The best HDMI cables

The Monoprice Active Select series HDMI cable may be more expensive than others, but it has its own built-in technology to help transmit data over long distances, including 4K.

Generally speaking, HDMI cables are just pipes for sending data, but they tend to degrade a little over long distances, especially when they're lower-quality cables. If you need to transmit a signal over longer distances, especially 4K, then you may need slightly higher-quality cables like the Monoprice Active Select Series HDMI cable.

The cable is able to transmit data more efficiently over long distances because it has its own chips built into the connectors while maintaining thinness in the wiring. It's available in a range of lengths (15 feet to 60) and supports high-speed data transfer with Ethernet.

The tradeoff is that it's a little more expensive than most of the other cables in our guide. — Christian de Looper

Pros: Different lengths, great over long distances, long and thin cable

Cons: A little expensive

Made with woven Kevlar, the Austere III Series HDMI cable is strong. This premium product supports the latest specs and is backed by a lifetime warranty.

Many of the HDMI cables on this list are fine for most users, but sometimes you might want something a little stronger, like the Kevlar-reinforced III Series from Austere.

Now, to be clear, a strong HDMI cable won't perform any better than the others recommended here. We also want to remind you that you don't have to spend a lot of money on a great HDMI cable because Austere cables are very expensive. I have not encounter any problems when using an affordable HDMI cable, like the one from AmazonBasics, with my PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Verizon Fios cable box from Motorola, and GoPro cameras (with an adapter); when using the Austere cable, I didn't find it to work any better or worse.

With that said, if I was connecting ultra-expensive home entertainment equipment — say, a Marantz receiver — I would probably recommend spending a bit more on high-end cables (this is actually Austere's affordable offering, as the V Series costs even more). The Austere III Series, available in 5, 8, and 16 feet lengths — are very well made and they look luxurious, due to the tough exterior and gold-plated connectors. The gold shielding is designed to created a high-quality connection, but many AV experts will tell you that it doesn't matter with digital signals (it can make a difference with analog cables).

Unless you are connecting premium equipment or you have money to spend, I wouldn't recommend this as your first or second pick. But I do appreciate Austere's craftsmanship, support for the latest specs (including 4K HDR), and the lifetime warranty.

If you want something less expensive but still strong, consider our previous pick, the SecurOMax HDMI cables, available in 3 and 6 feet. These are braided for extra protection and work just as well. — Les Shu

Pros: Lifetime warranty, Kevlar reinforced, supports latest 4K specs

Cons: Very expensive, no Ethernet support

The UGreen 90-degree HDMI cable has an angled connector to make difficult connections easier.

All of the HDMI cables in our guide will do the job perfectly fine, but sometimes in your home theater setup, you may need an angled cable to make for a cleaner look or if the HDMI port is awkwardly placed on the device. That's where the UGreen 90-degree HDMI cable comes in.

The UGreen 90-degree HDMI cable is available in 3-foot, 6-foot, and 10-foot lengths. They're not too expensive, either, and all lengths support high-speed connections and Ethernet.

The main reason to buy the cable is the angled connector. Otherwise, just get our overall pick. As an alternative, you can purchase angled HDMI adapters that transform any regular HDMI cable connector. — Christian de Looper

Pros: Angled connector, different lengths

Cons: Not as high-quality construction as some others