HDMI versions: how to tell the difference

Few people know it, but there are different HDMI versions. We'll show you how to tell the difference.

Differences of the HDMI cables: All versions at a glance

HDMI cables were initially labeled with different versions, such as 1.3 or 1.4. However, there are now only two different versions.

New HDMI cables are only sold with the designations HDMI Standard and HDMI High-Speed.
Every HDMI cable labeled with high-speed delivers the transmission rate of 10.2 Gbps specified by most devices today.
This enables high-speed cables to be transmitted, for example, 3D, HD audio or the future 4k standard.
When buying, you should make sure that these functions are actually supported by the cable. Even if there is high-speed on the cable, the functions vary with different manufacturers.

Most devices work with the HDMI connector type A. These cables are also the most often sold and used in the HIFI area and on your television.
In some exceptional cases, however, the HDMI connector type D is used. It is used in compact devices, such as cell phones or tablets, where space needs to be saved. The HDMI connector type D is much smaller and is therefore often referred to as micro HDMI.
The intermediate size is the HDMI connector type C. It is also often used for compact devices such as camcorders or digital cameras.
With special micro and mini HDMI adapters, you can connect the types with connector type A.