HDMI Cable

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HDMI 1.4 and 2.0 don't matter nearly as much as their speed ratings, which the HDMI forum and HDMI licensing administrator also define. Those specifications indicate maximum bandwidths, but they don't specifically define every cable. That's why HDMI cables are classified under one of four speed categories: Standard, High Speed, Premium High Speed, and Ultra High Speed.

Each category has sub-categories based on additional features like an Ethernet channel built into the cable or a stronger signal for automotive use, but you only really need to worry about the main label. Standard is the most basic (and slowest) HDMI cable you can get. It has a bandwidth of 4.95Gbps, which is enough to send a 1080p signal to your TV, but not much more than that. Standard HDMI cables are rare to find in stores, but if you find an unmarked cable in a bucket somewhere or hooked up to a home theater system that hasn't been upgraded in five years, it might be Standard. These don't support 4K video at all. High Speed is over twice as fast as Standard, with a minimum bandwidth of 10.2Gbps. The vast majority of new HDMI cables you shop for will be High Speed or above, which means they can carry a 4K signal. The hitch is that the bandwidth will support only 4K video at 24 frames per second. That's fine if you want to watch movies on Ultra HD Blu-ray, but if you are streaming TV shows or have gaming hardware that can push 4K at 30 or 60 frames per second, it won't be sufficient. High Speed HDMI cables do, however, support HDR and wide color gamuts.

Premium High Speed pushes the bandwidth up to 18Gbps, which covers any consumer-level video source you deal with. They're also very common now. Premium High Speed cables support 4K60, or 4K video at 60 frames per second, with the capacity for BT.2020 color space and 4:4:4 chroma sampling. Basically, they can handle any 4K video you throw at them. These are future-proof cables that will keep you running for the lifespan of 4K content. They can also support 8K and higher resolutions, though with certain frame rate and feature restrictions. Ultra high speed cables are the most extreme home theater future-proofing, and they're becoming more common. Ultra High Speed cables have up to 48Gbps bandwidth and allow for uncompressed 8K video with all the trimmings. More important for most 4K users (and specifically gamers) is support for 4K at 120Hz. If you have a gaming PC or a console capable of pushing 4K speeds greater than 60 frames per second, this cable can handle it.

If you've been keeping count, that's no less than three different cable types with high speed in the name. And if you want 4K120 or 8K60, look for the Ultra High Speed label. It's the most official way to be sure without testing it yourself. Otherwise, if you just see the High Speed descriptor on the cable package, be sure to look for any associated numbers; specifically, the bandwidth and video resolution. It should clearly say 18Gbps or 48Gbps, and possibly 4K60 or 4K120 or 8K somewhere on the box, bag, or listing, depending on the rating. If those numbers aren't there, you can probably watch 4K24 video, but that's about it. And if it doesn't say High Speed anywhere on the package, save it for your old DVD player.

There are three types of HDMI connectors: Standard, Micro and Mini. The only real difference is size; the three connectors all function the same way. Standard HDMI connectors are commonly found on TVs, computer monitors, gaming consoles, streaming sticks and desktop computers. Mini HDMI connectors may be found on devices like camcorders, DSLR cameras, laptops and some tablets. Micro HDMI connectors appear frequently on notebook computers, action cameras, some smartphones, tablets and portable media players. Obviously, the cable you choose must be compatible with the ports on your source device and display. To quickly find a cable to match your devices' connectors, visit our easy-to-use Cable Finder.

Different configurations of HDMI cables are available for special uses, such as right-angled connectors that fit wall-mounted installations or special plates for panel-mount connections. For more information about these types of configurations, refer to our HDMI Technology Primer. Video Resolutions – HDMI cables currently on the market accommodate video resolutions of 1080i/720p, 1080p, 4K or 8K. If you are simply replacing a cable to connect older 1080i or 720p components, a standard HDMI cable will suffice. However, HDMI cables are backward compatible, so we strongly recommend upgrading to a high-speed HDMI cable that will support your future needs.

The majority of HDMI displays and components sold today support Ultra High Definition (UHD) 4K video up to 3840 x 2160. Always choose a cable that is at least capable of transmitting the highest resolution supported your video source or display. If you can spend the extra money, get the highest resolution cable available. For example, if your set-top box and TV are capable of 4K/60 frames per second (fps), buy a cable like Eaton's P568-010-8K6 that's rated for 8K/60 fps. If you do experience signal issues, you can eliminate the cable as the cause. Keep in mind that images will display at the level of the lowest-resolution component in the setup. When HDMI devices are connected or powered on, they use a process known as HDMI Handshake to determine the lowest common denominator for video and audio. For example, if a 1080p video source is connected to a 4K TV, the result will be a 1080p image. All of the capabilities of the cable are considered in this handshake.