Things were simpler with the older generation when did not have to worry about the version of the port and of the cable. With PS5, however, the version of both the HDMI port and of the cable matters a ton.
PlayStation 5 uses the HDMI port as its primary output interface and the version that it belongs to is 2.1. While all the HDMI ports and cables may look the same, they are not.
This is where you have to seriously consider the version of the HDMI interface and HDMI cable – a seemingly simple yet critical component of your PS5 display setup.
The simple answer to the query, “Can you use any HDMI cable for PS5” is a Yes. You CAN use any cable, HOWEVER, and this is important, the display output mode can heavily be impacted by the type of cable you have.
Let me clarify all this further.
HDMI Cable Basics and Their Types
HDMI interface is by far the most popular multimedia interface found on devices.
Now HDMI interface has gone through several generational changes. While the first HDMI 1.0 interface was released with support for a mere 720P at 60Hz display, the current HDMI 2.1 interface can support as high as 10K resolution at a 120Hz refresh rate.
As the HDMI interface has evolved, so have the cables.
As alluded to earlier, while all the HDMI cables and the port may look the same, they can be worlds apart in terms of performance.
The following table explains the different HDMI interfaces and their specs.
| HDMI Version | Max Resolution | Refresh Rate | HDR |
| 1.2 | 1440P | 1080P = 60Hz1440P = 30Hz | No |
| 1.3-1.4 | 4K (4096 x 2160) | 1080P = 120Hz1440P = 60Hz4K = 30Hz | No |
| 2.0 | 4K (4096 x 2160) | 1080P = 240Hz1440P = 144Hz4K = 60Hz | Yes |
| 2.1 | 8K (7680 x 4320) | 1440P = 240Hz4K = 144Hz4K = 240Hz (DSC)8K = 120Hz (DSC) | Yes |
Now to support the high specs of the newer HDMI interfaces, you need to have the right cable.
The capability of an HDMI cable is determined and certified by the parent organization HDMI.org
HDMI.org uses different names for cables suitable for various HDMI versions, which the following table explains.
| HDMI Cable Certification | Supported Specs | Intended HDMIPort Version |
| Standard | 1080P @ 60Hz | 1.0-1.3 |
| High Speed | FHD @ 144HzQHD @ 60Hz4K @ 30hz | 1.4 |
| Premium High Speed | FHD @ 240HzQHD @ 144Hz4K @ 60Hz | 2.0 |
| Ultra High Speed | FHD @ > 240Hz1440P @ > 240Hz4K @ 144Hz (240Hz with DSC)8K @ 120Hz (DSC)10K @ 120Hz (DSC) | 2.1 |
In other words:
- HDMI 1.4 aka High-Speed cable, is the “vanilla” HDMI cable that was intended to go along with the Full HD resolution at a maximum of 120Hz refresh rate. This is perhaps the most common HDMI port found on devices.
- HDMI 2.0, aka Premium High-Speed cables, stepped up the game for supporting 4K display at 60Hz refresh rate.
- HDMI 2.1, aka Ultra High-Speed cables, supports the specs of the latest generation of HDMI-supported devices, and these cable support technologies such as VRR or DSC which can enable up to 10K resolution display at 120Hz refresh rate.
Now PS5 of course, DOES NOT support the rated 10K resolution of the HDMI 2.1 interface. The maximum it support is 4k @ 120Hz.
Understanding these HDMI cable specifications will help you figure out which cable is best suited for your PS5 gaming adventures. So, let’s dive into the PS5’s HDMI requirements and see if any cable can work with the console.
So Can You Use Any HDMI Cable for PS5?
Now with the specs out of the way, it should be fairly easy to deduce whether you can use any HDMI cable for PS5 or now.
In order to get the best out of the PS5, you need to have an HDMI 2.1 cable (aka the Ultra High Speed HDMI cable.
This cable is a requirement if you wish to enjoy 4K gaming at 120 Hz.
But of course, you may have realized by now that the actual answer for that depends upon what TV/monitor you have.
- 1080P @ 60FPS or 120FPS gaming: If you have a 1080P TV or a monitor then any HDMI cable would do just fine.
- 4K @ 60FPS Gaming: If you have a 4K @ 60Hz TV or Monitor, then you will need to have AT LEAST an HDMI 2.0 or the Premium High-Speed cable.
- 4K @ 120FPS Gaming: for the rated 4K 120FPS gaming, you will first need to have the right 4K (120Hz) monitor or TV which can be quite expensive and then you will need to make sure that you have the Ultra High-Speed cable.
Now of course, PS5 has a strong preference for the HDMI 2.1 version because it supports 4K @ 120Hz display mode.
If you were to connect a 4K @ 120Hz TV or a monitor to your PS5 with an HDMI cable that is other than the Ultra High-Speed cable, then it would NOT be able to achieve the rated specs.
In other words, a 4K @ 120Hz TV or a monitor if connected using a Premium High-speed cable instead of an Ultra High-Speed cable, would work only at 4K @ 60Hz.
This would be worse still if you use the inferior HDMI 1.4 or Standard High-Speed cable. You will also lose features such as HDR or VRR.
So in short, PS5 is backward compatible with older HDMI cable versions, such as HDMI 1.4 and HDMI 2.0, but using these cables may limit the console’s performance and features.
But then again, it all depends upon what TV or Monitor you have and its specs. You may even question whether a 4K @ 120Hz TV or monitor is even worth it given that there are only a handful of games supported at those specs.
Make Sure the Ultra HDMI Cable is Certified
When buying the expensive Premium or Ultra High-Speed HDMI cables, make sure that they are certified and that they have the QR Code + Holographic certifications labeled on the package.
Often times cheaper and more treacherous brands label their HDMI listing as HDMI 2.1 only for you to find out later that you got swindled.
The good news is that PS5 DOES come bundled with an HDMI 2.1 or Ultra High-Speed Cable.
Final Words
So the answer to the question “Can you use any HDMI cable for PS5?” is a yes. However, know that if you use anything other than an HDMI 2.1 cable, your display output can be seriously bottlenecked.
And you do not want a trivial detail such as an HDMI cable be a bottleneck for you.
