DisplayPort vs. HDMI: 6 Must-Know Facts
- Both products have had many versions come out. HDMI has version 1.0, 1.2, 1.4, 2.0, 2.1 and 2.0, while DisplayPort has had many similar versions, including 1.2, 1.2.1, 1.4, 1.4a, and 2.0.
- The most modern version of HDMI currently on the market is 2.1, while the most modern DisplayPort version currently available is 2.1.
- Both HDMI and DisplayPort also operate on different resolutions, refresh rates, and more. among the more popular refresh rates for HDMI are 144hz and 165hz.
- While each system is very similar to the other, they have fundamental differences. For example, each operates its own cables, connectors, ports, and more. They cannot be used interchangeably.
- DisplayPort comes with a mini connector and other companion standards that allow it to be used with other devices. HDMI also has mini connectors that enable digital cameras to use its technology.
- DisplayPort and HDMI cables will each work on any DisplayPort or cable device (respectively), regardless of the year.
If you’re like most people, you have a drawer full of connection cables. And if you need one, you use trial and error to determine which one fits both devices. Is it DisplayPort or HDMI? You may be asking yourself: Who cares?
It turns out that these two types of cables were designed to support different technologies, so they’re not interchangeable. Yes, both were designed to transfer audio and video from a source to a display. But they were designed to support different technologies.
In general, HDMI is more popular and universal. If you have a high-resolution display, you’ll want to go for DisplayPort, which can also transmit more data.
Computers usually have DisplayPort and HDMI ports. Which one you use will depend on what you’re connecting your computer to. Most TVs don’t have a DisplayPort input, so you’ll need to use HDMI. Gaming consoles primarily use HDMI, but DisplayPort is better for PC gaming.
DisplayPort vs. HDMI:The Key Differences Explained
When it comes to wires and connectivity, most of us take things for granted: You plug a wire in, and then your computer or television set starts to work. However, that’s an overly simplistic view of how to make sure all of our digital devices are working, and the truth is much more complicated.
DisplayPort and HDMI are interfaces that are used to connect electronic data with audiovisual output.
Each comes with a different type of cable that can be used for TV, data sharing, electronic transmission, gaming, and more.
DisplayPort vs. HDMI: Side-by-Side Comparison
| DisplayPort | HDMI | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Transmitting standard for transmitting data to an output source | Transmitting standard for transmitting data to an output source |
| Primary Use | Transmitting data from to an audio or visual device | Transmitting data from to an audio or visual device |
| Name | DisplayPort | High-Definition Multimedia Interface |
| Conceived | The 2000s | The 1990s |
| Initial Release | 2006 | 2002 |
| Technical Committee | Video Electronics Standards Association | n/a |
| Influential Developers | Apple, Video Electronics Standard Association | Panasonic, Phillips, Silicon Image, Sony, Hitachi, Thompson, Toshiba |
| Open format | No | No |
| Technologies Influenced | DisplayPort, DVD Players, Computers, Cameras, and more |
DisplayPort vs. HDMI: Summary
Both types of connectivity have many things in common. Each is a cable that can be used for TV, gaming, and many other uses. Both are major improvements to their predecessors, which included DVI (digital video interface) and VGA (video graphics array).
Both DVI and VGA were worse for gaming and could be used over lesser distances, and at this point, DVI and VGA are both rarely seen, having been more or less replaced by DisplayPort and HDMI technology.
That being said, there are major differences between both systems. Both use different standards, and different versions of each will be able to support different refresh rates and resolutions.
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DisplayPort is more commonly used on computers than it is on televisions. DisplayPort 2.0 can support 16K resolution, with HDR and 60Hz. 2.0 will also have a without HDR version, and this will be able to support 102Hz. It also advertises tear-free gaming, meaning that there won’t appear to be jagged cuts in the middle of a load. You can also use multiple ports while using DisplayPort. Long-distance transmission is possible with a DisplayPort.
HDMI is more commonly found in television, and it can be used in place of the multiple cables that are often used for audio or visual connections. The most modern version – 2.1 – supports up to 10K of resolution. It also has a refresh rate of 120Hz in addition to a variety of other digital upgrades that make audio and visuals clearer than ever before.
Its cables can often extend a distance of up to fifteen meters, meaning that they are much longer than their predecessor versions.
DisplayPort vs. HDMI: Which Is Better?
As is usually the case to answer questions like these, it all depends on what you are looking for. HDMI is more commonly found for TV, and its mini connections are often used in cameras, meaning that this is often the way to go when trying to load these two devices. DisplayPort’s are often preferred in gaming.
However, the answers to these questions depend on a variety of factors. For example, what’s the refresh rate of the DisplayPort or HDMI cable in question? 144Hz and 165Hz versions tend to outperform their competition, but if your monitor or graphics card is incapable of using a 165Hz cable, then there is no point in having it.
