Engadget addresses a common consumer question: whether pricier HDMI cables actually improve picture or sound quality. The short answer is no—since HDMI carries a digital signal rather than processing it, an expensive cable offers no visual or audio benefit over a cheap one, provided both can reliably handle the required signal. Higher cost is only justified when a setup genuinely needs greater bandwidth or a longer cable run, such as for high-refresh-rate gaming or sending a signal across a room to a projector.

The article recommends shopping by official HDMI cable category rather than price, brand or version number, since the HDMI Licensing Administrator bans labelling cables by version alone. Premium High Speed cables handle up to 18Gbps (sufficient for most 4K streaming), Ultra High Speed cables support up to 48Gbps (needed for 4K/120Hz gaming, as recommended by Sony for the PS5), and the newest Ultra96 cables reach up to 96Gbps for demanding formats like uncompressed 4K/240Hz or 8K/60Hz. Buyers are advised to check for official certification labels with verifiable QR codes, and to note that longer cables—especially at Ultra High Speed and beyond—may legitimately cost more because they require active electronics or optical fibre to maintain signal integrity over distance.