DisplayPort vs HDMI: Which should you choose?

Users generally prefer connection options such as HDMI or DisplayPort to connect external displays to laptops or monitors to desktop computers. In fact, there are important differences between both options. Here you can compare the features of DisplayPort and HDMI to discover which one is better for you and your needs.

HDMI or DisplayPort?

If you’re a tech user, you’ve probably heard the term HDMI. Over the last twelve years, HDMI has established itself as a common display interface. However, DisplayPort competes solidly with HDMI. Currently, many PC enthusiasts prefer DisplayPort over HDMI.

You can connect external displays to your computer using either port. Therefore, if you are new to computer hardware, you may have difficulty choosing between them. However, there are many differences that distinguish them from each other. Let’s start comparing these two technologies with their history.

The first version of DisplayPort certified by VESA dates back to 2006. It went through four major revisions in the next decade. In 2019, DisplayPort 2.0 comes to the market. On January 8, 2024, VESA introduced the latest version, DisplayPort 2.1a. With this version, it increased the data transmission speed of two-meter cables to 54GB/s.

On the other hand, HDMI was introduced in late 2002. So it’s much older than DisplayPort. Like Displayport, HDMI went through many revisions over the next decade. Version 2.0 was released in 2013. The most current version of HDMI is 2.1b, with a minor update released on August 10, 2023.

Physical characteristics and types

One of the biggest differences between DisplayPort and HDMI is the number of pins on the ports. There are two flavors of DisplayPort. Normal version and mini version introduced by Apple in 2008. Both DisplayPort variants have the same 20-pin layout.

HDMI has five types and they have different numbers of pins. HDMI Type A is the most common type, coming with a 19-pin structure. In contrast, Type B, or Extended HDMI, carries 29 pins, but is used in far fewer products, among other displays. There are also Mini HDMI (Type C) and Micro HDMI (Type D) connections, which condense the 19-pin design of the standard HDMI socket into a small size.

Mini HDMI sockets are used on tablets, laptops and portable monitors, while Micro HDMI connections are used on small devices such as Raspberry Pi. Finally, some devices support HDMI Type E, which includes a locking tab to prevent accidental dislodgement of the cable.

The standard DisplayPort connector has a locking mechanism. Therefore, you need to press the latch to remove the cable from your display. On the other hand, most HDMI interfaces outside of Type E connectors do not have a locking mechanism or lock.

Maximum resolution, frequency and bandwidth

When comparing the latest versions of both interfaces, DisplayPort 2.1 surpasses HDMI 2.1 in pure performance. Thanks to Ultra High Bit Rate (UHBR) 20 transmission modes, HDMI’s bandwidth is 48 GBps, while DisplayPort 2.1 has a bandwidth of 80 GBps.

In terms of resolution, DisplayPort supports up to 16K at 60Hz. In comparison, HDMI 2.1 only supports 8K at 60Hz. As for maximum refresh rates at 1080p, HDMI 2.1 supports 240Hz, while DisplayPort 2.1 can support up to 900Hz.

Compatibility

HDMI is the industry standard for display interfaces in consumer devices. For example, most TVs and monitors have more HDMI ports than DisplayPort connections. Even PlayStation 5 and even newer consoles like the Xbox Series X/S only have an HDMI interface instead of DisplayPort.

On the other hand, DisplayPort 2.1 is used very little. Only AMD Radeon 7000 GPUs and a select number of monitors are compatible with this next-generation interface.

Connecting multiple devices (Daisy chain)

Using multiple monitors is very useful for tasks that require a larger screen. However, most devices do not have enough ports for different cables to connect multiple displays to the computer.

Daisy chaining is a way to connect multiple monitors to a computer using a single display connection. Unlike HDMI, DisplayPort 1.2 and newer support Multi-Stream Transport (MST), a technology that can split video signals from your GPU to drive multiple monitors simultaneously.

ARC, eARC and Ethernet support

Both display connections are capable of transmitting audio signals to an external display. But only HDMI supports Audio Return Channel (ARC). As the name suggests, ARC allows HDMI to send audio from the display to an audio playback device. This eliminates the need for additional audio cables. Thanks to its high bandwidth, HDMI 2.1 also supports eARC, an improved version of ARC.

After all these explanations, you may think that HDMI can only carry image and audio signals. However, HDMI can even provide access to the internet thanks to the HDMI Ethernet Channel (HEC). First introduced in HDMI 1.4, HEC allows data and files to be exchanged over the network.

This feature can work without requiring compatible devices to be connected via Ethernet cables. The biggest problem is that you will have difficulty finding HEC compatible devices because this technology is not adopted by the consumer.

Which one should we choose?

The choice between DisplayPort and HDMI depends on your specific needs and, more importantly, the version of HDMI/DisplayPort your devices support. For example, if you want to play games at high refresh rates and have a compatible GPU, you can choose DisplayPort 2.1.

On the other hand, if you are an audiophile who wants to set up a home theater system, you can consider HDMI 2.1 to use the eARC feature. But for average users who just want to connect a second display to their computer, DisplayPort and HDMI are interchangeable with no noticeable difference.