Best Capture Card for Xbox Series X in 2026

The AVerMedia Live Gamer ULTRA 2.1 is the only capture card in this guide with HDMI 2.1 on both input and output, and that makes it the best option for Xbox Series X owners who play at 4K120 with VRR enabled. The Xbox Series X supports up to 4K120 output on HDMI 2.1 displays, and the ULTRA 2.1 passes that full-bandwidth signal through to your TV without downscaling or stripping VRR support.

For streaming, the ULTRA 2.1 captures at up to 4K144 using MJPEG through AVerMedia Streaming Center software, or at 4K60 through OBS on Mac. For most Xbox Series X streamers who broadcast at 1080p60, the card downscales internally and delivers a clean uncompressed 1080p60 feed to OBS on Windows. The 5.1 channel audio passthrough and capture is a significant advantage over cheaper cards that only handle stereo, especially for Xbox titles with spatial audio like Call of Duty and Starfield.

AVerMedia RECentral software provides capture settings, direct-to-disk recording, and basic color corrections, but you can manage everything inside OBS if you prefer. The card works as a standard UVC device on Windows 10 and 11 with no driver installation required. Build quality is solid with an aluminum housing that dissipates heat well during extended sessions.

The main trade-off is price. At $299.99, the ULTRA 2.1 costs significantly more than the Elgato 4K S. If you do not play at 4K120 or need VRR passthrough, the Elgato 4K S delivers the same 1080p60 streaming quality for less money. But if you want your capture card to be completely transparent to your gaming experience, preserving every frame and feature of your Xbox Series X output, the ULTRA 2.1 is the only card that fully delivers.

The Elgato HD60 X sits at the same price point as the 4K S but targets a slightly different use case. While the 4K S captures at up to 4K60, the HD60 X is purpose-built for 1080p60 capture with an emphasis on HDR passthrough quality. It passes 4K60 HDR10 signals through to your TV and captures at 1080p60, which is exactly what most Xbox Series X streamers need.

Where the HD60 X stands out is HDR handling. The passthrough supports HDR10 with wide color gamut, so your gaming experience on the TV looks identical to plugging the Xbox directly into the display. The VRR passthrough support means your TV retains its adaptive sync features while the card is in the signal chain, which is important for competitive Xbox titles where input lag matters.

The HD60 X captures uncompressed 1080p60 video over USB-C and works with OBS, Streamlabs, and XSplit without proprietary drivers. Elgato Camera Hub provides color adjustments, and the card also supports 1440p120 and 1080p240 passthrough for high-refresh-rate gaming monitors. If your streaming PC has a USB-C port and you primarily care about clean 1080p60 capture with the best possible passthrough quality, the HD60 X is a strong alternative to the 4K S.

The main reason to pick the 4K S over the HD60 X is if you want 4K capture capability for future-proofing. Otherwise, both cards deliver identical 1080p60 streaming quality. The HD60 X is a reliable workhorse that performs consistently during Xbox Series X streaming sessions.

The Elgato Game Capture Neo is the most affordable capture card in this guide, and it is the best starting point for Xbox Series X owners who want to try streaming without a large upfront investment. At $119.99, it captures 1080p60 video over USB-C and includes HDMI passthrough so you can play on your TV while streaming.

The Neo uses the same UVC standard as the larger Elgato cards, which means it works with OBS, Streamlabs, and every other major capture tool without proprietary drivers. Elgato Camera Hub software is available for color and exposure adjustments, but you can manage everything inside OBS if you prefer. The plug-and-play experience is identical to the 4K S and HD60 X, just in a smaller package.

The trade-off is passthrough quality. The Neo passes through at up to 4K60, which is adequate for most setups, but it does not support HDR passthrough or VRR. If you play Xbox Series X games with HDR enabled and want that to carry through to your TV, you should step up to the HD60 X or 4K S. For 1080p60 passthrough, the Neo works perfectly fine.

The compact size is a genuine advantage. The Neo is small enough to fit in a backpack or sit behind a monitor without dominating your desk space. It also works as a webcam input for video calls and recording software. If you are just getting started with Xbox streaming and want a reliable Elgato card at the lowest possible price, the Game Capture Neo is the one to get.

The Razer Ripsaw HD is a solid external capture card that captures uncompressed 1080p60 video with 4K30 passthrough. At $149, it sits between the budget Neo and the mid-range Elgato options, offering a good balance of price and performance for Xbox Series X streaming.

The Ripsaw HD uses a USB-C connection and HDMI 2.0 for both input and output. It works as a standard UVC device, so OBS, Streamlabs, and XSplit all detect it automatically without proprietary drivers. Razer does not bundle dedicated capture software, which some users prefer because it means fewer background processes competing for system resources during streams.

Build quality is premium. The aluminum body feels durable and matches the aesthetic of other Razer peripherals, which matters if you want a coordinated desk setup. The card stays cool during long capture sessions thanks to the metal housing. The compact size means it fits easily alongside your Xbox Series X and streaming PC without cluttering your workspace.

The main limitation is the 4K30 passthrough. If your Xbox Series X is set to 4K120, the Ripsaw HD will not pass that signal through at full refresh rate. You would need to set your Xbox output to 4K30 or 1080p60 for the passthrough to work correctly. If you play at 4K60 or 4K120 on your TV, the Elgato 4K S or AVerMedia ULTRA 2.1 are better choices. But if you play at 1080p60 or 1440p on your display, the Ripsaw HD delivers clean capture quality at a fair price.