The best HDMI cable for PS5 and Xbox Series X is a serious bit of quality assurance for your setup. It's one thing to think about the best TVs, the best controllers, but thinking about your gaming setup down to the finest detail means you'll be getting the absolute best out of your hardware.
Contrary to what you may have heard, the best HDMI cable for gaming doesn't need to be gold-plated, or set you back so much you need to remortgage your home. This is one of those moments in the world of tech where 'more' or 'premium' doesn't equal 'better'. That's because, often, the cheap wires will serve most of us just as well as premium ones, so the best HDMI cable for gaming and TV is usually the one that costs you the least. Unless you're a connoisseur, you probably won't be able to tell the difference, because you don't need anything really fancy cable-wise to get a great picture on the best gaming TV.
However, there's now an increasing demand to find the best HDMI 2.1 cable for PS5, Xbox Series X, and for gaming more generally. To really maximise the use, function, and performance of the best TV for PS5 and Xbox Series X or the best 120Hz 4K TV, you'll need to look for the '2.1' class of HDMI cables - and even if you're still chasing PS5 stock or Xbox Series X stock, these are good cable to get now as they'll give you all the functionality for last-gen gaming, and be perfect for when your new console does arrive. And if you really do game big, then the best HDMI cable for PS5, Xbox, and PC will also prove a valuable companion to the best projectors for gaming too.
However, that doesn't mean there aren't a few key pointers to bear in mind. To begin with, keep an eye on the certification or 'class' of HDMI. This decides how much data your cable can manage - the higher the number, the better the picture. For instance, a rating of 1.4 is A-OK for standard 1080p HD. Meanwhile, a 2.0 rating is necessary if you want 4K Ultra-HD. It's worth watching out for transfer speeds, too. 18GB per second is a bare minimum, and you don't want to go below that. Anything above this number will do very nicely, though, and HDMI cables with high transfer speeds aren't pricey. Indeed, even an Amazon Basics cable will serve you well enough.
Best HDMI cables for PS5, Xbox, PC, and TV 2023
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Amazon has its own range of low-price tech accessories, including a smart-priced HDMI. You’re looking at $6 / £6 for a 1.8m version. Beat that, un-named high street retailer. It’s a low-frills black plastic affair, but does have gold-plated terminals to avoid looking like it came bundled free with something. This one isn’t certified to the HDMI Premium standard, but it has the part we’re after anyway: 18Gbps bandwidth.
The AmazonBasics HDMI comes in lengths up to 10.6m, and the design appears to scale up a little as you get to the higher lengths too. For example, that longest version is CL3-certified. This is a spec for custom installers, and means the cable is designed to handle higher voltages.
This cable does everything you need it to - delivering 4K connections between your gaming set-up and your display, for a ridiculously low price and in a range of sizes.
Are you one of those insufferable people who always has to have the latest iPhone, the latest watch, and every new game on the day of release? You also need Belkin’s new Ultra High speed HDMI.
This is one of the first cables to be primed for HDMI 2.1, a spec designed to wave in 10K-resolution video. The cable can handle up to 48Gbps video bandwidth, which today’s consoles can’t even get close to. It also proves why Belkin is such royalty among tech accessory makers. Despite being better-specced than some cables costing hundreds, this one costs just $39.99/£29.99 for 2m. (A premium price for a cable, admittedly, but that's the water we're swimming in here.)
It also has conveniently small connectors and, to be frank, we just trust Belkin a lot more than most no-name accessory makers.
The LINKUP Swivel Angle Connector HDMI 2.1 Cable offers not only HDMI 2.1 functionality to help you ease into the next-gen of gaming, but also offers the unique selling point of unbelievable flexibility at the same time.
To elaborate, at each HDMI connector, there is a swivel and twist design that means you can plug the cable in and then bend and direct the cable to exactly where you need it to go. When I was rearranging my media unit to incorporate the latest consoles last year, these cables were the answer to my problems, and in an instant I had the perfect cables for getting through the back of the unit, angling them perfectly - and all the while knowing they were HDMI 2.1 and future-proof as a result too.
If you've been a bit worried about how much strain is on your cables and how the slack seems to 'pull' on the connectors, then these could put your mind at ease in an instant. And if like me, you really had to plan out your media unit based on where power and HDMI ports were on your consoles, along with the holes the cable needs to go through, then they are a downright lifesaver. Brilliant design, and absolutely worth the extra cash to get the best HDMI cable for PS5 for added flexibility. Literally.
LINKUP also does the same design for an HDMI 2.0 cable - that I also use for my PS4 and PS3 - which is just as handy when working in a multi-console/machine setup and needing to ensure the cables go where they need to and are pointing in the right direction to help you navigate them through furniture and apertures.
If you want a cable that should take a bit more abuse than the one you might find in Poundland, take a look at the Onyx 4K HDMI cable.
It has thicker-than-average cabling, with an extra mesh sheath on top to act as armour against chair legs or the teeth of bored pets. The connectors also have metal outers, making them more rigid than most.
We don’t usually advise people get too worked up about gold plating but, sure enough, there’s “24ct” gold bling on the terminals too.
And, the bit that really matters, the Onyx 4K is certified to the latest HDMI Premium standard. You’ll find cheaper options that work just as well, but this is a good pick for best HDMI cable for PS5 for those who demand the finer things in life.
Looking for a solid, new-gen HDMI cable, that'll be robust and do the job? Then the EZQuest Braided Ultra-High-Speed HDMI Cable could be the job for you.
Like others, the build of the cable and housings are things to have great confidence in, and they feel robust and strong: the cable is nylon braided and offers toughness, and the connectors are housed in anodized aluminum. Solid. (In our testing, the braided cable was so tough that it made flexing it a little tricky - though not impossible.)
This is a speedy cable looking to offer future-proofing for those with an eye on 4K 120Hz gaming, and beyond: EZQuest claims the cable will handle up to 10K resolutions too. But before you even consider that madness, the cable is a cert for 4K 120Hz pictures, and even 8K at 60Hz, so whatever job you need it to do now, it'll handle it.
The only concern would be the limited lengths available - currently only in a 2.2m variety - but the quality shines through and if you need a quality HDMI cable for PS5, PC or any other device that's only a couple of metres long then this is one to have confidence in.
Note: This cable is only readily available in the USA currently.
If you want to run your HDMI under a rug, perhaps to reach a projector without tearing up your walls’ plasterwork, a flat cable is the best option. Just a few millimetres thick, it’s a lot less obtrusive than the average round type.
The cable itself is also nylon braided for added toughness so is a top HDMI for PS5 and other consoles you can have confidence in.
There’s no mention of the HDMI Premium standard, but Rhinocables claims bandwidth of at least 27Gbps, which is well in excess of what we need for 4K and HDR. We don’t really care too much about how our HDMI connectors look as, with any luck, they’re out of sight 24/7. However, the Rhinocables HDMIs are chromed if you must have a bit of glamour to everything you own.
The OMARS Premium HDMI has just about everything we look for in a cable, particularly after spending a packet on new hardware. First, it’s fairly cheap. At under $10 / £10 for a 1.5m cable, and a little more for a 2m or 3m cable, it won’t eat into your games budget too much. These cables are also certified to the HDMI Premium standard. At present this is the main seal of quality to look for. OMARS also claims bandwidth of 27Gbps on the shorter cables, higher than the 18Gbps gold standard.
The design is about as plain as HDMI cables come, but the connectors aren’t too bulky. This is important if you wedge your consoles up near the wall to save space. You’ll usually find the OMARS cable sold in lengths up to 3m, which should do the trick for most setups.
In the saturated world of HDMI cables, it’s good to have something to help you stand out. SlimHDMI’s name gives its game away. This is one of the lowest-profile HDMI cables for PS5 around.
It’s not the cable itself that is ultra-slim, which would have a knock-on effect on performance, but the terminals. This is handy if there’s not much free space behind your game console or TV.
There are no grand claims about its performance, but it is ready for 4K. Given an ultra cut-down design probably won’t do any favours for durability, this is a cable for a specific situation. At the same time, it may be exactly what you need if normal designs are just that bit too chunky.
If you're looking for an HDMI cable with some known pedigree behind it, then QED's Connect offering is a solid and simple candidate.
While it might only be of an HDMI 2.0 category - still very good for 4K at 60Hz remember - QED's audio-visual pedigree runs through the Connect cable and offers an excellent option that also won't break the bank.
In terms of its build and design, it won't raise any eyebrows, win any prizes, or gain points for being braided - this is just a plain black cable in a PVC jacket. However, it is relatively pliable and won't put up annoying amounts of resistance when you're trying to get it into the position you need it. In our testing, the QED Connect was easy to use, direct, and plug in, and there was never too much tension.
You've only got two length options - 1.5m and 3m - but these should suffice for most gaming and home TV/audio setups, and you can have total confidence in the copper conductors and gold-plated connectors to give you solid performance from a trusty HDMI 2.0 cable.
Note: This cable is only readily available in the UK currently.
Best HDMI cable for gaming: FAQs
What HDMI is best for PS5?
Boiled down, the absolute, most objective response to this question is: an HDMI 2.1 cable. And any that are of that spec on this list will do you very well indeed.
However, the necessity isn't quite there for HDMI 2.1 yet - not that many games are capable of 120 frames per second, and televisions of more than about 3 years old or so may not have the appropriate 2.1 port. As a result, an HDMI 2.0 cable will still be a worthy and reliable companion.
Do you need HDMI 2.1 for PS5?
Needed is a bit of a double-edged term in regards to the PS5. In short, no, an HDMI 2.1 is not needed for the PS5, but, it absolutely is necessary if you want to enjoy the console (on a corresponding display) to its fullest.
If you're looking for a new HDMI cable forPS5 now, we'd recommend giving some attention to HDMI 2.1 cables as this will future proof you.
What HDMI do I need for 120Hz PS5?
Using a broad brush, we should all know be aiming for HDMI 2.1 cables for modern gaming. This is also the spec of HDMI cable that's thrown around all the time when 120Hz is used in the same breath. However, there's a small bit of nuance and caveating we have to point out just to be super clear.
That differentiation is the resolution factor. Simply, yes, if you are aiming to make the most of the PS5 and Xbox Series X new-gen capabilities and want to get 4K images at 120Hz, you'll need HDMI 2.1 - definitely. However, if you were to game at 1080p and want to boost the framerates, then, in principle, HDMI 2.0 should see you right.
What HDMI cable comes with the PS5 and Xbox Series X?
There was a lot of talk soon after the PS5 and Xbox Series X released as to whether or not the basic-looking, and basic-feeling HDMI cable that came in the box was of an HDMI 2.1. Well, we're here to say, definitively, absolutely, and categorically that, yes, the cable you get is a bona fide HDMI 2.1 cord.
That means that you don't have to 'worry' about getting the right cable in the first instance as it'll play nice with any TV new or older. However, we still recommend you browse our best HDMI cable for gaming guide as you may just find something else that offers a particular feature you're interested in.
The best HDMI cable for gaming can also be used for speakers and sound too so check out the best gaming sound systems, and the best computer speakers going too to see if you can take your setup further.
