Facts You Should Know About HDMI Cable Types

Introduction

HDMI cables are one electronic gadget that is available in almost all homes. If it is not used by elderly ones to connect their smart devices to TVs or Computer monitors, it will be used by younger ones to connect their game consoles like the steam deck to the home theater. Why am I letting you know this? It's simply just to point out the essential function of HDMI cables.

If these cables are so useful, then it's good to know one or two things about them. Hence, the reason for this article. Patiently read through to learn about the different HDMI cables, connector types & versions of the cables in case of your next purchase.

HDMI Cable Connector Types

HDMI simply means High Definition Multimedia Interface. They were developed and launched in the early 2000s to replace DVI (Digital Video Interface) which could only transmit video signals. However, with the invention of HDMI cables, the transmission of video and audio digital signals is possible.

It is also good to note that the first set of HDMI cables was updated to produce different versions of the HDMI cables with improved functionalities. We will shed more light on that as we proceed in this article. However, let's quickly take a look at the different HDMI cable connector types. There are 5 connector types, but we will be highlighting 4 of them. They are:

1. Standard Connector (Type A)
2. Mini Connector (Type C)
3. Micro Connector (Type D)
4. Automotive Connector (Type E).

Of these four connector types, the three most common & needed are the standard, mini & micro HDMI cable connectors which are described below.

Type-A connector

This is also known as a standard Connector. Of the three most common HDMI cable connectors, it is widely used & readily available. Standard connectors are larger than mini & micro connectors and they are compatible with gadgets like desktop computers, TVs, and game consoles among others.

Type C Connector

Also called Mini Connector. The only difference between this connector and the standard connector is the size. They both carry the same bandwidth of audio-visual signals through their 19-pin connectors. This small-sized mini connector is made for small-sized gadgets like camcorders, small cameras, and the like.

There are different types of this mini type C connectors such as mini (at one end) to mini (at the other end) and mini (at one end)  to standard (at the other end). One of the best mini HDMI to standard HDMI cable is the high-speed 4k @60Hz mini HDMI to HDMI cable manufactured by CableCreation.

Type D Connector

This is another connector with the same function as the standard and micro HDMI cables, but of a smaller size than them. The major reason for creating this type of HDMI cable connector is to solve the problem of transferring audiovisual signals from extremely small gadgets like mobile phones to larger screens such as laptops, TV, or home theater.

This is the reason it is called a Micro Connector. It looks like a USB connector but does not function as one.

Different HDMI Versions so far

As earlier mentioned, there are different versions of the HDMI cable and each version is an improvement of the prior version. The first version, HDMI 1.0, was first released in 2002. After this first version, there have been more than 7 versions, but we will briefly discuss six of them below.

2002, HDMI Version 1.0

This is the first version of the HDMI cable. It uses the DVI format but relies on audio transmission as the video is streamed. This 1.0 HDMI cable is able to transfer Blu-ray disc audio & video data at the speed of 4.95Gbps and full resolution.

2004, HDMI Version 1.1

The major upgrade to this version is the electrical change that allows direct video & audio display at the same time. This means this version can transfer a high-resolution audio signal that version 1.0 couldn't.

2005, HDMI Version 1.2

This version brought about significant changes in the history of HDMI cables. Such changes include the inclusion of Direct Stream Digital which allowed the transmission of Super Audio CD content, YCbCr color compatibility and Type A connector availability amongst others.

2006, HDMI Version 1.3

In this version, the color resolution was increased to a maximum of 16-bit from 10-bit. Apart from this, the data transfer speed & single link bandwidth was increased to 10.2 Gbps and 340 Mhz. It is also in this upgraded version that the mini type C connector was introduced among others.

2009, HDMI Version 1.4

This version added some usability features like an Ethernet connection of about 100 Mbit/s that allows the two HDMI devices to share an internet connection. Other features are 3D video compatibility with 4k x 2k high definition resolution. The color resolution was improved & the micro type D HDMI connector was introduced in this version.

2013, HDMI Version 2.0

This version of HDMI cable was updated & released with a lot of capability. The bandwidth was increased to 18 Gbps with a high UHD video resolution level of 4k @50 Hz or 60Hz. The possible audio channels to be transmitted were increased to 32. Dual video streams & multiple audio deliveries are also possible.

2017, HDMI Version 2.1

This version came with a 10k @ 120Hz video resolution capability. I don't want to imagine how flawless its video signal output will look on a large screen. Of course, it will be nothing but flawless. Another specific capability of this 2.1 version is its improved 48G data transfer cable. A particular HDMI cable that can be categorized under this version is the 8K@60Hz, 4K@120Hz/60Hz/30Hz possible video resolution with 48 Gbps ultra-HD HDMI cable produced by CableCreation.

Conclusion

Without mincing words, I believe you now understand that there are different HDMI cables out there. However, I believe with this article, you should be able to know which one to purchase with your HDMI device. Nevertheless, it is also good to note that device compatibility is necessary for a high-resolution HDMI cable to work perfectly. Do you know there are different best cables out there? But do you also know that the best HDMI cable for your PS 5 game console is produced by CableCreation? Click here to order your today at an affordable price.

Author: Yuusuf Oluwaseun Adetona