An HDMI cable will have a trapezoid-shaped connector on either end of the wire. This connector will have 16 tiny pins that will be used to transmit the digital signal to your TV or monitor. HDMI cables will have the same connector on both ends of the wire. Yes, HDMI 2.1 requires compatible cables, as these need to be able to handle the higher volume of data, as well as the new features that HDMI 2.1 is capable of. Fortunately, these cables do not currently cost much more than their HDMI 2.0 counterparts. Do HDMI 2.1 cables make a difference?

So why do we need a 48G-rated cable? "Because we're carrying so much data now – we've gone from 18Gbps in HDMI 2.0 to 48Gbps in HDMI 2.1," says Park. "Today we have 'standard speed' and 'high speed' HDMI cables, and 48G will be related to that." Next to the trusty USB cable, HDMI cables are just about the most useful cable in home entertainment setups across the globe. They connect everything from TVs, Blu-ray players, and streaming devices to gaming consoles, AV receivers, and speakers.These specs tie into the HDMI connection standards, which is why you might see some Category 3 cables listed as HDMI 2.0 cables and some Category 3 (8K) cables listed as HDMI 2.1. Basically, if you have a 4K console with an HDMI 2.0 output and a 4K HDR TV with an HDMI 2.0 input, then you’re going to need a Category 3 cable running between them, or you run the risk of only getting 4K at 30Hz. Because of this, we strongly recommend that if you have Dolby Vision or HDR10+ AV equipment, you only buy high-speed HDMI cables that are guaranteed to deliver the full 18Gbps and that you test them thoroughly with Dolby Vision or HDR10+ content before installing them more permanently. This is a well designed and durable HDMI 2.1, provided by one of the most reputable companies in the tech world. The Belkin HDMI 2.1 Ultra High Speed cable comes with all the benefits of HDMI 2.1, including Dolby Vision compatibility, HDR support and ultra HD capabilities. HDMI cable speed is measured in gigabits per second (Gbps); don't worry, you don't need to memorize a bunch of numbers. To keep things simple, HDMI.org — the group that maintains the specifications for both HDMI devices and HDMI cables — sorts HDMI cable speed into four main categories:

This is great news for gamers, because HDMI 2.1 enables a 3D graphics processor to render and display images in real time, which will result in more fluid gameplay and greater detail. The Ultra High Speed HDMI Certification Program is a mandatory certification program for all Ultra High Speed HDMI Cables; and ensures quality Ultra High Speed HDMI Cables reach the market and support 4K and 8K video, HDR, VRR, eARC, and all other HDMI 2.1b features. Cables are also required to be tested and certified to ensure low EMI to reduce the possibility of interference with wireless networks, streaming media players, Bluetooth devices and mobile phones. That's still the case with some manufacturers (the Sony A90J OLED features a mix of 2.1 and 2.0 inputs), while others are going all-in on HDMI 2.1 ports on their premium TV ranges. Both LG and Samsung are in this latter camp, and you can expect up to four HDMI 2.1 ports on select sets, especially the new TVs for 2022. If you don't own a 4K UHD TV and you don't plan on buying one any time soon, a standard HDMI cable is probably all you need. It supports HD video in both 720p and 1080i resolutions. We've seen 1080p work with standard HDMI cables, but it's not guaranteed. You can use these regular HDMI cables with DVD players, Blu-ray players, game consoles, streaming media players, and even AV receivers and soundbars. Just keep in mind, if you ever decide to venture beyond the realm of HD, you may need something faster. What's the difference between a certified and a non-certified HDMI cable? Not much. If an HDMI cable is truly a high-speed cable, it will perform all of the needed duties like transmitting 4K at 60Hz, high dynamic range (HDR), and 4:4:4 deep-color video, plus uncompressed audio.OLED, which is still considered the premier display technology today, is the calling card of LG as one of the best TV brands, so you know that you'll be getting a top-quality TV with the LG B2 OLED 4K TV. With a 65-inch screen featuring 4K Ultra HD resolution for sharp details and lifelike colors, and powered by LG's a7 Gen5 AI Processor 4K that adjusts picture and sound for the best possible viewing experience, the LG B2 OLED 4K TV will transform your living room into your personal cinema. The OLED TV also runs on LG's webOS 22, so you'll never run out of things to watch through all of the popular streaming services. It's not all about TVs, either; soundbars, AV amplifiers and other audio equipment also benefit from HDMI 2.1 – though it will mean upgrading all of your equipment. That said, there is a relationship between the version of HDMI your devices use and the kind of HDMI cable you should buy. The HDMI 2.1b Specification includes a new cable - the Ultra High Speed HDMI ® Cable. It’s the only cable that complies with stringent specifications designed to ensure support for all HDMI 2.1b features including uncompressed 8k@60 and 4K@120. The cable’s increased bandwidth capability supports up to 48Gbps. As well as making the ideal HDMI cable for 8K TVs, the QED Performance Ultra High Speed HDMI suits the latest games consoles. Supporting 4K@120Hz and Dynamic HDR technology, this cable is the one you need to make the most of the latest games.

HDMI 2.1 represents a huge step up over HDMI 2.0. The former is capable of 48Gbps versus the latter’s 18Gbps. However, a large amount of this power increase is for future-proofing, meaning that for now HDMI 2.0 is still capable of many people’s needs. Do I need HDMI 2.1 for gaming? Like AMD's FreeSync or NVIDIA's G-SYNC, the HDMI group has created their own version of the VESA Adaptive Sync protocol, called HDMI Forum VRR. It's a VRR format that seems to only work with HDMI 2.1 sources, and the Xbox Series X currently supports it alongside its FreeSync VRR support. The PS5 should also receiveHDMI Forum VRR support in a future firmware update. Note that not all HDMI 2.1 TVs support HDMI Forum VRR, as is the case with the LG UN8500. Gamers can also make the most of variable refresh rate (VRR) technology now possible with HDMI 2.1. This protects against screen tearing, which occurs when the refresh rate of your monitor or TV is out of sync with the one provided by your console or gaming PC. The result of this is temporary image jitters or freezes that can affect immersion and gaming performance. VRR stops this by varying the frame rate of the monitor or TV to match its input. If you pair this with one of the best HDMI 2.1 monitors you can be sure it’ll be compatible with the same technology. The difference is that a Premium High Speed certified cable has been independently tested to meet the criteria of HDMI.org. We're of the opinion that an HDMI cable either works or does not, but for some people, the added peace of mind that comes with a certification of reliability is worth a few extra dollars. That said, we feel that the Monoprice Certified Premium High Speed HDMI cable is one of the best certified HDMI cables you can buy, and at a good price.

An alternative to optical, our premium digital coaxial cables use a specially designed cable cordage and unique plug design to achieve the precise signal characteristics required for high resolution and multi-channel audio. USB A-B The current implementation of ARC has some limitations, though; the lowbandwidth (~1 Mbps) limits the quality of the audio that can be sent over the return channel, making it impossible to send high quality, uncompressed audio to your receiver. eARC solves these issues, as long as you have a compatible receiver as well. It vastly increases the amount of bandwidth that the ARC channel can use, up to an impressive 37 Mbps. This extra bandwidth makes it possible to send uncompressed 5.1 and 7.1 audio, like Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA, which are often the carrier signals for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. For the last few generations, HDMI cables have had an Audio Return Channel (ARC), which means audio can be sent both ways between a TV and audio gear. This essentially enables a display to send its own audio – perhaps from a built-in Netflix app – to a soundbar or surround sound system, bypassing its own speakers. Supporting the latest HDMI 2.1 standard, this new specification defines the fastest copper-based data rate ever conceived, raising the maximum throughput from 16 Gb/s of the previous Premium cable standard (HDMI 2.0) to 48 Gb/s to support uncompressed video resolutions of up to 8K@60Hz (4:2:0) with 12bit HDR. The cable will also carry uncompressed 4K@120Hz video, while delivering the promised maximum compressed video resolution of up to 10K@120Hz. Lastly, Dynamic HDR and Enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC), are also supported no matter what brand or combination of HDMI 2.1 compatible equipment you are using.