Elgato 4K60 Pro MK.2 vs Magewell USB Capture HDMI Gen 2

Elgato 4K60 Pro MK.2 vs Magewell USB Capture HDMI Gen 2: Get the Elgato 4K60 Pro MK.2. The Elgato 4K60 Pro MK.2 wins Capture Quality and Passthrough. It is...

Elgato 4K60 Pro MK.2
Elgato
Elgato 4K60 Pro MK.2
$249.99
Magewell USB Capture HDMI Gen 2
Magewell
Magewell USB Capture HDMI Gen 2
$319

The Ruling

Elgato 4K60 Pro MK.2 or Magewell USB Capture HDMI Gen 2? Get the Elgato 4K60 Pro MK.2.

The Elgato 4K60 Pro MK.2 wins Capture Quality and Passthrough. It is also the cheaper of the two, by $69.01.

Check price on Amazon

At a Glance

Where each one actually leads

Every axis is scored out of 10 from the catalog specs below. The scores are relative to the products on this page, so a 10 means “best of these”, not “perfect”, and two identical columns mean the catalog genuinely cannot separate them. Axes the catalog holds no figure for on both sides are left off entirely rather than guessed at.

CategoryElgato 4K60 Pro MK.2Magewell USB Capture HDMI Gen 2
Capture Quality10/102.5/10
Passthrough10/107/10
Connectivity10/1010/10
Value10/107.8/10

The Split

What each one wins

Elgato 4K60 Pro MK.2

Video capture device for gameplay, cameras, or HDMI sources with creator-friendly passthrough and recording support.

On paper the Elgato 4K60 Pro MK.2 takes capture resolution (4K60) and passthrough resolution (4K60 / 1440p120 / 1080p240). It concedes nothing measurable on the sheet. It is the cheaper of the two, by $69.01.

Leads on

  • Capture Resolution
    4K60
    1080p60
  • Passthrough Resolution
    4K60 / 1440p120 / 1080p240
    4K30

Magewell USB Capture HDMI Gen 2

Video capture device for gameplay, cameras, or HDMI sources with creator-friendly passthrough and recording support.

It gives up capture resolution and passthrough resolution to the Elgato 4K60 Pro MK.2. That costs $69.01 more than the Elgato 4K60 Pro MK.2.

Leads on

  • Nothing on the spec sheet goes this one’s way.

Where they’re identical

One spec is the same on both of them, so none of it is part of the decision.

  • HDMI Ports 1

The Record

14 specs, grouped by area

Full specification comparison of Elgato 4K60 Pro MK.2 and Magewell USB Capture HDMI Gen 2, grouped by area.
Specification
Elgato
Elgato 4K60 Pro MK.2
Magewell
Magewell USB Capture HDMI Gen 2
Capture QualityElgato 4K60 Pro MK.2
Capture Resolution✓ 4K601080p60
Resolutionno datano data
PassthroughElgato 4K60 Pro MK.2
Passthrough Resolution✓ 4K60 / 1440p120 / 1080p2404K30
MotionNot enough data
Refresh Rateno datano data
Audio ResolutionNot enough data
Max Sample Rateno datano data
Mic InputsNot enough data
XLR Inputsno datano data
ConnectivityEven
HDMI Ports11
Connection Typehdmiusb-c, hdmi
PowerNot enough data
Power Requirementno datano data
Phantom Powerno datano data
CompatibilityNot enough data
Operating Systemno datano data
Other specsNot enough data
Pcie Slots1no data
Interfaceno datano data
Audio Supportno datano data

A group is won by whoever takes more of its rows outright. Specs the catalog cannot rank are shown but never decide a group.

Bottom Line

Who each one is for

The Elgato 4K60 Pro MK.2 is the pick on the specs the catalog holds, but “better on paper” and “right for you” are different questions. Each case below names what the product is actually good at and who that suits.

Our pick
Best Value

At $249.99, the Elgato 4K60 Pro MK.2 is the most affordable option — 22% less than the priciest pick. It leads in capture resolution (4K60) and passthrough resolution (4K60 / 1440p120 / 1080p240). Offers the most spec advantages per dollar in this comparison.

  • + Better capture resolution (4K60 vs 1080p60)
  • + Better passthrough resolution (4K60 / 1440p120 / 1080p240 vs 4K30)

Also worth knowing

  • ✓ You want 4K60 capture quality
  • ✓ You want 4K60 / 1440p120 / 1080p240 capture quality
  • ✓ Budget is your top priority — $69.01 less than the priciest option

Best for value-focused buyers, 4k60 content creators, 4k60 / 1440p120 / 1080p240 content creators.

The alternative
Solid Alternative

At $319.00, the Magewell USB Capture HDMI Gen 2 is the most expensive option and doesn't clearly outspec the cheaper alternatives. A capable option with its own strengths.

  • + Exclusive connectivity: USB-C
  • × Weaker capture resolution (1080p60 vs 4K60)
  • × Weaker passthrough resolution (4K30 vs 4K60 / 1440p120 / 1080p240)
  • × Most expensive at $319.00

Also worth knowing

  • ✓ You want USB-C for a modern, reversible connector

Look elsewhere if

  • × You're on a tight budget — save $69.01 with a cheaper option
  • × You want 4K60 or higher capture quality
  • × You want 4K60 / 1440p120 / 1080p240 or higher capture quality

Best for open to alternatives.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main difference between Elgato 4K60 Pro MK.2 and Magewell USB Capture HDMI Gen 2?

The largest gap is capture resolution, where the Elgato 4K60 Pro MK.2 leads — 4K60 against 1080p60. Across the catalog's specification sheet the two differ on 2 specs. They match on 1 spec, including HDMI ports. Two capture cards from Elgato and Magewell, each taking a different approach to video quality and latency.

Which is better for streaming, Elgato 4K60 Pro MK.2 or Magewell USB Capture HDMI Gen 2?

Get the Elgato 4K60 Pro MK.2. The Elgato 4K60 Pro MK.2 wins Capture Quality and Passthrough. It is also the cheaper of the two, by $69.01.

Is the Magewell USB Capture HDMI Gen 2 worth the extra $69 over the Elgato 4K60 Pro MK.2?

The Magewell USB Capture HDMI Gen 2 costs $319.00 against $249.99, a difference of $69. On the catalog's specifications it does not lead the Elgato 4K60 Pro MK.2 anywhere, so the premium buys brand, build or something the catalog does not record. Whether that is worth it depends on which of those you would actually use.

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