Hdmi 4k: Do you need a 4K HDMI cable in 2023? Best 4K HDMI Cables

Do you need a 4K HDMI cable in 2023? Best 4K HDMI Cables

If you’ve just bought a new 4K TV, you might be wondering if you need to buy a new HDMI cable to go with it. If you already have an HDMI cable, the quick answer is: Probably not.

We’ll explain why in detail shortly. First, we’ll explain the four basic types of HDMI cables and offer our purchase recommendations for each category if you don’t already have a cable or if you need to replace a damaged cable.

HDMI cable types explained

An HDMI cable is just a conduit between your TV and media device, be it a DVD, Blu-ray, or 4K UHD Blu-ray player; media streamer; video game console; or PC. Different types of HDMI cables do exist, but their designations indicate how much data they can carry. (Spoiler: There’s really no such thing as a 4K HDMI cable.)

When pared down to the most basic information, the video resolution guidelines—as set by the HDMI Forum Technical Working Group that defines the specification—are:

• Standard HDMI: Up to 720p or 1080i resolution at a 30Hz refresh rate
• High Speed HDMI: Up to 4K resolution (including 1080p) at a 30Hz refresh rate
• Premium High Speed HDMI: Up to 4K resolution with high dynamic range (HDR) at up to a 60Hz refresh rate
• Ultra High Speed HDMI: Up to 10K resolution with HDR at a 120Hz refresh rate (4K video can refresh at up to 240Hz)
• Active HDMI cable: Any of the cable types mentioned above equipped with a signal booster to carry HDMI signals over longer distances

The best 4K HDMI cable to buy

Best Passive High Speed HDMI

Monoprice HDMI High Speed Cable

The more detailed versions of the guidelines matter if you want more than just a basic TV signal: If you play video games at more than 30 frames per second, for example, or you intend to make full use of an HDR TV, or you want an HDMI cable that can also carry data over ethernet (most people do not, but that bandwidth can be used for other things).

Best PASSIVE HIGH SPEED HDMI (another option)

AmazonBasics High-Speed HDMI Cable – 6 Feet

For these types of scenarios, you must take refresh rate (measured in cycles per second, stated as Hertz, and abbreviated as Hz), the level of color precision (aka color depth, measured in bits; e.g., 8-bit, 10-bit, or 12-bit), and color data compression (i.e., chroma subsampling) into consideration.

best active high speed hdmi

Monoprice Select Active Series High Speed HDMI Cable

The higher you go with refresh rate and bit depth—and the less color data compression you opt for—the more data that will be pushed to your TV.

If you attach a gaming PC capable of gaming at 4K/60fps to your TV, you’ll need an HDMI cable that can handle that level of data transmission.

best passive premium high speed hdmi

Monoprice Certified Premium High Speed HDMI Cable

Accordingly, you’ll need an HDMI cable that has adequate bandwidth. A Premium High Speed HDMI cable should cover the highest demands you’d ask of a 4K TV with a 60Hz refresh rate.

best passive ultra high speed hdmi

Monoprice 8K Certified Ultra High Speed HDMI 2.1 Cable (6 ft)

If you bought a 4K TV with a true 120Hz refresh rate, like for use with a PlayStation or Xbox, you should move up to an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable.

Right-click to open this chart in a new tab. This information from the HDMI Licensing Administrator will help you determine which HDMI cable is appropriate for your needs. Any of the higher standards will of course work with any lower-resolution video signal, but they won’t make lower-resolution video look any better.

HDMI Licensing Administrator

When to reuse an HDMI cable you already own

The HDMI cable that you already have might support all the features you need. Here’s how to figure that out.

If all you plan to do is watch TV and nothing further

Just connect your TV and media device using your existing cable. If you get a steady image with no artifacts, you’re good to go. No additional thinking is required.

If you want to watch HDR content, play games at 60 or 120fps, use a TV as a monitor, etc.

You can determine if your existing cable is adequate in one of two ways.

1. Check if the cable is labeled as High Speed, Premium High Speed, or Ultra High Speed. If your HDMI cable doesn’t clearly specify what type it is, you might be able to look it up if the manufacturer and part number are printed on the cord.
2. Plug the cable into your TV and your media device, and then change the settings on both to match your requirements. If you get a steady image while playing content, you should be good to go.

Of the two methods, the second is a little more reliable—typically, you’ll immediately get a signal (or you won’t). But it’s usually best to start with method one first and then try method two. If you end up with a blank screen during method two, switching back to viewable settings can be a hassle depending on your device.

Only want to watch Netflix shows (such as The Crown) in 4K and nothing more? If the HDMI cable you’re using now provides a steady picture, you’re all set.

When should you buy a new HDMI cable for your 4K TV?

If the HDMI cable(s) you have on hand can’t meet your requirements—say, playing 4K content at 120Hz or with HDR—then you’ll need to shell out for a new one. You can also buy a new cable if you want to ensure compliance with a particular HDMI spec. For example, Ultra High Speed HDMI cables must be certified to earn the label, and should thus have guaranteed compatiblity with HDMI 2.1 devices like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.

You want to hide your HDMI cable inside the wall

If you’ve hung your TV on the wall and now want to run your cables inside the wall to keep them out of sight, you likely won’t be able to use an HDMI cable already on-hand. Professional installers use in-wall-rated HDMI cables for this purpose, and so should you if you’re doing the work yourself. In-wall-rated cables are made to resist fire (like during a power surge or if something nearby is burning) and not give off toxic smoke if they do burn.

For such cables, look for one of two National Electric Code (NEC) certifications: either Class 2 or Class 3 (abbreviated as CL2 and CL3). The difference is in the maximum voltage that each must accept: CL2 must accept up to 150 volts, while CL3 must accept up to 300 volts. In both cases, the cable’s jacket will also be thicker and better insulated to protect the wires inside as the cable is pulled through the wall and bent inside tight spaces, such as a junction box. Either certification is sufficient for HDMI signals. In-wall rating should not add a significant amount to the price of the cable.

You need to send audio/video signals over a long distance

If your source device is at one end of the room and your display is at the other (such as a video projector and its screen), or if your source and display are in different rooms, you might need a cable with a built-in signal amplifier to ensure the data can be transmitted from one end to the other. You’ll commonly find these cables classified as “active” HDMI cables (preface each of the cable types we’ve already discussed with “active”). Another solution for long cable runs is an HDMI signal booster, such as the Key Digital KD-HDFIX22.

That doesn’t mean you need to pay $30 or more for a cable (though active cables do cost more). The price of the cable doesn’t necessarily ensure performance. Rather, its classification and its certification do.

You can buy a very inexpensive cable and still get top-notch performance. Our recommendation is to pick from among Monoprice or AmazonBasics options, which have huge followings for their affordability and reliability. (See the sidebar for specific suggestions.) Active and/or exotic cables (e.g., cables that use fiber optic strands instead of copper wires) for very specialized installations will cost more, but they don’t perform better than their more plebeian counterparts in typical installations and transmission distances.

If you don’t know which exact cable to get, or you’d like to peruse available options on your own, be sure to consider the following:

High-quality HDMI cables needn’t be expensive

We can’t stress this enough, and it applies across the board—including in-wall-rated cables.

Certified Premium High Speed HDMI cables have passed additional testing in order to sport the label. (You’ll find more information about HDMI certification and how to verify authenticity at the preceding link.)

But you don’t need to pay a big markup to get that peace of mind: Monoprice, for example, sells two different 6-foot Certified Premium HDMI cables for less than $10 each. And you can buy a 15-foot, CL3-rated high-speed AmazonBasics HDMI cable for $13.

These cables are extremely overpriced. There’s no need to spend that much on any passive HDMI cable, including in-wall-rated cables such as these.

Alaina Yee/Foundry

When you search for HDMI cables, use keywords only as a starting point

If you look on Amazon or Monoprice. com, you’ll sometimes see products with names like “Ultra Slim High Speed Cable.” If you’re not paying close attention, you might not realize this particular example is just a high-speed cable: The “ultra” in this case refers to how thin the cord is, not the speed at which it’s capable of carrying data.

Ensure you get the right cable by looking at the actual specs. The quickest way to determine the type is to look for its bandwidth rating.

• High Speed = 10.2Gbps
• Premium High Speed = 18Gbps
• Ultra High Speed = 48Gbps

Price is still an important clue about the type and quality of an HDMI cable

You won’t find a respectable Ultra High Speed HDMI cable for $3, but you can find a good High Speed cable at that price, although it might be limited to a lower refresh rate. (Then again, true High Speed cables are far less common.)

By paying attention to bandwidth rating, refresh rate, and price, you can avoid unreliable cables. Options outside of the better-known inexpensive brands (AmazonBasics and Monoprice are currently the top two) can be tempting, but some budget cables have weak electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, which can disrupt your Wi-Fi network, and they might cause visual artifacts and signal drop-outs. If you see a two-pack of High Speed HDMI cables for the same price as a single Monoprice or AmazonBasics option, proceed with caution.

On the flip side, bandwidth rating and price can also help you discover cables that punch above their weight, such as the AmazonBasics High Speed HDMI cable. It’s not certified as a Premium High Speed cable, but the manufacturer promises it can deliver that much bandwidth (18Gbps). Unsurprisingly, it’s also priced higher than a typical budget 6-foot High Speed HDMI cable.

Active HDMI cables should not cost exorbitantly more than their passive counterparts. While prices do go up, you can find them for well below the usurious rates of highly marketed cables at Best Buy and similar stores. On Monoprice, for example, a 6-foot 4K Slim High Speed HDMI cable costs less than $9; its active counterpart is priced at $28.

Buy only as much HDMI cable length as you need

The longer the distance that a signal needs to go, the more likely that parts of that signal won’t reach its destination without amplification (e.g., an active cable or a signal amplifier box).

The general rule of thumb is that for lengths of six feet or less, a passive cable is more than adequate. Between six and about 25 feet is negotiable, and above that, most people will opt for an active cable or a signal amplifier.

Active HDMI cables includes a signal booster to prevent artifacts and drop-outs over long distances.

The receiving chip in your TV can also influence whether or not a passive cable will work over long distances—if it’s better at adjusting for a weaker signal, you won’t need the signal boost.

Ignore nonsense features like gold plating on HDMI cables

Gold-plated connectors make a marginal difference with analog signals, because the connections don’t oxidize, but they don’t matter at all with the digital signals an HDMI cable carries. If you care about a solid picture, you only need to pay attention to a cable’s speed rating and length, and whether it’s passive or active. That’s it.

HDMI cables vs. HDMI specifications

If you’ve heard of HDMI specifications (e.g., HDMI 1.3, HDMI 1.4, HDMI 2.0, and HDMI 2.1), you might wonder how HDMI cables relate to them.

As mentioned above, an HDMI cable is just a conduit for data to travel along. You can think of it like a pathway: Choose a wider one (i.e., higher bandwidth) if you have more data that must march along it at the same time.

HDMI specifications outline what kinds of features are allowed to travel along that path: resolution, color depth, types of chroma subsampling, and more. With each new specification, each new feature has increased HDMI’s bandwidth requirement.

Right-click to open this image in a new browser window (or tab). The table shows the features enabled with each version of HDMI.

HDMI Licensing Administrator

We go into more detail on the latest HDMI specifications in our HDMI 2. 0 and HDMI 2.1 primers, but all you really need to know is which features your hardware supports and which features you intend to take advantage of. Once you’ve narrowed that down, you’ll know which type of HDMI cable you need.

Our colleagues over at Tech Advisor have also reviewed the best HDMI cables.

Will a 4K HDMI Cable Improve Picture Quality?

HDMI cables have pretty much become the standard for transferring audio and video digitally. While there is no denying their ubiquitous nature, a lot of confusion surrounds how they work and how they are categorized. For consumers, it’s important to understand the differences in cables to get the best HDMI cable without paying an arm and a leg.

The “4k HDMI” label is mostly marketing, so it doesn’t mean a specific feature that will improve image quality. But if you have any cables past the HDMI 1.4 version, then they will be moving the same 4k image across the cable regardless of any marketing.

Things like “gold-plated” and “4K ready” look good on a package but don’t do much other than that. The reality is, unless you are getting your HDMI cable from an electronics museum, it will definitely support a 4K video without an issue. If you want to learn more about HDMI and 4K, read on!

Is a “4K HDMI Cable” Different from a Normal HDMI Cable?

So you’ve got a choice between a “normal” HDMI cable and a “4K” one (more on cables in our guide). Which one should you choose? Sure the 4K cable has some fancy packaging and a fancy price tag, but will it perform any better than the normal cable? The reality is, both cables will probably be the exact same. Manufacturers constantly add marketing jargon to boost sales.

Unless you are using a really old cable, there probably won’t be an issue getting HD quality signals from a “normal” cable. In fact, a cable like this Amazon Basics High-Speed HDMI Cable (on Amazon) should do fine for most video applications. Most cables you will find at your local electronics store will support 4K video.

This is more due to changing cable standards than anything else. You see, once HDMI 2.0 was released in 2013, it made it, so the standard for cable transfer capacity was higher. You need a higher capacity for transferring data-intensive streams like 4K.

Even cables using HDMI standard 1.4 can handle 4K video, but not all. But HDMI 2.0 isn’t even the highest standard. 2.0b came out in 2016. There is even HDMI 2.1, which was released in 2018. HDMI 2.1 is the newest standard. Manufacturers design these new cables to facilitate even higher data loads from the upcoming 8K TVs and so on.

Why are Some HDMI Cable Labeled “4k” or “8K HDMI”?

So by this point, you might be wondering why manufacturers label cables as 4K or 8K. Well, to be frank, it’s all just marketing tactics. There really is no difference between a cable marketed as 4K and one that is not. But there is a label that does matter, and that is the speed rating. Speed will dictate the maximum bandwidth allowed by the cable. Manufacturers often group cables in one of four categories:

• Standard
• High Speed
• Premium
• Ultra-High Speed

Standard would mean a basic cable that can handle around 4. 9 Gps. That would be enough to handle a 1080p connection without issues. Next is high speed.

High-speed cables can support double the bandwidth at 10.9 Gbps. Then comes premium and ultra-high-speed. As you can probably imagine, these cables support an even higher transfer speed of 18 Gbps and 48 Gbps, respectively.

It’s worth noting that you would be hard-pressed to find a standard cable at a store or online. Since these cables can’t support 4K, they are the only ones you want to avoid. But, in this case, there isn’t much risk in mistakenly buying a standard cable.

Lastly, there is a difference between 4K and 8K from a bandwidth perspective. Essentially, it requires more bandwidth to transfer the extra data in an 8K video. Additionally, the frame rate can play a factor.

For example, a premium cable supports 4K video 60 frames per second. It won’t, however, support 8K. In contrast, a high-speed cable can support a 4K video signal, but only at 30 fps. This is why knowing the speed of your cable is important.

What to Look For When Purchasing an HDMI Cable

When buying an HDMI cable, one of the most important things to consider is cable speed. While standard might play into your decision, you’ll rarely find a cable on sale that is lower than the 2.0 standard. There are a few considerations, though. If you are setting up a modern home theatre, you might opt for the more advanced cable.

8K is just around the corner, and if you don’t want to replace all your cables, it might be a good idea to upgrade to a higher speed. Furthermore, we also have a guide on extending cables in case you find yourself needing more length from your setup.

Additionally, HDMI 2.1 cables are currently available. While not all TVs and projectors will support the new standard, many are adopting it as technology advances. You might not need the newer cables now, but you might in the future. Being proactive about what technology you are using is called “future-proofing.”

HDMI ARC

Another feature of HDMI is ARC or Audio Relay Channel. Basically, this feature allows for audio signals to be bounced back to a device that you have connected to your TV. Most modern HDMI cables will support this function. It’s great if you are using a soundbar or other audio device.

It makes it, so there is a hard-wired connection to your soundbar or another audio player. Keep in mind that you’ll need a TV that supports HDMI ARC. Fortunately, most modern TVs like this Samsung Smart TV (on Amazon) will support this feature.

Wrapping Up

While there is no real meaning to a cable manufacturer using “4K” on the label, there are some things about HDMI you should be aware of. Standards change, but for the most part, cables in use today will support 4K video.

There are a few exceptions, but for the most part, any cable you find at the store will support a 4K video. Now, it may not support 4K video at a higher framerate. For this, you might need to source an ultra-high-speed of premium HDMI cable.

And if you’re not sure if your TV is even 4k, have a look at our other article unpacking that before returning here to see if you really need to upgrade the cable…or the TV!

everything you need to know about HDMI 2.

0 and Ultra HD cables

4K HMDI or HDMI 2.0 cable – don’t believe it. They don’t exist!

4K – technical obstacles for HDMI cables
Attention, compote! 4K, 4K2K, Ultra High Definition, Ultra HD, UHD, Quad Full HD, QFD, 2160p: they all mean the same thing! Namely, a next-generation HDTV (let’s call it “4K” for simplicity) with a maximum resolution of 4.096px x 2.160px = 8 million pixels = 4x Full HD resolution. Of course, these large amounts of data require appropriate hardware. Not only does the TV have to support this ultra-high resolution (which is usually achieved at the cost of sheer size), but other components such as graphics cards and software (drivers) have to handle this huge amount of information. In particular, 4K-enabled HDMI cables are key as a serial interface between a 4K source and a high-end TV.

Does every HDMI cable support 4K Ultra HD?
Brief: No, not every HDMI cable supports 4k. But luckily, most cables you can buy today already support HDMI 2. 0 or HDMI 4k. Just make sure they are properly classified as a high speed HDMI cable.
After version numbering for HDMI cables was de-renumbered a few years ago, HDMI cables are now only classified as standard HDMI cables or High Speed ​​HDMI cables. Both types are distinguished by their maximum transfer rate (i.e. throughput):
Standard HDMI cable: 1.782 Gbps (74.25 MHz × 8 bits × 3, type A)
High-speed HDMI cable: 8.16 Gbps (340 MHz × 8 bits × 3, type A + C)
As you can see, high-speed cables HDMIs provide much better performance than standard HDMI cables. Fortunately, most HDMI cables you can buy in stores today are high speed HDMI cables by default. Look out for the term HDMI High Speed ​​on the cable itself or on the packaging of the HDMI cable.

Check the “High Speed” designation on your HDMI cable for 4K support

The HDMI High Speed ​​standard was introduced with 4k in mind. All HDMI cables bearing the HDMI High Speed ​​logo support the HDMI 2. 0 standard and can transmit ultra high definition at 2160p at 24Hz (= 4k). HDMI Licensing Organization. confirms this explicitly:
“All high speed HDMI cables will support 4K functionality when connected to 4K devices.”
hdmi.org

This in turn means that HDMI cables that are not explicitly labeled as “high speed” cables end up not supporting 4K resolution. Do High Speed ​​HDMI Cables Provide Enough Bandwidth for HDMI 2.0? So far, high-speed HDMI cables have supported a maximum bandwidth of 8.16 Gbps. However, HDMI 2.0 requires 18 Gbps. So how to do it? The HDMI organization provides the answer:
“The HDMI 2.0 specification has defined a new, more efficient method for speeds above 1.4b (10.2 Gbps) to provide higher bandwidth (up to 18 Gbps) compared to existing high-speed HDMI cables.”
– hdmi.org

This means that when you buy a high speed HDMI cable today, you can be sure it will support 4k and tomorrow’s HDMI 2.0 high bandwidth requirements.

How to recognize a high speed HDMI cable?
If you want to make sure your HDMI cable supports Ultra HD 4K resolution, you should look for the HDMI High Speed ​​logo on the cable package.

The cable itself usually does not carry this logo.
Because all HDMI cables provide the same picture quality, you don’t have to worry too much about choosing a new cable. As long as it has such a logo and has a good price, everything is fine!

HDMI versions and 4K HDMI cable
Full 4K support was introduced with HDMI version 1.4. However, you can only be sure that the cables are ‘High Speed’ certified to support HDMI 2.0’s high bandwidth requirements. Cables classified as version 1.3 generally do not work for the HDMI 4K function. The following list will give you a rough estimate:
• HDMI 1.0 to 1.2 cable – no 4K Ultra HD support
• HDMI 1.3 cable: may not support 4K depending on the cable
• HDMI 1.4 cable: 4K support is very likely but not guaranteed
• High Speed ​​HDMI cable: 4K Ultra HD support

Conclusion: No need for a 4K HDMI cable if you choose High Speed ​​
Don’t be fooled by shops or retailers with expensive HDMI 2. 0 cables or “HDMI 4K cables”. This does not happen and never will! Just find a reasonable high speed HDMI cable and save your money. High speed cables ensure 100% compatibility now and for future HDMI 2.0 content. The display quality is the same for all. You don’t need fancy new cable equipment.

HDMI Cable Optical 2.1 Pro-HD Optical Fiber 8K-4K HDR

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PRO-HD MAX 8K

HDMI 2.1 8K optical cable Pro-HD Optical 8K-4K HDR length from 1.5 to 100 meters

9 0003 Maximum resolution: 8K@60Hz, 4K@120Hz, 2K@165Hz, 1080P@240Hz

HDMI 2.1 version

Transfer rates up to 48 Gbps

Four-core fiber optic conductor

Very light and flexible cable

Audio Return Channel

Zinc alloy plugs

90 003 Gold plated contacts

Black

	1. 5 meters	5 900 rub
	3 meters	6 900 rub
	5 meters	7 300 rub
	8 meters	7 600 rub
	10 meters	7 900 rub
	12 meters	9 900 rub
	15 meters	11 990 RUB
	20 meters	13 900 rub
	25 meters	16 900 rub
	30 meters	21 500 rub
	40 meters	23 900 rub
	50 meters	32 900 rub
	100 meters	46 700 rub

Features

• Manufacturer
  PRO HD
• Type
  Cable
• Cable length, m
  all lengths up to 300 meters
• HDMI Version
  2.1
• Protocol support
  HDR10, HDCP 2. 2, 8K@60Hz, 2160p@120Hz (4Kx2K), 1080p@240Hz (Full HD), 3D, 1080i/720p, Deep Color, DTS™ HD, Dolby® True HD, Dolby® Digital Plus, PCM, DVD Audio, SACD, 8-channel audio (24Bit/192kHz)
• Transmission speed
  48 Gbps
• Compatibility
  CEC, HDCP, EDID
• Synchronization
  Automatic (picture+sound)
• Screen
  4 layers of cable shield
• Connectors
  Direct
• Appearance
  Standard
• Color
  black
• External diameter
  4.5mm
• Maximum Resolution
  8K@60Hz, 4K@120Hz, 2K@165Hz, 1080P@240Hz
• conductor type
  Optical fiber

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