Looking for a fiber optic HDMI cable can be quite a daunting task. There are several types available on the market and since this is a relatively new technology, it is easy to find yourself confused by seemingly meaningless acronyms. In this buying guide we will have a look at 7 of the best fiber optic HDMI cables that are lightweight, flexible, can carry 4K transmission signals along the line, and are durable enough to last you for years on end. Which fiber optic HDMI beats the rest? We will have a look at the features offered by each fiber optic HDMI cable and this will help you make a judgment as to which fiber optic HDMI cable is best for you. In addition, we will show you which fiber optic HDMI cable is best for those buying on a tight budget.
Alternatively, just skip to the best fiber optic HDMI cable on Amazon.
Table of Contents
Best Fiber Optic HDMI Cable Comparison Table
List of the 7 Best Fiber Optic HDMI Cables
1. RUIPRO 100 feet 4K60HZ HDR Fiber HDMI Cable
This is a long length cable from the manufacturer RUIRPRO. This cable is lightweight and comes at a weight of just 1.85 pounds. It is flexible and has a bending radius of up to 30mm. This means that you can easily install it in your living room without worrying about it getting damaged by bending it too much. It is a hybrid optical cable which uses pure glass fibers and oxygen free copper wires. This means that the cable gets the best of both worlds and through this hybrid construction, it is able to ensure a pure signal transmission. The cable is embedded with an advanced optical engine. This allows for it to provide full HDMI2.0b signal integrity. It transmits pure clear digital images and sounds instantly. This feature makes it ideal for applications in which you need a long, cable but want the lowest latency possible. An example is when you have your set-top box or home entertainment system in one corner of your living room and your TV in another corner. Using such a cable will guarantee you of high performance without any latency issues.
It is plug and play compatible. This means that you do not need to worry about installing any additional drivers. It uses very little power and extracts a maximum of 250mW from the HDMI display. It supports: HDR, ARC, 3D, HDCP2.2, 1080P240Hz and 4K60Hz subsampling 4:4:4/4:2:2/4:2:0. The cable operates in one way and comes with one side acting as the source plug and the other as the display plug. The manufacturer shows great pride in his product and offers a limited lifetime warranty. This product has the main drawback that it is rather pricey. Due to all of these factors, we have nominated this as the best fiber optic HDMI cable.
2. CableCreation 33ft 4K Fiber Optical HDMI Cable with Ethernet Support
This is a gold plated fiber optic HDMI cable from the manufacturer, cable creation. This cable is very lightweight. It weighs only 0.352 ounces. This is a very great advantage as it means that you do not need to worry about having mechanisms to counter the weight when installing it in conduits or if you want it to run over the wall. It is a high quality product. It comes with gold plated connectors and a zinc-alloy shell. This means that you do not need to worry about issues such as corrosion and wear and tear. The outer cover is made out of TPE. This provides protection against the elements found in the environment in which the device is put into. It is flexible. This fiber optic cable does not need any power supply for it to operate, and requires less than 250mW that it draws from the display unit. This means that you do not need to worry about power supply configurations. It is able to transmit data at speeds up to 18Gbps. This makes it ideal for applications such as gaming, streaming and sending signals to your home cinema device. It supports HDR/ARC/HDCP2.2/3D/CEC/EDID Dolby Vision with barely any signal losses occurring. In addition, it also supports 4K@60Hz, 4:4:4/4:2:2/4:2:0. The cable is compatible with a wide variety of devices. These include DVDs, Ultra HD TVs, computer monitors, Xbox Ones and Blue-Ray players. It is a plug and play device. This means that you do not need to worry about installing drivers on your computer in order for you to fully utilize all the functions that this device has to offer. The manufacturer offers a 24 month warranty and lifetime technical support. This device has one main drawback. The cable shielding appears to be made of a rubber material of some sort that can be prone to scratching and damage if not handled correctly. Due to all these factors, we have nominated this as the best budget fiber optic HDMI cable.
3. 75ft Nylon Braided Fiber HDMI Cable
This is a long nylon braided fiber optic HDMI cable that is from the manufacturer, FURUI. This cable has a nylon braided anti friction cable. This means that you do not need to worry about the cable getting damaged. The cable comes at a length of 75 feet. This is longer than most traditional HDMI cables. It can easily connect your HDMI device that is in one corner of the room to the TV which will be in another corner far away from the HDMI device. It allows for long distance transmission of 4K HDR files at a refresh rate of 60Hz. This makes it suitable for most video streaming applications as well as for connecting your gaming console to your TV. It transmits at 18.2 Gbps. This shows that the device can easily handle very high data transmission speeds. This makes it suitable for applications in which there is a need for a cable that transmits data at very fast speeds and has a large bandwidth. The fiber HDMI cable is very thin and flexible.
This cable has an outer diameter of 0.189 inches. It is so thin that a regular pencil is thicker than it. It comes with a maximum power consumption of 250mW. This is very little power, and this makes it suitable for low power, long distance applications. It supports HDR/CEC/EDID/HDCP2.2, 1536KHz Sample Rates, 4K@60Hz, 32 Uncompressed Audio and Video Sync, ARC, Chroma Subsampling 4:4:4/4:2:2/4:2:0. 4K 60Hz 8bit 4:4:4, 4K 30Hz 10bit 4:4:4, 1080P 16bit 4:4:4. It offers one way transmission, and the source and display plugs are clearly labeled. The manufacturer offers a free lifetime replacement or money-back guarantee if there are any quality issues. This product has a few drawbacks. It twists really easily. In addition, there seem to be quality issues with the product.
4. Fiber HDMI Cable 4K 50ft 60Hz, FURUI Fiber Optic HDMI Cable 2.0b
This is another cable from the manufacturer, FURUI. Unlike the previous cable from this manufacturer, this cable is a bit short and comes at a length of 50 feet. In addition, this cable does not come with the premium nylon braided outer casing. . This cable is very light and weighs a mere 1.2 pounds. This makes it very portable. It is very thin, and comes at a diameter of just 0.189 inches. It is so thin, that an average pencil is thicker than the cable. This makes it perfect for applications in which there is very limited space. It has a bending angle of 90 degrees. This makes it very flexible and it means that the cable can be used in applications with a lot of corners. The cable uses a maximum of 250mW. This makes it perfect for applications in which very little power must be used. It has very low signal losses for long distance transmission and has a high resistance to external interference. It has a high bandwidth. It can transmit 4K HDR signals at 60Hz. It is an active fiber optic fiber optic HDMI 2.0b cable. This cable is a plug and play device. This means that you do not need to worry about installing additional drivers when you use it with a computer. It supports HDR/CEC/EDID/HDCP2.2, 1536KHz Sample Rates, 4K@60Hz, 32 Uncompressed Audio and Video Sync, ARC, Chroma Subsampling 4:4:4/4:2:2/4:2:0. 4K 60Hz 8bit 4:4:4, 4K 30Hz 10bit 4:4:4, 1080P 16bit 4:4:4. The manufacturer offers an unconditional lifetime hassle-free warranty. This product has the main drawback that it can only be used in one direction i.e. it is not reversible.
5. DELONG Fiber Optic HDMI Cable
This is a long length ultra-high speed cable from the manufacturer, DELONG. This cable is very light and comes at a weight of just 1.45 pounds. This means that you can easily mount it to your walls without worrying about the cable being too heavy for that. It is very thin – it has a cable diameter of just 0.189 inches, and the manufacturer claims that the fiber cable is up to 60% thinner and lighter than traditional copper HDMI cables. This cable is long. It has a length of 100 feet. This means that you can use it to connect devices that are far away from each other. This makes it perfect for applications in which you want to connect faraway devices, but do not want to lose any signal quality. It does not emit any radiation. This makes it very safe for families with children and the elderly. It is very easy to use and does not require you to install any additional drivers to your computer. It does not need any external power for it to operate. This makes it very suitable for applications in which there needs to be as little power consumed as possible.
This fiber optic HDMI cable supports transfer rates of up to 18 Gbps. This makes it ideal for high bandwidth applications such as streaming and playing video games. It supports HDR/DEEP COLOR/ARC/CEC/EDID/HDCP2.2/Dolby Vision, 1536KHz Sample Rates, 4K@60Hz, 32 Uncompressed Audio and Video Sync, Chroma Subsampling 4:4:4/4:2:2/4:2:0 (4K 60Hz 8bit for 4:4:4, 12bit for 4:2:2, 16bit for 4:2:0). It allows for you to connect the visual display unit e.g. TV, monitor, etc. from devices such as laptops, PCs, Blu-ray players, cameras, and video game consoles. The manufacturer shows great pride in the product and offers a 5 year warranty. This product has one main drawback. It only works one way. This means that you need to check which end is to be plugged into the source and which end goes to the display.
6. UGREEN Premium High-Speed Fiber Optic HDMI Cable
This is a gold plated connector fiber optic HDMI cable from the manufacturer, UGREEN. This cable is very light and comes at a weight of just 1.1 pounds. This means you can easily mount it to your wall or run it through a conduit without worrying about the weight. It comes with a flexible cable which does not get tangled easily. In addition, the TPE jacket and Kirstie shell present add durability to your product, ensuring that it will last for a very long period of time. It has a streamlined ergonomic design which makes it look and feel like a premium cable. It has gold plated connectors and this means that you do not need to worry about issues such as corrosion taking place.
The fiber optic cable allows for you to share an internet connection with multiple devices within ten meters without the need for a separate Ethernet cable. This allows for you to reduce the amount of wire clutter in your home. It comes with the mirror mode feature. This feature allows you to enjoy movies or play games on HDTV or on a projector with a larger screen which will display the exact same content being shown on your computer. This makes playing games a very enjoyable experience. It also has the extended mode feature. In this feature, each display gives you more desktop room. This is quite useful for UI developers and gamers who need large screens to work well. It provides high speed data transmissions as it can transmit data at speeds up to 18Gbps. It transmits signals at 4K at 60Hz using ultra high definition resolution. It is compatible with HDMI Cable 2.0: 4K HDR at 4:2:0 8/10/12bit, 4:2:2 and 4:4:4 with 8 bits; 3D 4K Video at 60 Hz, backward compatible with 2160p 60Hz 1080p 144Hz and previous HDMI devices v1.4 and v1.3 standards. It supports Dolby 7.1 audio, HEC and all other HDMI 2.0 standards. This product has the main drawback that it can only work in one direction i.e. the cable is not reversible.
7. ATZEBE Fiber Optic HDMI Cable 100ft
This is a high quality fiber optic HDMI cable from the manufacturer, ATZEBE. This cable is lightweight and weighs only 1.65 pounds. In addition, it is thin and this means that you definitely will not face any challenges installing it in your living room. It has gold plated connectors which protect your cable from corrosion and rust. There is a TPE jacket which is designed and constructed to resist wear and tear. It has a hybrid cable structure – it uses pure glass fiber and oxygen free copper wires. This means that it has the best of both worlds. There is a zinc alloy shell paint finish. This paint finish makes the cable firm and prevents cracking from occurring. It supports the HDMI 2.0a/b specification. In addition, it supports HDR, ARC, CEC, EDID, 3D, HDCP2.2, 4K 60hz: 4K 60Hz 8bit 4:4:4/ 4K 60Hz 12bit 4:2:2/ 4K 60Hz 16bit 4:2:0/ 4K 60Hz Dolby Vision/ 4K 60hz HDR and 32 uncompressed audio channels. It is a plug and play device. This means that you do not need to worry about installing drivers for it if you are using a PC or a laptop. It transmits pure clear digital clear images and sounds instantly. This makes it suitable for gaming as well as streaming applications. It uses very little power – a maximum of 250mW. This power is extracted from the HDMI source. It is compatible with a wide variety of peripherals such as the: PS4, Apple TV, Xbox One, Roku Ultra, 4K UHD TV, 4K projector, 4K Blu-Ray player, and more. It transmits audio and video signals over a distance of 100feet with very little signal losses occurring. It comes with a 2 year warranty. The product has the main drawback that it is not reversible.
Best Fiber Optic HDMI Cable Brands
The best fiber optic HDMI cable brands are RUIPRO, Cable Creation and FURUI. The RUIPRO product we reviewed is a long length cable which is lightweight, flexible, and it is a hybrid optical cable. This brand guarantees you of high performance without any latency issues. Cable Creation is another good brand. Their produce we reviewed is a high quality product which has gold plated connectors and comes with a 24 month warranty. The FURUI is another good cable manufacturer. The cables we reviewed are very portable, come with a very high bandwidth and come with an unconditional lifetime hassle-free warranty.
Best Fiber Optic HDMI Cable
RUIPRO 100 feet 4K60HZ HDR Fiber HDMI Cable
This is the best fiber optic HDMI cable. It is a long length cable that is lightweight and comes at a mere weight of just 1.85 pounds. It is flexible and has a bending radius of up to 30mm. It guarantees you of high performance without any latency issues. It comes with a limited lifetime warranty.
Here are the key features we liked about the fiber optic cable:
- Flexible
- Limited lifetime warranty
- Lightweight
- Hybrid optical cable
- 4K@60Hz
Best Budget Fiber Optic HDMI Cable
CableCreation 33ft 4K Fiber Optical HDMI Cable with Ethernet Support
This is a gold plated fiber optic HDMI cable. It is a lightweight fiber optic HDMI cable. It is a high quality product that will definitely last for a long period of time. It comes with a 24 month warranty and lifetime technical support.
Here are the key features we liked about the fiber optic HDMI cable:
- Gold plated
- Lightweight
- Does not draw any power
- Plug and play
- 24 month warranty plus lifetime technical support
How much does a Fiber Optic HDMI Cable Cost?
Fiber optic HDMI cables are a bit pricey. They are in the 50 – 200 USD range. The high end fiber optic cables can be found near the 200 USD mark. These are made from premium materials and often have gold plated ends and a premium cable. An example is the RUIPRO 100 feet 4K60HZ HDR Fiber HDMI Cable.
The low end and midrange cables are in the 50 – 150 USD range. These fiber optic cables have a decent construction, and will suffice for most applications. An example is the DELONG Fiber Optic HDMI Cable.
Types of Fiber Optic HDMI Cables
Hybrid Fiber Optic HDMI Cables
These are fiber optic HDMI cables that have the fiber optic cable component as well as the traditional copper wires in the cable. The signal is converted from an electrical signal into a light signal, travels the length of the cable and is converted back to an electric signal at the other end. The copper component carries the electrical signal as a traditional HDMI cable would. These types of cables have the advantage that they have the best of both worlds – copper and fiber.
Non-Hybrid Fiber Optic HDMI Cables
These are fiber optic HDMI cables that have the fiber optic cable component in the cable. The signal is converted from an electrical signal into a light signal, travels the length of the cable and is converted back to an electric signal at the other end.
Why Do You Need a Fiber Optic HDMI Cable?
Interference
The fiber optic HDMI cables carry data in the form of light which is carried along the optical fibers. These optical fibers are not affected by electromagnetic interference. The electromagnetic interference is quite a problem with traditional copper wire based transmission media. This means that you will have a cable that is not affected by noise and this is a very great advantage.
Speed
The advances in technology have resulted in computing devices that are able to produce a lot more data. For example, a game on a modern gaming console is designed using advanced techniques which allow it to be displayed on a 4K screen. This means that the gaming console will output a 4K signal. These signals need a cable that has a very high bandwidth and very fast speeds. Fiber optic HDMI cables are able to offer this performance.
Non-Conductive
Fiber optic HDMI cables do not conduct electrical currents. This gives the advantage that the cables will not need complicated power requirements that can potentially complicate using them. In addition, this means that these cables do not conduct electrical current produced by lightning strikes during a thunderstorm. This means that the devices that you are using will be much safer during a lightning strike as the two devices will not carry any current between them.
Signal Quality
The fiber optic HDMI cables are able to carry signals over large distances with very little degradation in the quality of the signal. This is an advantage as you will not have to worry about the distance between the source device and the display device as you will be guaranteed of a crystal clear image output.
Factors to Consider When Buying a Fiber Optic HDMI Cable
Warranty
When purchasing any electronic device it is best to consider the warranty offered by the manufacturer. The warranty gives a good indication of the manufacturer’s confidence in his or her product. As a general rule of the thumb, products with longer warranties are made from better materials and last much longer than similar products that have shorter warranties.
Length
Fiber optic HDMI cables are able to provide good quality signals even at rather long distances. This is something that you need to put in mind when you are purchasing a cable. Try to choose one that offers the longest distance. This will come in handy if you decide to change the setup in your living room as you will not have to worry about buying longer HDMI cables.
HDMI Version
The HDMI standards have continued to change ever since they were first introduced. You need to buy a cable that supports the latest HDMI standards. You need a cable that supports HDMI 2.0a, HDMI 2.0B or both. These versions offer support for a host of standards.
Build Quality
Fiber Optic cables are rather expensive. You do not want to spend more than a hundred dollars on a cable that will fall apart in a few weeks. Make sure that you buy a fiber optic HDMI cable that has gold plated terminals as well as a cable that has a flexible but tough outer casing.
Certifications
The certifications give a good indication of the performance of the cable. It is best to go for fiber optic cables that come with a certification that was issued in that very year. At most, choose cables that have certifications that were issued 3 years ago.
What is a Fiber Optic HDMI Cable?
A fiber optic HDMI cable is a cable which contains optic fibers that transmit light signals along the length of the cable from the source end to the receiving end. On both ends are little pieces of electronic circuitry that convert the electronic signals to light signals on the transmitting end, and from light signals to electronic signals on the receiving end.
How Do Fiber Optic HDMI Cables Work?
A fiber optic HDMI cable is uni-directional. One end has an embedded system that converts electronic signals into light signals, and this is frequently labeled as the “source”, and on the other end is an embedded system that converts the light signals into electronic signals. This end is frequently labeled as the “display.” These ends usually come with gold plated contacts. These contacts are gold plated in order to avoid rusting and corrosion. These are major problems when it comes to electronics and gold addresses this issue since it is chemically unreactive. The source receives the signal from the source device. This could be a gaming console, a laptop, a computer, etc. The signal is then converted into a light signal through the use of the embedded system mentioned earlier. The light signals are then transmitted across the optical fibers that are present in the cable. These optical fibers are immune to electromagnetic interference and therefore do not need any special configurations needed to protect the cable from noise. The signal then reaches the display end of the optic HDMI cable. The embedded system then converts the light signal back into an electronic signal. This signal is then converted into an electronic signal and is displayed on the visual display unit.
Due to the nature of the transmission medium, these cables are able to reach amazing transmission speeds of up to 18Gbps and can easily transmit 4K signals from the source device to the visual display unit.
Fiber Optic HDMI Cable FAQs
Can the Fiber Optic HDMI Cable Be Shortened Once Installed?
Unfortunately, no. Once you have installed the fiber optic cables, then you cannot extend its length.
Does It Work With My Current Devices?
Yes. Fiber optic HDMI cables do work with ordinary devices that use HDMI. These include gaming consoles, computers, laptops projectors and home entertainment systems.
Can The Cables Be Run Through The Attic And Down A Wall?
In most cases, yes. A lot of customers commented that they have cables that use that kind of configuration. You may need to get a professional to help you with the setup.
Are All Cables Gold Plated?
Not all cables are gold plated. Gold plated fiber optic cables tend to be a bit pricey so some manufacturers create fiber optic cables that do not come with this special feature. Do try to buy a fiber optic cable that has this feature where possible.
My Cable Does Not Work What Should I Do?
This is a common question among people who buy fiber optic HDMI cables. This is because these cables are meant to work in one direction. What this means is that there is one end that can only be plugged into the source device and the other end that is plugged into the TV, monitor, projector or whichever device is receiving the input. Make sure that you have plugged in the side labeled “source” to the source side and the side labeled “display” to the TV, monitor or projector.
Conclusion
In this article, we have explored the top 7 best fiber optic HDMI cables. We have given a thorough analysis of each fiber optic HDMI cable. We also included a comprehensive guide aimed at equipping you with the skills of identifying the best fiber optic HDMI cable to suit your unique needs. In addition, we included a list of comprehensive FAQs for your convenience.
