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HDMI is one of the most important inventions in modern electronics. It’s what allows us to connect separate AV devices (like a DVD player and a TV monitor) without a loss of quality or a complex installation process. The humble HDMI cable is the simple little piece of wire that makes the magic happen, and it’s an essential purchase for anyone with a multi-part home entertainment system.
HDMI cables are cheap and easy to find, but that does not mean they are all interchangeable. Different products have vastly different capabilities when it comes to resolution, dependability, and flexibility. To help you find a product that best suits your particular audio-visual needs, we did the research and compiled a list of the best HDMI cables currently available.
Our Top Pick
KabelDirekt 4K HDMI Cable
With over 5,000 5-star reviews, it’s safe to say this cable is pretty well-respected, and for good reason: it’s remarkably powerful, outfitted with 4K, 3D, ARC, and Ethernet support, and universally compatible with old and new HDMI standards. One of the most impressive features of this cable its dependability at longer lengths, with solid signal maintenance even at the maximum length of 50 feet.
Other Great Picks
Highwings 4K High-Speed HDMI Cable
If you’re looking for a reliable HDMI cable capable of maintaining crystal-clear quality, the Highwings high-speed cable is a solid choice. It’s 4K compatible, which means it will work with Ultra HD TVs, and it’s capable of handling 3D. It’s also remarkably sturdy, with a special joint design that prevents cracking.
PowerBear 4K HDMI Cable
Outfitted with gold-plated connectors and a nylon-braided wire sheath, this cable was clearly designed with longevity in mind; plus its outfitted with impressive high-end features like 4K compatibility and 48 bit/px HDR color depth.
BAM High-Speed HDMI Cable
This 3-pack of High-Speed cables is a total steal. Not only do these dependable cables support 1080p, Ethernet, and 3D, but they also come with a set of velcro ties for easy organization.
AmazonBasics High-Speed 4K HDMI Cable
Not only is this the best-selling HDMI cable on Amazon, but it’s also one of the best–designed. With 4K, Ethernet, 3D, and ARC support, it’s a high-quality product with an exceptionally generous price. Over 7,500 5-star reviews make this a certified people’s favorite.
iVANKY 4K HDMI Cable
This sleek cable is as durable as it is functional. 4K and ACR support provide a seamless viewing experience, while tinplate metal and gold plating offer solid protection from corrosion and signal interference.
BlueRigger 4K HDMI Cable
With 4K, HDR, Ethernet, 3D and ACR support, BlueRigger’s cable is capable of delivering truly pristine AV quality. It’s also advertised as being “rugged”, which is no understatement: the nylon braiding is tough and durable, able to withstand abuse and bending far better than the average product.
iBirdie HDMI Cable
This cable from iBirdie offers impeccable visual quality, high dynamic range, and uncompressed audio, making it a fantastic choice for its category. It also has over 2,300 stellar user reviews, offers 4K UHD resolution, and is very affordable. A top pick.
uni USB C-to-HDMI Cable
Like the UGREEN cable, this HDMI cable is not intended for standard use; it’s specially designed to allow connections between USB-receiving devices like Macbooks and HDMI-receiving devices like TV monitors. It’s an extremely useful product for office settings, with impressive 4K support.
Zeskit 8K HDMI Cable
Although its popularity is limited today, the staggering quality of 8K is the inevitable future of home entertainment resolution. Those looking to get ahead of the trend should definitely check out this cable, which features an incredible 48Gbps of bandwidth and the capacity to support up to 10K resolution. Even if the powers of this cable overwhelmingly exceed your needs, it’s still a great all-around choice that works with lower resolutions and maintains back-compatibility with past HDMI standards.
What Is An HDMI Cable?
An HDMI cable is one of the crucial components that makes “HDMI” (short for “high definition multimedia interface”) work.
HDMI was invented in 2002 by several major consumer electronics companies as a means of connecting AV (“audio-visual” devices) to one another with the use of a single cable. The quality and efficiency of HDMI connectivity led to it becoming a standard interface for many devices. If you’ve ever connected a DVD player or a modern gaming console to a TV, or a laptop to an HD projector, you’ve most likely used HDMI.
As one might assume, a standard HDMI cable is a cable that connects 2 separate HDMI ports. Although some devices provide an HDMI cable with their purchase, many do not. HDMI cables are relatively inexpensive and there’s an abundance of options to choose from.
All HDMI cables are not created equal. HDMI cables come in different lengths and sizes and offer different connection speeds and compatibility benefits.
A standard, generic HDMI cable will be compatible with HDTV resolution (720p) and will be able to connect devices such as DVD players and gaming consoles to HDTVs and HD projectors.
If you are looking for higher quality resolution (such as 1080p), or you need to use your HDMI cable for a device like a camcorder, you will need to look beyond standard cables to find a product that suits your specific needs.
Does HDMI Carry Audio?
HDMI is able to transfer sound as well as video.
One of the central goals behind the creation of HDMI was to connect AV devices without multiple cables. The transfer of audio without any additional wires is a major part of HDMI’s longstanding appeal.
HDMI sound quality is often extremely clear. Audio transfer through HDMI is known to be superior to audio transfer through other kinds of cables (such as fiber optic cables). Plus HDMI can handle high-quality audio formats like Dolby TrueHD, which provide lossless sound.
What Does An HDMI Cable Look Like?
HDMI cables differ slightly in appearance depending on their intended application, but for the most part, they can be easily identified by the connector, which will be flat and somewhat wide. The connector heads are usually silver or gold in color, and look somewhat like a harmonica when viewed from up-close. HDMI connectors will contain 19 tiny pins (small square holes) on the front face.
HDMI size is categorized into 3 major categories. Type A, used for devices like DVD and Blu-ray players, is the most common, and largest, type. Type C, used for devices like DSLR cameras, is slightly smaller, while Type D (also called “micro”), used for digital devices like smartphones, is the smallest available option. And no, there’s no mistake here: Type B is not used in products since it became irrelevant after the launch of HDMI version 1.3.
HDMI cables come in different colors, which obviously does not affect performance but provides consumers with aesthetic options. Cables also come in different lengths, which can be important to consider depending on their intended use.
How Long Can An HDMI Cable Be?
Since HDMI cables are used in a wide variety of contexts, cables naturally come in a wide variety of different sizes.
On average, the biggest HDMI cable you will find in an electronics store is about 25 feet. This length is more than sufficient for most domestic uses, such as connecting DVD players to TVs. However, if you need a longer cable, you can purchase HDMI cables up to 50 feet in length. Any longer than this and the signal transferred through the HDMI cable can begin to degrade.
Excessively long cables are not usually recommended. An HDMI cable should be purchased with its intended context in mind for the best possible performance.
Are All HDMI Cables The Same?
All HDMI cables perform the roughly same job, but not all HDMI cables are made equally.
The first major difference between different HDMI cables is the size. Depending on the device that an HDMI cable is designed to connect to, connectors will vary greatly in size.
The standard Size A HDMI cable, used for DVD players and gaming consoles, is the most common variety; this will be the model that pops up if you search generically for “HDMI cables”. However, if you have a smaller device that requires an HDMI connection, such as a DSLR camera or a tablet, you will most likely need to look for smaller cable models, such as Size C cables or micro Size D cables.
HDMI cables with smaller connectors will usually advertise the specific devices that they can be used with.
Additionally, HDMI cables used in cars differ from standard HDMI cables. These “Type E” cables are specially designed for media systems in vehicles and contain specialized insulation to avoid disturbing the delicate electronic systems in a car.
Some HDMI cables are also designed to be compatible with devices without an HDMI port. Specialized HDMI cables are sometimes made with an HDMI connector on one end and a USB connector on the other.
After size, “speed” is the biggest difference between HDMI cables. “Speed” effects the maximum resolution that and HDMI cable can provide.
Standard HDMI cables offer a maximum resolution of 720p. “High-Speed” cables, on the other hand, are compatible with higher-quality modern resolutions like 1080p and 4K.
“Premium High-Speed” cables are specifically designed to handle 4K resolution and are marketed as being the best option for consumers with Ultra HD TVs. “Ultra-High-Speed” cables provide the best possible resolution and can handle 8K video (an extremely detailed resolution not yet commonly used in home-entertainment systems).
Some HDMI cables also come equipped with Ethernet compatibility, which allows multiple devices to share the internet through a single cable.
When selecting an HDMI cable, the most important consideration is the type of device you will be using it for. If you have a 4K TV, you will not want to purchase a cable that can only handle 720p, and if you need to connect your cable to an unconventional source like a tablet, you will need to find a specialized connector size.
Do I Need A 4K HDMI Cable?
If you have a 4K TV, or if you would like to transfer media with a 4K resolution, then yes, you will need an HDMI cable that is able to support 4K.
It should be noted that an abundance of highly-affordable 4K-compatible cables are available today. Cables that support 4K are hardly a luxury item, so they are typically a much better choice than cables with limited resolutions. Higher-quality HDMI cables also do not lose compatibility with lower-resolution video, so there is no risk in purchasing them even if you do not have a 4K TV.
Do HDMI Cables Go Bad?
HDMI cables are generally quite durable and are intended to last for a long time. The quickest way for an HDMI cable to “go bad” is for it to be mishandled, which is easy to avoid if you are not rough with your equipment.
Many modern HDMI cables are designed with excessive abuse in mind. Features like “nylon braiding” are intended to provide extra protection for the cable, and many cables now advertise the amount of “bends” they are able to withstand before becoming damaged.
A bad HDMI cable is easy to spot, as it will display connection errors when used. Since HDMI cables are relatively inexpensive, it is recommended that a cable be replaced if it starts to have problems functioning.
While HDMI cables won’t typically break down on their own, they may eventually become outdated. As the resolution and bandwidth requirements of modern systems improve, older HDMI cables may eventually not be able to keep up and will have to be replaced. High-quality cables will naturally become outdated at a slower pace.
The Best HDMI Cable
There you have it – our top picks for the best HDMI cables. Remember, while the usual high-quality features (high resolution, durability, etc.) are always important, it’s a good idea to make sure you know your own specific needs before purchasing an HDMI cable. The more you know about what kind of product you’re looking for, the more satisfied you’ll be with your purchase.