HDMI and DisplayPort are two widely used standards for transmitting audio and video signals. Both allow you to connect devices such as monitors, televisions and projectors to video sources such as computers, consoles or media players.
However, if you have doubts about which of the two is the most suitable, the first thing you should do is find out how they work, know their advantages and also their limitations in order to make a decision.
Below you will find a comparison between these two technologies so you can determine which one best suits your needs.
HDMI vs. DisplayPort
While both offer very similar functions, their features vary and they are suitable for different uses. Please note:
Connectivity
On the one hand, HDMI has become the dominant standard in the vast majority of multimedia devices, including televisions and even projectors.
It has the ability to transmit both video and audio in a single cable, meaning connecting multimedia devices is very simple.
In addition, it can be used as HDMI-CEC, which helps you control different devices from a single remote control.
On the other hand, DisplayPort focuses on providing optimal performance for high-resolution monitors and computing applications.
While it is true that its implementation in televisions and multimedia devices is much less when compared to HDMI, it still offers features such as the ability to connect multiple monitors simply by using Multi-Stream Transport (MST) technology, something that HDMI cannot match.
Resolution and bandwidth
In terms of resolution and bandwidth, DisplayPort often has a technical advantage over HDMI. The most advanced version of HDMI, 2.1, is capable of supporting resolutions up to 8K at 120Hz and 4K at 240Hz.
However, DisplayPort 2.0 can significantly exceed these capabilities with a bandwidth of 77.4 Gbps. This allows for resolutions of up to 16K at 60 Hz.
In this sense, DisplayPort may be the most suitable for you if you need to use applications that require extremely high resolution and very fast refresh rates.
Compatibility
When it comes to compatibility, HDMI is present in consumer devices such as computers, TVs, Blu-ray players, gaming consoles and many other gadgets.
Because of its massive adoption, it has become the preferred choice of users when it comes to connecting to consumer multimedia devices in general.
Not only that, HDMI 2.1 can also offer you backward compatibility with most previous versions, which is a huge advantage because it will allow you to use it on a wider range of devices.
DisplayPort, meanwhile, is less common in multimedia devices. In fact, it is an alternative preferred mainly by people who usually work in professional contexts because they need to connect many monitors or equipment that, in themselves, have high graphic demands.
In fact, because it offers the possibility of connecting different displays and is also compatible with standards such as USB-C, DisplayPort is a versatile option for advanced users.
Content protection
Both HDMI and DisplayPort contain mechanisms that ensure the content you’re transmitting is protected, but each system does this differently.
On the one hand, HDMI uses HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection), which is nothing more than a system that prevents piracy.
To do this, first verify that both the sending and receiving devices are authorized to display the content.
In case any of the devices are not compatible with this technology, the transmission will not be successful. However, in this process you ensure that the protected content cannot be copied by anyone.
On the other hand, DisplayPort operates under DPCP (DisplayPort Content Protection). It is actually a function similar to HDCP in terms of protecting digital content.
However, you should know that since version 1.1, you can use HDCP on DisplayPort, which offers even broader compatibility with devices that use this protection technology, especially when it comes to high-resolution or premium content.
This is a very remarkable flexibility in DisplayPort because it has the ability to adapt to both DPCP and HDCP. This, a priori, gives it a little more advantage in this aspect if you compare it with HDMI.
Prices
As for the prices of HDMI or DisplayPort cables, they usually vary depending on the version, the length they have and the quality of the cable itself.
For example, HDMI cables are generally cheaper and more accessible when compared to DisplayPort cables.
A basic HDMI cable (version 1.4 or 2.0) can cost between 5 and 15 euros. High-end ones, which support HDMI 2.1 or those that provide full bandwidth for 8K resolutions, can cost between 20 and 40 euros.
On the other hand, DisplayPort is going to be a bit more expensive than HDMI, as it can cost around 10 or 20 euros.
In the case of more advanced cables such as 1.4 or 2.0, which support high resolutions and much higher refresh rates, the value can even reach 30-40 euros.
There are also fiber optic DisplayPort cables. These can offer greater range and performance than the other models, but they tend to be the most expensive on the market, costing between 80-100 Euros.
Conclusion
Now, the choice of going for HDMI or DisplayPort will depend entirely on the use you are going to give it.
If what you need is a connection that is versatile and offers compatibility for televisions or multimedia devices, HDMI is the most recommended standard.
However, if you want to use high-resolution applications, higher refresh rates, or even if you like multiple connectivity, DisplayPort might be the best option for you.
Even so, nowadays the vast majority of users tend to lean more towards HDMI because it is more economical and because it has the greatest availability and compatibility with multimedia devices.