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In a world where people are increasingly watching movies and TV shows via a variety of media streaming platforms, it’s almost necessary to have a streaming player as part of your home entertainment system. If you don’t already have one and are looking for something top-of-the-line, the Apple TV 4K (3rd generation) is a worthwhile option. While the device is largely designed to work with almost any modern smart TV brand, it’s best paired with an HD-capable TV that supports a variety of features, such as 4K resolution video, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos.
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If you decide to spend at least $129 on the streaming box, you can try out several groundbreaking features of the Apple TV 4K. You can use SharePlay and watch video content simultaneously with your iPhone-using friends via FaceTime. You can turn it into your home hub that controls other compatible smart home accessories. Provided you also have an active Apple Music subscription, you can even turn your streaming device into a fun karaoke machine.
The Apple TV 4K comes with a Siri Remote and a power cable. If you need connectors to connect it to your smart TV, you’ll need to buy them separately. To use the streaming box’s HD streaming capabilities, you’ll definitely need to buy an HDMI cable, but not just any HDMI cable.
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The best HDMI cable for your Apple TV 4K
According to Apple, you’ll need at least an HDMI 2.0 cable to use your Apple TV 4K on your smart TV or other display with an HDMI port. If you already have one, it should work fine with your streaming setup. However, to unlock the full functionality of the streaming box, an HDMI 2.1 cable is recommended.
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Belkin’s UltraHD High Speed HDMI 2.1 cable, which Apple offers for $30 in the online Apple Store, supports higher bandwidth up to 48 Gbps, which is essential for playing higher resolution videos. It also supports several advanced features that may not work as well when using an HDMI 2.0 cable, such as dynamic HDR, uncompressed surround sound, and fast media switching. HDMI 2.1 cables may also be a better choice for gamers, as they support automatic low latency mode for better lag reduction and a variable refresh rate that reduces screen tearing in video games.
If you’re looking for a budget cable alternative, we’ve rounded up the best HDMI cables worth spending money on. Some of them are HDMI 2.1 cables. In particular, Anker’s $18 HDMI 2.1 cable, which you can get on Amazon, is a tried-and-tested budget electronics brand that’s worth a second look for your Apple TV 4K HD streaming needs.
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