If all of the HDMI ports on your monitor or TV are already in use, you need an HDMI switcher. The best HDMI switchers have more than one input port so that you can connect more than one device to a single HDMI port. Set up can be done for a number of gaming consoles, laptops, DVD players, and other devices.
As long as you buy a good-quality HDMI switch with technology that works with the device you're connecting, you won't lose audio or video quality or experience more latency or lag. It is important to match the technology. For example, most HDMI switchers usually work with 1080p resolution.
But if you have a 4K TV, you'll need an HDMI switcher with 4K technology. If you want full HD, your HDMI switcher needs to be 4K and have a refresh rate of 60 Hz. If it doesn't, you won't get full HD. When connecting to audio equipment, you should be careful, especially if you're connecting to a home theater system. On our list of the best HDMI switchers, you'll find high-quality products that are well-made and have a variety of technological features to work with different setups.
It might be really hard to find the best cheap HDMI switcher. This is because there are hundreds of different models, and most of them are just copies of things that already exist. The many "name brand" HDMI switchers, which are just rebranded generic devices sold at a higher price, make things more complicated.
We sorted through all the noise and reviewed some of the best HDMI switches on the market right now to help you make the best choice.
Even though some of the brands may be new to you (they aren't to us), all of these gadgets work. Some of these switchers even support 4K at 60Hz, which is the highest resolution you can get from a switch right now.
One thing to keep in mind is that the switches below are listed online under hundreds of different names. Most of these are white-label products that resellers buy in bulk and put their own logo on. So, a switch might say that it was made by "SGEYR" and another switch might say that it was made by "SkycropHD," but they are both the same switch.
Kinivo's HDMI Switch 4K HDR
The Kinivo HDMI Switch 4K HDR comes in first place because it has five input ports, advanced technology, and is easy to use. Kinivo is known for making great HDMI switchers, and this one is no exception. It has 4K technology and a refresh rate of 60 Hz. It works with both the latest 3D movies and TV shows and Dolby Vision.
You can switch devices manually by pressing a button on the switcher, or the Kinivo will switch devices based on which one is being used. But not all devices can use the auto-switching feature, and the maker tells you about any possible problems. You can still use these things, but you'll need to use the remote to change the input ports.
by Zettaguard: 4 Port 4x1 HDMI Switch
The Zettaguard 4 Port 4x1 HDMI Switch feels sturdy and has a good design. We also like the extras that come with it. The first and most important thing is the support for picture-in-picture. Using the remote control, you can see a preview of all the media that is currently playing on connected devices. Since it is only a preview site, you can't watch two movies at the same time.
Zettaguard only works with 4K at 30 Hz and not with full HD. You can use a remote control or have it automatically switch to the active device. Users like how easy it is to hide the wires because the port is in a convenient place on the back. The bad thing is that it can take a few seconds to switch between ports.
FERRISA 4x2 HDMI Matrix Switch
The FERRISA 4x2 HDMI Matrix Switch lets you choose from a number of display options. It has four input ports, two output ports, and two operating modes. The matrix mode shows what is coming in from different ports on each connected monitor or screen. In splitter mode, both monitors see the same input. We did notice, though, that when the devices are in matrix mode, their audio and video formats must be the same or the display may not work right.
The headphone jack can be used with any device that is plugged into the FERRISA. This model also got points because it was easy to set up and because the remote control was easy to understand.
ROOFULL 5 Port 4K HDMI Switch
ROOFULL made a 5 port 4K HDMI switch for people who care about the sound and picture quality of their games and movies. This HDMI switcher works with a wide range of audio formats, including DTS-HD, LPCM7.1, Dolby TrueHD, and others. It also has 4K technology with a 60 Hz frame rate and the ability to connect up to five 4K devices.
The ROOFULL gives you three ways to control it, including auto switching. For a faster start, it also goes right back to the last device that was on. The length of the adapter cord is the only thing we would have changed.
Switch by TOTU for HDMI 4 in 1
It's hard to find a cheap switcher that can work with the latest devices, but this 4x1 unit from TOTU fits the bill. As an input, it can handle up to 4K at 60Hz in HDR or Dolby Vision. Because it has an HDMI channel bandwidth of up to 18 Gbps, it works with all HDMI 2.0 and older features.
The TOTU turns on by itself, and you can't turn it off. This feature isn't as annoying as it is on some models because it only happens when only one input is being used. By doing this, problems with some devices that change inputs even though they didn't get a real HDMI-CEC power-on signal are fixed.
Even though the device itself is pretty durable for what it costs, the remote is terrible. It's a small square-shaped piece of plastic that just begs to be broken or lost. For this reason, people who buy the TOTU should use a universal remote to control it.
At the moment, there are 2,157 reviews of this product on Amazon, and the average rating is 4.3 out of 5. One person who gave this switcher a perfect score of 5 out of 5 said:
This is perfect for older TVs that don't have as many HDMI inputs. This method can also be used to connect almost anything with an HDMI cable to anything with an HDMI input. It works as an HDMI hub, letting you send data to the output or TV from any of the hub's HDMI inputs. It is small and light, and it looks nice. I'm really glad I bought this.
Do HDMI switchers change the quality
The HDMI switcher shouldn't change the quality of the output as long as you buy a good one and don't have any problems with the connections. But the quality can be hurt by a bad HDMI switcher or a problem with how a device is connected. To make sure the signal is strong, you also need HDMI cables.
Does HDMI switching cause lag?
If you use an HDMI switcher, you might get bad audio and video quality, input lag, or a lost signal. But that is more likely to happen if the switcher isn't built well. How much lag there is will depend on the type of switcher being used.
How do I decide which HDMI switch to buy?
Choose an HDMI switch that works with the audio and video equipment you already have. If you have a 4K TV, you'll need an HDMI switch that works with 4K. The HDMI switcher also needs to work with your sound system. The last thing you should think about is how many input ports you need. HDMI switchers can have anywhere from two to eight input ports, depending on the model.
How much do HDMI switchers cost?
Depending on how many input ports it has and what technology it supports, an HDMI switcher can cost anywhere from $15 to $125. A two-port 1080p unit that works with Dolby Digital might only cost $20. A model with eight input ports and 4K technology that works at 60 GHz, on the other hand, will cost a lot.
How can an HDMI switch help me?
With an HDMI switch, you can add more inputs to a device. They are often used to connect gaming consoles, DVD players, computers, and home entertainment systems to TVs and home theaters. An HDMI splitter might be more advantageous for some folks.
There is an HDMI switch that can do 4K at 120 Hz
There are 4K HDMI switchers that can handle a refresh rate of 120 Hz. There are also HDMI switchers that work with the latest 8K technology. But you don't need to pay more for one of these gadgets unless you already have an 8K TV or want to pair it with one of the best computer monitors (and you will pay more). If you only use an HDMI switcher that works with 8K, the audio and video won't be better.
