If you know you need an HDMI switcher but don’t want to get bogged down in details, our experts think you should just buy the Kinivo 550BN HDMI switcher: It has the right price, the right amount of inputs, and it really just works.
One of the most annoying things about TVs is the limited number of ports to connect things like streaming boxes and games consoles. An HDMI switcher gets around this, adding more ports by letting several devices share the same cable into your TV.
One key thing to make sure of when you buy is that you get a switch that supports the highest resolution you’ll need. The two main options are HD, which is a little cheaper, and 4K, which is also known as ultra HD, and gives a sharper picture.
The ability to connect multiple devices to one display is the biggest draw of an HDMI switch, and the Kinivo 550BN handles this task reliably. Designed with power users in mind, it supports up to five HDMI inputs for a single output. Our reviewer Emily Ramirez tested it for weeks with a BenQ HT3550 4K projector and felt like it was a match made in heaven.
Best Overall
Kinivo 550BN HDMI Switch
Five inputs/One output
Supports 4K picture quality
Included remote
No PIP
Port placement
The Kinivo does come with some cable management issues. Since all of the ports are lined up along one side, it’s hard to organize the cables in a pleasing manner. That said, it’s simple and pleasant to use, and it’s competitively priced.
Input/Output Ports: 5/1 | HDMI Standard: 2.0 | Remote/Voice Operation: Remote
While the Kinivio 550BN is slightly unattractive, it’s packed with features. It can display 4K at 60Hz, comes with automatic switching, and supports Dolby digital encoding. It even has a two-year warranty. But, it doesn’t have an HDMI splitter built-in, which means you need to use a 3rd party solution if your sound system is separate from your display. Overall, the Kinivo 550BN delivers on its promises. It takes about nine seconds to switch between inputs, which isn’t terribly fast, but videos played beautifully. Gaming was a similarly seamless experience, with no noticeable lag between the controller input and the display. — Emily Ramirez, Product Tester
If you’re looking for a thoughtfully designed HDMI switcher with a premium look and feel, the Zettaguard 4K is worth some consideration. Our reviewer tested it for weeks and thought the 4K content she streamed on her PC looked great, with the HDR coloring really making the videos pop.
Best for Power Users
Zettaguard 4K HDMI Switcher
PiP, but only a preview
Supports 4k picture quality
Great build
All ports in the rear
Cannot split audio
The Zettaguard 4K could’ve been our top pick. The picture-in-picture (PiP) preview mode alone almost had us, but the switcher is held back by having only four inputs and no HDMI audio splitter. The included remote has a dedicated PiP button that lets you view all active inputs simultaneously, along with a button for each HDMI input.
Input/Output Ports: 4/1 | HDMI Standard: 2.0 | Remote/Voice Operation: Remote
The Zettaguard Upgraded 4K 60Hz 4x1 HDMI Switcher is a solid entry in the HDMI switcher market. The chassis is unassuming and sturdy, installation is straightforward, and the thoughtfully placed ports help with cable management. It took about nine seconds for the switcher to change inputs, putting it right in the middle of the products tested. Video games ran smoothly, with no noticeable latency, thanks to an 18Gbps transfer speed. — Emily Ramirez, Product Tester
Not everyone has a lot of devices they need to connect. Sometimes, three inputs are enough. We like the Newcare HDMI switch, but it is limited. You do pay less, sure, but with so few inputs (on opposite sides again, grrr) and the lack of a remote, this switch is best for smaller systems and small budgets. If that’s you, you won’t have any trouble with it.
Best Budget
Newcare HDMI Switch 3-in-1
Supports 4K video
Included HDMI cable
Input and output on opposite side
Three inputs
Input/Output Ports: 3/1 | HDMI Standard: 2.0 | Remote/Voice Operation: None
If you have a multi-monitor setup and need four inputs and two outputs, your choices are pretty limited. However, the Cable Matters 4K 60 Hz Matrix Switch is the one we’d pick. It supports the right protocols and even supports audio switching. Sure it’s pretty niche, but we’re glad it’s out there.
Best for Multiple Displays
Cable Matters 4K 60 Hz Matrix Switch
4 Inputs/2 Outputs
Both 3.5mm (a headphone socket) and optical audio inputs
Included remote is bad
Input/Output Ports: 4/2 | HDMI Standard: 2.0 | Remote/Voice Operation: Remote
One of the more common uses of an HDMI switcher is picture-in-picture, allowing you to watch two videos sources at the same time. If PiP functionality is a must for you but 4K isn’t, then we can recommend the Orei HD-201P.
Best Picture-in-Picture
Orei HD-201P 2 X 1 High Speed
Comprehensive remote
Four PiP size options
No auto-power off
Can be confusing
Does not support 4K
This switcher excels at advanced PiP (again, only in HD and specifically the 1080p/1080i formats) and supports a whole bunch of advanced audio formats, so if you’ve got a home cinema setup, you’re good to go, with support for PCM2, 5.1, and 7.1 surround sound, Dolby 5.1, and DTS 5.1. This is another niche product, but like above, we’re glad it’s available.
Input/Output Ports: 2/1 | HDMI Standard: 2.0 | Remote/Voice Operation: Remote
Some home and professional theater setups require more inputs. This box has eight inputs and a single output for the largest of systems.
Best for 1080p
IOGEAR 8-Port HDMI Switch
Eight inputs
Remote included
Pricey
Does not support 4K
If you must have a lot of inputs, you’ll have to deal with 1080p/1080i output. For the price, we’d like to see 4K support, especially in this day and age. But, with eight inputs, it’s about the only game in town (and the only one we recommend).
Input/Output Ports: 8/1 | HDMI Standard: 1.4 | Remote/Voice Operation: Remote
What to Look for in an HDMI Switcher
Output Resolution
HDMI switchers available for consumers are at least 1080p and Dolby Digital/DTS compatible.
“Home users generally need two to four ports. However, they can go up to an 8-port switch depending on the number of sources they want to connect to a display.” — Christian Young, Pro AV Product Manager, ATEN Technology, Inc
If you have a 4K Ultra HD TV and 4K source components, the switcher also needs to be 4K compatible. If you need to pass HDR-encoded and/or 3D video signals, your HDMI switcher needs to have those capabilities.
HDMI switchers plug into AC power and usually come with remote control for more convenient source selection. Some HDMI switchers also incorporate HDMI-CEC support, which allows the switcher to automatically go to the correct input of the most recently activated device.
“Image quality should not be affected by the HDMI switchers because the source is digital. If the quality of the image is decreased, it can be attributed to a poor connection, damaged cables, or to the quality of the switcher.” — Christian Young, Pro AV Product Manager, ATEN Technology, Inc
Key Features
As mentioned above, all HDMI switchers pass standard Dolby Digital and DTS Digital Surround audio signals, but if you are routing the output of the switcher through a home theater receiver (instead of going directly to the TV) that provides decoding for advanced audio formats, such as Dolby TrueHD, Atmos, DTS-HD Master Audio, DTS:X, you need to make sure that your HDMI switcher is compatible.
The switcher also has to support HDMI handshake requirements that are implemented via either the HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Copy Protection) or HDCP 2.2 for 4K devices protocol between source devices and the TV or video projector. This is important when switching between devices, as there is a temporary break in the handshake until the newly selected device locks in with a new handshake.
HDMI Splitters
Don’t need an HDMI switcher, but want to send the same HDMI signal to two TVs or a video projector and TV? As mentioned above, you can use an HDMI switcher with two HDMI outputs, but if you don’t need a switcher, you can use an HDMI splitter.
HDMI splitters that send two, three, four, or more signals from a single HDMI source are available, but for consumers, two is usually enough. Splitters with more outputs are mostly for business and commercial use where one source needs to be sent to multiple TVs or projectors.
Splitters can be powered or passive (no power needed). It is best to use powered splitters to avoid handshake or signal loss issues. The splitter also has to be compatible with the video and audio signals you may need to pass through. Just as with a switcher, if one video display device is a lower resolution than the other, the output for both may default to the lower resolution.
Using a Home Theater Receiver as an HDMI Switcher or Splitter
Another option to consider that can add more HDMI inputs for TV viewing sources is a home theater receiver. Low-priced home theater receivers usually provide four HDMI inputs, but as you go up in price, you will find receivers with up to six or eight HDMI inputs along with two or three outputs which allow you to connect to more than one TV or a TV and video projector similar to a splitter.
About Our Trusted Experts
Emily Ramirez has been writing for Lifewire since 2019. She’s previously written for the Massachusetts Digital Games Institute and MIT Game Lab, and has a background in narrative design and media. She’s very family with games, TV, and audio devices, and particularly liked the Knivo 550BN for its five high-speed HDMI ports and reliability.
- What is a HDMI switcher?
- HDMI is the most common audio/video connection in use. However, TVs may have as few as one or two HDMI inputs.If you have a lot of HDMI-equipped source devices, such as an upscaling DVD/Blu-ray/Ultra HD Blu-ray player, cable/satellite box, media streamer, and game console that all need to be connected to your TV, there may not be enough HDMI inputs, but don’t panic.Instead of buying a new TV just to get more HDMI inputs, consider getting an external HDMI switcher to fill the gap.
- Will using a HDMI switcher reduce image quality?
- HDMI is a digital signal and won’t degrade in the same way as older analog signals even with the addition of a switcher. If you are experiencing a notable loss in signal quality it may be due to a faulty signal either from your switcher or a damaged cable.
- What’s the difference between an HDMI switch and an HDMI splitter?
- An HDMI switch allows you to swap between inputs transmitted to a single screen, whereas an HDMI splitter takes a single signal and sends it to multiple screens.
- Can an HDMI switch transmit a 4K signal?
- Yes, as long as your HDMI cable and switcher support HDMI 2.0 you can transmit a 4K signal without any loss in quality.
HDMI is the most common audio/video connection in use. However, TVs may have as few as one or two HDMI inputs.
HDMI is a digital signal and won’t degrade in the same way as older analog signals even with the addition of a switcher. If you are experiencing a notable loss in signal quality it may be due to a faulty signal either from your switcher or a damaged cable.
An HDMI switch allows you to swap between inputs transmitted to a single screen, whereas an HDMI splitter takes a single signal and sends it to multiple screens.
Yes, as long as your HDMI cable and switcher support HDMI 2.0 you can transmit a 4K signal without any loss in quality.
Adam Doud has been writing in the technology space for almost a decade and is also the creator and host of the Benefit of the Doud podcast, which reviews and discusses popular technology.
