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- Best HDMI cable: At a glance
- The best HDMI cables for 2024
- 1. AmazonBasics Braided HDMI: Best budget HDMI 2.0 cable
- 2. Lindy Black Line High Speed Cable: Best HDMI 2.0 cable for short runs
- 3. LinkUp HDMI 4K Cable Ultra HD: Best HDMI cable for flexibility
- 4. KabelDirekt 8K HDMI 2.1 Cable: Best future-proof 8K cable
- 5. TrueHQ Ultra High Speed: Best value 8K cable
- How to choose the best HDMI cable for yo
HDMI is everywhere. Its a versatile standard that connects TVs, projectors, Blu-ray players, media streamers, set-top-boxes, gaming consoles, home cinema systems and more.
But not all HDMI cables are the same. While you can connect any TV to any source using a standard cable, not all cables are guaranteed to handle the latest high-resolution, high-frame-rate media experiences. Cheaply made connectors may also lead to a glitchy picture.
At the bottom of this page youll find our buying guide to choosing the perfect HDMI cable for you or, read on for our pick of the best HDMI cables to ensure an immersive cinema-quality experience, with options to suit all budgets and setups.
Best HDMI cable: At a glance
| Best budget HDMI 2.0 cable | AmazonBasics Braided HDMI (~£4.79) | |
| Best value 8K cable | TrueHQ Ultra High Speed (~£16) | |
| Best future-proof 8K HDMI cable | KabelDirekt 8K HDMI 2.1 Cable (~£13) |
The best HDMI cables for 2024
1. AmazonBasics Braided HDMI: Best budget HDMI 2.0 cable
Price when reviewed: £4.79 (0.9m) | Check price at Amazon
- Great for… everyday video connections
- Not so great for… next-generation ultra-high-resolution media
Amazons own-brand HDMI cable covers all your basic HDMI needs at a wallet-friendly price. We love its tough feel, with a braided sleeve and well-reinforced connectors that will protect it from kinks and yanks. That ensures a reliable connection between HDMI 2.0 screens and sources, not to mention 4K AV receivers and soundbars using ARC.
Thanks to its flexibility and relatively compact connectors, its one of the easier HDMI cables to install, particularly if youre using side-facing ports, and were also quite taken by the stylish black-and-blue braiding. Its not rated for HDMI 2.1 sources, so it isnt ideal for 8K video or ultra-smooth 4K 120Hz footage but it will probably be many years before those standards are widespread. In the meantime, this is a brilliant, very affordable cable.
Key specs Category: 3; Max bandwidth: 18Gbits/sec; Max supported resolution: 4K@60Hz; Cable type: Nylon braided; Lengths available: 0.9m to 7.6m
2. Lindy Black Line High Speed Cable: Best HDMI 2.0 cable for short runs
Price when reviewed: From £5.86 (0.5m) | Check price at Amazon
- Great for… neat short-run connections
- Not so great for… future-proofing
With its slimline PVC jacketed cable and compact Nickel-plated connectors, the Lindy Black Line isnt much to look at but we love the price, and its also really flexible, so youll have no problem snaking it around corners or around furniture.
What its particularly good for though is short runs, as it comes in convenient 0.5m and 1m lengths that wont leave reels of loose cabling dangling behind your appliances. Weve found these shorter lengths ideal for TV cabinets where games consoles, media streamers, set-top-boxes and AV receivers all sit together in close proximity.
For longer stretches you might prefer something more robust, and if your TV is capable of going beyond the HDMI 2.0 standard then it might make sense to invest in a cable that will handle higher resolutions and frame rates. As a neat, low-cost interconnect cable, however, this is one of our favourites.
Key specs Category: 3; Max bandwidth: 18Gbits/sec; Max supported resolution: 4K@60Hz; Cable type: Triple-shielded PVC; Lengths available: 0.5m to 5m
3. LinkUp HDMI 4K Cable Ultra HD: Best HDMI cable for flexibility
Price when reviewed: From £20 (1.8m) | Check price at Amazon
- Great for… secure connections in awkward spaces
- Not so great for… tight budgets
Its a bit more expensive than other cables, but LinkUps Ultra HD 360-degree cable wins us over with an ingenious design. Not only can the top section be flipped up for a right-angled connection, it also rotates through 180-degrees. This makes it perfect for side-facing sockets, wall-mounted screens and anywhere where you might struggle to fit a regular straight cable.
As well as being uniquely flexible this a high-quality cable, with a thick PVC jacket, ample shielding and solidly built connectors. Its our top choice for tight spaces or, if youre happy to pay a little more for additional future-proofing, LinkUp also sells a Category 3 (8K) Ultra version.
Key specs Category: 3; Max bandwidth: 18Gbits/sec; Max supported resolution: 4K@60Hz; Cable type: Triple-shielded, double braided; Lengths available: 1.8m to 7.6m
4. KabelDirekt 8K HDMI 2.1 Cable: Best future-proof 8K cable
Price when reviewed: From £13(1m) | Check price at Amazon
- Great for… top frame rates and resolutions at minimal cost
- Not so great for… tricky spaces that need a compact connector
Looking for a next-generation HDMI cable for your high-end TV or 4K projector? This KabelDirekt cable supports the full range of resolutions and frame rates for a very low price. Even if you dont have an 8K screen to run it with, KabelDirekt has had the cable tested and certified to prove that it will support 120Hz gaming on your Xbox Series X or PS5.
Its an extremely solid cable, with a robust PVC jacket and plenty of reinforcement where the cable meets the chunky plug. That can make it a little more difficult to work with in tight spaces than some of the other cables in this lineup, but the rock-solid assembly gives us confidence that its built to last. It also comes in a selection of colours at the time of writing the blue/black option is the cheapest and a huge range of lengths from 15cm to 20m, so youve got options no matter how your home cinema setup is laid out.
Key specs Category: 3 (8K); Max bandwidth: 48Gbits/sec; Max supported resolution: 8K@60Hz, 4K@120Hz; Cable type: Triple-shielded PVC; Lengths available: 0.15m to 20m
5. TrueHQ Ultra High Speed: Best value 8K cable
Price when reviewed: From £16 (2m) | Check price at Amazon
- Great for… a solid but affordable HDMI 2.1 connection
- Not so great for… basic roles that dont need an 8K-ready cable
You can pay a lot for a big-brand HDMI 2.1 cable, but TrueHQ offers a high-quality cable at a fair price. It comes in 2m and 3m lengths and is tested and certified for Category 3/Ultra applications, meaning it should cover your 4K, 120Hz consoles now and your 8K screen in the future.
Its moulded alloy plugs and gold-plated connectors feel reassuringly well made, and the braided cable is flexible without feeling insubstantial, making it relatively easy to get in and out of place. We also like the included Velcro cable ties, which let you conveniently pack it away or loop up any excess flex. For sheer value alone, this 8K cable is hard to beat.
Key specs Category: 3 (8K); Max bandwidth: 48Gbits/sec; Max supported resolution: 8K@60Hz, 4K@120Hz; Cable type: Triple-shielded, double braided; Lengths available: 2m, 3m
How to choose the best HDMI cable for yo
What should you look for in an HDMI cable?
Dont waste your money on premium HDMI cables that boast special materials, gold-plated contacts or proprietary shielding technology. Such refinements might have some value for analogue cables, as they can reduce interference and signal degradation, but theyre of no benefit to an all-digital HDMI connection: see our HDMI mythbuster for more information.
That doesnt mean that all HDMI cables are the same. There are a few different standards (or categories) that define a cables data bandwidth which in turn determines which resolutions and features the cable can support.
The original Category 1 cables were certified for 4.95Gbits/sec, which was enough for 1080i or 720p video. Category 2 (or High Speed) cables take the bandwidth up to 10.2Gbits/sec, enabling them to handle 1080p video at 60Hz, or 4K video at 30Hz.Nowadays, most cables support Category 3 (also known as Premium), which can reach 18Gbits/sec and support 4K video at 60Hz; these cables also have the bandwidth to support 10-bit deep colour, as used by 4K Blu-ray players and 4K HDR consoles. The highest-spec Category 3 (8K) Ultra cables can carry 4K at 120Hz or 8K at 60Hz.
The cable categories correspond to the evolving standards used by HDMI devices, so Category 3 cables are sometimes referred to as HDMI 2.0 cables, and Category 3 (8K) cables may be listed as HDMI 2.1.
Depending on your gear and the cable type, an older cable might work with a higher resolution than its rated for but theres a chance of glitches or blackouts. If youre buying a new cable today, wed always recommend buying Category 3, or Category 3 (8K) for the top frame rates and future-proofing.
Does the physical construction of the cable matter?
The design and construction of the cable wont normally make any difference to your image or sound quality, but it will make it more robust and reliable, and may make it easier to install and run between your screen and source devices.
Again, dont be deceived by marketing claims. Youll see some manufacturers touting how tough and resilient their cables are, but thats usually overkill for a cable thats likely to spend its entire life hanging quietly behind a TV. Big, tough connectors can also be a nightmare to work with when youre setting things up, while bulky cables may expose your sockets to unnecessary tension once you have it all plugged in.
Is there anything else worth looking out for?
You may want to look for a certified cable, meaning one thats been tested to ensure it works reliably, and supports all the expected resolutions and gaming/AV features. With cheap, uncertified cables theres an increased chance of problems however, in most cases, an HDMI cable will either work perfectly or not at all.
If your TV is wall-mounted or crammed into an awkward space, you may also want to look for a 90-degree or swivelling connector, so the cable runs neatly alongside the screen rather than jutting out behind it. Another option is to buy a right-angle HDMI adaptor to go on the end of your chosen cable, although this adds a possible point of failure if the adaptor isnt well made or doesnt have a solid, reliable connection at both ends.
