Does gold-plated HDMI cable make better image quality?

If you're going to buy an HDMI cable, you've probably learned about it and discovered a gold-plated HDMI cable with some of the capabilities it can do. So what is gold-plated HDMI cable? Is it better than regular HDMI cable? Let's explore in this article.

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2. Distinguish common types of computer cables
3. How to connect laptop to TV via HDMI port

What is gold-plated HDMI cable?

Gold-plated HDMI cables are easy to detect due to their outstanding appearance. The connector is attached to the device and the screen is covered with a thin layer of gold, making it easy to distinguish from conventional cables.

Because of the extra layer of gold on the connector, the price of this cable is usually higher than that of a normal cable. And with this higher price, buyers will ask: Is the gold-plated HDMI cable better than a regular cable?

Compare performance between gold-plated HDMI cable and regular HDMI cable

The manufacturer claims that the gold plated layer on the cable connector helps in signal transmission. Since gold is a better conductor than other materials on cables, the signal to and from the cable will increase.

However, the problem here is that HDMI cable transmits digital signals. Do you remember about a decade ago, digital TV has successfully replaced analog TV? Analog signals use waveforms to transmit data. These waves are susceptible to noise and confusion, sometimes making the image blurry. However, digital signals are only 1s and 0s, so don't be confused.

Thus, if you plug in an HDMI cable and the video has no errors, you will get good image quality. Gilded cables are not able to send better signals, better quality 1s and 0s, meaning the image is not better.

If the HDMI cable is faulty, you will see white dots on the full screen. This problem is because 1s and 0s are not accessible. Usually this is an error because the cable is not due to lack of gold plating on it. However, standard and high-speed HDMI cables determine the resolution they support.

Compare the gold plated HDMI cable latency and regular HDMI cable

Some gold-plated HDMI cable sellers also claim that high-end gold-plated cables have lower latency than regular cables. Latency is an important factor when playing games because your actions on the computer or console will happen faster with higher latency. Once again, the manufacturer based on the idea that the connector usually conducts electricity slower than gold to make this claim.

However there is a problem with this theory. While people study the impact of a gold-plated connector over a conventional HDMI connector, a gold-plated HDMI cable still uses regular copper for internal wiring. This means that the signal passing through most wires has the same speed as the other HDMI cables.

In short, this is like buying a super-fast car but when in a traffic jam, this car is like other cars, can't move faster.

If you want to improve latency, don't waste money on gold-plated HDMI cables, instead, try buying 4K gaming monitors.

So what is the gold-plated HDMI cable?

Consider some of the reasons why gold-plated cables are better than regular cables.

Gold does not corrode as quickly as other metals

Do you know that smartphones, laptops and computers contain a small amount of gold? You will see them on circuit boards and component contact points. The reason gold is used is that it does not corrode quickly.

Gold in electronic circuits keeps the connection from corrosion. If the contact points are corroded the device will be faulty. US Funs claims that a smartphone contains only 50 milligrams of gold. So don't break your device to mine gold.

Corrosion occurs due to high humidity and in places near the sea, river or on the boat. So if you live in a place where metal is prone to corrosion, using a gold-plated HDMI cable will work longer.

Gold-plated HDMI cable provides a premium feel

Although it does not bring performance value, but certainly gold-plated HDMI cable offers a more premium, beautiful feel than regular cable.

Should you spend extra money on gold plated cables?

The answer is you should not buy gold-plated HDMI cable. It is only good for people who live in corrosive environments and who like luxury products. For normal users, the cable will usually work well.