Best HDMI Cables

Review & Comparison, Last Update February 3, 2024
Would you like to be able to watch movies in the best possible image quality? Then you need an HDMI cable! The market has thousands ...Read more
PROS

The manufacturer has reinforced cable connectors so that the cord could withstand thousands of bends without risks of deformation and damage.

CONS

Some users have noted that the cord emits chemical odor during the first few uses. 

OUR VERDICT

If you're looking for a reliable, sturdy and high-speed HDMI cable, look no further. This one offers 18Gbps transfers, 4K images, and 20 ft of length, pretty much an amalgam of all that you'd expect from an HDMI cord.

detailed parameters
TYPE

HDMI (male) to HDMI (male)

BANDWIDTH

2.0

MATERIAL

Connectors: 24K gold-plated metal

Jacket: PVC

LENGTH

20 ft

WARRANTY

18 months

PROS

The 90-degree design makes this cord perfect for connecting to a smartphone, especially if its port is on the bottom of the device. You can still hold the phone comfortably and the cord won't get in your way.

CONS

Fairly modest length.

OUR VERDICT

If you're tired of having to deal with cords that get torn after only a couple months of use, the CHOETECH cable can be the answer to the problem. Rigid and reliable, it will help you connect your phone or laptop to the TV and ensure speedy transfers with no loss in quality. It's a high-quality HDMI cable that comes with reinforced connectors so it's not going to tear even after years of extensive use. 

detailed parameters
TYPE

USB Type-C (male) to HDMI (male)

BANDWIDTH

2.0

MATERIAL

Connectors: 24K gold-plated metal

Jacket: PVC with nylon-braided cover

LENGTH

3.9 ft

WARRANTY

18 months

PROS
The 48-Bit deep color support delivers sharper and more vivid images.
CONS
The cable isn't flexible enough.
OUR VERDICT
Perfect for any 4K TV. The resolution of 2160p and True HD-Dolby 7.1 system provide a fantastic picture and crystal clear sound.
detailed parameters
TYPE

HDMI (male) to HDMI (male)

BANDWIDTH

2.0

MATERIAL

Connectors: 24K gold-plated metal

Jacket: PVC

LENGTH

10 ft

WARRANTY
Lifetime
PROS

The shell of the connector is made out of aluminum that makes this cable highly durable compared to competition. It's also quite narrow which means it won't obscure the neighboring ports.

CONS

Does not support resolutions above 3840x2160@60Hz.

OUR VERDICT

The Rankie cord may not be the fastest HDMI cable out there, we can give you that much. Yet, it will certainly prove to be a reliable choice if you own a MacBook and look to find a secure means of connecting it to a Smart TV or projector. 

detailed parameters
TYPE

Mini DisplayPort (male) to HDMI (male)

BANDWIDTH

1.4

MATERIAL

Connectors: 24K gold-plated metal

Jacket: PVC

LENGTH

6 ft

WARRANTY

Limited lifetime

PROS

The connector has special locking grooves that ensure reliable connection and prevent the cable from being pulled out accidentally.

CONS

The micro-HDMI end is a little bulky.

OUR VERDICT

Though this cable has rather limited uses due to the fact that it features Mini HDMI ports that are usually present only on tablets and cameras, if these are the exact devices you're working with most of the time, it'll be a smart choice. Works great for 4K and ensures the best Ultra HD resolutions with nigh lossless transfers at 18Gbps. 

detailed parameters
TYPE

Micro HDMI (male) to HDMI (male)

BANDWIDTH

2.0

MATERIAL

Connectors: 24K gold-plated metal

Jacket: PVC

LENGTH

6 ft

WARRANTY

Limited lifetime

Extend Your Reach with 4K Transfers

Bigger is better, at least when it comes to screens. Many of you will agree that watching movies on a flat-screen TV is much more enjoyable than on a small laptop display. The catch is: connecting two devices may pose a problem if the devices you have are equipped with short cords. If that's the case, we'd recommend you to turn to the KabelDirekt 198, a 20-ft cable that will allow you to hook digital gadgets without a hitch.

The common problem of long cords is that they are prone to damage and tear especially in spots where the connector and the cord meet. In case of the KabelDirekt 198, you won't need to worry as the manufacturer has reinforced its cable connectors additionally so that it won't get bent or deformed even after years of use. One other thing that speaks in favor of this cord is the fact that its connectors are 24K gold-plated, meaning they will hold well and won't get wobbly as the time passes. If you wonder whether gold-plated connectors are worth investment and whether they are better than those made of copper, you can read this post and decide for yourself. If you ask us, we'd recommend you to opt for the gold-plated ones.

Another problem that is often associated with long cables is that many of them seem to compress the sound and image during transfers, resulting in a noticeable quality loss. Speaking of the KabelDirekt 198, it doesn't skimp on stream quality and you can be sure that you'll get a crystal clear picture with no artifacts, blurring, or resolution loss.

Some users complained that the cord might emit unpleasant odor after unpacking. This smell quickly goes away though, and we honestly do not find it big of an issue - you're buying cables, after all, not air fresheners. As long as the KabelDirekt 198 provides good picture quality and transfers videos and audio from one HDMI port to another in 4K 60 fps with 18Gbps we do not have much to grumble about. It’s a high-end cable for those that don’t compromise when it comes to quality.

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $15.99
Stock In stock
ASIN B00DI88YCC

Lossless Phone to TV Transfers

As progress marches on, the USB C port has taken the world of technology by storm, and if you’re looking to show off your vacation photos saved on your phone or stream movies to your TV, you’re going to need a USB-C to HDMI cable. The good news is, you've come to the right page as the CHOETECH CHOE-XCH-1201BK with a 90-degree design is one of the best options which is fit for that purpose. Users willing to hook up their phones to TVs will especially appreciate tits 90-degree design; it will not only help them establish connection between two devices but allow them to do it in a convenient way without cords entanglement. Having said that, if the ports of your laptop are being taken by several other devices, you might have trouble trying to fit the connector into it. Another issue you may face is the relatively short length of the cord. At 3.9 ft, the length of the CHOETECH CHOE-XCH-1201BK is rather modest and may restrict the possible uses of the cable. Other than that, this model provides a decent performance offering fast data transfers at 18Gbps with 4K video quality and guarantees that you get a crisp image clear of artificats and in the highest resolution possible.

We don't know about you for sure, but for most people cables don't seem to live too long in the hands. Which is exactly why we always look for reinforcement possibilities. When it comes to the CHOETECH CHOE-XCH-1201BK, we like the fact that it features a nylon-braided cover that gives it extra strength and durability. Wrapping up this review, if you want to enjoy reliable quality while streaming your favorite videos from your laptop or smartphone to smart TV, this cord is for you.

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $15.99
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B077VPDNL7

Incredible Picture Quality

HDMI is probably the most popular video interface used today. What makes it so widespread? Everything is pretty clear here - the cable can simultaneously substitute a number of video ports used in different devices. Moreover, additional audio interfaces are also no longer needed since HDMI transmits high-quality audio too. Therefore, this cable transmits a 7-channel surround sound using the only cable! HDCP technology, developed by Intel Corporation, is another essential feature of HDMI standard; it provides a reliable protection from copying high-quality digital audio and video content.

Mediabridge ULTRA Series HDMI Cable is available in various lengths, so you will be able to pick out the most appropriate one. So, connecting the devices placed in different parts of a room is not a problem anymore!

Overall, this cable allows you to enjoy your favorite music videos and movies at 4K resolution with no delay or picture quality deterioration.

Meanwhile, if you need to connect up to 3 devices with HDMI ports to a single HDMI input, you should take advantage of using an HDMI splitter.

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $11.49
Stock In stock
ASIN B0019HL8Q8

What customers say about this product

Key Specs(5)

Works perfectly fine, perfect length for what I needed, and their customer service is great.

Features(4.8)

Great HDMI cables. I ran three of these through conduit to mount my tv. They were easy to run and the tv looks great mounted.

Slim and Sturdy MacBook Cord

Looking to stream a work presentation or a movie from your MacBook but don’t know which cord to use? Don’t worry, the answer is simple and definitive - you can use the Rankie R-1101-CB-MINIDP-HDMI-6F-BK, a 6-ft long cable that will allow you to connect Mini DisplayPort to HDMI.

The connector shells are made out of sturdy aluminum, setting this cord apart from cheap knock-offs that use plastic. Plus, the connectors themselves are pretty narrow and won’t take up much space, giving full access to all neighboring ports, which can be important if you have to keep a USB drive with the presentation in the laptop at the same time as the video-streaming cord.

We are a bit disappointed by the fact that this cord uses the outdated 1.4 bandwidth protocol, which means that you don’t get 4K resolutions, data transfers slower, and you’d be working with an inferior standard overall.

Ever since Apple devices have adopted this port type and began to spread it everywhere, the problem of connecting MDP-equipped devices to HDMI-using ones has become more poignant and while this may not be the best way to resolve it, it’s certainly up there. The Rankie cord is sturdy and slim and thus convenient to use with other cables, a key feature in our wire-filled world. It could use improvement in terms of image quality but it’s affordable enough to overlook its faults.

Last updated price $7.97
Stock In stock
ASIN B00YONKZ72

From the Camera Lens to the Screen

Before we proceed, let’s establish what kind of devices you’re likely to need this for. Micro HDMI ports are primarily featured on cameras and tablets, so if you’re looking to stream photos or videos straight from the source, that’s exactly when the AmazonBasics HL-007332 will come in handy.

The connector on this model has special locking grooves that ensure full docking and prevent the cable from being pulled out by accident. Because of that, though, this end of the cord is a bit bulky but it’s not like you’ll have to fight for space when connecting to a camera, which likely won’t have any other ports anyway.

One huge plus of the AmazonBasics HL-007332 is the fact that it streams images in the highest quality possible, providing resolutions up to 4K Ultra HD. This is, of course, thanks to the 2.0 bandwidth protocol, an up-to-date standard that increases transfer capabilities and ensures nearly lossless streaming.

We wouldn’t have minded if the AmazonBasics HL-007332 was a bit longer but 6 ft is still a respectable length that should be sufficient to connect a camera or a tablet to a TV. And even that slight qualm is offset by the impressive quality of all other features that the cable offers.

Last updated price $0.00
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B014I8U33I

What Is an HDMI Cable?

An HDMI cable is used for transmission of high-quality video and sound signals from one device to another. HDMI interface is a worldwide standard, so when it comes to such HD devices as TV sets, Blu-ray players, AV receivers, etc, they all have at least one HDMI port. These days, HDMI is the only technology that can transfer the highest resolution video, including 4K content. A combination of both signals in a single cable saves space and makes the use of such cable very simple. It’s also worth noting that HDMI cables don’t compress audio signal, so you'll get the purest sound along with the superb picture. If you're not averse to paying a bit more for quality, you might even find a cord that transfers video in 4K Ultra HD, the current leading standard of video resolutions. Of course, most cords are intended for connecting to different port types so your purchase depends on the type of connection you seek. Whether you're hooking up a smartphone, a tablet, or a MacBook, we'll find the right cable for you together.

If you want to get the maximum audio performance, look through our review on stereo receivers and find the perfect one which will enhance your entertainment experience. And if you have an obsolete TV, think of getting one of flat screen LED TVs from our review.

What Features to Compare

Type

Unfortunately, there is no versatile HDMI cable compatible with each and every electronic device. That’s why the very first thing you should do before purchasing an HDMI cable is to decide on the exact connection type. For instance, if you wish to connect an external monitor to your laptop, you can’t use the same cable to connect your smartphone to a TV set and show your family all those amazing pictures you took during your last vacation. To accomplish these two tasks, you need to use two absolutely different cables. So, be sure to check interfaces of the devices you want to connect.

Bandwidth

There are two types of HDMI cable – standard and high-speed. A standard HDMI cable has a bandwidth sufficient to transfer 1080i and 720p video signals. But if you’re planning to transmit 1080p videos, you need a high-speed cable which can handle even a 4K video signal. To be sure you’re getting the maximum bandwidth, give preference to fully shielded cables which prevent even the smallest interferences. Also, pay attention to the cable’s length. You’d better not use long cables if there is no necessity for it since the length is directly proportional to video and sound quality deterioration.

Sources:

1. Geoffrey Morrison HDMI cable buying guide, CNET. December 15, 2013.

2. Shane Weaver What Makes a Good HDMI Cable? CableOrganizer.

3. Simon Hill Are expensive HDMI cables worth buying? Digital Trends. March 1, 2015.

4. Lincoln Spector The secret to buying a good HDMI cable: They're all good, TechHive. March 7, 2013.

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