HDMI and Mini HDMI Cables

Speed grade, not version number, sets what the picture can do

HDMI cables are rated by speed rather than by version number. A High Speed cable (10.2 Gbit/s) handles 1080p and 4K at 30 Hz. Premium High Speed (18 Gbit/s), listed with HDMI 2.0, covers 4K at 60 Hz with HDR. Ultra High Speed (48 Gbit/s), sold as HDMI 2.1, is what 4K at 120 Hz and 8K at 60 Hz require, on consoles, graphics cards and recent TVs. The cable is only half the chain: the source and the screen must both support the mode, and the weakest link sets the result.

Full-size, mini or micro, and how long a cable can run

Most devices use the full-size Type A plug. Mini HDMI (Type C) appears on some cameras, tablets and older laptops or graphics cards, and micro HDMI (Type D) on action cameras, so an HDMI to Mini HDMI cable has a different plug at each end. Look at the port itself rather than the device name.

Length trades against bandwidth. Passive copper cables over about 15 ft often need thicker conductors, such as 26 AWG, to hold 18 Gbit/s, and the very fast 48 Gbit/s mode is most reliable on short runs. Longer distances call for an active or optical cable, usually marked with a source end and a display end.

Questions about HDMI and Mini HDMI Cables

Does a gold-plated HDMI cable give a better picture?

No. HDMI is digital, so a cable that meets the speed grade you need delivers the same image as any other. A poorly made cable shows up as sparkles or dropouts at high bandwidth, not as a softer picture.

Which cable do I need for 4K at 120 Hz?

An Ultra High Speed (48 Gbit/s) cable, with HDMI 2.1 ports on both the source and the screen. For 4K at 60 Hz with HDR, a Premium High Speed 18 Gbit/s cable is enough.

Does it matter which end of an HDMI cable goes to the TV?

Standard passive cables work either way round. Long active or optical cables are usually marked source and display and must be fitted the right way, or you get no signal.