The Neo Series is the latest line of streaming equipment from Elgato, which aims to provide plain solutions on a smaller budget and with environmental friendliness. Elgato has been behind some of our top picks for capture cards over the years, and I think Neo may be next in line
The first thing to notice about the Game Capture Neo is that the device is made of recycled plastic and packaged in a fully recyclable cardboard box. The up-to-date Game Capture Neo card is also white and may be the first white capture card I’ve ever seen, matching the rest of the Neo series such as the Facecam Neo, Key Light Neo and Wave Neo.
Thanks to the eco-friendly initiative, in the Game Capture Neo box you’ll find a fairly standard USB Type-C to USB Type-A cable that’s clearly marked as 5GB/s, along with the Game Capture Neo itself. The cable plugs into the USB Type-C port located between the HDMI input and output ports on the back of the capture unit, and the Type-A plug faces your computer for streaming or recording. They’re all recessed under the rim at the back of the device to support keep everything immaculate, and rubber feet keep them unthreatening even on a busy gaming desk.
Even though the Neo needs at least one to be good, there are no HDMI cables included in this set. Considering I have an overflowing drawer, this was a relief. I would prefer if Elgato continued this eco-friendly initiative and saved me the cost of another cable that I honestly don’t need. To get the most out of 4K HDR streaming, you just need to make sure the cables you grab will be able to transmit it, so having at least one of them at 2.1 for transmission is a great idea.
Capture Neo game specifications
Interface: USB Type-C
Video input: HDMI
Audio input: HDMI
Maximum transition resolution: HDR 4K 60 fps
Maximum recording resolution: 1080p 60 fps
Recording format: MP4
Dimensions: 123 x 65 x 20 mm
Libra: 90g
Suggested retail price: $120 | 120 pounds | 199 Australian dollars
One of the proposed hallmarks of the Neo series is that these devices should work straight out of the box, without any proprietary software, and this little capture card absolutely proves that. I made sure to remove all Elgato software from my laptop before plugging it in and I still had OBS pick it up immediately. This worked no matter what device I was collecting Game Capture Neo footage from, as long as it could be output to HDMI. This affected several different phones connected via a USB Type-C to HDMI cable. Adding the passthrough was as effortless as plugging in another HDMI cable and didn’t interrupt my session.
I even skipped the OBS recording, essentially swapping devices while I was running, and had it work seamlessly, with only a low no-signal message popping up in between. The downtime was shorter than a standard scene change, which made it seem like an effortless choice to integrate into a variety of streamers’ offerings.
After these basic tests, I installed the Elgato 4K Capture Utility software. This can be used to select color and resolution settings, which is handy, but the Neo already handled it admirably on its own. The software also allows you to record video, even retroactively, if you have enabled flashback recording. This also works well with Stream Deck, especially since you can set different times for these flashbacks, making it as effortless as pressing a button while playing.
Recordings also look faithful to the selected resolution and frame rate, both in terms of playback and file size, and the audio quality is also quite good. I made several long recordings to see how it happened over time, and the quality didn’t drop once, even when my laptop was running at full capacity. All the while, Elgato’s Game Capture Neo sat there with its LED unblinking and doing its job.
I was able to play some games directly in the capture window, whether OBS or Elgato games, and in most cases I did quite well. There was some lag, but not enough to be noticeable as long as the game wasn’t too hectic and reaction-based. I could happily explore Hyrule in Tears of the Kingdom without any problems. My favorite game for testing quick reactions is Hades on Higher Heat, and here lag was a much bigger issue. There was just no way I was ever going to get to my dad and beat him up like that.
Buy if…
✅ Are you a beginner streamer but looking for something versatile and reliable: I’ve cried in frustration when cards have worked in the past, but it’s clear that Neo would be an amazing card to build on. For the card to work, simply plug it in.
✅ You are a diverse streamer: This is a card to which you can swap devices during operation, with almost no downtime in transmission. Even if you’re switching from your phone to your iPad, Switch, or PS5, all in one session, Game Capture Neo will happily handle it without any qualms.
Don’t buy if…
❌ Need more frames per second: Those looking to stream games that require vibration reflexes may notice a bandwidth cap of 60 frames per second. If you need extra frames to get the shots you want in your footage, you’ll need to look for something with slightly better specs than this device.
❌ Want to create 4K HDR videos: Part of the trade-off with the Neo’s price is that it is confined to 1080p and 60fps recordings. Anyone who wants the sharpest and smoothest recordings (you can have both) will want to look elsewhere.
Fortunately, the transition in this little white box is consistent with the promised 4K resolution at 60 fps and devoid of lag. I was immediately back in the game and was able to play with no noticeable lag as I climbed through the levels of the underworld. It also does a good job of delivering true HDR blacks in passthrough for games and screens that support it. The lack of HDR in recordings is quite common, but this way you can still enjoy it while gaming. This means you didn’t waste all your money on a fancy monitor after all!
Elgato Game Capture Neo does not aim to be the most powerful card on the market. Omitting things like 120fps bandwidth, VRR and recording or higher resolutions in the name of cost savings and performance. These are certainly compromises, but really astute ones. Most people looking for content to stream or record would happily save money and processing power by overpaying for higher specs. Not to mention the plain configuration that Neo offers.
If you’re a die-hard FPS streamer who needs higher frame rates or a content creator who wants to create high-resolution videos, this isn’t the card for you. However, anyone looking for an entry-level option or just a competent, affordable card that is reliable and effortless to work with in a variety of situations should definitely take a look at it though.
The Game Capture Neo is the cheapest Elgato card on the market and it’s a breath of fresh air to see it perform so well and deliver great results. It’s obvious that Elgato has packed its history of capture card success into this device rather than just releasing some terribly low-cost option. There’s a huge Elgato logo on the top of the device, which seems a bit unnecessary, but the more I apply the card, I’m convinced it works as a stamp of approval.
The cheapest option from the capture kings is still a very good choice.