I had been using a small teleprompter setup with my phone mounted in front of my Sony camera, and while that worked, it always meant my phone was tied up during recording.
The Elgato Prompter caught my attention because it has its own built-in display, connects with a single USB-C cable, and is designed to work more like an extra screen than a traditional phone-based teleprompter setup.
Quick Answer
The Elgato Prompter is a lightweight teleprompter with a built-in 9-inch display, several camera mounting options, lens adapter rings, a shroud for webcam-style setups, and a single cable connection for power and display.
My first impression from the unboxing is that it is bigger than I expected, very light, and fairly straightforward to assemble. The shroud feels a little thin, but the overall setup looks practical, especially if you want to stop using your phone as your teleprompter screen.
Why I Ordered It
Before this, I had been using a different teleprompter mount with my iPhone. The camera lens slides into the back, and the phone sits in front as the prompter display. I even added a MagSafe mount to make it easier to attach and remove the phone.
That setup worked, but it was still a compromise. I would rather have my phone available for other things during a recording session instead of leaving it locked into the teleprompter.
The Elgato Prompter solves that problem by putting the screen directly into the teleprompter. That means I do not need to use a separate phone or tablet just to read notes, scripts, or prompts while filming.
What Comes in the Box
Inside the box, the Elgato Prompter includes the main prompter with display, a universal shroud, brackets, straps, screws, a cleaning cloth, a quick start guide, and a USB-C to USB-A cable.
The included cable is braided and has a 90-degree USB-C connector on one end. I would have preferred USB-C to USB-C, especially on a modern Mac setup, but USB-A does make it more broadly compatible.
There are also multiple lens adapter rings. Each ring is labeled by millimeter size, so you can match it to the filter thread size on your camera lens. In my case, I checked the filter on my lens and used the 77mm size.
- Main Elgato Prompter with built-in display
- Universal shroud
- Mounting brackets and hardware
- Lens adapter rings
- Cleaning cloth and quick start guide
- Braided USB-C to USB-A cable
The Display
The built-in display is the main reason this product is interesting. Elgato lists it as a 9-inch display, and visually it feels like a useful size for a desk or camera setup.
Holding it next to an iPhone Max, the Prompter display is noticeably larger. That extra screen space should make reading easier, especially if you are using it for longer videos, live streams, or talking points.
Elgato’s approach is also interesting because the Prompter works as a display from your computer. The important question for my setup is how it behaves alongside an already heavy monitor setup. I use a Mac Studio with multiple Studio Displays, LG monitors, and a Blackmagic monitor output, so I want to see whether it adds friction or behaves cleanly in daily use.
Build and First Feel
The first thing I noticed when lifting the Prompter out of the box is how light it is. It does not feel like a heavy-duty studio piece of gear. It feels more like a lightweight accessory designed for webcams, mirrorless cameras, and desktop creator setups.
That is not automatically a bad thing. For my use, lighter may actually be better because I want to mount it directly to the camera lens and move it between locations when needed.
The universal shroud is the one part that felt a little thin to me. It seems more plastic and flexible than I expected. I do not know yet whether that will matter in actual use, but out of the box I would have liked that piece to feel a little more substantial.
Mounting Options
The Prompter has several mounting points, including quarter-twenty mounts on the bottom and back. There are also cold shoe-style mounting points on top, which gives you some flexibility depending on how your camera or desk setup is arranged.
Out of the box, mine appeared to have the adapter installed for Elgato’s Facecam-style setup. That plate was easy to remove by loosening the screws.
For a webcam setup, the shroud appears to help block light around the camera and keep the image clean. For a mirrorless or DSLR lens setup, the lens adapter ring can connect more directly to the Prompter, so the shroud may not be needed in the same way.
My plan is to mount it directly to my Sony A7 setup rather than use the L-bracket. I use a 24mm lens, and because the Prompter is light, I like the idea of keeping the setup simple and portable.
Replacing a Phone Prompter
The setup I am replacing used my phone as the screen. It worked, and there is good teleprompter software available for phones, but it always added one more dependency to the recording process.
With the Elgato Prompter, the screen is part of the hardware. That should make the workflow cleaner. I can keep my phone free, use the Prompter as a connected display, and potentially move it around the studio or to another setup more easily.
The single-cable design also helps. The USB-C connection handles power and connectivity, so there is no separate power brick or second cable to manage.
What I Still Need to Test
This was only the unboxing and first setup look, so I am not ready to call it a full review yet. I still need time with the software, the display behavior, and the real recording workflow.
Elgato generally does well with creator software. I used to use the Stream Deck and liked it, though I eventually moved to a Loupedeck because I found it had less latency in my setup at the time.
The real test will be whether the Prompter makes recording easier after a week or two of use. I want to see how it behaves with my Mac Studio, how readable the display is during actual filming, and whether the mounting stays stable on my camera.
- How well the software works in a real recording setup
- Whether the display behaves cleanly with multiple monitors
- How stable the direct lens mount feels
- Whether the lightweight build is a benefit or a drawback over time
Key Takeaways
- The Elgato Prompter includes its own built-in display, so you do not need to use a phone or tablet as the teleprompter screen.
- It connects with a single USB-C cable for power and display, though the included cable is USB-C to USB-A.
- The box includes multiple lens adapter rings, making it possible to mount directly to compatible camera lenses.
- The Prompter feels very light, which may help with portability and camera mounting.
- The shroud feels a little thin out of the box and seems more useful for webcam-style setups.
- A full review needs real testing with the software, display behavior, and camera workflow.
Watch the Video
The video above above to see the full unboxing, the included parts, and how the Elgato Prompter starts to come together on a real camera setup.
