USB-C to HDMI Cables, Adapters, and Hubs
Connect your laptop or tablet to a computer monitor or TV using a USB-C to HDMI adapter
How do USB-C to HDMI adapters work?
With a USB-C to HDMI adapter, you can connect a device like a laptop or tablet to a TV or PC monitor. The digital video signal from the device’s USB-C port is converted and delivered via a standard HDMI connector.
What type of adapters are available?
There are three primary types of USB-C to HDMI adapters. A dedicated adapter has a USB-C connector on one end, and a HDMI port on the other. A hub has a USB-C connector on one end, and that terminates in a hub with several output ports, including HDMI. You can also buy USB-C to HDMI cables. As the name suggests, these have a USB-C connector on one end of the cable (to plug into the device’s USB-C port), and an HDMI connector on the other (it plugs into the TV or monitor’s HDMI port).
What can USB-C to HDMI connectors be used for?
USB-C to HDMI connectors are used for displaying video on an HDMI-equipped TV or computer display, with a device that has a high-speed USB-C port as the source.
These connectors have become very useful as USB-C has grown in popularity, especially on laptops. Many manufacturers have stopped including other video ports, since USB-C can handle that as well. However many computer monitors (and most TVs) lack USB-C video support. The answer is to use a USB-C to HDMI adapter to connect the two devices.
One key consideration whether you’re using USB-C to HDMI cables, or a USB-C adapter and a an HDMI cable, is the cable’s rating. Older HDMI cables may support 1080p video only. If your laptop or device can output 4K HDR video, make certain to use a high-speed HDMI cable that’s rated to support 4K video and HDR or your 4K TV/monitor may not display video and images at full resolution.
What’s the difference between a USB-C to HDMI adapter and a USB-C to HDMI hub?
When it comes to USB-C to HDMI, there’s one big difference between an adapter and a hub. An adapter is a single connection. It effectively converts the output from a device’s USB-C port into an HDMI-compatible connection.
A hub also starts with a USB-C connection. However, the hub offers multiple connection types. One of those is almost always HDMI output, so you can plug in an HDMI cable to connect a TV or monitor. But a hub will also include other ports to extend the capability of the device. This will commonly include USB Type-A input ports (for connecting legacy accessories like thumb drives), and Ethernet. There may also be a USB-C port to replace the one being.
In other words, a USB-C to HDMI adapter is a single-purpose solution, while a USB-C to HDMI hub solves multiple connectivity challenges for a USB-C device.