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HDMI cables are not all the same when it comes to how fast they can transmit a signal. But the good news is, just like with the older cables, you still won’t have to spend a lot to get up to speed. Here’s our breakdown of what to know about buying the best high-speed HDMI cables for you and your home or office.
High-Speed HDMI Cable Buying Guide
Consider the cable length, bandwidth and these other must-have features.
Data Transfer and Resolution: Back in the early days of HDMI, version 1.0 up to 1.4b, HDMI cables were limited in the amount of gigabits per second, about 4Gbps-8Gbps — even the ones labeled as “high speed” or “fiber.” While they could handle 720p and 1080p with ease, 4K is where they started to have trouble, and 8K just wasn’t happening at all. Nowadays though, with an ultra high-speed HDMI cable, everything is on the table. From 720p all the way up through 8K and 10K, these cables carry a signal clearly, even over long distances.
Bandwidth: Bandwidth refers to how much data a cable is able to send. If it has enough capability to handle the signal, you’ll see a clear and crisp quality on the screen. If not, the image can cut out, or worse, not show up at all. Older cables that were produced during the 720p era were designed to handle around 1Gbps, while the newer 8K-friendly ones can take on almost 50.
Length: It may not seem like this matters much, but it does for a couple reasons: For signals being transmitted at super speeds, having a long cable can affect the quality of 4K HDR. This is where a fiber cable really shines, and may be worth the extra cash.
However, it’s still the early days of 8K. While it looks dazzling, and it’s definitely going to become the standard eventually, it’s still a few years out. That being said, if you want to experience it or make your setup future-proof, a high-speed HDMI cable is an affordable piece to add right now. Here are a few of the best options to purchase.
