There are two most used standards for connecting gadgets like PCs, laptops, and gaming consoles to Televisions and monitors: HDMI and DisplayPort. When comparing them, there is no clear victory between the two; each has benefits and drawbacks. Although DisplayPort provides more for power users, HDMI is the king of compatibility.
These rival display connection standards provide video and audio signals to corresponding female ports on the display and source device via a single male/male cable. Physically robust and straightforward to connect, they have backward and forward compatibility.
Is Mini Displayport Better Than HDMI?
Depending on the devices being utilized and the exact use scenario. Mini DisplayPort and HDMI are well-liked methods for connecting computers to an external monitor or projector. On Mac computers and particularly Windows laptops, Mini DisplayPort is frequently used, although HDMI is more frequently used on Windows laptops.
Mini DisplayPort could be a better option if you want to connect to a high-end monitor with a high resolution or fast refresh rate. In comparison to HDMI, it offers a larger bandwidth and allows greater resolutions and refresh rates.
For instance, HDMI 2.1 can handle up to 10K at 120Hz, whereas Mini DisplayPort 1.4 can support up to 8K at 60Hz. Here are some general distinctions between the two:
Ultimately, Mini DisplayPort and HDMI each offer benefits and drawbacks, so which one you choose will depend on your particular requirements and the devices you want to use.
- Mini DisplayPort is a standard interface for Mac and select Windows PCs designed by Apple. It is perfect for gaming or high-end video creation since it makes resolutions and refresh rates more significant than HDMI. Moreover, it has a more significant signal bandwidth, which enables it to send more data per second and achieve quicker data transmission rates.
- The main places where HDMI is utilized are Blu-ray players, game consoles, and TVs. It now serves as the industry standard for most consumer devices and supports audio and video signals, including 4K quality. Furthermore, HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection), a type of copy protection used with digital material, is supported.
Is There Any Difference Between HDMI & Mini DisplayPort?
Indeed, there are several significant differences between Mini DisplayPort and HDMI. Your particular requirements and the devices you’re connected to will ultimately determine whether you choose HDMI or Mini DisplayPort.
For example, HDMI is preferable if you’re connected to a television or home theater system. On the other hand, mini DisplayPort can be preferable if you’re connected to a high-end monitor or a Mac computer. Here is a more thorough description of each distinction:
#Size and Shape
Mini DisplayPort has a distinct form and is physically smaller than HDMI. In contrast to HDMI, which has a more rectangular design, Mini DisplayPort has a broader top and a smaller bottom.
As a result, HDMI is more frequently used on more significant devices like TVs and game consoles, whereas Mini DisplayPort is more frequently used on smaller devices like laptops and tablets.
#Bandwidth
In terms of bandwidth, Mini DisplayPort often outperforms HDMI. The quantity of data delivered per second is referred to as bandwidth. As a result, Mini DisplayPort can support better resolutions and refresh rates than HDMI.
For instance, HDMI 2.1 can handle images up to 10K at 120Hz, whereas Mini DisplayPort 1.4 can support rates up to 8K at 60Hz.
#Audio Support
Support for audio is provided via both HDMI and Mini DisplayPort, although HDMI can communicate up to 32 audio channels while Mini DisplayPort can broadcast only up to 8 channels. This implies that HDMI is better suited for electronics like home theater systems that demand high-quality audio.
You can read our previous post about DisplayPort’s Audio signal compared with HDMI.
#Compatibility
Regarding compatibility, Mini DisplayPort is less often used and supported by a broader range of devices than HDMI. The majority of Televisions, video game consoles, Blu-ray players, as well as many desktop and laptop PCs, support HDMI. However, not all devices may work with Mini DisplayPort because it’s mainly used on Apple products and selected Windows laptops.
However, modern laptops are now coming with Mini DisplayPort to make their laptops slimmer.
#Support for HDCP
HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection), a type of copy protection used for digital material, is supported by both HDMI and Mini DisplayPort. Nevertheless, only HDMI 2.2 is compatible with the most recent HDCP version, HDCP 2.2. This implies that you must use HDMI rather than Mini DisplayPort to connect to a device that needs HDCP 2.2.
If you want to know more about these two interfaces in detail, I highly recommend you to read the comparison between HDMI vs. DisplayPort.
