed to provide optimal quality at an accessible price point. But does it deliver on the latter? In short—yes. 

I've been actively using the Elgato Wave Neo as my primary microphone for a few weeks now, and I can't say I'm disappointed. It's a cheaper alternative (coming in at $89.99 at Amazon) that still offers high-quality sound output, but what about it is so great? Let's find out.

This review was made possible by a review unit provided by Elgato. The company did not see the contents of the review before publishing.

Wave Neo: Price, specs, and availability

Pricing highlights

• The Wave Neo is priced at a very reasonable $89.99 in the US.
• The Wave Neo has changeable pop filters (other colors sold separately), a built-in stand, and Elgato sound software, so you can create your perfect setup.
• The Wave Neo is made from over 60% recycled materials. 

The Wave Neo is Elgato's cheapest microphone you can buy to date, and, understandably, some may be wondering what has been sacrificed for that lower price offering. Elgato's premium microphone, the Wave 3, is priced at $149.99, a considerably higher price point than the Wave Neo. 

The Wave Neo is designed to be a cost-effective product that is simple in its approach and isn't designed purely for gaming and/or streaming. It's the perfect starting point for anyone looking to get started in content creation, as well as for someone who takes a lot of business meetings or works from home—the Wave Neo is your guy. 

Add to the fact that the entire Neo series is made from over 60% recycled plastic, its packaging is made from 100% plastic-free, recyclable materials, and has been created with less color to conserve water; it's easy to see why the Wave Neo is a winner. 

The Elgato Wave Neo is available from Amazon for $89.99 or directly from Elgato for $89.99. Sadly, at the time of this review, it is not yet available to purchase from Best Buy or Walmart. 

The box includes the Elgato Wave Neo microphone, the stand, a black pop filter, and a nylon-braided USB-A to USB-C cable. 

Wave Neo: Design and build quality

Design highlights

• The Elgato Wave Neo is the company's first white microphone, which looks stunning.
• The Wave Neo feels exceptionally high quality for Elgato's cheapest offering. 
• A sturdy metal base and pole accompany the Wave Neo.
• Elgato has thought of everything with the Wave Neo, including a neat little space to clip the microphone cable for tidier storage. 

If there's one thing we know about Elgato products, it's that they look and feel premium, and the Wave Neo is no different. I would argue that it's Elgato's best-looking microphone on the market.

The Wave Neo is meticulously crafted from a combination of premium metal and high-grade plastic, ensuring exceptional durability. The included cable, wrapped in a nylon braid, can be conveniently secured within the dedicated cable holder at the rear of the device, maintaining a sleek and organized appearance. The stand base is adequately weighted to provide unwavering stability. The tap-to-mute button requires minimal pressure for activation, and the integrated LED can be effortlessly adjusted to suit individual preferences, enhancing user experience.

It's clear that a lot of thought has gone into designing the Wave Neo, and there's not much to complain about in the design department. The only thing I would have liked was a bit more customization with how the microphone sits on the stand. I would have wanted to be able to turn it slightly for a better angle that suits me and my setup, as opposed to just being able to tilt it, but that's just me.

Wave Neo: Sound quality

Sound highlights

•  The Wave Neo delivers premium sound output for a much more affordable price point. 
• The included pop filter really helps to deliver crisp and clear sound.
• The included Wave Link software really helps to perfect your audio. 

As I have previously stated, the Wave Neo is Elgato's most affordable microphone offering, but does that mean its sound output is the worst? Well, the simple answer is no. I was extremely surprised by how premium the Wave Neo sounded, and I think you would be pleasantly surprised, too.

Let's get into the nitty-gritty of it, shall we? The Wave Neo isn't too dissimilar to it's Wave counterparts, using a cardioid polar pattern mic with a 96kHz sampling rate along with a max 24-bit resolution. It offers a 20-20,2000Hz frequency response with a sensitivity rating of -23dB mid gain and 7dB max gain. 

But what does all this mean? In short, it means that the Wave Neo is capable of capturing a wide range of frequencies with good sensitivity and minimal background noise. Is it the best on the market? No, but it's not trying to be. That being said, this is the best budget microphone I've ever had the pleasure of using. 

The included Wave Link software can be used with all of Elgato's Wave line and is a fairly simple way of enhancing your audio output, allowing you to fine-tune every little detail. You can also add effects to your voice, such as many different Fallout voices, so that's a win in my eyes. 

Wave Neo: Competition

There are so many microphone options out there that it can be hard to tell which are the best for you. Unsurprisingly, there are few decent offerings within the same price range as the Wave Neo. The HyperX QuadCast is a little cheaper due to its age and offers a similar sound quality, but it's all up to your preference. For me, the Elgato Wave Neo is the clear winner, as I prefer the crisp white color and minimalistic look. 

However, if you're willing to spend a little more, you can get the Elgato Wave 3, the company's studio-quality condenser microphone, for around $160. However, some argue that there isn't that much difference between the two microphones for the giant leap in price. The Wave Neo has a broader frequency response but is less responsive. Again, it comes down to personal preference. 

I would also recommend the SteelSeries Alias USB microphone. It is a lot pricier than the Wave Neo, selling for around $179.99, but if you're looking for a professional-grade microphone that will fit nicely in your set-up, this could be your guy. This mic is an all-in-one software solution that puts audio mixing, app routing, and AI noise cancellation all in one place for easy customization. It also has a 3x bigger capsule to capture a wide range of vocal ranges. 

Wave Neo: Conclusion

You should buy this if ...

✅You're new to content creation and need a starting point

If you're looking to get into content creation and need a cheaper alternative to get you started, look no further than the Elgato Wave Neo. It doesn't sacrifice sound quality for that cheaper price, and it's environmentally friendly. It's a win-win. 

✅You're looking at creating content or partaking in meetings on the go

The Elgato Wave Neo can be used with an Apple iPad or iPhone using a Lightning adapter cable. This means you don't need a fancy PC set up to enter the world of content creation. 

You shouldn't buy this if ...

❌You're a hardcore gamer looking for the best-quality microphone

I touched upon this earlier, but if you have the funds to spend a decent amount, then you can get a much better quality microphone for whatever you need it for: content creation, streaming, or just talking to friends in-game. 

Overall, the Elgato Wave Neo is an incredible microphone for its price point. Everything about it is almost perfect: its design, the build quality, the color, the sound quality — I genuinely have very little to complain about. 

Yes, you can get much better microphones when you spend more, but isn't that the same with anything? Elgato has really outdone itself here, creating a budget microphone with the best sound output possible. 

The Elgato Wave Neo is definitely a device that I'll be keeping in my set-up for the foreseeable future, and I cannot wait to test out their other products in the Neo range.

But, please, Elgato, make a white color alternative to all of your products.

While live streaming has come to modern consoles, it never compares to the ultra-flexible options offered on desktops. Dual-PC setups are also more common than ever, and gaming monitors reach increasingly dizzying refresh rates.

So, if you want to capture and live stream 4K footage at 60 FPS without ditching HDR, VRR, and all the other tricky acronyms, can a $279.99 4K Pro from Elgato tick all the boxes?

I'm installing this ultra-premium PCIe capture card into my desktop to see if 2160p recordings at 140Mbps are a realistic prospect for budding content creators.

This review was made possible with a review unit provided by Elgato. The company did not see the contents of the review before publishing.

4K Pro: Price, specs, and availability

Elgato sells the 4K Pro through its official storefront for $279.99 with a 60-day refund policy. Orders over $79 at Elgato qualify for free shipping, though delivery times can vary depending on location.

Alternatively, you can buy the Elgato 4K Pro from third-party retailers. At the time of writing, it's available from Amazon for $279.99, matching the MSRP, without any significant discounts.

Wherever you buy the 4K Pro, Elgato includes a 200cm 8K HDMI cable in the box. You'll need a spare PCIe x4, x8, or x16 slot on your motherboard, as x1 is not supported. While shopping for capture cards, it's crucial to understand that the 4K Pro is not the same as Elgato's 4K60 Pro MK.2, though they appear almost identical. An official comparison highlights the 4320p60 and VRR passthrough support on the 4K Pro, which is missing from the 4K60 Pro.

4K Pro: Installation and setup

Installing a capture card directly into your motherboard provides the best overall recording and streaming experience if you have the appropriate slot to support it. Anyone graduating from a USB capture card like Elgato's 4K X or diving right into the pro performance deep end must carefully inspect their motherboard and its documentation before buying the 4K Pro and attempting an install. You'll need at least a PCIe Gen 2.0 x4 slot, but it works in anything above that like a full-size x16 slot traditionally used by graphics cards.

The tricky part of installing the 4K Pro is how some PCIe lanes share bandwidth with additional M.2 solid-state drive slots and the overall position of compatible slots alongside your GPU. For example, my primary desktop uses an MSI MAG B550 Tomahawk motherboard with a second M.2 2280 SSD in the 'M2_2' slot, which shares bandwidth with the PCIe 3.0 x4 slot used by the Elgato 4K Pro. In short, this means my second storage drive becomes unusable while I have the 4K Pro installed, which isn't ideal, but SATA-based SSDs are a viable alternative.

Clearance can also become an issue with multiple PCIe devices, and the 4K Pro sits close to the fans on my MSI Ventus 2X RTX 3060 graphics card without an option for alternative configurations. It's not entirely blocking airflow, but it's something to consider if you're using your GPU to encode a live stream with NVENC or similar. Still, pushing a GPU to its limits with obstructed fans can lead to overheating issues if the rest of your PC case isn't properly circulating cool air.

On the other hand, my secondary PC uses an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 installed vertically with a riser cable. Surprisingly, there is still space behind this gigantic GPU to install the Elgato 4K Pro without blocking any fans. However, the HYTE Y70 Touch case I use only supports low-profile PCIe devices in this configuration, so I'd need to purchase a low-profile slot bracket from Elgato's spare parts store for $7.99 to use it here. It's crucial to triple-check your motherboard and PC case compatibility before buying the 4K Pro, but installation is beyond simple once you do.

4K Pro: Software and recording

After installing the 4K Pro, Elgato directs you to download its 4K Capture Utility app. If you follow no other instructions, the software won't detect the capture card because it needs the latest hardware driver. This step won't seem unusual for the audience that might install a PCIe expansion card directly into their desktop computer. However, others might find this step a little confusing since there aren't any other explanations written on paper documentation in the box.

Nevertheless, I strongly recommend following Elgato's advice because the 4K Capture Utility software handles firmware updates for the 4K Pro. The only other unusual step with installing this internal capture card is that Elgato asks for more than a simple reboot of Windows. Instead, it instructs users to shut their desktop down completely, disconnect the power supply, and wait for 30 seconds. Motherboards often take a while to discharge any lingering power completely, and this step ensures all PCIe devices are refreshed.

Setting up the 4K Pro with my Xbox Series X proved mostly trouble-free, as the console properly detects the capture card's ability to reproduce a 4K resolution at 120Hz with HDR support. The downside, which comes from quirks within the Xbox hardware, is that switching from the dashboard to 4K games with HDR support causes a 'no signal' message to appear for a few moments. It's not an excessively long wait, but it certainly discourages quick visits to the dashboard to change settings.

Once you're into a game, the 4K Capture Utility app correctly identifies a 2160p resolution and 120Hz refresh rate. However, latency suffers so much that live gameplay from the official app becomes impossible. Input delay is increasingly evident in first-person shooters and other games requiring fast reactions, but Elgato offers an 8K passthrough HDMI 2.1 port with HDR and variable refresh rate (VRR) to alleviate this problem. Unfortunately, recording from this app is hit-and-miss, as it ignores some settings during captures, as setting a 2160p resolution still puts out 1080p video files.

Live streamers will be delighted to learn that the Elgato 4K Pro operates at its best inside OBS Studio. It exhibits the lowest input latency for its preview while still supporting the same resolutions, refresh rates, and HDR. Once you add the 4K Pro as a video capture source, OBS will present a simplified, uglier version of its backend controls for color range and the decoder. Still, it functions as it should, and 4K videos or screen captures offer slightly deeper compression customization.

I had the best experience using 4K Capture Utility to update the 4K Pro's firmware and see a straightforward overview of its features before migrating to OBS Studio to capture video in 4K at 60 FPS with in-depth bitrate and format controls. Elgato will undoubtedly patch out minor issues with updates to the official capture app, and nothing prevents anyone from using the 4K Pro as intended if you're willing to learn third-party apps. If you're a content creator with a capable PC, there's scarcely anything better than Elgato's offerings in the 4K Pro; it just needs a few tweaks.

4K Pro: Competition

If you're in the market for a PCIe capture card in a dual-PC streaming setup, you'll benefit from Elgato's feature set but might crave higher refresh rates. AVerMedia's $269.99 Live Gamer 4K 2.1 supports 2160p (4K) passthrough at up to 144Hz with HDR and VRR enabled, matching the middle-ground used by many of the best gaming monitors today. However, AVerMedia still maxes out its recordings up to 4K at 60Hz, matching that of the 4K Pro. Dropping screen resolution to 1440p unlocks 240Hz passthrough, which might tempt gamers who lean towards competitive shooters, but these metrics only affect passthrough and not your streaming quality.

4K Pro: Should you buy it?

You should buy this if ...

✅ You're a regular gaming live streamer or content creator

Recording gameplay footage from a current-generation console or secondary gaming PC doesn't get any easier with an internal PCIe capture card, and the 4K Pro supports every format you could need.

You should not buy this if ...

❌ You don't have a compatible PC and motherboard

Requiring a PCIe Gen 2.0 x4 slot shouldn't be a problem, but it comes with the caveat of cutting lanes shared by some chipsets, which disables other devices. Certain compact PC cases might also require a low-profile bracket at an additional cost.

It's tricky to recommend a PCIe capture card when Elgato already does a phenomenal job of manufacturing world-class USB alternatives, but the 4K Pro performs well in all the areas that it should. Pitfalls in the official 4K Capture Utility app make the experience lacking versus third-party alternatives like OBS Studio, but content creators are likely already using it.

If you have a motherboard with a suitable, spare PCIe 2.0 lane or better running at x4 and won't sacrifice any neighboring solid-state drives or other expansion cards using the chipset, the 4K Pro is one of the best gameplay capture cards you can buy. However, if you plan to use a low-profile slot or otherwise don't have the space inside a compact PC case, you'll learn how much easier it is to use a high-speed Elgato 4K X via USB.

What you need to know

• Elgato just announced Neo, a new range of accessories aimed at helping stream and control content at an affordable price.
• The Neo range includes a microphone, webcam, LED light, capture card, and Stream Deck.
• The accessories are made to improve video calls, live streams, and productivity easier.

Elgato expanded its accessory lineup this week with its new Neo range of products. Neo includes a microphone, webcam, LED light, capture card, and Stream Deck. While most of Elgato's products up to this point have emphasized gaming, the Neo accessories are more for productivity, though there's some overlap. Elgato also focused on making its Neo accessories affordable alternatives to its more premium, and pricey, devices.

All but one of the Neo devices are under $100. That price range places them over basic accessories that you may get from budget brands but below something like the Elgato Stream Deck+, which costs $200.

"With Neo, we began with the basic fundamentals that users value most,” said General Manager of Elgato Julian Fest. “Things like iPad capture, tap to mute, and accessible lighting controls. Then we developed hardware and software around these core needs.”

“The result is a new kind of Elgato product aimed at an emerging audience,” Fest continued. “An audience that may not want or need complex tech setups, but absolutely wants to be more professional and confident online. We’re excited to see what these individuals can do with Neo."

Stream Deck Neo

The device that will likely get the most buzz out of the lineup is the Stream Deck Neo, which costs $99.99. It's a more affordable workflow controller that can be used to control a variety of apps and devices. The Stream Deck Neo lacks some of the fancier controls of its expensive siblings, such as knobs and dials. But it has eight customizable buttons, all of which can be used in multiple ways since two additional capacitive buttons let you swap to different views. Theoretically, you could have an infinite number of controls set up, though you'd have to do a lot of tapping.

Other Elgato Neo accessories

The Wave Neo ($89.99) is a microphone featuring an extra-tall stand to help position it at the right level to record audio. It has a pop filter, headphone jack, and built-in cable management. Audio can be fine-tuned through Elgato's Wave Link app as well.

Elgato's Facecam Neo ($99.99) is an FHD webcam that records at 60 FPS. It supports HDR and has a 77-degree field of view. Similar to the Wave Neo, the Facecam Neo can be further customized through Elgato's app.

The Key Light Neo ($89.99) is an LED light that helps improve your video quality. Getting a good light is one of the quickest ways to enhance video calls and streams, and the Key Light Neo fits the bill. It also has onboard controls to adjust brightness and jump between presets. The light is powered by USB but to reach its full brightness of 1000 lumens you need to plug it into a wall outlet.

As its name suggests, the Game Capture Neo ($119.99) is for capturing games. The Game Capture Neo sends one video feed (up to 4K60) to a gaming screen and then sends a second signal (1080p 60 FPS) to a device like a PC, Mac, or iPad that's connected through USB. This setup makes it easy to stream through Twitch, YouTube, and other services at 1080p, which is a common resolution for streaming gameplay.

The Elgato 4K X is the company’s latest external capture card that brings with it a number of key improvements, including support for recording up to 4K 144Hz along with VRR and HDR10 content. I’ve been an avid Elgato user for a number of years, so when the opportunity came up to review the latest model, I jumped at the chance.

I’ve been testing the Elgato 4K X over the last week with my Xbox Series X and Windows PC, and this is my review.

This review was made possible with a review unit provided by Elgato. The company did not see the contents of the review before publishing.

Elgato 4K X: Specs & availability

The Elgato 4K X can be purchased at online retailers such as Amazon and Best Buy for around $229. It’s the most expensive external capture card in Elgato’s portfolio, chiefly because it offers the most features and capabilities.

Elgato 4K X: Design

The overall design of the capture card is very minimalist, which looks good on any desk. It's an entirely plastic enclosure that's lightweight and easy to move around. On the front is a small LED power indicator and a 3.5mm audio jack, and around the back, we have HDMI 2.1 in and out ports and a USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port, which carries power and data from your computer to record the footage.

On the bottom of the device are two rubber feet designed to stop it from moving around on a flat surface; however, these aren't very effective. Because of how light the Elgato 4K X is, pretty much any cable will lift it. The included HDMI cables with the 4K X are quite thick and rigid and have no trouble lifting the device. It's not a huge issue, but it's something to remember.

The plastic enclosure is black and picks up fingerprints like nobody's business. Again, this is not really a problem for a capture card, but it's something worth noting.

Elgato 4K X: Features & software

The Elgato 4K X has several improvements and new feature capabilities over previous models. First, it now supports recording VRR and HDR10 (which was possible on older cards but not at 144Hz), which is becoming increasingly common in modern video gaming. Additionally, the capture card can record streams up to 4K at 144Hz, up from 4K 120Hz on prior models. Additionally, the capture card can record 1080p at 240Hz.

The card can do this while maintaining a "lag-free" passthrough, which I can attest feels perfectly fine when playing games. I had mine acting as a passthrough between my Xbox Series X and LG CX 65-inch OLED TV, and I couldn't notice a difference when playing games with a controller.

The capture card connects to Elgato's 4K Capture Utility program, which is super straightforward. Just plug in the capture card, and you should be ready to go after a restart. The interface is pretty simple, with the ability to start and stop recordings along the bottom middle below the preview. By default, the app is set to "flashback" recording, which means the app is technically always recording what you're doing, and you can quickly go back and save clips based on what has been captured.

This is great if you intend to capture random moments in video games, as it essentially acts as an off-device "Xbox Record That." However, It takes up some extra storage space on your computer, so I usually turn it off in favor of manually hitting record when I know I want to record something.

I use the Elgato 4K X primarily to capture recordings with a PC. While it does support passthrough, I don't usually need it. You can use the device as a single-output source, with a Windows PC mirroring its display onto the Elgato 4K X and then having another PC capture the contents. It's a great way to record a Windows device without affecting performance, and it's how I've done my Windows build video walkthroughs for many years.

I did notice that sometimes, for whatever reason, the 4K Capture Utility wouldn't pick up the capture card. It would just say no signal or device not found, even though the Windows PC I had plugged into the capture card was able to see it. Usually, unplugging and replugging the capture card into the recording PC fixed this; if it didn't, restarting the recording PC would. 

Elgato 4K X: Should you buy?

You should buy this if ...

✅ You need a powerful external capture card with lag-free passthrough at high resolution and high framerates.
✅ You don't have a tower PC with available PCIe slots.
✅ You do have a PC with USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 ports.

You should not buy this if ...

❌ You don't want to deal with cables running from your desk to your console.
❌ You have a tower PC with PCIe slots (get an internal capture card)

The Elgato 4K X is worth every penny, as it is the ultimate external capture card on the market right now. It does pretty much everything you could want it to, from HDR10 recording to 144Hz 4K gaming. Its lag-free passthrough means you can keep it plugged in as a permanent part of your setup without any additional latency or loss of detail.

I used the Mk2 Stream Deck for more than four years, and when Elgato introduced the Stream Deck+ with rotary knobs and a touchscreen bar, I obviously wanted to take a look. Like the rest of Elgato's portfolio, the Stream Deck+ is aimed at content creators, but it is a versatile control surface with exhaustive customizability.

While the hardware is a big draw, it's the software ecosystem that makes the Stream Deck+ such a great choice. I set it up as a smart home dashboard that lets me control lights, change scenes, and even toggle Pi-hole whenever I need to. The hardware itself is still the best you'll find in this segment, and I like the addition of the four dials quite a bit — they unlock a new way of interacting with the Stream Deck+.

But the question remains: do you really need a dedicated control surface, particularly one that costs $200? I used my Stream Deck+ for the better part of a year, and here's what I think of the device.

This review was made possible with a review unit provided by Elgato. The company did not see the contents of the review before publishing.

Elgato Stream Deck+: Pricing and availability

Elgato launched the Stream Deck+ back in November 2022, and the product is available in all markets where the brand has an official presence. The Stream Deck+ costs $199 in the U.S., and can be bought from Amazon as well as Elgato's website and major retailers. It is available in black and white color versions, and if you buy straight from Elgato, you get a set of colored dials free with your order.

While you can't switch out the face plate of the Stream Deck+, the ability to change the dial colors gives the product a little more customizability.

Elgato Stream Deck+: What I like

Elgato hasn't changed the overall design of the Stream Deck+, and it retains the same style as the regular model, with a few key tweaks. You still get an angled surface that houses eight large buttons, a touch bar, and a set of four rotary knobs at the bottom. The Stream Deck branding is intact at the top, and unlike the Stream Deck Mk2, the control surface isn't detachable — it is affixed to the stand and is inclined at a 45-degree angle.

That said, the angled surface is ideal for interacting with the Stream Deck+, and the buttons are larger than those on the Stream Deck Mk2. The biggest difference is that they're spaced out a bit more, and this ensures accidental touches aren't a problem. The downside is that you get just eight control buttons, but this is offset by the addition of the touch bar.

The 4.2-inch touch surface serves as a visual indicator of the corresponding action on the dial below, but you can set up custom long and short-press actions to trigger custom actions. But the best part is the ability to swipe across the touch bar to change pages, and this unlocks a suite of new use cases.

I have four pages of actions set up; the default is to control iCUE effects, launch lights, and Spotify music playback. One page is dedicated to controlling the half-dozen Govee smart products I have in my office, and it's just plain cool to be able to do that with the Stream Deck+. I also have a page to control Hue and Nanoleaf lights and a dedicated section to monitor my gaming rig hardware.

As I said, Stream Deck+ is aimed at streamers, but even if you don't shoot any videos or livestream to Twitch or YouTube, there's plenty of utility to be had. I primarily use the Stream Deck+ as a dashboard to control lights and other smart home products. I previously had a Nest Hub on my desk, but with Google Assistant being unreliable in general, I switched over to the Stream Deck+ to control most smart home tech in my house, and it does a much better job in this area.

Elgato's software ecosystem is unmatched, and you have a ton of useful plugins that can be downloaded via its storefront. There's even a Pi-hole utility that lets me toggle the ad-blocking service on or off, and I can easily change the settings of my Facecam and adjust NVIDIA Broadcast settings.

On that note, the dials are a great new addition; they have a textured surface and good tactility, and they can be used to change the system volume, adjust the brightness of various lights, and so much more. They're clickable as well, so you can trigger custom actions should you wish to do so — there's exhaustive customizability to be had.

The build quality of the Stream Deck+ is just as good as the standard model, and in the year I used the product, I didn't run into any issues. The eight buttons are backlit and have good travel, the touch bar tends to get distracting at times, but you can adjust the brightness of the LCD panel, and the rotary knobs are high quality.

Elgato Stream Deck+: What needs work

The Stream Deck+ does a lot of things well, and the only issue I have with the hardware is that the dials don't have an LED ring. This makes them a little harder to locate while gaming at night, particularly given that the rest of the control interfaces are backlit.

I would have also liked a detachable design similar to that of the Stream Deck Mk2; as it is, the Stream Deck+ is considerably larger than the regular model, and a modular design would have worked better. It's also quite costly at $200; the regular Stream Deck is going for $147, and while you don't get the dials or a touch bar, it includes nearly twice as many buttons.

Elgato Stream Deck+: The competition

If you like the look of the Stream Deck+ but want more buttons and knobs, you may want to consider Razer's $269 Stream Controller. It has 12 buttons, six knobs, and eight programmable buttons. While the hardware has a lot of potential, the software ecosystem isn't quite as extensive as what you get with Elgato, and in our review of the Stream Controller, we dubbed it dull and costly. 

If you just need a control pad with plenty of buttons, the Stream Deck Mk2 is a great alternative. It is highly customizable — both in terms of hardware and software — and at $147, it is a good value.

Elgato Stream Deck+: Should you buy it?

You should buy this if:

✅ You want an analog control pad with dials and buttons.
✅ You own other Elgato products.
✅ You want tight integration with major smart home platforms.

You shouldn't buy this if:

❌ You want a value-focused control pad.
❌ You need more buttons.

The Stream Deck+ is costlier than the standard model, but the unique additions easily make it worth the price. Although it has fewer buttons than the Stream Deck Mk2, the eight buttons are larger and better to interact with, and that makes a difference in daily use. The touch bar is a novel inclusion that has plenty of utility, and while it was limited at launch, you can add a ton of customization to it now.

That's true for the rotary knobs as well, and they can be used as a traditional audio mixer, or you can customize the dials to change the brightness of various Elgato lights and even control Windows utilities. It's the extensive customizability and Elgato's software ecosystem that gives the Stream Deck+ a distinct edge, and if you don't mind the premium, it's a no-brainer.

What you need to know

• Elgato is launching two capture cards — the 4K X and 4K Pro.
• Both entries promise higher resolution and framerates when recording footage or streaming.
• The capture cards come with ALLM passthrough support, which will help trigger game mode on your TV automatically without affecting the quality of the footage. 
• You can now get the 4K X and 4K Pro at $229.99 and $279.99, respectively.

The long wait and anticipation for Elgato's new capture cards is finally over. Two new entries just shipped. The 4K X and the 4K Pro promise higher resolution and framerates when recording your gaming footage or streaming. 

The 4K X retails for $229.99 with 4K / 144fps capture, while the 4K Pro is available for $279.99 with up to 4K / 60fps HDR capture, and supports 8K / 60fps HDR passthrough. The latter is the perfect candidate for PC gaming since it's also ideal for dual PC streaming. 

It's worth noting that the 4K X capture card can handle a wide range of passthrough and capture resolutions since it ships with USB 3.2 Gen 2 support. They also leverage Elgato's 4K Capture feature, which allows users to rewind and capture clips while recording footage.

As reported by The Verge, Elgato is currently developing full support for ultrawide resolutions for the capture cards. The company is also working toward incorporating 5.1 surround sound passthrough and capture support for a better streaming experience. 

Both models feature ALLM passthrough support, which means that your TV can now trigger a game mode that automatically features ideal image settings and latency without affecting your footage.

We have a review on the way, too, so be on the lookout for a more in-depth analysis of how the capture cards perform on Xbox Series X|S and Windows PCs.

It's Black Friday time, if you didn't already know. Know what that means? DEALS! And savings, and SALES! Prep yourself for the holiday season with gifts for those you love, or gifts for number one (you), with us over here at good old Windows Central. 

Whether you're rocking a windows laptop for work and web conferencing or streaming video games on your beefy gaming PC rig, you might find yourself wondering if there's a decent webcam worth buying this Black Friday. My answer to that is, YES! Yes there is. And here it is, my favorite, my beau, the Elgato Facecam. 

More great Black Friday deals

• Walmart: Early Black Friday deals on practically everything
• Dell: Top deals on laptops, gaming PCs, accessories, and more
• Alienware: Up to $800 off gaming laptops and desktops
• Best Buy: Big savings on video games, accessories, and more
• HP: Up to 84% of select HP Windows PCs and accessories
• Lenovo: Up to 50% of gaming towers, laptops, and accessories
• Newegg: Save on PC gaming accessories, components, and more
• Razer: Up to 43% off laptops and accessories with free gifts
• More individual deals:
  • Xbox Series X + Diablo IV + free $75 Target gift card for $634.99 $449.99 at Target
  • Samsung T9 4TB Portable SSD for $439.99 $249.99 at Best Buy
  • Xbox Stereo Headset — 20th Anniversary for $69.99 $46.86 at Walmart
  • Xbox Series X + Diablo IV + Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III for $639.99 $489.99 at Walmart
  • TP-Link Deco X55 Wi-Fi mesh 3-pack for $229.99 $179.99 at Amazon
  • Razer Wolverine V2 Chroma for $149.99 $89.99 at Best Buy
  • Xbox Series X + $50 Best Buy gift card for $549.99 $399.99 at Best Buy for Plus/Total members
  • HyperX Cloud III Wireless for $169.99 $129.99 at Best Buy
  • Xbox Series S + 3-months Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for $299.99 $249 at Walmart
  • Lenovo LOQ Tower (17IRB8) + 3-months Xbox Game Pass Ultimate from $1,029.99 $674.99 at Lenovo

What makes the Elgato Facecam so great?! 

I've been using this webcam for a few years now, and despite having reviewed numerous competitors since, I always come back to the Elgato Facecam. As I outlined in my Elgato Facecam review, this thing is just kind of awesome, although back then, I decried its $200 RRP. Now in 2023 with a successor launched and Black Friday here, its new $119 price tag is far, far more what I would've liked to have seen. Although, since I've been using it pretty much non-stop since then without any issues, maybe I was a little too harsh on the price too?

For a sample, head over here for a showcase what the camera is like in practice. Yes there are some compression artifacts on YouTube, but in an ideal scenario, you're looking at 1080p resolution with 60 FPS recording. That's great for streaming, and it reproduces incredibly sharp images if you need it to do so. The only downside is that this is a raw peripheral with no real configuration software that I'm aware of at least, but it's not really needed. Your streaming or conference software will allow for the general tweaks, but even then, I haven't really had to touch this thing at all. I stream games in pretty low light conditions generally speaking, and this webcam handles low lighting far better than most I've used, with minimal graininess and maximum clarity. 

In the video above, you can see how the lighting conditions on my TV change how the camera reacts to light balance. Out of all the "gamer" webcams I've used in this price range, only the Elgato has been quick to react to flickering lights on games which can change the overall white balance of your set up. Additionally, the Elgato Facecam is cleverly tuned to offset the flicker generated by RGB lighting, since Elgato very much knows its audience. 

On other webcams I've used, RGB lighting produces a strobing effect if you have some RGB installation in the background, since the refresh rate of the light doesn't line up consistently with the camera. It's a pretty niche scenario I admit, but the fact Elgato accounted for this shows a great attention to detail.

The lens is huge and really easy to clean, complete with a cover for those times it's not in use. The foot it's boxed with is great for hooking onto virtually any monitor or laptop screen, and it comes with a standard screw socket and an adapter for placing on tripods and the like. I love this camera, and I highly recommend you consider it!

What you need to know

• An image has surfaced from Elgato's Twitchcon booth of two new upcoming capture cards from the company.
• There are two models, one being an internal card and another that is external.
• These capture cards support HDMI 2.1 and work with various software platforms.

Elgato has a new range of capture cards coming in the form of the 4K X and the 4K Pro, and they look like will be able to fulfil any and all needs required by content creators. These images come courtesy of the Senpai Gaming YouTube channel which is owned by Harris Heller. The main image is taken from Elgato's booth at TwitchCon, with the capture cards on show for all to see.

The external 4K X is looking like a solid improvement over the HD60 X released last year. It offers 4K/144 HDR10 capture and playthrough, up to 1080P/240 high refresh rate capture, and it's plug and play across Windows, Mac and now iPad. The internal 4K Pro option will bring 8K/60 HDR passthrough with true 4K/60 HDR capture. This replaces the 4K60 Pro Mk.2 which has been around for a few years now. Both of these capture cards bring HDMI 2.1 input and output.

Harris said this on the Senpai Gaming account along with the image:

What is Elgato?

Elgato is a company dedicated to providing the best possible tools for content creators and professionals. They produce a range of products, from video capture cards, to studio lighting, to audio solutions and much more. They even announced a teleprompter recently.

Elgato was bought by Corsair, one of the largest PC component and peripheral companies in the world, back in 2018. Since then, it has solidified its place amongst the set-ups of creators and is the go-to brand for these types of solutions.

Are you interested in the new capture cards coming from Elgato? How could you fit these into your creative workflow? Let us know in the comments.

What you need to know

• The recently announced Elgato Prompter is a (relatively) affordable way to add a teleprompter to your PC.
• The Elgato Prompter attaches to a display or laptop and works with a variety of cameras, including Elgato's Facecam Pro, smartphones, and both DSLR and mirrorless cameras.
• The Elgato Prompter is available today for $279.99.

Elgato just announced and launched a new accessory that may become a must-have for streamers. The Elgato Prompter is a teleprompter that lets you read a script or the comment section of streams while looking straight at your camera.

The Elgato Prompter is essentially a small monitor that connects to your PC through USB-C. The 9-inch screen is then reflected through glass, allowing a camera behind the prompter to record you without showing what's on the screen. The device works with Elgato's Facecam Pro, smartphones, and other types of cameras, including both DSLR and mirrorless cameras.

Because of how it can be positioned on a screen, you should look natural while reading text from the Elgato Prompter when it's placed in front of your webcam. To make that setup more achievable, you can attach a camera to the Elgato Prompter directly.

Back in the day, teleprompters were well known for helping newscasters and actors read from a script. They're still useful for that, of course, but the Elgato Prompter can also help game streamers. When you stream to an audience, it's fun to interact with your viewers. Having comments from a Twitch stream or a video call directly at eye level should make interacting look more natural.

Since the Elgato Prompter acts as a secondary monitor, you can place any content from your PC onto it. That means there aren't any limits regarding which apps you can place on the screen. The accessory also has a Twitch mode that shows the comment section of a stream.

An Elgato Stream Deck plug-in lets you control text that appears on the Elgato Prompter as well.

The webcam landscape has dramatically evolved with the rise of content creation, game streaming, and even improved work-from-home opportunities. For decades USB camera solutions fulfilled a utilitarian purpose with approachable price points and mediocre performance. However, devices like the Elgato Facecam Pro usher in a new era of webcams that straddle the line between convenient plug-and-play functionality and premium DSLR-like quality.  

The Pro iteration of the Elgato Facecam improves upon every element of its predecessor. Though, these enhancements come with a substantial price increase. Marketed as the “world’s first 4K60 webcam” and showered with promises of uncompromising technical power, this enormous webcam had a lot to prove regarding its $300 barrier to entry. Thankfully, in essentially every way, the Elgato Facecam Pro is the best USB webcam I’ve ever used.   

This outstanding plug-and-play device delivers stunning visual fidelity, robust camera controls courtesy of the impressive Elgato Camera Hub app, legitimate 4K 60fps output, and a webcam lens that’s actually worth celebrating. While the high price tag, lack of a microphone, and disappointing auto controls might turn away casual audiences, the Elgato Facecam Pro lives up to its name by providing tremendous user control and image excellence.   

Disclaimer: This review was made possible thanks to a review unit provided by Elgato. The company did not see the contents of this review before publishing.   

Elgato Facecam Pro: Price and Specs

The Elgato Facecam Pro is relatively affordable compared to the average DSLR camera. Unfortunately, this device is notably pricey compared to most 4K USB webcams. The Elgato Facecam Pro is currently available through Elgato for a whopping $300.  

As stated, this exorbitant asking price is arguably earned through convincingly premium internal components and respectable camera specs. The Elgato Facecam Pro features a massive 1/1.8” Sony STARVIS CMOS sensor, a solid auto-focus lens, native 4K60 UHD recording, rich 1080p full-color resolution, and a USB-C connection.   

Elgato clearly intended to construct a webcam that stands toe-to-toe with entry-level DSLRs that doesn’t completely break the bank. While $300 borders on the edge of conventional camera pricing, the Elgato Facecam Pro’s ease of use and remarkable video clarity solidifies this webcam’s value.   

Elgato Facecam Pro: Image Quality and Performance

As a video producer and content creator, my camera expectations and needs are demanding. I regularly record videos for Windows Central Gaming and my personal YouTube channel, and securing high-quality source footage that requires minimal tweaking is essential to my day-to-day workflow. After testing 4K/1080p video recording and variable distance photography, I can confidently say the Elgato Facecam Pro supplies gorgeous results.   

Historically, even the most capable webcams struggle in low-light environments. Small sensors and digital compression generate tell-tale noise that degrades the overall picture. My recording space is purposely dark to add ambiance to my video projects, and noise artifacting has been an ongoing battle with various premium webcams. Thanks to its Sony STARVIS CMOS sensor, the Elgato Facecam Pro performs infinitely better in this department. This stellar webcam captured greater detail in darker areas with less pesky noise.

The large Sony sensor beautifully compliments the high-quality lens of the Elgato Facecam Pro to produce wonderful videos and pictures. Unlike many of its contemporaries, I could freely flail my arms around while recording without obvious lighting correction jumps or visible color imbalance. This allowed for greater expression in my videos without concerns about how specific movements would degrade the picture quality.

The Elgato Facecam Pro introduces lush color density and authentic image depth I haven’t experienced with other plug-and-play USB webcams. One of the highest compliments I can give this device is that it genuinely takes decent photos. With other webcams, I would use a different (and significantly better) camera to snap thumbnail pictures. The Elgato Facecam Pro, on the other hand, handled photography elegantly, effectively minimizing the steps in my workflow. The focus flexibility provided with this USB webcam also empowers competent close-range capture. 

The Elgato Facecam Pro introduces lush color density and authentic image depth I haven’t experienced with other plug-and-play USB webcams. One of the highest compliments I can give this device is that it genuinely takes decent photos. With other webcams, I would use a different (and significantly better) camera to snap thumbnail pictures. The Elgato Facecam Pro, on the other hand, handled photography elegantly, effectively minimizing the steps in my workflow. The focus flexibility provided with this USB webcam also empowers competent close-range capture.   

The two buzzworthy recording options the Elgato Facecam Pro offers are the ultra-high resolution 4K60 UHD mode and the uncompressed NV12 1080p60 mode. If resolution is your priority, the Elgato Facecam Pro renders sharp video recordings with fairly natural colors. I had some strange circumstances where my lips appeared aggressively red, but I was able to adjust the color with the included Elgato Camera Hub app. If 1080p is acceptable for your use case, the uncompressed NV12 mode displays evidently elevated color accuracy.   

Elgato Facecam Pro: Controls and Features

The Elgato Facecam Pro enables users to utterly custom tailor their video settings, which is extremely important because the auto controls provided by the companion Elgato Camera Hub app are certifiably disappointing. For novice users, the onboarding with the camera control options might be overwhelming, but taking the time to understand these tools will relinquish image detail unmatched by most USB webcams.  

The Elgato Camera Hub app allows you to alter nearly every key element of the Elgato Facecam Pro. Zoom/FOV, focus, contrast/saturation, exposure, white balance, and anti-flicker can all be fine-tuned to your video needs. “Automatic” toggles are available for these settings, but as I mentioned, they aren’t worth using. Exposure, zoom, and focus were the three sliders I was most impressed by. I could quickly center myself, create engaging camera angles, and narrowly pinpoint the camera’s focus.   

After downloading a small plugin, further customization options can be enabled for the Elgato Camera Hub app. In the “Effects” panel, you can toggle orientation settings like mirror or add AI backgrounds to your video. The AI backgrounds are similar to what you’d find in Zoom or other video-conferencing apps. Still, the included blur effect can be subtle and believable.  

As for what’s in the box, the Elgato Facecam Pro includes a six-foot USB-C to USB-C cable and a monitor mount for the webcam. If you don’t have a USB-C port on your PC or Mac, you can easily track down a USB-C to USB-A cable. Just make sure it’s USB 3.0 or better. The monitor mount comfortably attaches to the 1/4” fixture on the bottom of the device, and this standardized sizing means you can fix your Elgato Facecam Pro to a wide variety of mounts or tripods.   

There is one glaring feature the Elgato Facecam Pro doesn’t deliver; a microphone. Considering the camera’s focus on video production and content creation, the team realistically understands much of the target audience already has or is planning to invest in better audio hardware. Webcam microphones are nothing to write home about, but with the high price tag, potential buyers might be discouraged by its omission.   

Elgato Facecam Pro: Competition

At the moment, there isn’t a great deal of direct competition for the Elgato Facecam Pro in the DSLR-lite category. However, previous reigning webcam champs like the Logitech Brio 4K and Lumina AI Webcam offer crisp picture quality, comparable feature sets, and microphones at significantly lower prices.  

The Logitech Brio 4K has been my DeFacto webcam for years. I’ve recorded dozens of videos and podcasts with this tried-and-true 4K camera. Compared to the Elgato Facecam Pro, there’s far more digital noise in images, it doesn’t deliver the same color depth, and it can’t record 4K60 (though it does support 1080p60). That said, it’s currently $123 on Amazon, which is wildly less than I paid.

A more recent contender that supplies sharp 4K videos is the Lumina AI Webcam for $200. This “smart” device incorporates proprietary software to enhance recordings. It comes in a variety of fashionable colors, including Rose Gold, and its automated settings are brilliantly straightforward. Unfortunately, the Lumina AI Webcam doesn’t feature 60fps recording. It only provides 4K30 and 1080p40. 

You can check out more options in our best webcam guide. 

Elgato Facecam Pro: Should you buy?

You should buy this if...

• You want one of the best-performing USB webcams on the market 
• You need outstanding video quality at 4K60/1080p60 
• You prefer to customize your camera settings 

You should not buy this if...

• You’re on a budget 
• Size is a consideration 
• You need a microphone 

The “Pro” moniker is abused in the world of hardware marketing. Sure, it sounds cool and implies a premium product, but often these devices can’t be used in professional settings. That is not the case with the Elgato Facecam Pro. This enormous USB webcam justifies its stature and price point with incredible overall performance. I’ve never seen sharper images and better user control in a conventional webcam. I’m thrilled about the possibilities this device unlocks for future video projects.  

There are shortcomings to consider for casual use, such as the lack of a microphone, poor automated tuning, and its steep asking price. Still, the Elgato Facecam Pro is the closest you can get to owning a DSLR without actually owning a DSLR. The effective sensor and capable lens included with this webcam enable pictures and videos that weren’t possible on my Logitech Brio 4K and, quite frankly, most webcams on the market.   

When it comes to video production and podcast appearances, the Elgato Facecam Pro has become my camera of choice. Robust resolution options with 60fps support make this a fantastic pick for rookie and professional content creators alike. It’s exciting to see companies evolve what’s possible with USB webcams without sacrificing picture quality. 

What you need to know

• Microsoft just announced several new webinar and meeting features alongside the general availability of Teams Premium.
• The Elgato Stream Deck can now be used to control Teams meetings and webinars.
• Keys on the Stream Deck can be configured to toggle a camera on or off, blur a background, and perform several other tasks.

Microsoft just announced several new webinar features for Teams. Now that Teams Premium is generally available, users can access advanced webinar functionality, such as setting up events ahead of time and having a virtual green room. Microsoft has discussed many of these features in the past and tested them in preview, but one capability discussed in a Tech Community post stood out. Microsoft Teams meetings and webinars can now be controlled through the Elgato Stream Deck.

A new Elgato Stream Deck plugin allows users to perform various actions within a meeting or webinar at the push of a button. The Stream Deck can be configured to do the following, as outlined by Microsoft:

• Toggle camera on/off
• Toggle mute on/off
• Toggle record on/off
• Toggle background blur on/off
• Leave the meeting
• Display live reactions including applause, laugh, like, love, and wow
• Raise or lower hand

In order to control meetings and webinars with a Stream Deck, you need to install the Elgato Stream Deck plugin and configure it within Teams. To set it up, you need to get a code from within Teams and then copy it over to the Stream Deck's settings. Microsoft outlined the process in its Tech Community post.

This week, Microsoft also announced AI features for Teams powered by GPT from OpenAI. The platform now supports intelligent recap, which creates meeting notes, suggests tasks, and forms personalized highlights. A new intelligent recap feature breaks meeting notes into chapters, making them easier to navigate.

Microsoft is all-in on AI. The company plans to put AI into Office, according to recent reports. Other rumors state that Bing could also integrate with a new version of ChatGPT as soon as this month.

Elgato is a premier PC accessories manufacturer that has muscled its way aggressively into the streaming space. 

For those who are streaming Xbox or PC Games on services like Twitch or YouTube, Elgato practically has a product for every aspect of your setup. Need a green screen? Elgato has one. Game recording? Elgato has some of the best capture cards out there. Webcams? They just announced the world's most powerful, while also creating innovative products like the Stream Deck, that competitors are fighting hard to catch up to. 

Now, the firm is getting deeper into microphone tech with its Elgato Wave DX and its Elgato Wave XLR. The "Wave" range incorporates microphone arms, XLR interfacing for PC, and both full XLR microphones and USB-based options for various price points and needs. 

The circuitless Wave DX microphone promises distortion-free sound complete with phantom power, and when combined with the Wave XLR interface, we get a sound package that can very rapidly and very easily elevate your broadcasting soundstage. 

Here's a look at both the Wave DX and Wave XLR. 

Elgato Wave XLR & DX: Price and Availability

The Elgato Wave XLR controller is available in the U.S. at Amazon, Best Buy, and over on Elgato.com as of writing. However, the Elgato DX microphone is only available in Europe as of writing but should head out to the U.S. by the end of 2022. 

• The Elgato Wave XLR audio controller is $180. 
• The Elgato Wave DX dynamic mic is $99. 
• The Elgato XLR cable is sold separately and costs $25.
• Also in this package, you can grab an Elgato Wave Mic Arm, which costs $100. 

Elgato Wave XLR & DX: Pros

Elgato has a strong legacy of building high-quality products for game streamers and content creators and has branched out to microphones in recent years. I reviewed their previous Wave microphones when they launched and honestly, wasn't too incredibly impressed with them. I have to say the situation has changed a bit with the Wave DX. 

The Wave DX is a dynamic condenser microphone that is, like many other XLR microphones, bare bones out of the box. Lack of circuitry ensures minimal interference on audio processing as sound heads into a connected interface. For this review, we're also using Elgato's Wave XLR audio interface to get an idea of how both products work in tandem. 

The construction quality on both the Wave DX and Wave XLR is very good. There's minimal give on the microphone's metal body, which sports dual internal pop filtration and front-firing pickup with "forgiving" cardioid pattern recognition. Ideally, you're meant to speak into the end of the microphone, but it functions great even if you're off by 40 degrees or so in either direction. 

The mic comes with a couple of mount adapter screws ensuring it can be hooked up to virtually any stand or mic arm, including Elgato's own Wave Mic Arm which includes magnetic enclosure tracks for cabling and various points of articulation. The Wave DX mic mount arm can also be swapped to either side of the chassis, ensuring that you needn't reposition your entire setup if you need to place the mic on either the left or the right. The cable socket is also rigid and stable, and despite the dense-feeling construction, the mic is surprisingly lightweight. 

The Wave XLR interface is similarly impressive with its build quality. The large dial has various lights around its edge to signify audio levels, and can even track clipping with a setting tweak. Pressing the dial lets you switch between cross-fade levels, volume, and mic gain. Using the connected Wave Link app, you can configure the lighting colors as well. 

The Wave XLR has impressive software with various sound channel tracks that can be configured on the fly for mixing. Rather than using streaming software, you can use the Wave Link to incorporate all of your sound effects and inputs into a single stream which makes everything far easier to manage while broadcasting. There's also a 3.5mm jack on the back for microphone monitoring purposes, as well as standard XLR cable port and USB for connecting to a Windows PC. 

Additionally (and crucially; more on that in a minute), the Wave XLR also lets you import VSTs (virtual studio technology) from other sources. With recommendations on Elgato's website, you can feed in noise reduction, EQ settings, and other post-processing techniques to elevate the soundscape even further. 

The Wave DX sounds decent enough by itself out of the box, with clear voice reproduction with minimal fuss. I wasn't able to detect any glitches or distortion through regular use, and the capacitive mute on the Wave XLR interface made it easy to go incognito without having to touch the microphone itself.

While generally speaking there's a lot to love about this $99 mic, there are a few things you should know before dropping your cash on it.

Elgato Wave XLR & DX: Cons

While the Elgato DX mic does sound pretty good right out of the box, there are some notable downsides to the audio profile. As a podcaster, I had live viewers complain about the mic, saying that sniffles and breaths had become more accentuated since I switched across from my Samson mic. 

To remedy this, I installed some of Elgato's VSTs that they provide on their website. The Elgato Noise Gate and Elgato EQ interfaces are very good, and remedied my issue with the breathiness of the sound reproduction. The noise gate also eliminated the sound from my open window and the noisy road outside during periods of silence with my cohost, which also came in handy. You can hear some of the samples of VSTs on, and VSTs off down below here. 

However, since I set up the VSTs, I got a strange window scaling bug with the Elgato Wave software which I have as of yet been unable to fix. Elements are broken, and the VST plugins no longer scale correctly. There's a setting in the Elgato Wave Link software to auto-scale VST windows, but toggling it on or off doesn't actually seem to do anything. 

As I was writing this, I discovered a workaround: you can minimize and maximize the VST window to repair the plugin scaling, but it does illustrate that there are some bugs with the software delivery that could probably be repaired fairly easily. Elgato is generally quite diligent with offering over-the-air updates for their products. My Elgato Stream Deck and capture software have received tons of improvements over the years, and I suspect the Wave XLR will be no different. 

So, the main downside of this whole set up is that if you're someone looking for an instant and easy microphone experience out of the box, this probably isn't it. It took a fair bit of tweaking EQ to get the Elgato to play nice with my vocal style, and that's without getting really into it with Reaper VSTs and stuff like that. If you just want a good USB microphone, there are plenty of easier options to gun for. 

However, if you are willing to spend time making the necessary configurations, the combo of Wave XLR and Wave DX is a great one that is well worth consideration. 

Elgato Wave XLR & DX: Competition

The Elgato Wave XLR is a great USB interface that really punches above its weight and plays nicely with other Elgato products, such as the Stream Deck. In that space, it's quite unique. With regards to the Wave DX mic, though, the competition gets a little bit more interesting. 

The Wave DX competes with many of the best microphone options out there, but its $99 price point is particularly attractive. At the premium XLR end, there's stuff like HyperX's ProCast XLR. At the more affordable end, there are microphones like the Samson Q2U on Amazon, which often come in a bit cheaper than this. The Wave DX I would argue competes nicely in the $99 bracket, although you may want to shop around before settling. 

Elgato Wave XLR & DX: Should you buy it?

All things considered, the Wave DX mic and the Wave XLR from Elgato are a great tag-team that elevates broadcast sound input quality on any Windows PC. Whether you want to get better sound for pro-grade meetings or create content, both of these products will serve you extremely well. 

The Wave DX does require some tweaks and investment in VST plugins to get the most out of it, but the Wave XLR and its Wave Link software make the process easy to pick up even if you're a beginner. The Wave Link software could use some improvements, but it's a great tool and straightforward to use. 

You should buy this if: 

• You're invested in the Elgato ecosystem already, including products like the Stream Deck. 
• You want to fit an XLR microphone into your set up without breaking the bank.
• You have an existing XLR microphone and need a good sound interface to pair it with. 

You should not buy this if: 

• You don't want to deal with VSTs and additional configuration.

The Wave DX has a lot of competition in the $99 XLR mic bracket, but for those who are invested in the Elgato ecosystem and want something that is robust and looks great on camera, what Elgato is offering here is rock solid.

The Wave XLR makes snap adjustments to your sound stage very easy on the fly, without having to dive into your streaming software. And yes, there is some set up to get everything where you'll want it to be, but once you're all good to go, it's hard to deny how much easier the Elgato Wave DX and Wave XLR have made my content creation life. 

What you need to know

• Elgato just launched the Facecam Pro, which can stream and record with 4K resolution at 60 frames per second.
• The Facecam Pro retails for $300 and is available starting today.
• There is no built-in microphone on the Facecam Pro, so you'll have to have a separate mic for streaming or recording.

Elgato just unveiled the Facecam Pro, a high-end webcam that can record in 4K resolution at 60 frames per second. As the sequel to the original Facecam, the Facecam Pro improves on its predecessor in several areas. For example, it has an f/2.0 aperture compared to the original Facecam's f/2.4.

The Facecam Pro is available for purchase for a penny under $300. With that high price tag comes premium features, such as exposure metering, manual and automatic exposure, tone curve mapping, and more. The camera has a 21 mm (0.83 in) focal length and other premium specs that you'd expect from a device in its price range.

While the Facecam Pro has a long list of features, it does not have a built-in microphone.

Many of the best webcams for Windows PCs max out at 4K resolution at 30 frames per second.

Most streaming services, such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams, do not support 4K60, though you can hit those specs on YouTube. Even on streams with a lower resolution, the 4K quality at 60 frames per second is useful for zooming in on a subject or panning around a scene.

As opposed to those that live stream, content creators will likely get the most out of the high resolution and framerate of the Facecam Pro. Those that record content and upload it to social media sites will be able to take advantage of the specs of the camera.

The Facecam Pro also competes with the Insta360 Link and other cameras in the professional space, such as those that make tutorials.

The Xbox Series X is a remarkable console capable of playing games at 4K resolution up to 120 frames per second (FPS). But what if you want to share your high-resolution gaming exploits with the world? The console can capture footage internally, but for the best quality and control, you'll want one of the best Xbox Series X|S capture cards, meaning one that works with this powerful console.

As is the case with most capture cards, you will need to either install or externally connect these devices between a computer and your Xbox Series X|S in order to record images and video from the console. Here are the best picks right now.

Best Overall: Elgato HD60 X

As our own Jez Corden stated in his Elgato HD60 X review, this capture card is "ideal for gameplay streamers who have a FreeSync-capable TV or monitor in their setup." It features both VRR and HDR passthrough to work better with the latest monitors and TVs. VRR in particular minimizes screen tearing and stuttering while HDR allows images to come through with a whole lot more color and depth. It's the latest and greatest from an established and trusted capture card company. Having said all that, if you don't have a monitor capable of VRR or HDR then there are other capture cards out there that will suit your needs better at a lower cost.

The Elgato HD60 X is a step up from its HD60 S+ predecessor, capable of running 4K/30FPS and 1080p/60FPS capture smoothly and steadily. Our top pick also features 4K/FPS, HDR video passthrough that is equally smooth. You won't notice any horrible lag while using it. Like the HD60S+, it connects to a computer externally via HDMI cables rather than needing to be installed within a tower. This means it's a whole lot easier to set up than many other capture cards out there.

Simply plug one end of an HDMI cable into your computer's HDMI OUT port before plugging in the other end into the capture card's HDMI IN port. After that, plug another HDMI cable into the Elgato's HDMI OUT port and connect the other end of it to your chosen screen or monitor's HDMI IN port. Once all that's done and power has been supplied, you're good to go.

Now, Elgato does offer its own capture software, but it honestly isn't as good as my go-to: OBS Studio. Fortunately, the HD60 X works perfectly with OBS, so just download this free streaming software and get streaming or recording.

Runner-up: Elgato 4K60 Pro MK2

Elgato's previous version of this capture card was a little too expensive and feature-lacking compared to the competition. The improved MK2 version offers not only HDR10 support for capture but passthrough up to 240 FPS at 1080p if you like to play on PC. The price is now also much more reasonable, which for some, might be enough to make it the one to get.

It doesn't have a hardware h.264 encoder like its smaller brother, the HD60 Pro, but it can still render footage at up to a 140Mbps bitrate to make sure it always looks its best. The very best Xbox One X games won't have a problem with the 4K60 Pro.

It's also worth pointing out for the more advanced creators out there; you can stack multiple 4K60 Pro MK2 cards into your PC, as long as your system can handle it. You can also now capture your feed in multiple apps at once, allowing both streaming and high-quality captures from a single card.

Best HDR: AVerMedia Live Gamer 4K

AVerMedia's flagship internal capture card, a PCIe one as opposed to a USB connection, is the company's first foray into a consumer 4K60 capable unit.

You get not only 4K capture at 60 FPS but 1440p capture at 120 FPS and 1080p capture at a mindboggling 240 FPS if you want to use it with a PC. As we discuss in our Live Gamer 4K review, it is also capable of capturing HDR content, which is a pretty big deal.

The connection is PCIe x4 Gen 2, and you get virtually no latency between what's happening on your console and in the RECentral companion app, or your favorite streaming software. You can capture in the efficient h.265 format, and the icing on the cake is an RGB light strip to really set it off inside your rig.

Best External: AVerMedia Live Gamer Bolt

This isn't your average external capture card. What the Live Gamer Bolt is, in fact, is essentially a carbon copy of the Live Gamer 4K, but one that doesn't need to be inside a PC, which makes it perfect to use with small-form machines and gaming laptops.

Thanks to the bandwidth allowed by Thunderbolt 3, the Bolt can deliver 4K60 video, HDR, and up to 240 FPS capture and pass through if you step down to 1080p. The video is uncompressed, so when you're capturing with one of these, you can guarantee it looks its best.

It's also a thoughtfully designed product, easy to integrate into your setup, has its own internal cooling, and best of all, adds virtually no additional load to your system resources. It is expensive, though.

Best for Laptops: AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra

You may not be able to get 60 FPS at 4K, but this USB 3.1 card can grab 30 FPS at this resolution, which is still impressive. Like we mentioned in our Live Gamer Ultra review, this capture card can also pass through 4K60 video and HDR, though it can't capture the latter.

But at least your output doesn't suffer because you're using a USB capture card. And that's a pretty remarkable thing in itself given the bandwidth required for high resolution, high bitrate video.

Capture at 1080p can go up to 120 FPS, so it's also good to use it with a PC. But, if you're using a gaming laptop, so long as you meet the requirements of an Intel Core i7-7700HQ, 8GB of RAM, and a GTX 1050 Ti for 4K, you're going to get some great-looking video.

Best for Streaming: Razer Ripsaw HD

Enjoying your games in 4K while streaming to somewhere like Twitch at a lower resolution doesn't have to be expensive or require some kind of mammoth PC.

As covered in our Razer Ripsaw HD review, this capture card uses USB-C 3.0 for almost zero latency, which makes it perfect for streaming with, albeit the video, it can capture is limited to 1080p60. Still, it's uncompressed, at least, so the results are excellent.

It's also only $160, which makes it the cheapest here by some margin. Streaming doesn't go above 1080p60 anyway, yet for virtually all of us. The Ripsaw HD lets you enjoy your games at their best while producing a great stream at a great price.

Conclusion

If your Xbox Series X|S is connected to a monitor or TV that supports VRR and/or HDR, then you really ought to consider getting Elgato HD60 X. Its external connection means that you don't have to open your computer tower and install it. Plus, it provides lag-free captures in up to 4K, although if you want 60FPS you'll have to choose 1080p.

Another fantastic option is the AVerMedia Live Gamer 4K. It handles everything you could possibly throw at it, and a bunch more you hadn't even thought you might want to do. It gets the edge through its ease of use, its now lower price, and the fact it produces some really stunning-looking video. When it launched, it was ahead of the curve, and while others have caught up, AVerMedia still has the one to beat for now.

Whichever of these you choose, though, your games will look incredible. Modern capture cards are impressive technology, and whether you want to make videos or stream, you'll be in good hands.

Best Xbox Series X|S Capture Cards: Frequently asked questions

Since Corsair owns Elgato, you can often find good deals on Elgato's products through the Corsair website. For example, today you can get the Elgato Wave:3 USB condenser microphone on sale for a new low of $59.99 as a refurbished device. That's a huge discount compared to the new version of the mic, which is currently going for $150 on Amazon and only drops to around $120 when it does go on sale. This price is even better than a deal we shared a couple weeks ago when Corsair had the refurb Wave:3 on sale for around $72. This deal includes free shipping even though ordering from Corsair usually requires a $79 minimum for that, and it is also covered by a 90-day warranty as a refurb product.

Jez Corden reviewed the Wave:3 mic and gave it 4 out of 5 stars with a Recommended badge. He said, "Elgato's first foray into condenser microphones is an impressive one, sporting great sound and built-in production features well-worth checking out."

With the Wave:3 you get a condenser capsule that has a tight cardioid polar pattern, which is really important for content creators. That cardioid pattern is great for picking up speech while also negating sounds coming from directly behind it. The tighter the pattern the more focused it is on your speech instead of the clicky clack of your keyboard or sounds coming from your speakers.

You can even load up the Wave Link app and get some advanced controls for your new mic along with seven other audio sources. You can even create two independent mixes. Elgato's proprietary Clipguard tech prevents distortion, too, and helps you sound great all the time.

Elgato makes a large range of awesome gear for streamers and content creators, from capture cards to green screens and everything in between. Elgato tends to be on the cutting edge when it comes to capture card tech, with previous iterations being among the first consumer-level products that offer 4K recording, alongside near latency-free streaming. With the HD60 X, Elgato is once again finding itself on the cutting edge.

This new capture card is the first that features full 4K 60 FPS HDR passthrough or at 1440p 120 FPS passthrough, complete with VRR. For users on Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, VRR is short for variable refresh rates, meaning compatible TV sets offer a smoother experience synchronizing in-game frame rates directly with the display.

Does it do everything that it claims to do? We went hands-on to find out.

Elgato HD60 X: Price and availability

The Elgato HD60 X is available to buy from Amazon's and Elgato's websites for 200 euros in the EU and £190 in the U.K. As of writing, the card is unavailable in the United States and beyond. Once it is, we'll update this section to let you know.

Elgato HD60 X: What's good

The Elgato HD60 X is an interesting new option from Corsair, giving you a mixture of fresh features ideal for a very specific subset of users and gameplay scenarios.

Design-wise, the HD60 X has undergone a bit of a revision from Elgato's previous cards. This one places all of the cables at the back, which is a far more intuitive design. Previously, the cards were designed with one cable going into one side, and the other cable going out the other, which made them hard to set up on a desk. This new layout is far better, and hopefully their future products will utilize this design moving forward.

The HD60 X is designed specifically around passthrough for next-gen consoles, although there are some caveats (more on that in a minute). It can pass through 4K 60 FPS and 1440p at 120 FPS with VRR (variable refresh rates), which is a first for an external capture card of this type. Powered by a single USB-C connector, it provides near-instant reproduction of gameplay footage on a connected PC using Elgato's 4K Capture Utility, and it works exactly as you'd expect.

My previous capture card, the HD60 S+, created washed-out colors while leveraging HDR, but the colors and light grading on the HD60 X feel far, far better. I didn't have to tweak settings for hours on end to produce a watchable stream on this capture card, which ultimately saves you time.

I set up my HD60 X in conjunction with my Xbox Series X, which can output in 4K up to 120 FPS. Playing Overwatch at 1440p with VRR passthrough enabled worked exactly as you'd expect, confirmed on my Samsung's Game Mode and via Xbox Series X's own display settings. Previously, I'd have to swap out my HD60 S+ to get VRR running properly to my TV, so the option to pass VRR data through the capture card, again, is a time saver.

Of course, there are some notable limitations.

Elgato HD60 X: What's not good

Elgato potentially had an opportunity to future-proof this card by implementing HDMI 2.1, given that the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S both already support it. There may be technical limitations behind this implementation, such as power consumption over USB-C, or even price, but without HDMI 2.1, you can't set your Xbox to 4K 120 FPS with VRR passthrough, limiting you to 4K 60 FPS or 1440p 120FPS at max. There aren't too many competitive games that specifically take advantage of the full 4K @ 120 FPS settings, though. Overwatch is one of the few Xbox Series X titles that does support 1440p at 120 FPS specifically, and it works great with VRR through this capture card.

While there aren't many games that actually run at 4K in 120 FPS as of writing, that may change as we get further into the generation. Plus, it's a little annoying having to dig into the Xbox Series X settings every time you want to swap between 4K @ 60 and 1080p @ 120 FPS, since the capture card won't let you keep 4K and 120 Hz running at the same time due to the HDMI 2.0 bottleneck.

The other caveat is that the HD60 X cannot record or stream gameplay at full UHD either, limiting you to 1440p at max. Although not many games actually let you set performance modes specifically to 1440p natively on Xbox, which often leaves you at 1080p by default. In essence, this is a capture card potentially specifically tailored towards competitive gameplay streaming, for those who don't want to sacrifice VRR for the privilege. I know that I tend to stream at 1080p at most due to upload bandwidth constraints, but it's a bit of a letdown that I wouldn't be able to use this card if I was seeking to capture gameplay footage at its most crisp for edited content creation purposes. That being said, it is a lot cheaper than some of Elgato's 4K-optimized capture cards, which is essentially a hint that this is mainly tailored for streamers potentially, rather than YouTube content creation.

Elgato HD60 X: Competition

Indeed, most of the best capture cards competition around this comes from Elgato itself. The most powerful external capture card Elgato makes is the 4K60 S+, which not only nets you full 4K 60 FPS capture, but also has an external recording button and option to capture straight to an SD card. This is incredibly convenient if you're a content creator, but potentially overkill if you're not.

They also produce a range of PCI-e capture cards designed for PC motherboards such as the 4K60 Pro, but again these are tailored more towards the high end. For basic streaming and content creation purposes, the HD60, HD60 S+, and HD60 X are all great options. The HD60 S+ will net you 4K 60 FPS pass through with 1080p60 recording via USB-C, ideal for basic content creation and streaming if you don't mind losing VRR passthrough. If you do want VRR passthrough, the HD60 X is your best bet, and also maxes out at 1440p 60 FPS recording and capture. Elgato's classic card, the HD60, also maxes out at 1080p 60 FPS but loses VRR passthrough. It should, however, be the cheapest option of the lot for those on a budget, although it's no longer being manufactured, you can grab a good deal on eBay.

Elgato HD60 X: Should you buy it?

Whether or not you should buy the HD60 X ultimately depends on your budget and your needs. If you have a VRR-capable TV or monitor hooked up to your Xbox Series X|S then this could be an option worth looking into. VRR makes games like Overwatch, Call of Duty, and Elden Ring play far more smoothly if you don't mind losing full 4K resolution in the process.

Part of me feels like recommending holding off on buying this card because I know exactly what is likely to happen in the coming months. Elgato will undoubtedly release an HD60 X+ that will probably pass through VRR at 4K 120, making this card wholly redundant. That being said, there aren't really any games taking advantage of this capability on the Xbox Series X or PS5 as of writing. Additionally, there's no telling how much that type of card will cost, though. I feel like 200 euros is a decent asking price for this specific card, which orients towards 1080p streaming perhaps, over 4K content creation.

You should buy this if ...

• You stream at 1080p and don't want to sacrifice 120 FPS VRR gameplay
• You don't feel like you need 4K capture or recording

You shouldn't buy this if ...

• Your display doesn't support VRR (at least while stocks of older cards last)

If you don't have a VRR-capable display and you want to capture in full 4K, you should probably skip over this in favor of one of Elgato's 4K capture options, or an older HD60 for HD displays. For those who want to retain their VRR capabilities and don't mind the limitations, the HD60 X is a solid option ideal for gameplay streamers who have a FreeSync-capable TV or monitor in their setup.

Update: An old cable was preventing me from getting the correct bandwidth to fully access all of the HD60 X's features, which led to some incorrect assumptions about its ability to pass-through VRR @ 4K60 that have now been corrected.

What you need to know

• Elgato has revealed the HD60 X, the company's next mainline capture card.
• The HD60 X supports prior technology like HDR, as well as new features such as VRR passthrough.
• The Elgato Game Capture HD60 X is coming to retail at $199.99 USD.

Elgato's next big capture card has been revealed, bringing some new features for casual and professional content creators alike.

Elgato announced the HD60 X on Tuesday, revealing the official successor to the HD60 S+ capture card. Building on Elgato's prior technology, the card supports up to 4K 30FPS or 1080p 60FPS capture. 4K 60FPS HDR input can also be downsampled to 1440p 60FPS capture. For regular setup, the HD60 X supports up to 4K 60FPS HDR passthrough, including for the first time, VRR passthrough.

The Elgato HD60 X also supports tonemapping, so captured HDR content can be converted into SDR footage. Alternatively, the card also supports 1440p 120 FPS or 1080p 240FPS passthrough, making it great for any Xbox Series X|S 120 FPS games, as well as anyone playing PC games at extremely high refresh rates.

The Elgato HD60 X comes with a USB-C to USB-A cable, alongside an HDMI 2.0 cable. At a glance, the card's UI provides a readout of remaining storage space, preferences and more. Frame rate information can even be exported to a CSV file.

The Elgato Game Capture HD60 X is coming to retailers at $199.99, making it something of a middle ground price between the now entry-level HD60 S+ and the dedicated 4K 60 Pro Mk. 2. Depending on exactly how reviews for the device pan out, the HD60 X could end up being one of the best capture cards available for users right now.

I've always loved the Elgato Key Light despite its high price of entry. It genuinely brought innovation and solved a problem that was becoming more prevalent as streaming continued to grow.

I've used massive softboxes in the past to light the way, but they're huge, they're hot, and they're wildly impractical to use in a home scenario. The Key Light meant there was no longer a need for any of this, and better yet, you could control your lighting from the same PC you're streaming from.

The family is now complete with the Key Light Mini. Like the Air, it takes everything good about the Key Light and shrinks it down, in this case into a package you can quite literally take anywhere with you. And that opens it up far beyond the traditional at-desk streamer.

Elgato Key Light Mini: Price and availability

The Elgato Key Light Mini is available now for $100 from Elgato authorized resellers such as Amazon in both the U.S. and Europe.

Elgato Key Light Mini: What you'll like

From the very second you prize this thing from its box you'll see it's a quality product. I've been using a couple of LED light panels the same size for a while to illuminate my office a little, but the difference in hardware quality is night and day.

The Key Light Mini is a chunky old hector but it's so solid. It also has a built-in diffuser like the other Key Light products, something my much cheaper LED panels do not. And you need a diffuser lest ye be blinded all day. And blinded you would be because the Key Light Mini, despite its size, gets seriously bright. With a max output of 800 lumens across a color range of 2900-7000K, a couple of these in your setup will make a massive difference.

Unlike on the bigger Key Light, all the necessary controls and ports are on the side, including for this more portable model, a built-in brightness dial. It's not quite so necessary on something that will live clamped to your desk, but on this, it's an essential and extremely useful feature.

That's because IRL streamers and videographers will very much be able to use a Key Light Mini with their camera gear. The bottom of the unit houses a standard tripod thread mount, so you can easily attach it to a cold shoe on your camera. It charges over USB-C, so it's compatible with your existing battery packs and cables, but the built-in battery will last up to four hours depending on how bright you use it. And that's not too shabby at all.

Of course, you can also run it in "studio mode," which is just a fancy term for saying you can run it off AC power.

The party piece of the Key Light Mini, though, remains its smarts. Like the other Key Light products, the Mini offers wireless control either through a smartphone or from your PC, and full integration with Elgato's Stream Deck. The PC app is small and unobtrusive and just sits in the system tray until you need it.

Elgato Key Light Mini: What you won't like

There truly isn't much to dislike about the Key Light Mini, but there are a couple of pointers that do bring the whole experience down a touch. The first is the price, just as has been a score against every other Key Light from Elgato.

It's expensive.

It is the most affordable Key Light, but the difference to the Key Light Air isn't perhaps quite as much as you might have hoped. Then again, this does have a 4,000mAh battery inside, so you can understand where some of that comes back. But if you're a PC-based streamer you'll still really want two of these, which is a significant investment.

There's also no stand in the box at all. With the bigger Key Lights, while quite expensive, you get one of Elgato's Multi Mount arms or the table stand thrown into the bargain. Such a thing would be impractical with the Key Light Mini, but would it really have been too much to toss in a mini-tripod? Especially when it costs $100 as it does.

But no included stand is surprisingly inconvenient. I have a spare mini tripod I could use with it, but to use this in any kind of studio environment you're going to have to invest in additional gear.

Or, as I plan to do, you could just slap some Command strips on the back and stick it to the wall.

Elgato Key Light Mini: Competition

The most obvious alternative is the excellent Lume Cube Panel GO, which is brighter at 1,000 lumens (versus 800 of the Elgato Key Light Mini) but with less color range (3200 to 5600K vs. 2900-7000K). The Lume Cube Panel GO battery is just 2,470 mAh versus the larger 4,000 mAh in the Elgato Key Light Mini, although battery life is 90 minutes at 100%, versus 120 minutes for the (dimmer) Elgato Key Light Mini.

However, the most significant advantage with the Lume Cube Panel GO is getting more for $99. You get two threaded 1/4" tripod mounts in the box, including a 12" to 30" telescoping tripod and a suction-cup-based laptop mount. For the Elgato Key Light Mini, all you get is the light.

There is also Key Light Mini's siblings, the Key Light and Key Light Air.

The Key Light and Key Light Air are both much larger and designed for a studio environment. If you never plan to create content away from your setup then they may still be a more viable option, but the flexibility the Mini offers while maintaining similar performance, well it's hard to ignore.

Elgato Key Light Mini: Should you buy it?

You should buy this if ...

• Your stream lighting needs a serious upgrade
• You want to create content on the go
• You're looking for a hands-free solution

You shouldn't buy this if ...

• You're on a budget
• You have a larger studio

The Key Light Mini is arguably the most attractive of all Elgato's Key Light products. It's no longer just for in-studio content creation, with the addition of a battery and a smaller size making it something that any type of content creator can use.

It is, alas, still going to cost you quite a bit, but you cannot deny the quality you're getting. Besides now being portable, the Key Light Mini performs every bit as good as its larger siblings. It's incredibly bright if you need it to be, and just as hands-free as the others.

And while I lament the lack of any included stand or tripod, the Key Light Mini is at least small enough to get a bit more creative with your mounting solutions. My old mini-LED panels are now in the trash, the Key Light Mini is far superior in every way.

What you need to know

• Elgato's latest creator-focused product is the Key Light Mini.
• Joining the Air and the regular-sized Key Light, the Mini is a portable LED light panel with all the same smarts as its siblings.
• Available now for $100.

Corsair-owned Elgato continues to build out its creator-focused product family and the latest arrival is a case of when big things come in small packages. The newest addition to its lighting family, the Key Light Mini, takes everything great about the existing Key Light and Key Light Air, then shrinks it down into a portable form factor.

The panel on the Key Light Mini has a temperature range between 2900K and 7000K, going between the warmest glow and the iciest white light. For something so compact the brightness is pretty solid too, going up to 800 lumens. Naturally, as with other Key Light products, the Mini is dimmable and can be controlled either on the unit itself or through the companion app for PC, Mac, and mobile.

One of the key additions is a 4,000mAh battery inside which is good for four hours of cable-free use at 50% brightness. This coupled with the size makes the Key Light Mini attractive to more than just streamers and YouTubers since it'll easily mount to the top of a camera if you want to take it on the go.

If you're in need of it for longer, "Studio mode" is another name for plugging it into the mains (though admittedly sounds much fancier). It comes with a lengthy USB-C cable in the box with an angled connector at one end to make your setup just a little neater and avoid protruding cables.

It's fairly pricey, mind, at $100, though as with the other Key Light products it is more than just an LED light panel. It would have been nice to see some form of stand included, but since it has a regular thread mount on the bottom you can at least strap it to any normal tripod.

One arrived earlier today and while I haven't had time to properly check it out ahead of its reveal, early impressions are good. Sure, it's pricey, but it's noticeably higher quality compared to the cheap LED panels I already use of this size. It's really solid without being too heavy, I like the battery indicator on the side that's easy to see at a glance and even though it's daytime as I write this, it seems really bright when cranked right up. I'll be following up soon with a more detailed look, but if you don't want to wait, you can get your order in right now.

Best Buy has several new deals of the day today, and one of those deals happens to be on the Elgato Game Capture 4K60 Pro Mk.2 capture card, which is down to a low price of $219.99. This is the lowest price we've seen on this capture card since last August. It normally sells for around $250 or more. You can also find this deal on Amazon, although it's a safe bet that's just a price match of Best Buy and both deals will disappear tomorrow.

A capture card does exactly what it sounds like it does. It captures footage. More importantly in this case, it captures footage in 4K resolution with up to 60 frames per second. It also supports HDR10 content for excellent video no matter where it's coming from. The capture card also works with a wide assortment of software including OBS and XSplit. It's perfect for content creators and people who work with YouTube, Twitch, and other online video sharing sites.

With this device you'll be able to put all that footage directly on your hard drive. Basically the only limit is the size of the drive you're recording to. You can even use flashback recording to save video retroactively. With Elgato's Live Commentary you can add voice over to the video as well.

This does require some pretty decent PC specs. You need to have a 6th-gen Intel Core i7 processor or better or an AMD Ryzen 7 CPU or better. You also need a Nvidia graphics card from the GeForce GTX 10xx series or better, a PCIe x4/x8/x16 slot, and Windows 10.

What you need to know

• The IOGear UpStream capture card has launched at CES 2022.
• Supports 4K60 HDR input and passthrough, alongside high refresh rate passthrough at 1440p and 1080p.
• Launching in March for $200.

If you're a budding content creator, particularly if you own an Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S, this new capture card revealed at CES 2022 by IOGear might be just the ticket. Especially if you're trying to keep your budget down.

The UpStream capture card (model number GUV302G) is coming to market in March of this year for $200 and brings plenty to the table. One of the less glamorous, but I think outstanding features, is a UVC based driver. Why does this matter? Because it doesn't actually require any special software to operate and UVC means it'll work on PC, Mac, Linux, even a Chromebook. Whatever you want to use to create content on.

The other feature that shouldn't be overlooked is the built-in audio features, allowing for easy party chat capture. It also makes it easy to set up your audio properly if you're using a PS5 since Sony still makes it harder than it should be to both capture and listen to game audio at the same time.

It's an external capture card which means both laptops and desktops can use it just the same, all you need to get the most from it is a USB 3.1 connection. From there it's plug and play with the likes of OBS Studio.

In terms of performance, IOGear promises 4K60 HDR input and passthrough support, with additional passthrough for 1440p144 and 1080p240, so it'll handle upgraded Series X games at 120 FPS as well as your PC games, too, if you're recording to a secondary machine. No need to sacrifice what you're playing. Capture at 4K is limited to 30 FPS, but it does so with virtually no latency.

Considering the price point is about the same as the Elgato HD60 S+, the IOGear Upstream is certainly going to be worth a look. The Elgato doesn't support the high frame rate passthrough or any form of 4K capture that you get here and uses only USB 3.0 as well. The added bonus of using UVC standards and some simple, but nifty audio features make this one we'll be keeping an eye out for.

The first-gen Stream Deck launched four years ago and quickly became the go-to option for streamers. The LCD keys, highly extensible software, and tight integration with Twitch made it a fan favorite, and there's now a new one: the Stream Deck MK.2.

Elgato isn't messing with its winning formula here; the Stream Deck MK.2 has the same general design and key layout, and retains the same software features as its predecessor. It has a few upgrades in the form of USB-C connectivity and a sleeker chassis, and you can change the look of the console via customizable designs.

Elgato Stream Deck MK.2: Price and availability

The Elgato Stream Deck MK.2 is now available around the world, and it retails for $150 in North America — the same as the first-gen model. You can buy it from Amazon and Best Buy as well as Elgato's own website, and a new option with the MK.2 is customizable faceplates that let you alter the look of the console. There are seven options available, and you can buy these for $10 each from Elgato's site.

Elgato Stream Deck MK.2: What you'll love

I have the first-gen version of the Stream Deck, and while the MK.2 model doesn't change too much in terms of the keys, there are a lot of subtle tweaks. First of all, the keys have better tactile feedback, making them great to use. The LCD lighting is just as great as before, so not much has changed on that front.

But the biggest difference is the fact that the Stream Deck MK.2 now connects via a detachable USB-C cable, and that allows it to be much more versatile. Corsair bundles a 1-meter angled USB-C cable with the package, but you can use any of the best USB-C cables (I'm partial to the Powerline II) if you need a lengthier option.

The build quality also feels better with this generation; the stand is a single unit that's angled at 45 degrees, and it doesn't have an adjustable kickstand like its predecessor. The cable is routed through a cutout at the back of the stand, and the integrated design makes the Stream Deck MK.2 sleeker and lighter. You'll find an anti-slip pad at the bottom of the housing that ensures it stays planted on your desk.

Another big change is the configurable faceplates; you can buy custom options from Elgato (they cost $10 each), and you'll also find unique icon packs tailored to go along with each design.

Coming to the business side of things, the Stream Deck MK.2 has the same set of 15 buttons as its predecessor, arrayed in three rows of five. The buttons have LCD lighting, and even better tactile feedback than the first-gen model.

What makes the Stream Deck MK.2 stand out is the software; Elgato packed a ton of customizability into the Stream Deck software, and you'll find Twitch and OBS integration out of the box, so you can easily set up your game streams and broadcast them to Twitch directly or use OBS for other platforms, like YouTube.

You can assign actions within OBS to each key, including launchings scenes, kicking off a livestream, configuring sources, and recording options. The best part is that you can assign several actions to one key using the Multi Action option. If you use NVIDIA's in-game overlays while gaming, you can assign hotkeys to the Stream Deck to make it easier to record footage and share content.

There's also the ability to customize the icons for individual keys, and set GIFs if you want to do so. Basically, if you're looking to get started with streaming or need something that makes it easy to configure and manage your game streams, the Stream Deck MK.2 is the perfect choice.

You can also extend the feature-set of the Stream Deck MK.2 via plugins: The Voicemod option allows you to alter your voice and set fun effects, there's a Hue plugin to control your smart lighting, and even a Spotify plugin. While the Stream Deck MK.2 is clearly aimed at game streaming, it holds up particularly well for other use cases as well. You can use it as a text expander or for launching websites or any Windows applications, control music playback, and if you have other Corsair gear, adjust lighting effects and actions in iCUE.

Elgato Stream Deck MK.2: What needs work

The Stream Deck MK.2 is a powerhouse when it comes to game streaming, but it doesn't quite do the same for video editing. I use Photoshop and Premiere Pro quite a bit, and while I can assign keys to launch either utility, that's about it. I would like to see Elgato add plugins for Adobe services; that would make the Stream Deck a much more versatile option for content creators.

Elgato Stream Deck MK.2: Competition

Elgato is the de facto choice in this category, and if you're looking to get started with streaming and need a customizable set of keys with OBS or Twitch integration, there isn't anything that does the job as well as the Stream Deck.

If the $150 asking price is too high, there's a smaller version of the Stream Deck dubbed the Stream Deck Mini that has six LCD keys and retails for $80. In my use case, I found that six keys were more than adequate for hotkeys and configuring actions for OBS, and it is a good starter option.

The first-gen Stream Deck has the same 15 buttons but comes with an adjustable kickstand and a non-detachable USB cable, and while it is also listed at $150, you can find it for as low as $120 during Amazon sales. With the MK.2 model now available, the first-gen variant could go down to under $100.

Elgato Stream Deck MK.2: Should you buy it?

You should buy this if ...

• You want a configurable option for game streaming
• You're looking for OBS or Twitch integration
• You need a detachable design that works over USB-C
• You want tactile keys

You shouldn't buy this if ...

• You're on a budget
• You need tighter integration with Adobe software

If you already have the first-gen Stream Deck, it makes little sense to get the Stream Deck MK.2. The buttons are nearly identical, and the software features are the same across both generations. The only major change is the design and the USB-C connector, and while I like the tweaks that Elgato made here, they're not enough to justify an upgrade when the core feature-set hasn't changed.

But if you're yet to pick up a Stream Deck, there is a lot to like in the MK.2 version. The tactile keys are a joy to use, there's endless customizability via the Stream Deck software, and it is useful not just for game streaming but also regular Windows use. I didn't realize just how useful the Stream Deck would be in my day-to-day workflow, and while it isn't as versatile for video and image editing as it is for gaming, it has made a big difference.

The webcam market is hot stuff right now, as more of us than ever work and play from home. Elgato is a company renowned in the streaming space, with a variety of products such as the Elgato Key Light and the Elgato HD60S+ capture card designed and built for game streamers. One obvious product was always missing from the equation, though.

Say hi to Elgato's first webcam, with a Sony-powered sensor in tow. This is the Elgato Facecam, but is it worth the $200 asking price?

Elgato Facecam: Price and availability

The Elgato Facecam is a pretty hefty $200, owing to the tech baked into the array. Several layers of anti-reflection lenses, a Sony sensor, onboard memory, and ultra-low latency contributes to the price point, but whether or not it's worth the asking price versus competing solutions remains a hot topic (which we'll answer further below).

Availability on this one is pretty sketchy too. The Facecam is available across Europe in small amounts on Amazon and other storefronts. As of writing, it's only available direct from Elgato in North America, with a two-week waiting time. Presumably, Elgato will ramp up availability in line with demand.

Elgato Facecam: What's good

The Elgato Facecam enjoys a solid design, complete with a good amount of heft, a standard screw socket for tripods and mounts, a laptop-styled hook mount in the box. It is powered by USB-C, and comes with a generously long cable and privacy shield for good measure.

The Facecam supports up to 1080p 60 FPS captures, with 50Hz and 60Hz configurations. The refresh rate reduces the rate at which lights will flicker in your feed, and the latency is impressive, ensuring that your actions and expressions lineup directly with your game capture footage.

The image production is good generally. Despite working in extremely challenging lighting conditions where I am, I was able to tweak at the settings and end up with something that looked good. The lack of 4K may be disappointing for those who do full-camera streams, but as someone who might appear in a small podcast window or game stream in the bottom corner, I find the 720p 60 FPS setting to be more than adequate. The colors, auto focus, and picture sharpness are good, with options for software smoothing and a broad range of settings you can adjust to meet your exact conditions.

Source: Windows Central

Given the positioning of my windows, I generally don't have a great experience with webcams out of the box. The great array of settings for the Elgato Facecam certainly helped, giving you a great degree of control over shutter speed and iso, for limiting or boosting the amount of light being processed by the sensor. With regular lighting conditions and production, you might not need to mess with the settings too much at all. When I closed my curtains and used my TV and Nanoleaf panels as a lightbox, it produced a great out-of-the-box image with little tweaking. Still, if you're just planning on using this for Microsoft Teams or Zoom calls, there's probably no need to spend this much.

As an initial offering from Elgato, there's little to complain about. The image quality is great and perhaps more importantly, responsive, with a stable mount that's versatile for most angles and setups. For $200 dollars, though, I can't help but wonder why there's not a little more on offer here.

Elgato Facecam: What's not good

As of writing, the Elgato Facecam app has a decent array of features for controlling the sensor array, but that's where the story ends. There are no capabilities for background blurring. There are no "fun" features or post-processing capabilities at all. If you want background blurring in streaming software, you'll have to feed the camera through an app like XSplit VCam or NVIDIA Camera, although I couldn't get the former to recognize the Facecam as a camera when I tried recently.

It's a minor gripe too, but the fact the camera privacy shield is detachable makes me think that I'm just going to end up losing it. Some kind of slider or attached solution would've been preferable, but it's ultimately a minor gripe.

There's not a huuuuuuuge amount of stuff to complain about with the Facecam; it does exactly the job it said it would, albeit at a premium.

Elgato Facecam: Competition

My biggest question mark hangs over the price of this thing, which is $200. There are competing products out there like the Razer Kiyo, or the Logitech StreamCam, which are comparable while being a fair bit cheaper. The Razer Kiyo even comes with a ring light baked in, which helps you manage image reproduction in challenging lighting conditions. The Logitech StreamCam also includes vertical video capabilities for content creators working on social platforms as well as Twitch, etc.

The Facecam potentially outperforms both of these webcams in a general sense, specifically on latency and feed refresh rate. The raw feed also makes it a better option in some cases for streaming software. I'm not sure if it's worth so much more than some of the competitors out there, though, especially if you're a casual streamer.

Elgato Facecam: Should you buy it?

The Elgato Facecam is a solid option for those who are already well invested in the Elgato streaming ecosystem. The image reproduction quality is great generally, with software that gives you a wide array of control over how the sensor performs. The onboard memory ensures that you don't need to keep the software running 24/7 too, which is something a lot of webcams generally don't offer.

It is pretty pricey though, especially if you're a casual streamer or someone who just wants a small webcam feed in the corner of your game footage.

You should buy this if ...

• You're a fan of Elgato products
• You want a 60 FPS camera with industry-leading responsiveness
• You want a raw camera feed in your set up for manual post-processing

You shouldn't buy this if ...

• You're a casual streamer who doesn't necessarily need the speed

The Elgato Facecam is a good camera overall, with software that will no doubt evolve over time to make up for some of its shortcomings. Casual streamers could probably get more value out of a cheaper option from Razer or Logitech, but for those desiring the best latency in their already Elgato-heavy setup, this might be a good option for you.

What you need to know

• Elgato is a company that specializes in accessories perfect for streamers and content creators, and features a huge portfolio of products.
• Today, Elgato's lineup expanded considerably with new announcements like the Stream Deck MK.2, Facecam, Wave XLR audio mixer, and much more.
• Many of Elgato's new products are already available right now, with a new studio configurator to help you perfect your setup.

Elgato is a company that any streamer or content creator should be familiar with, as they're behind some of the most popular PC and streaming accessories such as the Elgato 4K60S+ capture device and the Elgato Wave 3 condenser microphone. Today, Elgato's already impressive lineup of accessories just got a lot bigger with several new arrivals, many of which are available right now. Elgato's announcements are so exciting, in fact, that Elgato's website is struggling to keep up with the influx of traffic.

Alongside the new product announcements, Elgato has released a new studio configurator to help you personalize your setup and plan ahead before you buy, so you can obtain the best streaming setup for your budget.

You can read more about everything Elgato announced below. You can also find plenty of links to Elgato's website if you're interested in any of these products.

Elgato Stream Deck MK.2

The Elgato Stream Deck is a fantastically popular device that features up to 15 programmable buttons that streamers and content creators can use for any number of uses. The Stream Deck is an invaluable tool for many users, and now it's being updated with a MK.2.

Featuring the same 15 programmable buttons and customizable icons, the Stream Deck MK.2 offers interchangeable faceplates, a detachable stand, and now uses a versatile and standardized USB Type-C port for connectivity. Now, your Stream Deck is even more personal and versatile. Stream Deck MK.2 is available now, along with several choices for faceplates, starting at $150.

Elgato Facecam

Elgato already offers the Elgato Multi Mount to make it easier to use the camera of your choice as a high-quality facecam, but now Elgato wants to make the process as painless as possible with their own official solution. The Elgato Facecam is a 1080p / 60 FPS camera that aims to offer the perfect experience for streamers with onboard memory for settings, easy setup and mounting, and an included privacy filter.

The Elgato Facecam also doesn't include any built-in microphones, so you don't have to worry about interference. The Facecam is all about "plug-and-play" convenience. Just like the Stream Deck MK.2, the Elgato Facecam is already available to purchase directly from Elgato, and will run for $200. The Elgato Facecam may stand a decent chance at becoming one of the best PC webcams.

Elgato Wave XLR

The Wave XLR is a microphone interface and digital mixer, and aims to pair with your existing Elgato mic to offer you additional power and control that you otherwise wouldn't have. It comes equipped with anti-distortion, a mic mute button, integration with Elgato's Wave Link mixing software, customizable faceplates, a multi-function control dial, USB Type-C connectivity, and a way to connect your microphone and monitoring headphones.

The Wave XLR is available now for $160, and has a handful of customizable faceplates available for purchase as well. More faceplates will come in the future.

Elgato Wave Mic Arm and Wave Mic Arm LP

Another product to pair with your microphone, the Elgato Wave Mic Arm aims to make it as easy as possible to position your mic exactly the way you want it and move it when you need to. There are two variants of the Wave Mic Arm to choose from. The standard variant is larger but is designed to be as flexible as possible with tons of control, included counterweights for heavier mics, and more. The LP variant isn't quite as flexible, but it's made to be "low profile" and blend into the background without taking up much space.

Both Mic Arm variants are fully adjustable, easy and secure to install, and support a wide variety of mics, including the best microphones for streaming. The Elgato Wave Mic Arm is available now for $100, and the Wave Mic Arm LP comes in at the same price.

Other announcements

Elgato decided to take today by storm with several major product announcements, but they also sprinkled some smaller ones in there, too. Elgato also announced the Master Mount S, or a more advanced version of their ordinary mount, the Wall Mount for the Elgato Facecam, and the Light Strip Extension Kit, which does exactly what you'd expect it to do.

Game capture in the 4K era has been a bit of an issue for businesses and content creators. At most events I've been to as a games writer, most companies have been using things like Atomos camera monitors to capture 4K60 gameplay footage, even though they aren't really intended for this purpose, and they can be incredibly expensive.

At the time, though, there simply wasn't a solution for capturing 4K 60 FPS footage on the go, without hooking up a full PC, and having content creators either bring their own storage devices or having to email or share massive RAW, unedited files. Not only is this inconvenient and impractical, but it's also crazy expensive, particularly if the event or studio in question wanted to set up multiple Atomos devices for capture.

In typical Elgato fashion, the firm has stepped up to fill yet another niche in the content creator tools market. It's a godsend for any business looking to set up an event or any streamer who wants to take their capture capabilities on the road without lugging around a laptop. Make no mistake, though; it's a bit pricey. It might be on offer for Amazon Prime Day in the future, though, so keep an eye on its store page here.

This is the impressive standalone 4K60S+ capture device.

What you'll love about the Elgato 4K60S+

First thing to know is that this is ultimately a niche product. Depending on who you are, and what type of content you create, you may not need to spend $400 on this particular device. Know that this is aimed firmly at businesses and events, and content creators who might be traveling to preview events who need an easy way to capture footage without needing to resort to the tools on hand.

If you're capturing footage at home for making videos or streaming to Twitch or YouTube, Elgato has far more affordable capture cards than this that are worth checking out instead. If you're a content creator who frequently travels, this might become your new best friend, though.

Like most of Elgato's capture cards, the set up on this device is incredibly easy. Elgato provides all the cables you need, including a power pack with swappable plugs for different regions. It's a thoughtful touch, given that the EU, UK, and the US all have different sockets, and if you're traveling to a show or an event, you want to be sure you can plug this thing in. I'm impressed with Elgato's attention to detail here.

Speaking of attention to detail, Elgato gave this device a decent amount of weight, too, with highly flexible cables that make it sit still wherever you place it. Lighter connected devices tend to slide all over the place when attached to taught plastic cables, so once again, I find this to be a plus.

While the design of a capture card isn't necessarily important, the textured finish on this device is quite nice. The recording button has excellent action and informative LEDs that let you know whether it's recording or in standby mode.

Source: Corsair

Speaking of recording, the most impressive aspect of the Elgato 4K60S+ is the advanced on-board HEVC encoding chip, which lets you record up to 7 hours of 4K 60 FPS HDR footage on a single 256 GB SD card. This is truly insane, considering I recall events where I've recorded RAW footage from an Atomos screen recorder that was just about 30 minutes long, but about 40GB in size. The Elgato also uses standard storage formatting, meaning that I could use the same SD card I use for my camera, alongside my Elgato, which just added further convenience.

This sort of direct-to-SD card compression will be a game-changer for many content creators and businesses who simply want to get in, record their footage, and edit quickly without having to go through re-encoding or compression cycles. Chopping down a massive 100GB 4K60 HDR RAW files on a laptop you might use for traveling is not incredibly fun. The 4K60S+ will make that effort a lot easier.

The 4K60S+ is versatile too. If you're taking it on the road, you can power it separately, as noted by an external power source. Using it in this way, you can capture PC footage directly, without using the local PC hardware, which might otherwise impact game performance. At home, you can power it via USB-C to a USB-A port on your PC. This way, you can use it for streaming games as with other Elgato capture devices, or capturing footage directly to your PC from any device connected via HDMI.

The versatility, the convenient weight, high-quality cables, and crazy codec make this product an all-round winner. Still, there are a couple of minor gripes I would like to have seen improved, perhaps in future versions.

What you might dislike about the Elgato 4K60S+

The UK has a reputation for being a cold, rain-drizzled place in the North of Europe. In truth, though, the summer months can be ridiculously warm, compounded further because most buildings aren't designed for air conditioning. Reviewing this unit right now, it's 87F (30C) where I am, and while this isn't necessarily the capture card's fault, it surprised me how warm the 4K60S+ gets even when it's not in use.

This is perhaps compounded by the fact that you can't turn it off without fully unplugging it. Elgato noted to me that the 4K60S+ falls into standby mode when it hasn't been used for 15 minutes, but I found even in this mode, it would remain kind of warm, despite using only a reported 2w of power while standing by. It's not a deal-breaker by any means, but it's worth being aware of.

Additionally, the 4K60S+ also comes with a nifty settings.txt file when it initially copies files to your SD card, letting you tweak various things. For power users, it's nice having access to configure these settings, but having to edit a text file to do so seems a bit ... 90s? I'm not sure if there are some technical limitations for this, but being able to change the settings via the 4K Capture Utility on PC GUI is hopefully something that Elgato explores down the line.

Should you buy the Elgato 4K60S+?

The vast majority of content creators may simply want to grab an Elgato HD60S+, which gives you all the tools and power you need to capture footage on a home PC alongside any connected HDMI device. However, if you're a more profound content creator, there are a few niches this device can fill.

The fact that this is the only Elgato capture device that can be powered in a standalone configuration is a big boost for people making content on PC potentially since game capture can often impede performance on some levels of PC hardware. Being able to offload that encoding to a separate device is a useful option, and well worth exploring. If you're a business or game studio looking to get rid of those incredibly expensive Atomos monitor capture devices, the Elgato 4K60S+ is your new best-in-class option. If you're a content creator who is frequently on the road, who doesn't want to rely on the capture solutions provided by an event, this is also an ideal option.

The Elgato 4K60S+ does precisely what it says on the tin, and it does it exceptionally well. While investing in a $400 capture device certainly won't be necessary for most, for those this device is aimed at, there's simply nothing better out there right now.

Elgato is known primarily for its capture cards. Still, the Corsair-owned company also produces a range of industry-standard streaming tools, including the Elgato Green Screen, and the handy Elgato Stream Deck.

To complete the set, the firm has now unveiled a range of condenser microphones, including the Elgato Wave 3 we're reviewing here today. You may be able to score a deal on this too for Amazon Prime Day, which is rapidly approaching. The recommended retail price is $160, so anything below that should be a genuine deal, although stock shortages have pushed up the price in the past. Hopefully, they'll be replenished for Amazon Prime Day when the time comes.

This microphone touts a range of useful capabilities for streamers, but is it worth the asking price? Let's take a look (and listen).

What you'll love about the Elgato Wave 3

It's an odd thing to comment about a microphone's design, because who cares as long as it works, right? But the Elgato Wave 3, as microphones go, is quite a sexy piece of kit. It's not overstated or distracting, but it's also pleasant to look at, with a premium finish that will look at home on any stream or video.

The Wave 3 is an all-in-one solution with a built-in pop filter, on-board controls, and powerful audio mixing software called Elgato Wave, which lets you control the different sound sources on your PC for the best stream output mix possible. The software package works well, with the ability to control what sounds go into an audio monitoring mix, and what gets output to your stream, with minimal recording latency. It's quite impressive how well this works, and it reduces the amount of configuration you need to do you in your streaming software.

The Elgato Wave 3 sports on-board controls that are intelligently designed. There's a capacitative mute control on the top of the mic, allowing you to mute yourself without a loud click or switch. A circular LED around the volume control knob lights up in red to let you know it's muted, as well. The dial on the front enables you to easily control the gain of the mic, the volume of the monitoring component, and the mix between voice chat and monitoring, giving you a large degree of control.

Windows Central Audio Samples · Elgato Wave 3 mic sample

On quality, I found the Elgato Wave 3 to be an impressive mic with good sound reproduction, which does an excellent job of passively focusing on your voice, cutting background sound to a minimum. Perhaps the most impressive feature is the proprietary anti-clipping technology, which prevents your voice from creating sound clipping from increased volume, ideal if you're a more animated, excitable streamer. I tested it by yelling into Audacity and was pleased to discover it certainly isn't a gimmick.

I do have some issues with the positional versatility, though. It's quite tough to get the microphone into a position that gives it maximum audio quality, which could be an issue in some setups.

What you might dislike about the Elgato Wave 3

The Elgato Wave 3 can produce genuinely excellent audio reproduction, but only when it's positioned very meticulously. Using my previous microphone as a direct comparison, the cheaper Samson Q2U lacks many of the Wave 3's features but doesn't need anywhere near as much babysitting when it comes to positioning.

Both microphones sport a cardioid pattern that focuses on what's in front and minimizes sound from the sides and back. Still, again, I feel like the Q2U does a better job at ignoring keyboard taps and controller button clicks while being in the same position. The Wave 3 quality drop off is quite immense the further away you get, and I feel like it really needs to be up close, within 8-15 cm, to get the best audio quality out of it. You can hear a more extended sample of me using the microphone on my latest podcast here, (listen for the guy with the British accent).

That said, when you do play around with it, pick up a proper mount, and can position it correctly, it produces some truly great audio. It also includes all the standard screws and adapters for practically any sort of mount you could think of. My only other gripe with it is, like most Elgato products, you can't disable the lights without unplugging it completely. It's a minor problem, but something worth being aware of if you work out of a bedroom office like myself.

Should you buy the Elgato Wave 3?

The Elgato Wave 3 is an impressive piece of kit, with excellent audio mixing software and features. If you use many audio effects in your streams, this adds a layer of control and convenience that is often missing in streaming software solutions. The fact you also have a lot of these tools at your fingertips, right on the mic itself, is also a great boon.

The audio quality is excellent, but I wish it were a little bit more versatile when it came to positioning. The included stand didn't bring the microphone close enough to my mouth to produce the sound quality the mic is capable of, meaning you may want to invest in an additional mount.

As a first foray into condenser mics, Elgato has done a great job. There are cheaper options out there, but few microphones will offer the sheer volume of features and high-quality software solutions in this price range.

On the face of it these two capture cards look like they're targeting a similar type of buyer, but that's not clear cut. Both have their own niche appeals, some common ground, and some areas where they do things better than the other.

AVerMedia Live Gamer Bolt vs Elgato 4K60S+ tech specs

Key differences and similarities

Looking at the hardware there are some key differences that can affect which you buy. The most obvious is that the AVerMedia Live Gamer Bolt requires Thunderbolt 3 to operate at all. If you don't have it, you can't use it, and that rules out a number of PCs, including virtually anything running on an AMD Ryzen CPU.

What does Thunderbolt 3 give the Live Gamer Bolt? Insane bandwidth — up to 4K at 60 FPS. You not onlyi get crisp captures at up to 240 Mbps bitrate, but latency is so low you'll never notice it. The Elgato 4K60S+ latency is still very good, but the Bolt is five times faster in this regard.

By contrast the 4K60S+ uses a regular USB 3.0 interface, making it more accessible to anyone with a fairly modern PC. The 4K60S+ can still crank out up to 200 Mbps bitrate, which is hardly shabby, but each handles encoding in a different way. The Live Gamer Bolt makes use of the GPU in your PC to encode video, and as such, the overall impact on your system is virtually nil. The 4K60S+ is similarly easy on resources, but instead uses its own built-in hardware encoder.

Perhaps the biggest difference, and possibly the real make-or-break moment for buying one over the other, is that the 4K60S+ has a built in SD card slot. This makes it completely operational without the need for a PC, so if you're in the business of traveling about while gaming, perhaps to special events, you can still capture amazing looking content.

Is this a niche appeal? Almost certainly, but without products like this to fill such a niche we'd be worse off.

Where the Live Gamer Bolt takes a pretty big stride forward over the 4K60S+ though is in its frame rate capabilities, in no small part thanks to the Thunderbolt 3 connection. The 4K60S+ is limited to 60 FPS for capture and passthrough, where the Bolt can go up to 240 FPS on 1080p and 144 FPS at 1440p. This makes it particularly appealing to dual-PC streamers who want a 60 FPS encode for their stream but still want to play at high frame rates.

Perfect for next-gen and dual-PC streamers

The AVerMedia Live Gamer Bolt is an incredible piece of hardware, matching the company's flagship internal PCIe capture card in basically every way, without the requirement for a slot inside your PC to run it.

With the increasing popularity of gaming laptops and small-form systems, there's definitely a place in the market for this. If you're looking for the absolute highest quality captures, you're getting ready for next-gen consoles or you're a dual-PC streamer who cares about high-frame rate gaming, this is the one to buy.

A unique capture card

The Elgato 4K60S+ has a couple of standout features, including its own hardware encoder and built in SD card slot. If you're someone who frequently travels or just needs to be able to capture footage without needing your PC handy, then this is absolutely the box to get.

It falls short in some areas like frame rate for both capture and passthrough, but it's more accessible to more people and a little more affordable, too.

Elgato is a brand that gamers the world over are familiar with. Now part of the Corsair family, Elgato's product lineup continues to grow and has, in recent years, branched out from the traditional gamer-focus to encompass all kinds of content creators.

I've reviewed a couple of such items in the past, like the Green Screen and the Key Light, and these are both great examples of the strength of Elgato's ecosystem. The latest to cross my path is the Multi Mount, which to look at isn't remotely glamorous. But could be absolutely game-changing for your setup.

Simple idea with solid execution

So what is the Multi Mount? Put simply, it's a monopod that clamps to your desk. Really, that's it. It's so simple it makes me wonder why there isn't more of this sort of thing about. The Multi Mount is basically the pole portion of the Key Light, with the exact same clamp and the exact same ball head with standard 1/4" screw.

It's a chunky thing, yet it isn't particularly heavy and the quite massive clamp keeps it firmly attached and any unwanted movement in check. And that's with my Sony A7 mounted to it carrying a fairly weighty lens. There's no wobble or instability of any kind, it's ridiculously sturdy.

Like with the Key Light, it's height-adjustable between 55cm (22 inches) and 125cm (49 inches), and the lower limit is probably the only criticism I have with it personally. When trying to use a camera as a webcam, it's quite high up still, or at least compared to the combined height of my chair and I. If it were even 5cm lower at its shortest it would have been perfect. The ball head makes for easy adjustment, but the camera is still looking down a little.

That's a personal thing though. Otherwise, it's a pretty faultless product. There's not much to it to pick fault with anyway! It's even fairly reasonably priced, especially compared to tripods or monopods.

Made stronger by its add-ons

The real beauty to the Multi Mount is the other stuff you can pair with it. It's the heart of a pretty flexible mounting system and while cameras are going to be one of the primary use cases, it doesn't end there. For example, if you just want to elevate your phone, perhaps for some Instagram Live broadcasts or, say, to view your stream chat on when streaming, just pop on a smartphone holder.

The Flex Arm kit is the real gem, though. I don't have one handy to test, but it's essentially made up of four tubes that can all be angled in different directions in order to get the position of your camera/light/phone/tablet or whatever you have attached absolutely perfect.

This articulating kit can be manipulated any way you like, with one popular example allowing for a camera to be pointing perfectly straight down. Ideal to show off a keyboard while gaming or maybe to shoot a good old-fashioned unboxing video.

The weighted base you can add makes the whole thing mobile, too. Most folks will just mount this system to a table and leave it there, but the weighted base means you have even greater flexibility over how you use it.

Perfect addition to your streaming setup

The most immediately obvious target audience for this are streamers and paired with Elgato's own Cam Link (or a regular capture card if you have a spare) you've got a safe, sturdy way to use a proper camera in place of a webcam. And with the extras available for more advanced requirements, it's really easy to recommend.

The biggest issue, like with many Elgato products from time to time, is availability. It's not uncommon to see stock shortages, indeed as of this review the official retailer for the U.S. Amazon, isn't able to sell you one. If you can get hold of it though, it's a really easy and effective way to up your content creation game.

What you need to know

• Elgato announced the Key Light Air at CES 2020.
• Much like the current model, but smaller and comes with a stand instead of a clamp.
• Also quite a bit cheaper.
• It should be on sale in Q1 2020, though UK shipping appears to begin on January 15.

Elgato's suite of content creation hardware continues to grow at CES 2020 with the new Key Light Air. A follow up to the existing Key Light, the new model is smaller, stands freely on an included desk stand and importantly, costs quite a bit less.

Feature-wise it's exactly the same as the larger Key Light, so you've got Windows and Mac support, iOS and Android support, and integration with Elgato's Stream Deck. You've still also got an adjustable color temperature and brightness between 2900K and 7000K and up to 1400 Lumens, respectively.

The Key Light Air is also compatible with Elgato's existing mount system and uses a standard 1/4 inch thread. Price-wise we're looking at $130 each, which is around a $50 saving over the larger model and $100 if you get a pair, which, as I discovered in our review, you're really going to want.

The price is the biggest barrier to the Key Light which is otherwise an excellent product, so it's nice to see Elgato has come up with something a little more affordable. It's still a pretty decent investment, but at a significant saving over the larger ones.

The Key Light Air should be on sale in Q1 2020, though in the UK, Amazon expects to ship on January 15.

What you need to know

• The 4K60 S+ is the first external, USB capture card to handle 4K60 video and HDR.
• Launching this month for $400.
• Works standalone recording to an SD card as well as connected to a PC.

The day we expected to come, eventually, has finally arrived. 4K capture cards aren't anything new, but until now there have been limitations. As CES 2020 rolls into town, Elgato is starting the year off with a bang by announcing the 4K60 S+. The name is a bit of a mumble, but the product is anything but, promising 4K60 captures with HDR over USB.

Mind. Blown.

I'll be the first to admit I've been critical of Elgato in recent times, with AVerMedia not only competing but at the 4K level outperforming Elgato and forcing the biggest name in the game to catch up.

Catching up is firmly in the past though with the 4K60 S+. This magical box isn't cheap at $400, but for the gamer looking for the ultimate content creation tool, this might just be it.

The issue has always been USB. The best capture cards handling the highest resolution, frame rate and bitrate have always been PCIe internal units, making good use of the extra bandwidth. There have been external 4K capture cards, but the 4K60 S+ takes that up a notch.

4K at 60 FPS? Check. HDR 10? Check. USB 3.0? Check. There are actually two USB-C connections on the capture card, one for power and one for capture, and avoiding a first-party power supply means it's totally portable for capturing on the go.

Pop in a good enough SD card and you can record that same 4K60 HDR 10 video without the need for a PC connection, so it's perfect to use with a gaming laptop, too. This is quite the thing.

Elgato says the 4K60 S+ should be available in Q1, though in the UK a shipping date of January 15 has already been applied at Amazon, so it might be here quicker than we think.

Whether you're new to streaming or a seasoned pro, if you're broadcasting with a camera pointed at your beautiful face, you need to be well lit. It's one of the bigger problems to solve since traditionally the sort of lights you'd be looking at are large and hot.

That's where the Key Light comes in. It's neither of those things, making it a space savers dream. As a product, it's pretty darn good. So long as you can stomach the one big elephant in the room.

What you'll like about the Elgato Key Light

Everything about how the Key Light has been designed and constructed will make you fall in love with it immediately. It's a simple idea, but how it has been executed sets it apart from similar products.

For one, the Key Light takes up virtually no space at all-around your PC setup. The light panel is exceptionally slim, especially compared to a softbox, and most importantly for streaming, it's got a much lower heat output compared to some of these larger lights. I've had one pointing at me for at least 6 hours at a time, and it's remarkable how cool the panel remains.

The Key Light mounts to your desk via an arm, with a tripod-style head at the top. You've got plenty of room to adjust the height and the angle the light points down at you, all while needing no floor space and being slim enough to sit behind a PC or a monitor.

Power-wise the Key Light goes all the way up to 2500 lumens, which is bright and is fully dimmable. You're limited to white light, but the color temperature is adjustable between 2900K and 7000K, so you can get just the right warmth to suit your tastes.

So, as a light, it's terrific. It's bright and has lots of adjustabilities to get it how you want it in your setup. But it's how you control it where the Key Light really takes a step forward.

You have multiple options. There's an app for Windows and Mac, there's an app for iOS and Android, and there's integration with Elgato's own Stream Deck. You can set it up from PC, Mac, or mobile and only requires the device you're using to be on the same wireless network as you want the Key Light to operate on.

Controls are simple, and whether you're using the desktop or mobile app, you have a handy quick-access control to turn the Key Light on and off, and sliders to adjust temperature and brightness. If you're using a Stream Deck, there are several controls built-in you can assign to buttons to change the same features, even add a specific percentage brightness you can enable with a single tap.

What you'll dislike about the Elgato Key Light

There's nothing to dislike about the product itself. It's easy to see why they're an object of desire among the streaming community, but there's one massive cloud that hangs over the Key Light.

The price is astronomical.

Sure, this isn't a regular light. If you're buying a cheap, generic softbox off Amazon, you're not getting wireless control from your phone or your computer, nor are you likely getting temperature and brightness adjustments. There's a lot of really great hardware here, but it's still expensive.

At close to $200 each — and you need a pair of these for best effect — it's a significant investment. And I know several people who won't even consider the Key Light because of its price tag. It's a big ask.

Should you buy the Elgato Key Light?

If the price doesn't put you off and you're looking for great lights for your streaming setup, the Key Light is a great buy. The space-saving element alone is enough for most — it's what attracts me most about the product — but the ease of use, the flexibility, and the fact it doesn't sit there toasting your face is a real bonus.

It's a shame it'll run you almost $400 for the best setup though with a pair of these, and it's impossible to ignore just how much of an investment the Key Light is. Nevertheless, it's a remarkably good product, and Elgato has once again come up with something for streamers that seems simple but is a genuine game-changer.

Whether you've been creating content for a long time or you want to start breaking into Twitch and YouTube and other streaming environments, you need good gear to do it. Don't skimp out because no one wants to watch a streamer with tinny audio and bad lighting. Today for Black Friday you can save as much as 35% on these streaming devices and accessories at Amazon. The sale covers popuular brands like Razer, Elgato, Corsair, and more. You can get a powerful USB mic, a green screen, or even just upgrade your internet so you never drop frames in middle of work.

The Razer Seiren X USB microphone has dropped to $59.99 during this sale. It normally sells for around $85 and has never gone this low before. The Seiren X uses a super cardioid pickup pattern to reduce unwanted background noise and provide crystal clear audio. The shock mount dampens vibrations, and the compact form factor keeps the mic out of your way while you're on screen. You can monitor yourself in real-time, too, with zero latency monitoring so you don't get an echo effect.

One thing stream watchers love is a green screen. Keep more of the game on screen and less of the background behind you with a green screen. Corsair's mountable Chroma Key Panel can eliminate your backgrounds, and it's on sale for $109.99 from a street price of $160. It's made with a wrinkle-resistant green fabric and can deploy in just seconds. The pneumatic X-frame helps automatically lock the screen in place.

You can also get the Elgato stream deck at a lovely deal price of $99.99. This 15-key LCD deck controller normally goes for around $130. Today's price matches last year's Black Friday sale, and we haven't seen it go this low since then. The fully customizable keys help you switch easily between different screens, use different transitions, post things to social media, and more.

The Elgato HD USB capture cards have long been one of the most convenient ways to stream and capture gameplay footage for console gamers. A simple in-line connection between your console and TV, the Elgato capture cards extract the data straight out of your HDMI via USB to a connected PC. Up until now, though, they've had a bit of a downside for 4K console gamers.

The previous Elgato cards downgraded the HDMI signal to 1080p, which meant that you couldn't play games at 4K resolution while connected up to the card. The HD60S+ does away with this restriction, though, allowing for full 4K HDR pass-through. And it works like a dream. Here's our review.

What you'll love about the Elgato HD60S+

The Elgato HD60S+ is easily the best USB-based capture card the company has offered, which side-stepped some of the early bugs that came with the HD60S and other capture cards of yesteryear. I've streamed with this device for several hours on our Mixer page without any issue, complete with a 4K HDR signal loud and proud on my QLED TV.

Operationally, the Elgato HD60S+ is identical to previous USB capture cards the company has released, sitting in-line between two HDMI cables that connect to your TV and your gaming device, with an additional USB-C to USB-A cable that sends data to your PC.

Source: Windows Central

The data is then picked up via Elgato's 4K capture utility, which makes it easy to extract footage and screenshots from a near-lagless live feed. It's easy to navigate your recordings via the app to then export them into relevant video editing software and so on. My only complaint was that it wasn't possible to extract screenshots from captured footage, but Elgato is already planning to add that feature in a future update.

The Elgato HD60S+ itself has a minimal footprint, at around 120 grams, with 112 x 75 x 19 mm dimensions, making it hardly bigger than a smartphone. It generates a bit of heat in use, but nothing that should be cause for concern. It also has a light strip across its body to let you know when it's active.

It has HDMI ports at either, as well as a USB-C port for its PC connection, and a 3.5mm-in for mixing in audio for live commentary recording and so on, although you can use your PC's audio devices for that as well.

When connected through to a 4K TV from a compatible device like an Xbox One X or a PS4 Pro, the HD60S+ simply passes through the full UHD HDR signal as though there wasn't a device in the interim at all. On-screen, it doesn't impact responsiveness or picture quality in any way, which was a bit of a concern. The capture card itself extracts footage at 1080p up to 60 frames per second, although there are a few downsides worth being aware of.

What you'll dislike about the Elgato HD60S+

The main annoyance with the HD60S+ isn't exactly Elgato's fault, but it blocks HDCP copy protection signals, which some media apps require to prevent piracy. It's a legal requirement for copyright law, but if you watch a lot of Xbox Movies & TV, you might need to pick up an additional HDMI switch to alternate the signal between the capture card and HDCP-compliant cables in order to watch your content.

Additionally, sometimes captured footage can look a little washed out. The 4K Capture Utility does offer the ability to adjust contrast and fiddle with HDR settings. Still, it seems like some games that have HDR enabled come through the other end looking a little flat, in specific configuration scenarios. Although it's a limitation on the HDR encoding/decoding process, and not exactly Elgato's fault.

Source: Windows Central | Elgato HD60S+ capture sample.

Again, this isn't the capture card's fault, but it's worth being aware of as a limitation of capturing footage in HDR, then reproducing it on a non-HDR display. When converting down from HDR to SDR, it does seem like some color information gets lost in the process. The Elgato 4K Capture Utility also does not output in HDR even if you connect it to a compatible display, which makes it hard to analyze color information correctly without converting it first, which is a bit of a shame. Hopefully, they can fix this in a future update.

Should you buy the Elgato HD60S+?

If you're a content creator using an Xbox One X or a PS4 Pro, the Elgato HD60S+ is an absolute must-buy product that makes capturing footage so much easier than using the console's recording features. This is especially true in the case of the Xbox One X, which has maddeningly slow and clunky sharing features.

It's a little pricey at $200, but it's more than worth the asking price if you're someone who will get a lot of use out of it. The capture software is speedy and well-built, the device itself is sleek and convenient, and the 4K pass-through works flawlessly. Just an all-round excellent product.

What you need to know

• Elgato launched the new HD60 S+ today.
• The capture card allows you to stream HDR gameplay at 1080p and 60 frames per second with 4K60 HDR passthrough to your TV.
• The HD60 S+ is available for $200 now at Elgato.

Elgato introduced its latest game capture device, the HD60 S+, today with a significant upgrade over the previous HD60 S. The new capture card comes with 4K60 HDR passthrough, meaning you can play your games in their full quality on your TV while streaming or capturing footage at 1080p and 60 frames per second.

That's a major upgrade for streamers and creators who want to capture footage for videos. While the 1080p60 capture is on par with the previous version of the device, 4K60 HDR passthrough means you won't have to compromise the quality of the gameplay on your TV while you're capturing footage.

Otherwise, the HD60 S+ very much captures what made the previous HD60 S a solid capture device. It's plug-and-play, so you can hook up your game console and computer to get started recording or streaming right away. The device also works with streaming tools like OBS Studio, Streamlabs OBS, and XSplit out of the box.

Elgato is also touting extremely low latency between the capture feed and actual gameplay, so you should see the action unfold on your capture simultaneously as it occurs on your TV.

The Elgato HD60 S+ is available to pick up for $200 now at Elgato's web store. Presumably, like the HD60 S, it will become available from other retailers like Amazon at a later date.

What you need to know

• Elgato introduced the 4K60 Pro MK.2 capture card at Gamescom 2019.
• The card has a couple of key upgrades, adding HDR capture and support for multiple cards in one PC.
• The new card is also cheaper than its predecessor, and is available to order for $250.

Elgato introduced the 4K60 Pro in 2017 as its premier capture card, but now it's time for an upgrade. At Gamescom 2019, the company launched the new $250 4K60 Pro MK.2, which cuts the price down from the original's $400 and introduces support for capturing HDR footage.

The card remains capped at 60 frames per second when capturing 4K footage. However, it supports a ton of other frame and resolution combos, including 1080p footage at 240Hz. Add in the new HDR capture and your game footage should look pretty impressive.

The 4K60 Pro MK.2 also allows you to work with more than one card in a PC setup. If you want to give the new card a try, you can grab the Elgato 4K60 Pro MK.2 now for $250.

Amazon has the Elgato Game Capture HD60 Pro 1080p stream and record capture card refurbished by Corsair Outlet for $79.95. This has the Amazon Renewed promise that the card works and looks like new. It also comes with a 90-day warranty. New versions of this card go for $160 or more. The only other time we've seen this card drop so low was for a brief period in June. Outside of that, even refurbished it normally goes for $120 or more.

If you want to stream from a source other than your computer, you need a card like this. For example, if you want to stream on Twitch but your main way of gaming is an Xbox One, you can transfer your video from your Xbox to your PC using this. It also works great for cameras or when sharing information between two computers. You can stream and record video up to 1080p with 60 fps. It also has built-in live streaming to Twitch and YouTube with a live commentary feature.

The Elgato Stream Deck Mini is a great little device for game streaming and creating helpful macros when you want to use social media in the middle of a stream. What you may not know is that the software used to make those customized buttons is pretty powerful and you can connect it to IFTTT, making it an almost magical portal to your smart home.

Products used in this guide

• Easy peasy control: Elgato Stream Deck Mini ($83 at Amazon)

How to create an IFTTT applet

1. Go to IFTTT.com and sign up for an account if you don't have one.
2. In the right-hand corner click on your username and click on New Applet.

3. Click on the enormous blue +THIS on the screen.
4. Search for Webhooks in the search bar.

5. Click receive a web request to activate this action.
6. Give the event a title. In my case, it was to turn my fan off so I named it TurnFanOff. It won't use spaces, so use capitals or underscores to make it easier to see.

7. Click create trigger to finish the first half of the applet.
8. Next, click the giant +THAT on the screen.
9. Here you will need to search for the smart home service that connects to your product. This could be Nest, or Ring, or in my case Smart Life — they make smart switches and plugs.

10. Connect to your smart home service using the username and password and give IFTTT access to it.
11. Choose the action you want the service to perform. In my case it was turn off.

12. Choose the smart device that you want the action to work with. In my case it was kitchen light, which is also my fan.
13. Click Finish to complete the applet.

How to connect the applet to the Stream Deck Mini

Now that the applet is made you'll need to connect it to the Stream Deck Mini. That's why Webhooks is so important — it allows you to send an IFTTT request simply by going to a unique web address. This means that the Stream Deck Mini can be used to call a web address which will activate the applet. Here's how to connect them.

1. Go to https://ifttt.com/my_services
2. Search for Webhooks in the search bar.
3. Click on the Webhooks service when it appears.

4. in the top right hand corner click on Documentation to find your unique URL.
5. Fill in the box with the trigger title that you made earlier. In my case it was TurnFanOff.

6. Highlight the URL that is generated at the bottom, leaving out the Curl command, and press Ctrl+C to copy it to your clipboard.
7. Open up your Stream Deck Software. If you haven't already downloaded you can do so here.

8. Scroll through the list of commands on the right until you find the System Website command.
9. Click and drag the Website command into one of the button areas on the left.
10. Name the action in the title box. In my case, it was Fan Off.

11. In the URL box press Ctrl+V to paste the web address from earlier.
12. Make sure you check the access in the background checkbox. If you don't, the Stream Deck will open a new browser window every time you press the button.

And we are done

That's it! Now, anytime you press the button Stream Deck will send Webhooks an address request, which will activate your smart device. It will work anywhere too. Even if you take the Stream Deck to a hotel, it will still activate that smart device.

If you want, you can download or create an icon for your new button, but if you do try to use transparent backgrounds or it will look weird.

This isn't the only thing IFTTT and Webhooks can do either so feel free to get in there and dig around for awesome ideas.

Our top equipment picks

Maybe you have been thinking about getting a Stream Deck but haven't felt it worthwhile. Well, I'm hoping this guide will show you the worth of this cool little gadget.

Smart things that work with the Stream Deck and IFTTT

There are plenty of smart devices out there and a lot of them use IFTTT to connect. Here are some of our favorites.

Smart Switch by Martin Jerry ($19 at Amazon)

I have these exact switches all over my house and they work perfectly with the Stream Deck and Alexa.

Monoprice Smart Bulb ($20 at Amazon)

The Monoprice smart bulbs aren't the cheapest but they work very well and will work with your Stream Deck too.

Nest ($179 at Amazon)

Having buttons on your to Stream Deck to set the temperature on your Nest thermostat is just awesome. You should try it.

Close, but the Razer Ripsaw HD has it

The Elgato HD60 S was a little ahead of its time when it first launched, but as time passed, it's been surpassed in the hardware stakes by not only Razer, but also by AVerMedia. That doesn't mean it's a bad capture card, not at all.

But if you're looking for the best of the two out of the Razer and the Elgato, the Razer is the one to get.

Setting it up is simple: you just need the Razer Synapse 3 application to ensure the right drivers and firmware are in place. From there you just hook it up to your favorite capture or broadcast software. It's fully supported in Streamlabs OBS, OBS Studio, and XSplit, covering all the big bases.

What makes it better though? By virtue of launching in 2019, it's better equipped for today's streamer, especially those playing on PC or Xbox One X, and that's down to the 4K60 passthrough feature. The HD60 S doesn't have this, so if you really want your games to look their best while you're playing regardless of your stream, the Ripsaw HD has the edge. The HDMI 2.0 input and output makes this possible.

For streaming, it matches the HD60 S, with a USB-C 3.0 interface for virtually zero lag, and a 3.5mm audio input if you need to mix party chat from your console. But until Elgato updates its external capture card to support 4K passthrough it falls behind the Ripsaw HD.

Elgato still great for beginners

One area the Elgato might still be a better choice is if you're an absolute beginner to streaming or recording game footage. Of the three apps mentioned above, both Streamlabs OBS and OBS Studio can be confusing at first.

Elgato has its own software that bundles with the HD60 S, Game Capture HD, that is very beginner friendly. Nothing is buried in menus — all the important features are out front with simple controls — and you can use it to capture as well as stream. It'll even help you add a simple overlay to your broadcast if you wish.

Of course, it's fully supported in all the major streaming software when you're ready to step up and get a little more advanced. You're also more likely to be able to find a deal on the HD60 S since it's an older product.

Hot on the heels of releasing its new compact studio light this week, Elgato is serving up a new solution for capturing footage from mobile games. Called Screen Link, the new app allows you to wirelessly capture video from the screen on your iPhone and iPad on your PC or Mac.

Screen link works by wirelessly sending your footage over your local network, requiring only the app on your phone and a plugin on your PC to get started. The PC plugin is compatible with some of the most popular capture software such as OBS Studio, Streamlabs OBS, XSplit, and Game Capture.

Once set up, you can capture anything displayed on your phone or tablet's screen. That includes your typical mobile games, of course, but you can also use Screen Link to vlog with your phone's camera or broadcast augmented reality gameplay overlaid on the surfaces around you.

Screen Link is available in both free and "Pro" flavors. If you're sticking with Screen Link free, you'll be limited to 15 minutes of capture duration and 16 Mbps bitrate. Upgrading to Pro costs $9.99, but removes the limit on capture duration and ups the bitrate to 32 Mbps.

For more, check out Screen Link at Elgato.

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Elgato has already made a name for itself in the game streaming community with its suite of capture cards and Stream Deck, and now it's taking a step into studio lighting. The company today revealed Key Light, a compact alternative to traditional studio lighting that lets you take control of the light temperature and brightness with software controls on your PC.

Key Light attaches to your desk with a relatively small clamp, cutting down on the amount of space you'd typically have to take up with studio lights. The pole underneath each light is also fully height adjustable. Once in place, software controls allow you to make changes to the light output on the fly with sliders for color temperature and brightness.

What's more, the Key Lights are compatible with Elgato's Stream Deck, which can be configured to allow you to make changes to your lights with the touch of a single button.

The Elgato Key Light is set to launch of January 14 and is available to preorder now for $200.

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Elgato's original Cam Link offered up an interesting proposition for streamers: $130 to use your regular camera as a high-end webcam to (hopefully) get a crisper image than a standard webcam could serve up. Now Elgato is spiffing things up with the Cam Link 4K, which, as the name suggests, allows you to broadcast 4K video from a compatible camera.

The pricing remains the same, coming in at $130 or €130, making it a no-brainer for anyone who was already considering the original Cam Link. For the money, you'll get the ability to stream 4K video at 30 frames per second, or 1080p video at 60 frames per second. The dongle also now supports interlaced video, Elgato says.

The dongle itself is a pretty simple device. Working with a USB 3.0 port on your PC, the stick takes a signal from your camera via HDMI. You may need a Micro HDMI to HDMI cable, depending on your camera's port selections, but they're fairly cheap to pick up.

You'll also want to make sure your camera is compatible with the Cam Link 4K. Fortunately, Elgato has a handy list of supported cameras.

The Cam Link 4K is available now for $130.

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Elgato is out to prove power can come in small packages, with the all-new Stream Deck Mini.

Elgato's first Stream Deck has become a staple tool for video game streamers everywhere, including us here at Windows Central. But if you thought it was either too big or too expensive, Elgato now has a smaller, cheaper $99 option just for you.

What you'll love about the Elgato Stream Deck Mini

The Elgato Stream Deck is a wonderful tool for any streamer, that even I, as a casual broadcaster, can't imagine life without. The original Stream Deck has 15 configurable buttons complete with individual mini LCD screens, and an adjustable base frame. When combined with the robust Stream Deck software, it adds a wide array of control and flair to your streams, complete with deep support for all popular platforms and broadcasting software. But what if 15 buttons are just too much? Say hi to the slimmed-down Stream Deck Mini.

The Stream Deck Mini retains many of the features of its bigger brother, including glossy, LCD buttons, USB-interfacing, while utilizing the same software platform. Set up scene swaps, post pre-written chat messages, send out broadcast tweets and even set up gifs and sound effect pop-ups on your streams — right at your fingertips. The only real difference here is that there are six buttons, rather than 15.

The Stream Deck Mini is well constructed, with solid plastics that don't creak, complete with a rubberized base to reduce drifting on your desk.

Drivers are available through Windows Update, making set-up as quick and easy as plug-and-play. The software is simple and easy to use too, detecting and integrating your broadcast software, available scenes, and beyond.

The LCD buttons can be programmed with your own icons, and even animated gifs, creating fun, attractive displays. Many of the built-in functions have visual cues too, so you know when you've muted your mic or when an attempted function has been properly received by your stream services.

What you'll dislike about the Elgato Stream Deck Mini

There's very little to complain about with the Stream Deck Mini, but there are a couple of design issues that I hope get looked at in a future version.

While it does seem like there has been some effort made to give the Stream Deck Mini some hefty weight for its size (to prevent sliding), button presses still cause it to drift around on my desk, even with the rubber feet. A little bit more weight or perhaps softer action on the buttons would help rectify this in future revisions, but it's a tiny gripe.

Additionally, I find the six buttons to be a tad restrictive for my personal stream set up. Even if you're a casual streamer, you may find that you'll outgrow six buttons quite quickly. This problem can be offset somewhat by using button folders or profile toggles, but then you're reducing the number of available buttons per screen even further, just to navigate around your folders and profiles. I think it would have been cool if the Stream Deck came with a smaller dedicated button for pagination or profile swapping, but again, that's a subjective complaint based on my personal needs. You may find six buttons is more than enough!

Should you buy Elgato's Stream Deck Mini?

The Stream Deck Mini takes the excellent Elgato Stream Deck and slims it down into a smaller, cheaper package. Not every streamer out there is going to need 15 configurable hotkeys, and if you're one of them, this Deck is for you.

Since the Stream Deck software is so easy to integrate not only with broadcasting software, but indeed any Windows software thanks to its ability to perform macros and hotkey actions, you might even want to look at the Stream Deck Mini for use with creative programs like Adobe Photoshop, or while using inking tools like Sketchable.

The Stream Deck Mini is an awesome piece of kit, and whether you're after six buttons or even more, either version is a solid purchase. The Elgato Stream Deck Mini should be available from today for $99, from various online retailers.

So should you buy it? Absolutely.

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Choosing the right capture card is important — if you're getting one, you're using it to create some kind of content. You need to balance balance image and video quality against performance and price to make the all-around best choice.

Elgato is the biggest name in capture cards, and the company has two very similar products on the market: The HD60 and the HD60 S. So what's the difference between them?

Elgato HD60 vs HD60 S: Hardware and performance

On a hardware level there are some subtle differences between the two.

The HD60 has a built-in hardware h.264 encoder which helps relieve the load on your PC. The HD60 S doesn't have this, but it does have a faster USB interface. This, in turn, means Elgato's "instant gameview" feature is supported, with incredibly low latency between what you're playing and what the software is capturing. If you only have a single screen available, instant gameview is fast enough to play your games through your capture software.

Both are capable of capturing at 60 FPS at 1080p resolution at a maximum bitrate of 40 Mbps. Both have unencrypted HDMI with passthrough and the only visible difference on the outside is the HD60 S having the new USB-C port along with its faster data transfer. You also get an aux input port on both cards to patch in a chat link cable if you need to.

Which should you buy?

There's not really a right or wrong answer to this question. Both are capable of running on fairly average PCs, but if you are at the lower end of the hardware chain then the built-in hardware encoder on the HD60 may well be more beneficial than anything else. The capture card handling the encoding means your PC doesn't have to do nearly as much.

The big selling point to the HD60 S is the incredibly low latency offered by the faster USB connection. If you're a streamer, then low latency is perhaps more important than offloading some of the encoding.

There's also a modest price difference to consider. The HD60 S is around $170 while the HD60 is around $155.

The good news is that they're both superb capture cards. Very similar, but the HD60 S is probably just the better pick thanks to its faster data transfer, unless hardware encoding is something you absolutely need.

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