4 Best HDMI Switchers of 2024
HDMI switchers are extremely convenient and easy to use. But, there are lots of them out there. So how do you choose one over another? Below are our picks of the absolute best HDMI switchers, based on features, cost, and countless user reviews.
Best Overall: Zettaguard 4K HDMI Switch
Pros:
- Includes remote.
- Rear ports.
- 5 input ports.
Cons:
- Weak PIP mode.
Features:
- Can automatically switch inputs
- 4K at 60 hz
- HTC V2. 2 compatibility
- Remote has separate button for each input
Rating: 5/5
Price: $49.99
Weight: 11.1 ounces
Connectivity: 5 input ports / 1 output port
Summary:
There’s not much to dislike about this HDMI switcher, and it’s extremely affordable for what you get. We love that there’s a remote plus a physical switch button if you’re right next to the switcher when you want to use a different device. PIP mode isn’t the full 60fps, so it doesn’t look great, but it does provide a good preview for another input before you switch over to it. If you don’t need all 5 ports, you can opt instead for the 3-port or 4-port option to save a little money.
Best Budget: Newcare 3-in-1 HDMI Switch
Pros:
- Relatively cheap.
- Small size.
Cons:
- No remote.
- No PIP mode.
- Input ports on opposite side of the output port.
- Might experience flickering.
Features:
- 4K at 60 hz
- Includes 3.9-foot HDMI cable
- 2 compatible
Rating: 3/5
Price: $15.99
Weight: 3.8 ounces
Connectivity: 3 input ports / 1 output port
Summary:
This HDMI switcher is great if you’re looking for something with a small footprint or if you need it to be low-cost. It’s more than half the weight of the Zettaguard switcher detailed above, but still packs three HDMI ports. The lack of a remote means you’ll need to be next to the switch to swap inputs, but there is a button you can press on the device to cycle through all your devices.
Best Multi-Display: OREI 4×1 HDMI Switch
Pros:
- Ideal for security cameras.
- Includes remote.
Cons:
- Input ports on opposite side of the output port.
- 1080p limit (which is split four ways for 4-in-1 PIP mode).
Features:
- 1080p at 60 hz
- Picture-in-picture support
- 5 viewing modes
Rating: 4/5
Price: $89.99
Weight: 1.5 pounds
Connectivity: 4 input ports / 1 output port
Summary:
This is the HDMI switcher for you if you want to connect multiple displays via picture-in-picture mode. There are several viewing modes, letting you view a single source only, two sources at once, or all four simultaneously. We can see how incredibly useful this would be for a security camera screen. The active inputs can be controlled via the device’s front panel buttons or the useful, multi-button remote.
Best for Portability: Vilcome 3-in-1 HDMI Switcher
Pros:
- Easy to travel with.
- No power supply needed.
- Integrated output cable.
- 1-year warranty.
Cons:
- No remote.
Features:
- 25-foot cable built-in
- On-device, 1-button switcher
- 4K at 60 hz
Rating: 4/5
Price: $14.99
Weight: 2.89 ounces
Connectivity: 3 input ports / 1 output port
Summary:
This HDMI switcher is perfect if you travel a lot and your other gear takes up lots of space. Vilcome’s HDMI switcher is a little lighter than Newcare’s and costs about the same, but we like that the output cable is built-in — it’s one less cable to worry about losing when traveling!
How Do HDMI Switchers Work?
An HDMI switcher is incredibly easy to use. On the switcher, plug in all the devices you want to use on your display (using each device’s respective HDMI cable). Then, plug the HDMI switcher into one of the HDMI ports on your display.
With this setup, you’re essentially telling your TV that you have just one device. But the HDMI switcher understands that you have several devices plugged in to it.
To switch to a different device, use the button on the switch (or remote, if there is one) to change to a different input on the switch. If your switch has automatic HDMI switching, it can do this automatically for you when it detects that you’re using a different device.
An easy way to conceptualize how this is working is to imagine a little man inside the HDMI switcher. Yes, that’s kind of weird, but trust us here. This little man is holding onto all the HDMI cables that connect to all your devices. When you want to play a video game, you tell the man to plug that cable into the TV. When you want to switch over to your laptop or Blu-ray player, the man will “unplug” the video console and attach the device you’re interested in using.
Of course, all of this is happening inside the HDMI switcher quickly and electronically.
When Should I Use an HDMI Switcher?
An HDMI switcher simplifies device and cable management. It increases the number of HDMI devices that can connect to a display. If you think you need a new TV because it has too few HDMI ports for all your devices, an HDMI switcher is what you need!
Consider an example. Let’s say your TV has two HDMI ports, which is pretty common. One is being used by your PlayStation and the other by your laptop. But, you’d like to also use your Blu-ray player with the same TV.
Without an HDMI switcher, you’d have to disconnect your PlayStation, for example, to plug in your Blu-ray player. And then repeat the steps to play your video games again.
If you use an HDMI switcher, you can plug all three devices into the switcher and choose which one to use at any given time, without needing to unplug anything.