In the future, HDMI cables may be longer.
Illustration. Adobe Stock / AOP
The upgrade to HDMI 2.1a makes it easier to connect devices to the TV, as cables can be made longer than they do without degrading the signal. Longer cables allow for a new one HDMI Cable Power -feature.
This feature is especially noticeable with Ultra High Speed HDMI cables, which can be only a few meters long when passive. With this feature, the incoming cables are powered directly from the image source, so the user does not have to struggle with special solutions and can only use a cable of the same length.
Thus, the new longer HDMI cables make it possible to place game consoles further away from the TV, for example.
The difference between HDMI Cable Power cables and traditional HDMI cables is that they are unidirectional. The cable will not work if it is connected in the wrong direction, but it will also not damage the equipment when connected in the wrong direction.
However, the device needs to support the Cable Power feature, so it’s still hard to say how current devices work with wires. However, the good thing about new cables is that at least the first Cable Power cables support powering through them, for example, through a separate USB connection.