Don’t waste money on gold-plated HDMI cables

Not all HDMI cables are created equally, and you can opt for either a very inexpensive one or a very expensive one. In most cases, you can stay at the more affordable end of the spectrum with HDMI cables and be just fine. If you feel a hole burning in your pocket, you might be looking at things like gold-plated cables.

A gold-plated HDMI cable offers no performance gains, so don’t think that’s the case if you plan to pick one up. What the gold-plated cable offers is better corrosion resistance, but in all my years of owning a regular HDMI cable, I’ve never had one fail for that reason. Gold-plated could very well make your cable hold up to corrosion better, but I don’t think that’s a big issue to begin with.

On the other hand, there’s something worth keeping an eye out for, and it’s braided cables. I’ve already replaced my USB-C charging cables with braided cables, and when HDMI 2.2 cables start rolling out, I’m going to grab braided ones if I can. This is the biggest upgrade I can think of when it comes to cables, and if you’re looking for long-lasting durability, it’s tough to beat the braided options.

Braided is best for HDMI and other cables

Better safe than sorry

If you’re running an HDMI cable more than a few feet, going for a braided cable might be the best for you. You won’t have to worry about any kinks or tangles, as that’s what the braided cables excel at. They’re also nice if you have kids who get a little too rough with your technology.

What’s nice about braided cables is the fact that they don’t cost an arm and a leg over what a regular cable costs. Monoprice offers a 6-foot HDMI 2.1 cable for about $12, and I’d call that a solid price. You’ll get far more bang for your buck here than you would with gold-plated cables. I would even go as far as saying that it’ll be time to upgrade your HDMI cable to 2.2 or something else before it ever corrodes.

I haven’t regretted a braided cable any time I bought one, and I’m really impressed with their quality. Admittedly, they are a lot better with USB-C phone chargers that go through a lot more wear and tear than an HDMI cable typically does. However, if you find your HDMI cables are often in the line of fire, it doesn’t hurt to grab a cable that can protect itself, especially since you won’t break the bank.

Make your cables last longer

An underrated feature

For far too long, I stuck with whatever came with my device, and it meant I was using cables for way longer than I needed to be. My phone charger was frayed for years before it finally stopped working, and all I needed to do was replace it with a braided cable that would stop that from happening. I don’t know if it’s just me, but USB-C cables feel more prone to rips than other cables, so I’d say that’s the number one cable you should replace.

HDMI cables around my house are mostly stationary, and luckily, my cat doesn’t look at them as a toy. HDMI cables on their own already feel more durable than a regular USB-C cable, but it doesn’t mean they’re invincible. A braided cable has a much more premium feel than a regular one, and there will never be anything you have to worry about. Just plug it in and know it’ll survive attacks from both pets and kids, provided they don’t set out to mutilate it on purpose. I’m not sure any braided cable could hold up to that type of attack.