All HDMI cables are the same, right? No, not exactly, and you’ll need the right cable to match your expected video quality.
HDMI cables are essential accessories for home theater and media center. Using HDMI is one of the most common ways to connect devices to your TV or home theater. Computer monitors, laptops, HDTVs, and game consoles all use HDMI.
There are three main types of HDMI cables – standard, high speed and ultra high speed – and each type has subcategories. Oooooh… Let’s figure it out.
Types of HDMI cables
When choosing a cable type, it is important to understand its standards and capabilities. For example, HDMI cables are classified according to the version of HDMI itself and the signal transfer rate (bandwidth).
Standard HDMI cable
Standard is the most basic HDMI cable designed for early consumer applications. The cable has a bandwidth of 5 Gbps, which allows you to support 1080i or 720p resolution. Standard HDMI cables do not carry 4K or higher resolutions.
A standard HDMI cable has a refresh rate of 30Hz and is a reliable choice for satellite TVs, DVD players and projectors. HDMI versions 1.0 to 1.2a are native to this cable.
Standard with Ethernet
This cable has the same features as standard HDMI cables. The main difference is that it is equipped with a dedicated data channel. Both connected devices must have Ethernet enabled to use this feature.
Standard car
Standard Automotive is designed for automotive HD video systems. The cable has the same specifications as a standard HDMI cable and is commonly used to connect portable or car DVD players to car video displays. It can also transmit signal and withstand vibration.
High speed HDMI cable
The High Speed HDMI Cable is designed to carry 1080p, 4K@30Hz and 3D signals. It has a bandwidth of 10.2 Gbps and is optimized for HDMI versions 1.3-1.4a.
The High Speed HDMI cable also supports 3D and Deep Color and is recommended for 4K consoles and Blu-ray Disc players.
High Speed Ethernet Cable
A high speed HDMI cable with Ethernet has the same specifications as a cable, such as 1080p up to 4K support. The main difference is that they are equipped with a dedicated data link known as the HDMI Ethernet Channel.
Although very few devices are compatible with this type of cable, it is an excellent choice for systems that support Ethernet.
High speed car HDMI
The High Speed Automotive HDMI Cable has the same features as a regular High Speed HDMI Cable, except that it is specially designed for use in the automotive industry. Such a cable can work in conditions of high temperatures and vibrations, typical for the automotive industry.
High Speed Premium HDMI
Premium High-Speed HDMI delivers up to 18Gbps of bandwidth and is optimized for HDMI 2.0, 2.0a and 2.0b. In addition, the cable supports HDR and 4K at 60Hz, color subdiscretion 4:4:4 and extended color range.
The cables are also low electromagnetic interference (EMI) and are available for HDMI Type A and Type D connectors. Premium High-Speed is a great choice for design software and gaming.
To make sure your cable meets the specifications for this category, look for one that has the Premium HDMI Cable Certification label. Each such product label contains a unique holographic fingerprint and a QR code that can be scanned for verification using a smartphone app.
Ultra High Speed HDMI Cable
The Ultra High-Speed HDMI cable is designed to support uncompressed 8K@60Hz and 4K@120Hz at up to 48Gbps. The cable can carry video at up to 10K resolution and reach up to 240Hz frame rate on an HDR TV.
Ultra High-Speed HDMI supports the HDMI 2.1a standard, which means that it works with almost all HDMI devices as it is compatible with older standards as well. It is also less susceptible to electromagnetic interference caused by some wireless devices.
It also supports new features such as eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel) and VRR (Variable Refresh Rate). To meet all specifications, check the cable packaging for the Ultra High-Speed HDMI certification label.
Types of HDMI Connectors
In order for an HDMI cable to fit a specific display device and source, it needs a termination connector. There are several types of HDMI connectors, but only four of them matter.
HDMI Type A (Standard HDMI)
Standard HDMI connector types are commonly used on common source devices such as laptops, game consoles, and Blu-ray players to connect to TVs and video projectors. Type A uses a 19-pin structure and is the largest HDMI connector.
HDMI Type B (Dual Link)
This HDMI connector was designed for very high resolution displays, but is not currently used in any major consumer product. The reason is that with the advent of HDMI 1.3, single channel speed has surpassed that of the old dual channel.
HDMI Type C (Mini HDMI)
Mini HDMI connectors also use the 19-pin form and have all the functionality of standard HDMI connectors. However, Type C is smaller and thinner than “A” and “B”. You will most likely find it on small portable devices such as tablets, DSLRs, and some laptops.
HDMI Type D (Micro HDMI)
Although the Micro HDMI is smaller than the Mini HDMI, it retains the 19-pin form and provides the full functionality of its larger counterparts. This type of connector is commonly used for small cameras, smartphones, and other mobile devices.
HDMI Type E (automotive)
Type E is a special connector for automotive HDMI cables. It differs from other types of connectors by having a locking tab that allows it to stay in place when the car vibrates (a la Display Port).
Which HDMI cable should I buy?
HDMI cables are the standard for audio and video in everything from game consoles and TVs to PC monitors and soundbars. While there are many cable standards with varying specifications, just about any HDMI that has hit the market in the last decade can handle whatever you want.
For most devices, including TVs, consoles, and some sound systems, you will most likely need an HDMI 2.0 cable that supports 4K up to 60Hz, but more modern types of HDMI cables can be selected. The good news is that most HDMIs are affordable, and many reputable manufacturers offer consumers a wide range of prices.
However, if we consider modern consoles and TV – first of all, you need to take care to find out their specifications and capabilities, and then – the output device (TV, monitor). And only then choose the right cable.
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