Three coiled black HDMI cables with gold connectors on a wooden TV stand, with a TV and game console blurred in the background

TV and console cables

HDMI cable types: which one do you need?

6 sources

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Quick answer

Shop for HDMI cables by type, not by version number. HDMI.org lists the types: High Speed (up to 10.2Gbps, 1080p and 4K at 30Hz), Premium High Speed (18Gbps, 4K at 60Hz with HDR), Ultra High Speed (48Gbps, 4K at 120Hz and 8K at 60Hz) and the newer Ultra96 (up to 96Gbps, made for HDMI 2.2). For a PS5 or Xbox Series X at 4K 120Hz, use Ultra High Speed.

Certified Ultra High Speed HDMI cables (48Gbps):

Cable Matters 48Gbps certified Belkin AV10175 Ultra High Speed

The HDMI cable types

Maximum bandwidth for each official HDMI cable type, from HDMI.org.

Cable type	Bandwidth	What HDMI.org says it handles
High Speed	up to 10.2Gbps	1080p and beyond, including 4K at 30Hz, 3D and Deep Color
Premium High Speed	up to 18Gbps	4K at 60Hz, HDR and BT.2020 color
Ultra High Speed	up to 48Gbps	4K at 120Hz and 8K at 60Hz. Introduced with HDMI 2.1, on the market since 2020
Ultra96	up to 96Gbps	All HDMI 2.2 features, such as 4K at 240Hz and 8K at 60Hz in full 4:4:4 color

HDMI.org says every HDMI cable must have its official cable name on the jacket, and the package must show the cable name logo or a certification label. Shop by those names. See HDMI 2.1 vs 2.0 cables for how the names line up with the spec versions.

Which one for your setup

1080p TV, streaming stick or Blu-ray player: HDMI.org recommends High Speed for 1080p sources.
4K TV at 60Hz with HDR: Premium High Speed is certified for 4K60, HDR and BT.2020.
PS5 or Xbox Series X at 4K 120Hz: PlayStation says to use the cable that came with the PS5 or an Ultra High-Speed HDMI cable. Xbox recommends the Ultra High Speed cable packed with the Series X. For setups that pass through a receiver, Xbox lists Ultra High Speed cables for Series X and High Speed or Premium High Speed cables for Series S.
HDMI 2.2 gear: Ultra96 is the cable made for it.

Guides in this section

GuideHDMI 2.1 vs 2.0 cableWhich cable name goes with which spec, and the data rates 4K60 and 4K120 need.Read guide

Fix guidePS5 / Xbox 4K 120Hz not workingThe cable, port, receiver and settings checks from PlayStation and Xbox, in order.Read guide

GuideCheck a certified HDMI cableScan the label, read the jacket, and match the brand, model and length.Read guide

The cable is only one link. Your TV also needs a port that supports 4K at 120Hz. Xbox notes that on some TVs only specific HDMI ports support HDMI 2.1. Check your TV manual.

How we work: cable types and speeds come from HDMI.org. Console advice comes from PlayStation and Xbox. We don't test cables ourselves. Sources are listed below.

Questions people ask

What's the difference between High Speed, Premium High Speed and Ultra High Speed HDMI?

They're HDMI.org's cable categories. High Speed is rated for 1080p and 4K at 30Hz, Premium High Speed for 18Gbps and 4K at 60Hz, and Ultra High Speed for 48Gbps, which covers 4K at 120Hz.

Is there an HDMI 2.1 cable?

HDMI.org names cables by category, not version. The cable made for HDMI 2.1 features is called Ultra High Speed HDMI. HDMI 2.2 adds Ultra96 cables rated for 96Gbps.

Do I need a new HDMI cable for 4K 120Hz?

PlayStation and Xbox both say to use the cable that came with the console or an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable.

Sources

Last checked Oct 23, 2026. Cable names and speeds come from HDMI.org. Console steps come from PlayStation and Xbox. Check your TV manual for which of its ports support 4K 120Hz.