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Buying Guide

The HDMI specification is an evolving standard, so revisions and improvements are to be expected. But that doesn’t mean that newer versions are inherently better than older versions, or that you should always look for the latest HDMI version when you’re shopping for equipment.

Backward-Compatibility

Every HDMI version is backward-compatible with previous versions of the specification. Each revision includes the entire feature set of all previous versions, so you can be assured that any new equipment you buy will always deliver the highest level of quality that your existing equipment supports.

Version Numbers

HDMI version numbers are used by manufacturers to identify a set of features. To help you shop for the features you want in a cable, the HDMI licensing authority has created standardized names for certain key features. Here are a few:

  • Deep Color refers to monitors that can display a greater number of colors than traditional TVs, billions or trillions of colors rather than millions.
  • x.v.Color refers to an expanded, "wider" color gamut that includes colors not traditionally available in TVs. The x.v.Color space incorporates a much larger portion of the visible color spectrum than the older RGB color model.
  • Standard and High Speed refer to two grades of HDMI cable, tested to different performance metrics. A Standard cable can transmit a 1080i signal for 15 meters (49 feet) or more, while a High Speed HDMI cable can transmit a 1080p signal for at least 7.5 meters (25 feet).