Help Center - What is the Difference between USB and HDMI Cables?

What is the Difference between USB and HDMI Cables?

The difference between USB and HDMI cables is that HDMI is for HDTV and Blu-ray use, while USB connects devices with a USB connector, such as printers and digital cameras, to your laptop or computer. They either transfer data or charge the smaller device.

HDMI Cables

HDMI cable, which stands for High-Definition Multimedia Interface, is the current standard for linking HD source devices (such as DVD players) to HD displays (such as HDTVs). It is the first to carry audio-and-visual data in a completely digital format. HDMI 1.1 to 2.1 allows high-resolution videos (4k-8k pixels) to move at smoother frame rates (60-120 Hz). Below are examples of HDMI cables and what they look like.

4k HDMI Cable with Ethernet
8k HDMI Cable with Ethernet
HDMI Plenum Rated Cables
High-Speed 4k HDMI Cable with Ethernet High-Speed 4k HDMI Cable with Ethernet High-Speed 4k HDMI Cable with Ethernet
In-Wall Flat HDMI Cables
Mini HDMI and Micro HDMI Cables
Active Optical HDMI 
In-Wall Flat HDMI Cables Mini HDMI and Micro HDMI Cables Active Optical HDMI

USB Cables

USB cables, also known as Universal Serial Bus, is the current standard to link computers (such as desktops) to hardware devices (such as mouse, printer, scanner, etc.). It allows them to speak the same language without needing additional drivers or software to act as a middleman.

USB 1.0, which was released in 1996, can transfer 1.4 Megabytes per second (Mbps). USB 2.0, which was released in 2001, was able to transfer 40 Mbps. USB 3.0, which was released in 2008, was able to transfer 5.0 Gigabytes per second. Below are examples of USB cables and what they look like.

USB Type A USB Type B USB Type C
6FT USB 2.0 A-Male to A-Male Cable USB 2.0 A Male - B Male Connector Cables USB-C Male to HDMI Male 6 feet HDTV Cable
Mini-USB Micro-USB USB Extender and Repeater Cables
6FT USB 2.0 A to Mini-B 5-Pin Cable USB 2.0 A-Male / Micro USB-Male 5 Meter USB 2.0 Active Repeater A-Male to A-Female USB-XT

To know more about USB cables, check our page on different types of USB ports and connectors.

Parting Words

It is important to know the difference between HDMI cables and USB cables, especially in this day and age when different devices have different types of ports. Investing in the appropriate connector will save you not only money but also prevent you from causing any damage to your device.

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