It’s no secret that the Apple TV 4K is one of the best streaming devices out there. The A15 chip under the hood ensures that you get flawless picture quality. Plus, the compact form factor makes it easy to place it anywhere on your entertainment console. The downside is that Apple doesn’t ship an HDMI cable with the device. Unsurprisingly, you need a compatible HDMI 2.1 cable for Apple TV 4K to get the most out of your new streaming device.
While you can plug in any HDMI cable to your Apple TV 4K that supports Dolby Vision, high-res video formats, and HDR, it’s always better to have an HDMI 2.1 cable. These cables ensure that you get the most out of your Apple TV 4K without running into lags, frame drops, or any glitches.
So if you are looking to upgrade your HMDI cable this year, here are the best HDMI 2.1 cables for Apple TV. But first, check out the following,
- Dock your Apple MacBook Air M2 like a pro with these docking stations
- Here are the best TVs for Apple TV 4K
- Up your experience with these best Apple TV accessories
1. Monoprice Ultra High-Speed HDMI Cable
- Certified: Yes | Length: 3ft, 6ft, 10ft, 15ft
The Monoprice HDMI cable is one of the most affordable HDMI 2.1 cables out there. It comes with all the bells and whistles you could think of, including support for 8K at 60Hz and 48 Gbps bandwidth. Despite being a sub-$10 cable, it bundles a nylon exterior and gold connectors. The latter ensures minimal rust in the long run.
On the other hand, the nylon braiding ensures that the cable stays intact and doesn’t fray easily. It’s a certified HDMI 2.1 cable at that, so you shouldn’t run into many picture quality issues either. More importantly, it’s a CL2-rated cable. For those unaware, CL2 cables have a high resistance to fire and do not catch fire easily.
The Monoprice HDMI cable works as intended. And it’s not just for the Apple TV 4K. This HDMI 2.1 cable also works flawlessly for PS5 and Xbox. So, if you’re looking to cop an affordable HDMI 2.1 cable, Monoprice’s offering should be your top pick.
2. Zeskit Maya Ultra High-Speed HDMI Cable
- Certified: Yes | Length: 1.5ft, 5ft, 6.5ft, 10ft
Up next, we have the Zeskit Maya HMDI 2.1 cable for Apple TV 4K. The highlight of this HDMI cable is its reasonable pricing and clever design. The slight texture on the strain relief makes it comfortable to grip, especially when plugging and unplugging it from a device. That said, you get quite a few options when it comes to the length. So you can pick one depending on the setup of your entertainment unit.
Despite the low price tag, this Zeskit Maya HDMI cable has a solid build quality. Unsurprisingly, it’s revered as one of the best certified HDMI 2.1 cables. In fact, reviewers have spoken highly of its build quality and the types of material used. It’s popular on Amazon and has thousands of user ratings, which is great. Users also like this cable for its value-for-money proposition too.
It works well for the Apple TV 4K and gaming consoles like the PS5. And yes, it has a bandwidth of 48Gbps needed to relay games at high resolution and frame rate. So, if you were thinking of getting a second cable for your gaming console, your search ends here.
3. Anker 8K@60Hz HDMI Cable
- Certified: Yes | Length: 6.6ft
If you do not mind paying a slight premium for a high-quality HDMI cable, you can’t go wrong with the Anker HDMI 2.1 cable. The highlight of this cable is its smooth braided nylon exterior. Not only does it make the cable more durable, but it also prevents tangling. It’s a certified HDMI 2.1 cable, which ensures that it bundles all the essential features. And yes, it’s a future-proof cable that supports 8K at 60Hz.
Anker’s HDMI 2.1 cable is highly durable, and quite a few users have commended it for its build quality. However, note that the cable’s end protrudes about 6-7 cm when plugged in. That means you will have to keep a few inches free behind your Apple TV streaming box. If you have a tight space on your entertainment console, you may want to opt for some other cable on the list.
That said, the cable works well with the Apple TV 4K with no discernable video lag or delay. As you may have guessed, it works with gaming consoles like PS5 and Xbox too. As a matter of fact, a user pointed out that this HDMI 2.1 cable delivered flawless picture quality when they connected their PC with RTX 3080 GPU to a FreeSync monitor.
4. Cable Matters 8K HDMI Cable
- Certified: Yes | Length: 3.3ft, 6.6ft, 9.8ft
If you are planning to upgrade the HDMI cables of your console and Apple TV together, you can’t go wrong with the HDMI 2.1 cables by Cable Matters. We say this, as these cables are available in a set of three. And guess what? All three cables are color coded. Naturally, this helps you to identify the cords easily.
Like their counterparts above, these are certified HDMI 2.1 cables. They work as intended, and several users have backed this claim in their reviews on Amazon. There are minimum issues in regard to glitches or video signal drops.
Again, these are non-braided cables, which makes them easy to route. Plus, the strain relief is cleverly designed, which enhances the overall grip. So even if you have to unplug them, you can do so with ease. To no one’s surprise then, these Cable Matters HDMI 2.1 cables are quite popular on Amazon and they have amassed more than 8,000 user ratings.
5. Belkin Ultra HD HDMI 2.1 Cable
- Certified: Yes | Length: 6.6ft
Last but not least, we have the Belin Ultra HD cable. It’s the one for you if you do not mind paying a premium for the best quality. Again, it’s a certified HDMI 2.1 cable, and you can stream up to 8K at 60Hz. It’s a simple cable and does away with the fancy frills like metal-coated connectors or a mesh jacket. On the upside, you will be able to route the cable easily along access holes and narrow spaces.
Needless to say, this Belkin HDMI 2.1 cable works well on Apple TV 4K (and a few gaming consoles). However, it’s not without its issues. For instance, a few users have reported that the seller tends to mix up HDMI 2.0 and HDMI 2.1 cables during shipping. Now, that’s a bummer. If you do not want to take chances, you can head out to the official site.
FAQs About HDMI 2.1 Cables
Usually, an HDMI cable doesn't cost much, and you should get a standard HDMI cable for under $10-15. However, if you are looking for a long cable or with added frills, you may have to shell out more.
There are quite a few things that you need to check in an HDMI cable. For one, the connectors should be made of quality metal or have a metal coating so that they do not rust. Plus, the outer jacket should be solid enough to ward off everyday wear and tear. More importantly, the cable should be CL2 or CL3-rated to protect against fire.
You can use an 8K cable on a 4K TV since it's backward compatible.
Say Hi to High-Quality Video
These were some of the best HDMI 2.1 cables for Apple TV 4K. The best thing to do is to select the one which has solid build quality. After all, it’s not every day that you replace the HDMI cables of your streaming box, projectors, or gaming console.
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Last updated on 22 February, 2023
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