Get the most out of your Xbox with the best HDMI cable

Best
HDMI cable for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
Windows Central
2021

Microsoft’s Xbox consoles sport cutting-edge technology, displaying high-resolution visuals and blasting incredible surround-sound audio. If you’re thinking of upgrading your TV, you need an appropriate HDMI cable to ensure you receive the perfect signal from your Xbox. Inferior cables fail to display fancier graphical luxuries such as HDR10 and 120Hz variable refresh rates, so check out our selection to find the best HDMI cables for Xbox One and the Series X|S.


Belkin AV10175bt2M-BLK

HDMI forerunner:
Belkin AV10175bt2M-BLK


Staff pick

Belkin’s 48Gbps cable proudly boasts HDMI 2.1 certification, showing an 8K image at 60Hz or a 4K image at 120Hz. This cable supports all HDMI 2.1 features offered by the Xbox Series X|S, including HDR (HDR10 and Dolby Vision) and variable refresh rate (VRR). Covering all the bases and future proof for 8K video content, Belkin is the unmistakable winner here.


Monoprice 8K Certified Ultra High Speed

8K Alternative:
Monoprice 8K Certified Ultra High Speed

Monoprice stands alongside Belkin as a wise choice, offering the same 8K potentials with another HDMI 2.1 certified cable. A brand I recommend, this high-quality yet affordable Monoprice HDMI cable will push your Xbox Series X|S to its limits.


Amazon Basics High Speed HDMI

8K Ultra budget:
Amazon Basics High-Speed 8K

Expanding their range of Amazon Basics accessories, this ultra high-speed HDMI cable offers the same 8K audio/video performances at the lowest cost. Providing the same 48Gbps speed as Belkin and Monoprice, but without any frills. Amazon Basics are simple yet capable, performing well on a tighter budget.

$10 at Amazon


Monoprice 4K 18Gbps

4K gaming:
Monoprice 4K 18Gbps


60Hz selection

This Monoprice HDMI cable reaches speeds up to 18Gbps, supporting 4K visuals at 60Hz with HDMI 2.0. Perfectly capable of 1440p gaming on an Xbox One X|S or an Xbox Series S, there’s no reason to search for faster cables if your TV does not support 120Hz.

$9 at Walmart


UGREEN Braided 4K

Heavy duty:
UGREEN Braided 4K

If your household is a dangerous place for cables, perhaps nibbled by pets or tugged at by toddlers, then this braided cable is for you. Another 18Gbps HDMI cable is again perfect for 1440p 60fps gaming, and the rugged coating will protect it from any harm.

$8 at Amazon

Why the cable matters

It’s easy to get confused by wordy titles of some cheaper HDMI cables claiming to be HDMI 2.1 compatible. 2.1 refers to the 48Gbps speed of the port on the Xbox Series X|S, not the cable itself. Any HDMI male-to-male cable will connect to your console but fail to display the correct image if the speed is subpar. An 18Gbps cable connected to an Xbox Series X|S port will only display an image up to 4K at 60Hz and not its potential 4K 120Hz or 8K 60Hz. If gaming at 120fps is your aim, picking the appropriate HDMI cable is critical.

You can use your Xbox to determine which features are available on your TV. The Xbox Series S comes prepackaged with an 18Gbps HDMI cable, so it’s worth upgrading if your TV is capable of more. The Xbox Series X already includes the fastest 48Gbps cable. The Xbox One S and Xbox One X have HDMI 2.0a and HDMI 2.0b ports, respectively, supporting up to 18Gbps. There’s no need to splash out on fancy cables for these older consoles.

The best HDMI cable for your Xbox

The best of the best, the Belkin AV10175bt2M-BLK supports the full range of 48Gbps HDMI 2.1 at an affordable price. For an Xbox Series X paired with a 4K 120Hz capable TV, this cable will provide all the requirements for ultra HD gaming and 8K video.

For 4K gaming at 60Hz, the Monoprice 18Gbps cable is perfect for the Xbox Series S or the previous generation of Xbox One X|S consoles. If your current HDMI cable is suffering damage, then definitely consider the UGREEN braided cable for maximum durability.

With 8K gaming no doubt on the horizon, there’s no better time to prepare your home entertainment setup. Check out our detailed breakdown of features for the Xbox consoles and how they support 4K/8K content.

We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *