HDMI switches and splitters solve different connection problems: a switch lets several source devices share one television input, while a splitter sends one source signal to multiple displays. The distinction matters because the products can look alike, but choosing the wrong one will not address whether a household needs more inputs or simultaneous screens.

A switch is useful when a TV has too few HDMI ports, reducing cable swapping and potential wear on the television’s sockets; inputs can be changed automatically, manually or by remote, although automatic switching may be unreliable with devices in standby mode. The article recommends HDMI 2.1-compatible models, which support 4K at 120Hz, dynamic HDR, variable refresh rate, Auto Low Latency Mode and eARC audio, while splitters are more commonly suited to settings such as businesses displaying the same output on several screens.