Old HDMI cables aren’t obsolete yet, what to keep and when to upgrade

Yes. HDMI cables are both backward and forward compatible, so any cable will connect any HDMI source to any HDMI screen. Your existing HDMI 2.1 cables will keep working exactly as they do today, for as long as you want to use them.

The catch is features. An older cable can carry less data per second (its bandwidth), so when you pair it with a modern TV and console you may lose some of what that hardware can do, such as higher refresh rates. For some people that is no big deal. For others, it is the difference between a smooth game and a good-enough one.

If you own an Apple TV 4K, a PlayStation 5 or an Xbox Series X, use an HDMI 2.1 cable on that connection. These are the boxes that push the most data, and the PS5 and Xbox Series consoles top out at 4K at 120Hz, which is within what HDMI 2.1 supports.

That points to a simple plan. You do not have to replace every cable in the house. Put your best cable on the device that needs it most, usually the main TV with the newest console or streaming box, and let older cables handle the rest.

Plenty of everyday setups never need the newest cable. Here is where a spare one earns its keep.

• Retro consoles. The Xbox 360 and PS3 were early HDMI consoles and do not output 4K, so an old HDMI 1.4 cable is fine for them. For a PS4 or Xbox One, an HDMI 2.0 cable is the better pick, because it can carry 4K at 60 frames per second.
• Older TVs and monitors. A non-smart 1080p TV in a basement or spare room does not need a top-tier cable. Pair it with a streaming stick or an older console for Netflix and an HDMI 2.0 cable does the job.
• Laptop to TV or projector. If a website has no smart TV app, or the screen is not a smart TV at all, plug your laptop straight into the TV. The screen shows up right away and the TV works like a giant monitor. Old cables handle this easily.

Keeping a few spares around also saves you from unplugging and moving cables every time you set up a screen in another room.

For almost everyone, not yet. HDMI 2.2 cables offer 96Gbps of bandwidth, double that of HDMI 2.1, and can carry signals such as 4K at 480Hz, 8K at 240Hz and 16K at 60Hz. Brands including Silkland and Cabletime already sell them.

The trouble is that almost nothing on sale can send that much data. As one example, even the PS5 Pro is capped at 32Gbps. A few TVs, such as Samsung’s Neo QLED QN990F, go beyond HDMI 2.1 with support up to 8K at 120Hz, but the picture can only be as good as the device feeding it. A great screen with an ordinary console behind it is limited by the console.

The HDMI Licensing Administrator, the group that licenses the standard, expects the first certified HDMI 2.2 devices to go on sale in 2027, though it has not said when in the year. Even then, products may support only part of what the standard allows. The label adds to the confusion: the Ultra96 feature name can describe a device that supports 64, 80 or 96Gbps, while a certified cable carries up to the full 96Gbps.

Price is the other reason to wait. HDMI 2.2 cables currently run from about $18.99 to more than $50 depending on length, while an HDMI 2.1 cable can cost under $10 at big US retailers such as Amazon and Walmart. Prices for the new cables should fall as more stores stock them.

You probably do not need to spend anything. If your main TV is paired with a recent console or streaming box, make sure that one link uses an HDMI 2.1 cable. Everything else, from the bedroom TV to the old games console, can keep using what you already own.

If you do buy an HDMI 2.2 cable later, check that it carries the official Ultra96 certification label, which has a QR code on the packaging you can scan to confirm it is genuine. And check the actual bandwidth your TV and source support on the maker’s spec page, instead of trusting the biggest number on a product listing.

Got more cables than you will ever use? Used HDMI cables often sell for under $10, so a bundle can make a little money. If you would rather recycle them, Best Buy and Staples both take old cables no matter where you bought them, along with other small electronics. That beats throwing them in the trash.