Did you end up getting a new gaming setup only to end up getting subpar or choppy visuals? Well, that might be caused by having an older and slower HDMI cable.
You’ll need an Ultra High-Speed HDMI cable if you wish to play games at higher resolutions and framerates. Old cables just can’t keep up!
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But choosing the right cable can be somewhat overwhelming, right? In this article, we’ll tell you our personal recommendation and also provide you with multiple alternatives that might work for you!
Best HDMI Cables for Gaming
First of all, let’s go over the basics. Can’t dive without knowing how to swim, you know.
An Ultra High-Speed HDMI cable has a data transfer rate of at least 48Gbps, allowing for 8K video at 60 frames-per-second (also known as FPS) and 4K video at 120fps.
They also support some extra features, such as Dynamic HDR for better colors, EARC for better audio quality and Variable Refresh Rate to prevent choppiness when framerates aren’t stable.
Additionally, Ultra High-Speed HDMI cables are also just called HDMI 2.1 cables; both terms are interchangeable!
All of them are also backwards compatible with older HDMI ports, so they will work normally with old hardware such as previous-gen consoles and older TVs.
Before we dive into our picks, this quick chart details every cable we will detail below.
| Best HDMI Cables | Lenght | Connector | Buy Now |
|---|---|---|---|
| StarTech.com HDMI 2.1 Cable | 3ft (1m) / 9.8ft (3m) / 13.1ft (4m) / 16ft (5m) | Gold-plated | |
| PowerA Ultra High Speed HDMI Cable | 10ft (3m) | Gold-plated | |
| Belkin Ultra HD HDMI 2.1 Cable | 6.6ft (2m) | Gold-plated pins with 2-layer shielding | |
| LINKUP Ultra High-Speed Cable HDMI Cable | 3ft (1m) / 6ft (2m) / 10ft (3m) | Gold-plated, features swivels and twists |
| Best HDMI Cables | Lenght | Connector | Buy Now |
|---|---|---|---|
| StarTech.com HDMI 2.1 Cable | 3ft (1m) / 9.8ft (3m) / 13.1ft (4m) / 16ft (5m) | Gold-plated | |
| PowerA Ultra High Speed HDMI Cable | 10ft (3m) | Gold-plated | |
| Belkin Ultra HD HDMI 2.1 Cable | 6.6ft (2m) | Gold-plated pins with 2-layer shielding | |
| LINKUP Ultra High-Speed Cable HDMI Cable | 3ft (1m) / 6ft (2m) / 10ft (3m) | Gold-plated, features swivels and twists |
Top Pick – StarTech.com HDMI 2.1 Cable
StarTech.com’s HDMI 2.1 cable is most likely your best bet if you’re shopping for an Ultra High-Speed HDMI cable.
This cable is fairly cheap, usually going on sale for much lower than its competition. It’s also pretty sturdy and durable and has official HDMI 2.1 certification and performance. To top it all off, it has gold-plated connectors and is encased in die-cast aluminium.
However, the cable’s sturdiness is a double-edged sword as it makes it somewhat stiff. This can end up making it hard to plug into some displays depending on your setup. You might want to consider picking another cable if you don’t have much space around your TV’s HDMI port.
Leaving the cable’s build aside, we really like that this cable comes in quite a variety of sizes: from 3ft all the way up to 16ft (5m). We’re all for having more options!
Pros
- Good variety of size options.
- Great balance of price and quality.
- Extremely sturdy and reliable.
Cons
- A relatively stiff cable that can be hard to maneuver
Best for PS5 – PowerA Ultra High-Speed HDMI Cable
PowerA is a well-known third-party gaming brand. As such, their Ultra High-Speed HDMI Cable is focused on gaming! It’s officially licensed by Sony, ensuring full compatibility with the PS5.
The cable is sturdy and of high quality, coming with fully gold-plated connectors. It should also be flexible enough to be easy to plug into your TV and PS5.
But really, the best thing about this cable is its Sony licensing. This guarantees that you shouldn’t have any issues using the cable with your PS5, and it even comes with a two-year warranty.
Of course, it also is HDMI 2.1 certified and performs up to standard. No surprise there, given its official Sony licensing!
However, the PowerA cable does have one flaw: it only comes in one length. It’s only available in 10ft (3m) which is kinda limiting, sadly. They do at least include a cable tie so that you can tie up any leftover cable, though, but that won’t help you if you need a longer cable!
Pros
- Officially licensed by Sony for use with PS5 systems
- Great quality and durability
- Ideal for gaming
Cons
- Only available in 10ft/3m length
Gamers Choice – Belkin Ultra HD HDMI 2.1 Cable
Next up we have Belkin’s HDMI 2.1 cable as our premium pick, so it’s best for powerful gaming setups such as powerful PCs. Belkin is a well-known brand in electronics, known for their high-quality products, and their HDMI 2.1 cable isn’t an exception.
Belkin’s Ultra High-Speed HDMI cable should give you no problems of any kind. It’s built to last and has specs to match the HDMI 2.1 certification.
Interestingly, the connector itself appears to not be gold-plated, although the pins themselves are. Belkin boasts this because of their 2-layer shielding, which should protect the cable from electric shocks and the like. It doesn’t look quite as fancy, though!
On the upside, the cable’s heads are pretty small in comparison to most other HDMI cables, so you don’t need much space behind your TV or console to plug this cable.
However, it does cost a bit more than similar options and it’s only available in one length: 6.6ft (2m). If you need something longer or shorter, you’ll need to pick another cable.
Pros
- Top-tier build quality and specs
- Belkin is a very trustworthy brand
- Dual-layered shielding should protect against electric shocks
Cons
- Only available in 6.6ft/2m length
- More expensive than similar options
Most Versatile – LINKUP Ultra High-Speed Cable HDMI Cable with Swivel Angle Connector
This Ultra High-Speed HDMI cable from LINKUP is a fairly interesting one. They don’t focus on boasting the highest quality materials or anything, instead, they focus on something simpler.
What is it, you wonder? Well, its connector rotates and swivels! This makes it much more versatile than similar options.
That should make it your best option if you have a particularly difficult setup, plus it makes it easier to rearrange cables later on. We all know how much of a pain cable management can be, so this can be a lifesaver!
It’s also HDMI 2.1 certified, has gold-plated connectors, and comes in a decent set of length varieties: 3ft (1m), 6ft (2m), and 10ft (3m).
That said, you might find that the connectors’ swivel and twist mechanisms aren’t quite as flexible as they advertise. Of course, they’re definitely better than static connectors, but you should still avoid twisting it too much.
Pros
- Swiveling and rotating connector makes it easier to plug into certain displays
- Flawless HDMI 2.1 performance on top of the convenient form factor
Cons
- Not quite as flexible as advertised
- The cable head is relatively heavy due to the added mechanisms
Conclusion
Our recommendations are HDMI 2.1 certified, guaranteeing that they meet all of the requirements and have the full feature set. It’s a narrow set of specs, so all certified cables should perform pretty much the same.
That means that they all have a speed of 48Gbps, as well as features like Dynamic HDR and Variable Refresh Rate. Ultimately, they should perform pretty much the same regardless of which one you buy.
As such, you should focus on the form factor of the cables more than anything when choosing. Do they have the right length? Is their connector reliable? Are they sturdy?
That’s why the SmartTech.com brand is our overall pick since its many sizes, reliability, and it is quite a durable cable should make it ideal for most customers.
Of course, the PowerA’s cable official Sony license and warranty are also quite inviting. They guarantee that you won’t have any issues when using it with your PS5, so it’s ideal if that’s your platform of choice!
However, enthusiasts will want to go for Belkin’s HDMI 2.1 cable. It’s definitely costlier than the others, but it’s a fair price for the high quality it provides. Simply put, it’s a top-tier cable that shouldn’t give you any issues. We recommend it for beefier gaming setups, such as powerful gaming PCs. On the other hand, you should go for LINKUP’s versatile cable if you have a somewhat odd setup
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