Best UGREEN Capture Cards: Passthrough, USB Speed and OBS Setup

The best UGREEN capture card for most streamers is the 1080p60 USB 3.0 model with HDMI loop-out: it records at the resolution most platforms stream at and lets you play on a monitor without delay. If you want 4K60 passthrough and headroom for a console on a 4K display, the 4K@60Hz listing with VRR and HDR mentions is the step up. The USB 2.0 model at 30fps is the budget option for slides and recordings, not fast games.

Nine UGREEN listings are compared below. Their titles are packed with numbers that look alike, so the main job here is separating what the card accepts, what it passes through and what it can actually record. Everything comes from the titles and general video knowledge. Nobody on the team used or measured these units.

Top UGREEN capture cards at a glance

The three numbers hiding in every capture card title

Each listing quotes up to three different figures, and they describe different things. The input is the signal the card accepts, the passthrough or loop-out is the signal sent on to your monitor, and the capture is what lands in your recording. A card that accepts 4K input can still record 1080p60. Keep those three columns apart in your head and the titles stop being confusing.

Loop-out matters for latency. If the monitor is fed directly by the loop-out, the player sees the game in real time while the card handles the recording path. If you watch the game inside OBS instead, you are watching the delayed copy, which is fine for talk and hard for action games.

UGREEN capture cards reviewed one by one

UGREEN 2K@30Hz 1080P 60FPS Capture Card, 4K Input, USB 3.0

The title offers 1080P 60FPS capture, 2K at 30Hz, 4K HDMI input and USB 3.0, with Switch 2, Xbox, PS4, PS5, PC and camera listed. The 4K input claim means the card will accept a 4K signal from a source, but the capture figures show what is recorded: 1080p60 or 2K30. A USB-C connection is also mentioned.

It suits a console player who wants clean 1080p60 clips and streams. The title does not name a loop-out, so check the listing for a passthrough port. Without one, you would watch through OBS with delay.

A useful scenario: a PS5 owner records ranked matches for later editing. The card takes whatever the console sends, scales down to the capture format, and writes a 1080p60 file. The weak spot is monitoring. With only one HDMI port named, the player either uses a splitter or watches the OBS preview, so budget time to confirm that with the listing photos before ordering. The camera and USB-C mentions make it flexible beyond consoles.

• Pros: 1080p60 capture on USB 3.0; accepts 4K input; wide console list.
• Cons: No loop-out in the title; 2K only at 30Hz; capture below the input resolution.

Question before buying: does the listing show a second HDMI port?

UGREEN 4K@30Hz Loop Out HDMI Capture Card

Here the loop-out is the headline: 4K@30Hz passes through to a monitor, while the card captures 2K at 30fps or 1080p at 60fps over USB 3.0. Switch 2, PS5, Xbox, PC and Mac are named. The 4K30 figure applies to the passed signal, which on a console means a 30Hz picture; for 60Hz play you would stay at 1080p60.

It fits a streamer with a monitor on the console who wants no delay while recording. The 4K30 loop-out is a limit for anyone planning 4K gaming at 60Hz, and the title does not promise it.

Picture a streamer with a 4K TV on the console and a laptop beside it. The loop-out feeds the TV, and the laptop receives the capture. Because the passthrough is 4K30 in the title, a console set to 60Hz output may need to be switched to a compatible mode, which can change the look of the game on the TV. Check the listing for the supported passthrough modes, and confirm whether HDR passes through as well.

• Pros: Loop-out named; 1080p60 capture; Mac and PC support.
• Cons: Loop-out only at 4K30; no 4K60; no mic port in the title.

Question before buying: is your monitor 4K, and will 30Hz passthrough be acceptable?

UGREEN Full HD USB C 3.0 Capture Card with Headphone Mic Port

The title adds a headphone and mic port to the 1080P 60FPS, 2K 30Hz and 4K@30Hz loop-out set. That extra port makes it practical for streamers who talk over gameplay and want to monitor audio. The use cases include gaming, meetings and recording, which points at a general-purpose card.

Check how the audio port is wired: some cards mix the mic into the capture, others only pass it. The listing page should show it. For a one-box solution to commentary plus gameplay, this is the more convenient of the 1080p60 group.

The meeting and recording use cases in the title are a hint that the card is meant to be simple. A teacher streaming a document camera, or a gamer who wants one box on the desk, can plug in a headset and skip a separate audio interface. Compare that convenience against a USB microphone you may already own, which usually gives more control over voice quality than a mic jack on a capture device.

• Pros: Mic and headphone port; loop-out; USB-C 3.0 connection.
• Cons: Mic routing not described; still 1080p60 capture; no 4K60.

Question before buying: do you want audio mixed on the card or in OBS?

UGREEN Full HD 1080P 30fps Capture Card, USB 2.0

This is the outlier: 1080P at 30fps, 4K HDMI input, USB 2.0, with USB-A and USB-C cables and audio recording. The USB 2.0 link has far less bandwidth than USB 3.0, so the card must compress video to fit. It is aimed at gaming capture, streaming and teaching on a camera, but the 30fps figure makes it weak for fast games.

It is a fair budget pick for lecture capture, camera feeds or slower console games. For action titles, step up to a 60fps listing.

The 4K input wording can mislead: a card that accepts a 4K signal and records 1080p30 is still a 30fps device. USB 2.0 also tends to compress video, so fine detail and fast motion suffer. For a camera on a tripod or a software demo, those limits barely show. For shooters and racing games they will. It is easier to say no to this model than to fix it later.

• Pros: Lowest tier; USB-A and USB-C cables; accepts 4K input.
• Cons: 30fps only; USB 2.0 bandwidth; weaker than the 60fps cards for games.

Question before buying: are you recording action games or slides?

UGREEN 4K@60Hz Capture Card, 1080P@240Hz, USB 3.0

The most ambitious title: 4K@60Hz capture, 1080P@240Hz, ultra-low latency, VRR and HDR capture, for iPad, Switch 2, PS5, Xbox, PC and Mac. The 240Hz and VRR terms point at high-refresh consoles and PCs. A 4K60 stream is a lot of data, and the title says USB 3.0, so read the listing carefully for how the card compresses video to fit.

It fits creators who record on a 4K display and care about HDR. The cost of that spec sheet is high; if you stream at 1080p60, the cheaper cards give the same output.

The 240Hz figure is the point to read twice. On a card of this class it most plausibly describes the refresh rate of the signal the device accepts or passes along, not a recorded 240fps clip. VRR and HDR mentions suggest compatibility with newer consoles, but HDR clips need an HDR-aware editing workflow too. If you edit in standard dynamic range, the benefit is smaller than the title implies.

• Pros: 4K@60Hz capture claim; VRR and HDR named; high-refresh support.
• Cons: Likely compression to fit USB 3.0; premium tier; PC must encode high-resolution video.

Question before buying: does your PC encode 4K60 without dropping frames?

UGREEN 2K 30FPS USB C Capture Card with 100W Power Delivery

The title pairs 2K 30FPS and 1080P 60FPS capture with 100W Power Delivery on USB-C, for Switch, iPad, Quest 3, Steam Deck and iPhone. The PD port suggests a single-cable solution for a handheld: pass power in while sending video out. That is a different use from a console card.

Check the listing for how the PD wiring works and whether the source device accepts charging while outputting video. For portable devices, this is the more useful card, and the listed iPad and Quest 3 sources hint at the target audience.

The most interesting piece is the mix of PD and capture. A Steam Deck or a tablet on a desk can output video while receiving power, so a long recording session does not drain the battery. That is a clear advantage over cards without a power port. The compromise is that the connected hardware must support video output over USB-C, and not all handhelds or phones do.

• Pros: 100W PD named; handheld and mobile support; USB-C design.
• Cons: 1080p60 maximum capture; PD wiring needs a listing check; no loop-out in the title.

Question before buying: does your handheld output video over USB-C?

UGREEN 2K@30Hz USB 3.0 Capture Card with 100W PD, Loop-Out

This listing is the near-twin of the previous one: 2K@30Hz, 1080P 60fps, 100W PD, and adds 4K@30Hz HDMI loop-out with YUY2 and HDR, for Switch, Stream Deck, Quest 3 and iPhone. The visible difference is the loop-out and the YUY2 format mention, which is the uncompressed-style format that gives cleaner footage when bandwidth allows.

Treat the two as variants and decide on the loop-out. If you play on a monitor, you want it. If your source is a phone or a headset display, the extra port may not matter.

A way to separate these two listings: ask where the screen will be. If the screen is the handheld itself, the previous card is enough. If the screen is a monitor beside the setup, the loop-out here is worth the difference. The YUY2 mention is a plus for clean footage, but only if the USB port provides the bandwidth, so use a direct port on the computer rather than a hub.

• Pros: Loop-out plus PD; YUY2 named; mobile and VR sources listed.
• Cons: Loop-out limited to 4K30; near-duplicate of the PD-only model; capture capped at 1080p60.

Question before buying: do you need a passthrough monitor port or only a handheld link?

UGREEN 4K@30Hz Capture Card, USB 3.2, 4K60 Input Passthrough

Here the focus is broadcasting: 4K@30Hz capture, USB 3.2, 4K@60Hz input passthrough, and a mention of 24/7 live streaming with FPGA, plus support for OBS and XSplit. FPGA hardware processing is aimed at steady, low-latency streaming over long sessions.

It targets someone who streams for hours or runs an unattended channel and wants the display to keep 4K60 while the capture handles 4K30. The 24/7 claim is a marketing statement, so check cooling and runtime notes on the listing.

The tension in the title is clear: it passes 4K at 60Hz to the display but captures at 4K30. For a streamer, that means the game looks smooth locally while the viewers get a 30fps picture. The OBS and XSplit mentions tell you which tools the maker expects, but read the listing for supported operating systems, since not every card works the same on Mac and Windows.

• Pros: 4K60 passthrough; USB 3.2; OBS and XSplit named.
• Cons: Capture is 4K30; premium tier; the 24/7 wording is a claim to verify.

Question before buying: do you need continuous streams, or a normal session?

UGREEN 4K 144Hz Capture Card, HDMI to USB 3.2 Gen 2

The top of the range in the title: 4K 144Hz, USB 3.2 Gen 2, a mic input and an HDMI 2.1 loop-out, with OBS and XSplit support. The 144Hz figure most likely describes what the card passes through to a monitor, not what it records; read the listing before assuming 4K144 recording.

The Gen 2 link at 10Gbps provides the bandwidth that 4K60 capture needs, so this is the card for a high-refresh PC or console setup. It is also the most expensive-looking tier, and a poor choice for 1080p60 streamers.

For a high-refresh PC build, an HDMI 2.1 loop-out keeps the monitor running at its native rate while the card records a lower-rate copy. That is the realistic reading of the title. The microphone input rounds out a streaming desk. Because the sums on this page show that 4K60 already needs about 8Gbps uncompressed, plan the USB port and the cable with care.

• Pros: USB 3.2 Gen 2; HDMI 2.1 loop-out; mic input.
• Cons: Easy to misread as 4K144 recording; premium tier; needs a fast USB port.

Question before buying: does your PC have a USB 3.2 Gen 2 port?

Which UGREEN capture card for which user

How to choose: capture basics

Resolution versus frame rate

Most platforms stream at 1080p60, so a card that captures 1080p60 covers the common case. 4K30 suits slow or cinematic content; 4K60 suits crisp action but needs more bandwidth and a stronger PC. Pick the pair of numbers your audience will see, not the largest number in the title.

USB speed requirement

USB 2.0 is for 30fps and compressed video. USB 3.0 at 5Gbps handles 1080p60 uncompressed. USB 3.2 Gen 2 at 10Gbps is where 4K60 starts to fit. Plug the card into a port that really runs at that speed, ideally directly on the motherboard.

OBS setup

Add a Video Capture Device source, choose the card, set resolution and frame rate to match the console, and select YUY2 if the link allows. Mute the monitor in OBS if you hear echo from the loop-out. Use the Audio Input Capture source if game audio is not coming through the card.

Console versus camera use

Consoles need loop-out and HDCP-aware setups; cameras and laptops usually need clean HDMI and no loop-out. Cards that list a camera, a meeting or a teaching use are the ones to lean toward if the source is not a game.

Worked example: does the USB link have room?

Assumptions: uncompressed video in the YUY2 format at 16 bits per pixel, no overhead counted, and the video signal only. Real devices add overhead and may compress, so treat these as minimums.

Result: 1080p60 uses about 40 percent of a 5Gbps link, which is why the 1080p60 cards run on USB 3.0 without trouble. 4K30 uses around 80 percent, so it works but leaves little room for a webcam on the same controller. 4K60 does not fit in 5Gbps uncompressed, which is why a 4K@60Hz capture claim on a USB 3.0 card implies compression, and why the Gen 2 card is the one that matches the 4K60 maths.

Mistakes buyers make with capture cards

Verdict by use case

For most streamers, a 1080p60 USB 3.0 card with loop-out is the sensible middle. Add the mic port version if you talk during play. For 4K displays and long sessions, the 4K60 passthrough card is the more suitable one. For 4K60 recording ambitions the 4K@60Hz listing and the Gen 2 card are the realistic candidates, subject to a fast USB port and a capable PC. The USB 2.0 card is for slides and cameras. Read the capture figures, not the input ones.

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Frequently asked questions

Do I need a capture card with loop-out for console streaming?

You need some way to see the game without the capture delay. A loop-out or passthrough port sends the console signal straight to your monitor while the card records a copy. Without one, you would have to watch the game through OBS on the PC, which adds delay. A listing that mentions loop-out is the safer choice for console play.

Why does a capture card need USB 3.0 or faster?

Uncompressed video is large. 1080p at 60fps in a common 16-bit format needs around 2Gbps before overhead, and USB 2.0 tops out near 480Mbps. USB 3.0 gives 5Gbps, which fits 1080p60 comfortably. Higher resolutions or frame rates raise the requirement, so a USB 3.2 Gen 2 link at 10Gbps is the safer match for 4K60 ambitions.

Can a capture card record 4K60 if it says 4K input?

Not necessarily. Read the whole title. Several listings accept a 4K signal but record at 1080p60 or 4K30, and some pass 4K60 through to a monitor while capturing less. Only a listing that states 4K@60Hz capture and a fast enough USB link supports 4K60 recording, and your PC must also handle the encoding.

Will a UGREEN capture card work with my phone or tablet?

Some titles mention iPad, iPhone, Quest 3 or Steam Deck, which points to USB-C designs aimed at mobile and handheld sources. Compatibility depends on the source device’s video output and the card’s software support, so check the listing and the specific app you plan to use. Do not assume every phone can output video over USB-C.

Which OBS source should I add for a capture card?

Add a Video Capture Device source and pick the card from the device list. Set the resolution and frame rate to match the signal, and choose the YUY2 format when the USB link has room. If frames drop, try MJPEG, a different USB port or a lower frame rate. Add the game audio through the device’s audio input or an Audio Input Capture source.