The Best HDMI 2.1 Cables
Ultra High Speed HDMI cables, made by reliable HDMI adopters.
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“Ultra High Speed HDMI” is the official name for cables that meet the HDMI 2.1 standard. These 48Gbps HDMI 2.1 cables are designed to support future technologies and advanced video resolutions (like 10K), but Ultra High Speed HDMI cables already have practical uses:
- If your Apple TV 4K flickers or flashes — Several Apple TV 4K users complain of intermittent screen flickering or a flashing white light, especially while using Dolby Vision or other HDR10 formats. Apple recommends using a 48Gbps cable for Apple TV 4K.
- If you play video games in 4K — Next-gen consoles like the PlayStation 5 (PS5) and Xbox Series X use the HDMI 2.1 Specification and so do ultra-high end graphics cards like Nvidia’s RTX 3080 and RTX 3090. HDMI 2.1 cables support 4K refresh rates of up to 120Hz, which is a standard that is now supported by high-end gaming monitors.
- If you edit 8K video — Video-editing workstations that support 8K resolution require a DisplayPort 1.4 or HDMI 2.1 connection to display full resolution imagery on an 8K monitor.
- If you listen to Dolby Atmos or DTS:X audio — The best surround sound formats (like DTS Master, DTS:X, Dolby TrueHD, and Dolby Atmos) use HDMI-eARC, a standard that is best supported by 48Gbps HDMI cables.
- If you’re semi-permanently wiring a home theater — Using a next-generation HDMI cable today can save some frustration tomorrow: Nobody wants to re-snake cables through a wall or ceiling.
- If your Dolby Vision TV supports 4:4:4 chroma subsampling — A 4K 60Hz signal using uncompressed Dolby Vision HDR requires 24.06Gbps of bandwidth: That’s more than HDMI 1.4 or HDMI 2.0 can handle. HDMI 2.1 can also support 8K video at up to 60Hz, which some 8K TVs are capable of handling.
How to Verify a Certified HDMI Cable
HDMI.org publishes an incomplete list of premium HDMI cable certification program participants. (You won’t find Cable Matters on the list, but I’ve manually verified the company’s certification status.)
To verify that a cable is certified, a person must download the “HDMI Premium Cable” smartphone app and scan a holographic QR code on the cable (or its packaging). But, what about online shoppers?
Many of the “certified” HDMI cables that are available online misappropriate HDMI.org’s dummy QR code: BCDFG123456. Unfortunately, you’ll have to buy a cable before you can verify that it is legitimately certified.
Don’t Trust Any HDMI 2.1 Cable Longer Than 10 Feet
All passive HDMI cables (i.e. copper wire cables) lose signal strength and handshake capabilities over long runs; this problem only worsens with high resolution audio and video content. (Owners of 4K projectors know this pain.)
That’s why the HDMI Forum predicts that the maximum HDMI 2.1 passive cable length “will be approximately 2 to 3 meters.” For longer cable runs, an optical HDMI is required. But, these speciality cables can cost hundreds of dollars, and considering that there are no certified HDMI 2.1 optical cables on the market, this is a risky proposition.
Certified HDMI 2.1 Cables Are Still Vaporware
As of November 2020, the only “certified” HDMI 2.1 cables are from AudioQuest and Club 3D. However, the HDMI Licensing Administrator could not confirm (via an e-mail conversation that I initiated) that these brands are actual HDMI adopters. This is a frustrating state of affairs considering that the HDMI 2.1 specification was announced in early 2017 and the HDMI Forum declared in early 2020 that certification was mandatory.
The 48Gbps cables listed below are not certified, however, they are from brands with a certification history.
Cable Matters 3-Pack 48Gbps Ultra 8K HDMI Cable (9.8 Feet)
Good Value: $35 | Great Deal: $30
Cable Matters’ color-coded HDMI 2.1 cables are slim, flexible and inexpensive, according to several online customers. Some reviewers say that the cables in this three-pack aren’t as durable as one-off cables.
Cable Matters 48Gbps Ultra 8K HDMI Cable (6.6 Feet)
Good Value: $16 | Great Deal: $12
This affordable HDMI 2.1 cable produces beautiful color without any jitter, flickering or lag, according to several online customers. Reviewers have successfully used this cable with their gaming consoles, 4K Blu-ray players, Apple TVs and HDMI 2.1 TVs. Some reviewers complained of bent or loose plugs.
Monoprice DynamicView HDMI 2.1 Cable (3 Feet)
Good Value: $11 | Great Deal: $9
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This cable pairs well with Apple 4K TV and prevents the picture from blacking out, according to several online customers. Some reviewers wish these cables came in longer lengths.
Belkin Ultra HD High Speed HDMI Cable (6.6 Feet)
Good Value: $30 | Great Deal: $24
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Belkin’s Ultra High-Speed HDMI cable is regarded by many online customers as the best HDMI cable for Apple TV 4K. Most reviewers say this cable eliminates flickering on a Dolby Vision 4K HDR 4.2.2 setup.
About the Author: John DeFeo is an avid home theater enthusiast, an amateur filmmaker and a former A/V salesman at one of premiere Hi-Fi shops in NJ. More recently, he was the head of editorial insights at Tom’s Hardware.
