Standard HDMI: Up to 720p or 1080i resolution at a 30Hz refresh rate. High Speed HDMI: Up to 4K resolution (including 1080p) at a 30Hz refresh rate. Premium High Speed HDMI: Up to 4K resolution with high dynamic range (HDR) at up to a 60Hz refresh rate.
An expensive HDMI doesn't produce richer colors or crisper sound than cheaper versions. However, an HDMI cable made with better materials can be more durable, and support higher bandwidth at longer distances, but it won't offer any difference with the picture quality.
When it comes down to 4K TV, you do not need to pick up special HDMI cables. The HDMI cable standard can impact color and resolution, but newer versions are not required for 4K TV.
Yes, there is a difference but whether or not you experience any difference depends highly on what you are using the HDMI cable for. When it comes to home theater equipment, you want to ensure that you are getting the highest quality sound and video from your system.
There are three basic types of HDMI cables—Standard, High-Speed, and Ultra High-Speed—and each type has subcategories.
HDMI cables 2.0 and 2.1 both deliver 4K High Dynamic Range (HDR) at higher refresh rates.
There are currently 3 standards of HDMI cable – category 1 (standard), category 2 (high-speed and premium high-speed) and category 3 (ultra high-speed).
Category 1 cables could offer 720p or 1080i resolutions at up to 60Hz, while Category 2 cables could handle 1080p at 60 FPS or 4K at 30 FPS. Those were later renamed to Standard HDMI and High-Speed HDMI, respectively.
HDMI 2.1 is only needed if you want to use HDMI with 4K over 60Hz. This applies to consoles, as on PC you can get the same performance with DisplayPort 1.4, which is readily available. So, it's likely adding HDMI 2.1 cables and expense to your setup is not something you need to worry about now.
Gold-plated cables provide the same image quality as the source – high quality. Also, there is a theoretical improvement in clarity of the signals being transmitted as gold-plated cables are better conductors of electricity compared to regular HDMI cables.
Any HDMI cable labeled high-speed (18 Gbps) transfer speed is 4K compatible. Check the cable itself. Look for printing on the cable itself, which should say “high speed with ethernet" or something similar. The better cables print the specs on the cable part.
Compared to 4K, 8K has a better resolution and frame rate. HDMI 2.1 lowers the throttle since a cable's bandwidth controls how much data it can transmit. 8K cables transmit data at a rate of up to 48gbps, which is more than twice as fast as 4K cables, which only transmit data at a rate of up to 18.2Gbps.
As long as you have at least HDMI 1.4, 120Hz is doable on your compatible TV or monitor. You can even do up to 144Hz if your display supports it.
For resolutions near 4K, it's recommended to use an HDMI cable that is no longer than 3 meters (10 feet). After that distance, the signal can start to degrade. For lower resolutions, the reliable distance is much longer, with the most common being 15 meters (50 feet).
Premium HDMI Cables are a special certification for High Speed HDMI Cables that have been designed and certified for ultra-reliable performance for 4K/UltraHD at up to 18Gbps bandwidth including advanced features such as 4K60, HDR, and expanded color spaces including BT.
Version HDMI 2.1a of the HDMI Specification is backward compatible with earlier versions of the Specification and is available to all HDMI 2.0 Adopters.
If you still have the packaging for the HDMI cable, check it to find out if the cable is standard or high-speed. If you do not have the packaging, see if you can find it printed on the cable itself. You may find references to 1.2, 1.3, or other numerals printed on the HDMI cable.
HDMI 2.1 allows for higher resolutions like 8K and higher frame rates of up to 120 frames per second (fps). Resolution improves the clarity and sharpness of the picture, which means you can simply see more details, and have less distance to the screen or a bigger screen without noticing any pixels.
The labels are only there so that when you switch between input sources on your TV, you'll be able to tell what port represents your desired source. Set your TV on HDMI 1 if your input device is in the HDMI 1 port. If the input device is on the HDMI 2, set your TV on HDMI 2.
HDMI 2.1 cables will have the HDMI 2.1 logo on the packaging or on the cable itself. This logo looks like a capital “H” with the number “2.1” inside. If you don't see this logo, it's likely that the cable is not an HDMI 2.1 cable.
The version should be clearly labeled on the packaging. Check the cable: Look at the cable itself for any labeling or text that may indicate the version. The HDMI version number may be printed on the cable, or it may have a different color to indicate the version.
Standard HDMI cables are compatible with 720p and 1080i resolutions used to transfer TNT HD programs. High Speed HDMI cables are compatible with HD 1080p and 4K UHD (3840 x 2160 pixels at 24, 25 and 30 fps) resolutions, 3D and Deep Color.
The easiest way to figure out if an HDMI cable is 4K compatible is to check its speed rating or its maximum bandwidth. A cable rated at 18 Gbps maximum bandwidth is fast enough to give you 4K video. If your HDMI cable is labeled “high speed,” it should be able to pass a 4K signal at lengths of up to three meters.