You probably have an HDMI cable compatible with your Xbox Series X, your PS5 or your 4K TV lying around at home. But if that’s not the case, then you can check out this guide to avoid breaking the bank for an HDMI cable. 2.1 or 2.0, Ultra High Speed, we take stock of all the elements to take into account.
The HDMI cable business is a separate business in the world of new technologies. It is the scene of a permanent competition of certifications, standards and complicated designations which most of the time do not mean much.
Norme HDMI 2.1, Ultra High Speed, HDMI HEC…
There’s a lot of information flying around in HDMI cables these days. Take the example of the standard HDMI 2.1 that we have found on our televisions since 2020:
- From the video (4K/120fps/HDR)
- Sound (HDMI ARC/eARC)
- Information (HDMI CEC)
- Even Internet up to 100 Mbit/s (HDMI HECbut little used)
To benefit from the HDMI 2.1 standard, all the devices need to be compatible (TV, soundbar, game console, internet box, etc.)… the cables don’t change anything in the story. This standard is particularly important if you are a player on a next-gen console (PS5/PS5 Pro or Xbox Series X and S), in order to run games in 4K at 120Hz.
However, several types of HDMI cables exist on the market:
- Ultra High Speed (48 Gbits/s)
- Premium High-Speed (18 Gbit/s)
- High-Speed (10,2 Gbits/s)
Which HDMI cable should you buy and at what price?
Spoiler: there is no point in buying a cable other than l’Ultra High Speed Today.
If you use a Standard-Speed cable with equipment that needs to use more speed to transmit information (sound, high definition, etc.) you will see this very quickly since you will have a flashing image or no more sound at all.
Let’s not procrastinate: if you need an HDMI cable in 2024, you can find one for less than €10 like Ultra High Speed. Don’t be fooled by audio/video scams that try in every way to make you believe that a cable costing several hundred euros is better. This is false most of the time and often amounts to pseudo-science in the most extreme cases. That can be true about a very specific need and if this is the case for you, you probably know which cable you need without going through our guide.
To be sure you make the right choice, Ultra High Speed cables are often identified as 8K compatible.
Source: www.numerama.com
