Standard HDMI cables have been in use for quite many years now and are as such a part of every average household. However, in the past couple of years, the micro HDMI and mini HDMI cables gained popularity as there are more and more devices that use these cables.
In this article, we will cover basically all there is for an average user to know about HDMI cables. As the title suggests, micro HDMI vs mini HDMI comparison will be of our main focus, however, we will start with the basics, such as, what the HDMI is, and build upon that. That way we will ensure that you all are up to speed and have the knowledge and understanding needed to make the most of the information provided herein.
Upon reading this article, you will know about the types of HDMI cables, what are the differences between them, and what each type of HDMI cable is used for. To assist you even further, we will wrap things up by answering the most frequently asked questions.
In case you are only interested in learning the difference between micro HDMI vs mini HDMI, feel free to skip the sections that do not serve you.
That said, let’s dig into the micro HDMI vs. mini HDMI topic, shall we?
About HDMI
As the CAPS suggests, HDMI is an abbreviation that stands for High Definition Multimedia Interface. As such, it serves for High Definition content, both audio and video, to be transferred among various supported devices with the use of HDMI cables. All devices that may use HDMI technology are equipped with HDMI ports, which is where one side of the HDMI cable is plugged in.
The HDMI cables consist of connectors on both ends. Those may be the same on both ends or of different types/sizes (more on that in the following section). In general, HDMI is a bidirectional signal, which means that signals can travel in both directions of the cable. It is the connected device and its ports that determine the actual direction of the signal.
As the HD in the HDMI suggests, the cables are used for HD content (resolutions of up to 1920 x 1080 (1080p)) and are as such the most commonly used cables in an average home of the developed world.
HDMI cables are used to connect devices, including TV, Blu-ray player, Xbox, PlayStation, home theatre, dongles, PC, laptops, smartphones, tablets, projectors, and other devices of video/audio format to be connected.
As the technology evolved and newer and smaller devices started supporting HD content, so have the HDMI cables and ports. As such, we have several types of HDMI cables this day, which is why the micro HDMI vs. mini HDMI explanation is required in the first place.
Types of HDMI Cables
Now that you know what an HDMI cable is, we can take a closer look at the types of HDMI cables.
First HDMI cables that are still the most common ones are now known as Standard HDMI cables or Type-A HDMI cables. Then there are Mini HDMI cables, known as Type-C HDMI cables, and Micro HDMI cables, known as Type-D HDMI cables.
Note: To avoid confusion, we must mention Type-B HDMI (also known as ‘HDMI Dual-Link’), which has evidently been skipped in the previous paragraph. The reason for this lies in the fact that type-B HDMI never got produced and only existed in a research phase. As such, you do not have to worry about it at all.
Let’s take a closer look at each of these cables.
Type-A HDMI Cable
- The most commonly used HDMI cable
- The Specs of the Standard HDMI: It comes with connector dimensions of 13.99mm x 4.45mm
- Also known as Standard HDMI cable
- Type-A HDMI is typically used on TVs, computer monitors, Blu-ray players, PlayStations, Xboxes, TV boxes, other gaming consoles, and set-top boxes.
- The cable usually comes in the box with many of the devices that require this sort of connection.
Type-C HDMI Cable
- The Specs of the Mini HDMI: It comes with connector dimensions of 10.42mm x 2.42mm
- Its connectors are 60% smaller than those of Type-A, which saves some space and makes sense for smaller devices
- Also known as Mini HDMI cable
- Type-C HDMI is typically used on slim modern laptops, new PCs, cameras, camcorders, DSLR cameras, and some tablets.
- The cable usually comes in the box with many of the devices that require this sort of connection.
Type-D HDMI Cable
- The Specs of the Micro HDMI: It comes with connector dimensions of 6.4mm x 2.3mm
- Its connectors are 72% smaller than those of Type-A, which saves additional space and makes sense for smaller devices
- Also known as Micro HDMI cable
- Type-D HDMI was used on some smartphones (Motorola) (smartphones are the main reason why this type of HDMI cable was developed in the first place; keep in mind that USB Type-C is now the standard and eliminates the need for Micro HDMI cables for most of latest smartphones), GoPro cameras
- The cable usually comes in the box with many of the devices that require this sort of connection. (such devices are very rare these days)
- The main purpose to use a Micro HDMI cable was to display the content on TVs or monitors, however, these days smart TVs enable casting, which means that the content from the phone can be transferred to the TV’s display wirelessly. The latter obviously makes things way more practical than using the cable, however, it does normally require a WiFi connection.
- Extremely rare these days (basically out of use)
Keep in mind that Mini HDMI and Micro HDMI cables will normally have a standard HDMI connector on one side, which enables connection to TVs or other monitors. This fact alone tells you that the cables of all types (aside from the difference in connectors) must be the same and they are. Even connectors are not that different (the only difference is in size). Each HDMI connector has 19 pins.
Standard HDMI connector has 10 pins on top and 9 on the bottom (the same goes for the Micro HDMI, only that the connectors are smaller are more closely together), while Mini HDMI has all 19 connectors in a single line.
Size of HDMI Ports
It is probably obvious to you that HDMI ports must correspond to the HDMI cables’ connectors’ dimensions. The exact sizes of those have been listed for each HDMI size in the previous section.
The cable’s connector must fit into the port, so use the port’s width to determine which type of cable you need.
- Standard HDMI width: 13.99mm
- Mini HDMI width: 10.42mm
- Micro HDMI width: 6.4mm
About Mini HDMI
Are you already able to answer this question? If you’ve covered the above sections, you now know that Mini HDMI has a slightly smaller and slimmer connector to better accommodate smaller devices, such as slim laptops, DSLR cameras, camcorders, and other smaller/modern devices.
You also know that devices with mini HDMI ports will require the use of a Mini HDMI cable (Type-c), which will enable a proper connection to be established.
About Micro HDMI
Reading the previous sections provided you with an understanding and knowledge about all types of HDMI, including the micro HDMI. At this stage, you know that micro HDMI represents the type-D HDMI cables, which have a 72% smaller connector than the standard HDMI. You also know that HDMI was mainly intended for connecting smartphones with TVs and other monitors.
Micro HDMI vs Mini HDMI – Main Difference Between Micro HDMI And Mini HDMI
Now that we have taken a closer look at each of the HDMI cables, micro HDMI vs mini HDMI comparison should not be a difficult task to perform.
The main difference between the two types of HDMI is obviously in the size, as the ‘mini’ and ‘micro’ (which is a smaller unit) suggest. Despite the fact that the micro HDMI may be overall smaller, the mini HDMI’s still very slim enough design helped it stay in the game. It is this slim design that positions all 19 pins of the mini HDMI connector in a single line, while the connectors are in two lines in micro HDMI.
Considering Micro HDMI vs Mini HDMI at this point, you know that mini HDMI is still very commonly used, while micro HDMI is not used with new devices, as it has been mainly put out of use by USB type-C.
Where to Use Standard HDMI, Mini-HDMI, And Micro-HDMI
In order to make things as simple and as straight-forward as possible for you, let’s review the main use purposes of each of the HDMI types.
- Standard HDMI (Type-A): TVs, computer monitors, Blu-ray players, PlayStations, Xbox-es, TV boxes, other gaming consoles, and set-top boxes.
- Mini HDMI (Type-C): slim modern laptops, new PCs, cameras, camcorders, DSLR cameras, and some tablets
- Micro HDMI (Type-D): mainly put out of use (replaced by USB type-C); can be found in some old smartphones (Motorolas) and GoPro cameras.
FAQs
Where HDMI cable is used and for what?
HDMI cables are used to transfer HD video and audio from various devices to TVs, monitors, projectors.
What is a Standard HDMI port?
Standard HDMI port represents the most commonly used HDMI type, HDMI Type-A. It is the largest of the HDMI ports and it is a standard for TVs, monitors, most projectors, PCs, Laptops, Blu-Ray players, and other similar devices.
What is the best HDMI cable for Sony PS3/PS4?
PlayStation 3 and 4 are connected to your laptop or TV or monitor via HDMI Type-A cables. In order to support the highest resolution, make sure to use the latest versions of HDMI Type-A cables that support 4k resolution.
Which is better HDMI or DisplayPort?
When it comes to the quality of the image, both options deliver the same results. As such, you may use the one that is of more convenience to you (based on ports and cable availability).
Can the HDMI ARC be used as a normal HDMI?
HDMI ARC is basically a regular HDMI with added Audio Return Channel functionality. As such, it may be used as a normal HDMI. It enables you to connect the video source to the port and you can connect the audio receiver as well if needed.
Which cable do I need?
To determine which HDMI cable type you need, you need to go through the details given above. Looking at the sizes of the ports will enable you to determine the type of HDMI cable. You may also use a search engine to determine which type of port you have.