If you’re a gamer who loves Xbox, PlayStation, or both, and you’re planning to get your hands on a PS5 or Xbox Series X (or maybe you’re already lucky enough to pick one up), chances are you want the best experience possible.
This requires a load of great PS5 accessories, including the best HDMI 2.1 compatible cables you can find to support higher resolutions, higher bandwidth (up to 48Gbps), higher refresh rates like 120Hz and 144Hz , and dynamic HDR. Here are the best HDMI 2.1 cables to make your gaming experience even better!
The best HDMI 2.1 cables for PS5 and Xbox
Highwings 8K HDMI Cable 6.6ft
Connections up to 100 feet
It’s still early days for 8K, but if you’ve got a future-friendly setup for your intense video game sessions, this cable can support 8K at 60Hz and 4K at 120Hz to accurately reproduce every game scene with stunning clarity. The braided cord ensures that it won’t break or fray, along with the anti-bend design and 24K gold-plated plug material. A length of 6.6 feet should suit most needs, but you can also choose lengths up to 100 feet.
Zeskit Maya HDMI Cable 6.5 ft
8K at an affordable price
While the brand name may be unfamiliar, the reviews say it all: this cable is a good option for everything from gaming to other home theater equipment. Available in lengths from 1.5 to 10 feet, it supports Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision for immersive audio that accompanies your gaming (with compatible AV equipment, of course) and is backward compatible with other versions of HDMI. You can connect it to almost any HDMI device.
Monster Ultra High-Speed 8K HDMI Cable 12ft
Brand credibility
Monster was known for making audio/video cables long before they made headphones, speakers and other devices. These cables are expensive, but you get the prestige of the brand as well as features like Enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC) to support most audio formats and uncompressed multi-channel lossless audio for the most immersive gaming experience. Unfortunately, it does not have a braided cable.
Basesailor HDMI Cable 10′ (2 pcs)
Hassle-free warranty
Get two 10-foot cables in this package (other sizes available from 3.3 to 16.5 feet) so you can connect multiple game consoles and other devices to different HDMI inputs on your TV, instead of switching between them , when you switch from PS5 to Nintendo Switch. They include gold-plated connectors, three-layer copper shielding to minimize signal interference, and a nylon-braided casing.
iBirdie 4K HDR HDMI 2.1 Cable 20ft
High-speed connection
While many of the cables on this list come in other sizes, this is one of the few that can be purchased in an extra-long 20-foot length for hooking up in hard-to-reach places or running a cable up the wall to a console far away from the TV. The scabbard is also made of super strong nylon braid.
Stouchi 48Gbps HDMI 2.1 Braided Cable 6ft
Compatible with most devices
Access ultra-fast data transfer speeds of up to 48 Gbps with the Stouchi HDMI 2.1 cable. You get Dolby compatibility and eARC support for enhanced sound. It supports 8K at 60Hz, 4K at 120Hz and an ultra-high refresh rate of 144Hz. The 6′ option should be long enough, but you can also choose from 4′, 10′ and 15′ lengths.
UGREEN 8K HDMI 2.1 6ft Cable
Dynamic HDR and improved sound
UGREEN is known for its high-quality cables, so the HDMI 2.1 cable from the brand is reliable. You can choose from three cable lengths: 6 feet, 10 feet, and 15 feet. It can support 4K at 120Hz and 8K at 60Hz, Dynamic HDR, eARC and Dolby Atmos. Built with nickel-plated connectors and a durable nylon braided jacket, this HDMI 2.1 cable is built to last.
Snowkids 8K 2.1 HDMI Cable 10ft
Woven for durability
HDMI 2.1 braided cables are much more durable than their counterparts, making them an excellent choice in a crowded market. This one in particular is rated for 25,000 bends and uses a 24K gold plated cap. With a transfer rate of 48 Gbps, support for HDR10 and eARC, and support for 8K video, it does everything a good HDMI 2.1 cable should.
What is HDMI 2.1?
Simply put, HDMI 2.1 can transmit more data at a higher speed and better quality than HDMI 2.0. Where 2.0 only supports up to 4K and transfer rates of up to 18Gbps, the best HDMI 2.1 cables offer support for higher resolutions up to 10K and bandwidths up to 48Gbps, as well as higher refresh rates of up to 120fps.
These features are essential for gaming, especially if you play intense, fast-paced games or first-person shooters (FPS) where every millisecond counts. You can have no lag, inaccurate screen colors, or lack of detail. Making sure every component in your setup is top-notch can make the difference between a big win and an embarrassing loss.
Do HDMI 2.1 cables work with 2.0?
Yes, HDMI 2.1 cables are backwards compatible and can connect to devices with 2.0 ports, but you won’t get all the benefits of 2.1, such as 48Gbps bandwidth and 8K resolution support. Any HDMI 2.1 cable connected to a 2.0 port will work fine and transfer data at the maximum 2.0 capability, meaning you’ll receive 4K video at 18Gbps.
Need HDMI 2.1 for PS5 and Xbox Series X?
Both PS5 and Xbox Series X already come with an included HDMI 2.1 cable, so that part shouldn’t be a problem. If your TV only has a 2.0 port, as previously stated, you will only get the benefits of HDMI 2.0 from a 2.1 cable, so any Games for PS5 with 120 FPS support will not be able to use it.
If for some reason you lose that HDMI 2.1 cable or just want to use it for something else, you can also use the HDMI 2.0 cable with the PS5 and Xbox Series X. This will just result in a similar situation where you only get HDMI 2.0 Advantage.
Whether these benefits are worth it is up to you. Personally, I don’t see the need for 8K or even 10K resolution (our eyes can’t tell the difference between the two anyway). But a higher frame rate is important to many people.
Why an HDMI 2.1 cable?
You probably switched to a 4K TV from HD to 4K movies, video games and TV series. Or you had a 4K source at home, such as a 4K set-top box or subscription to a premium streaming service. In the same way, you can also buy an 8K TV even if there is no 8K content available yet. It’s never a bad idea to keep your investments going into the future if you can afford it.
While most of these cables come in a variety of lengths, a standard 10-foot cable length will work for most. You’ll find this with the Basesailor HDMI cable, which comes in a two-pack if you’re lucky enough to have two consoles, or just want to hook up a second HDMI device or keep one as a spare.
If for some reason you need to place your gaming console further away from your TV or receiver and therefore need to run a very long cable along the wall, consider an option like the iBirdie 20′ HDMI 2.1 Cable, which leaves plenty of room to roam.
How to choose the right HDMI 2.1 cable
When it comes to HDMI 2.1 cables, despite whatever fancy words companies may use, they all work pretty much the same. The differences for humans usually come down to their length and whether the cord is braided or not.
Braided cable generally lasts longer, is less prone to tangling, is more flexible and generally more resilient than rubber cables. They don’t offer much of a difference in terms of performance—HDMI 2.1 is the same whether the cable is braided or not—but for peace of mind and getting your money’s worth, braided is the way to go.
