How Much Should I Spend On An HDMI Cable?

In this digital age, the race to have the sharpest resolution and the ability to stream in 8K or 4K has been a benchmark of success for many entertainment companies. Since our TV and smartphone screens are getting bigger and bigger, we need displays that have more pixel density and the ability to show movies and videos in an immersive experience. We have been successful so far and the modern trends look to take us to new horizons.

There are many stakeholders in this sudden shift towards bigger and better screens. The stakeholders include the companies that make those screens and the companies that making the necessary hardware to support 8K or UHD videos. If you are getting a TV service, you will get an HDMI with the plan. For example, CenturyLink internet is coupled with DirecTV plans. If you bundle both, you will get an HDMI included in the package.

HDMI is a common component of your consoles, computers, and TVs. They have taken over the VGA cables over the past decade and the standard for transferring digital video, and crystal-clear audio when it comes to a home theatre. There were days when these cables used to be expensive but these days you can get an HDMI for just $10.

How much does a good HDMI cable cost? Well, there are many factors involved and it depends.

How much does an HDMI cable cost?

If you look at it, there is a great variety of HDMI cables being offered. For many users, HDMI 2.0 does the job perfectly and there are countless other cables available with the older technology. No matter what cable you get, it boils down to three types:

• Standard speed HDMI
• High-speed HDMI
• Ultra-high-speed HDMI

Many HDMI cables have Ethernet capabilities as well. The good thing is that it is not sold as a separate feature, it does not add to the price. Generally, it is better to avoid the standard-speed HDMI cables. Just because there is a little price difference between the standard and high-speed HDMI cable. Nowadays, the standard speed cables are very limited. The Ethernet feature does not have much functionality either and it’s unlikely to change soon.

Embrace yourselves, the HDMI 2.1 is going to take over the HDMI industry in a while. Even today, you can get some certified premium cables for a premium price but for the non-certified ones, you can get a cheaper price but it is not worth it. Although it might perform similarly to the certified cables, they don’t last long. If you are looking for a pack of HDMI cables, they can be bought for under $12.

Secondly, the length of the cable also influences the price but to a huge extent. The cables you usually get are 3-feet. This length is fine for most homes but many of them require longer cables. A pack of 6-feet cables will cost you an additional $2. The 8-feet cable will cost $15 and at 15-feet you will pay around $19 for a pack of two or three cables.

If you have a device supporting the new HDMI 2.1 standard, only then you need a 2.1 cable. These cables are new in the market and can be a little expensive. A standard HDMI 2.1 cable might cost you $15. Then again, the price depends on the length of the wire. If you want a longer HDMI 2.1 cable, it may cost you some extra bucks.

HDMI 2.1 on next-gen consoles

The new consoles in the market use the HDMI 2.1 technology. Especially the new PlayStation 5 uses an HDMI 2.1 connection that allows this new generation of consoles to support and play games at higher frame rates. You can play games up to 120 frames per second. This is higher than the usual 60 or 30 Fps. Not only does this HDMI 2.1 installation guarantee better frame rates, but this also shows that you can transfer 4K or 8K images directly to your TV from your console. However, the 8K resolution only works with 60 fps.

Given the huge implications these cables have and how much effort has been put to develop these new cables, they are well worth the extra bucks you have to pay for them.