Best HDMI Cable for PS5 & Xbox Series X (4K@120Hz)

You unboxed your PS5 o Xbox Series X / Series S, plugged it into your TV, and booted a next-gen game like Spider-Man 2, Baldur’s Gate 3 o Halo Infinite. But despite the marketing, the game is running at 60fps, not 120fps, and you don’t see the smooth, tear-free picture you expected.

Nine times out of ten, the console isn’t broken — the Cable HDMI or the TV port is the bottleneck. Both Sony and Microsoft ship an Cable HDMI 2.1 in the box, but if that cable was damaged, too long, replaced with an old HDMI 2.0 cable, or plugged into the wrong TV input, your PS5 and Xbox will silently cap themselves at 4K@60Hz.

This guide explains what HDMI cable you actually need for PS5 and Xbox Series X, which resolutions and refresh rates each console supports, how to confirm your TV and cable are ready for 4K@120Hz, 8K@60Hz, VRR and ALLM, and how to fix the most common “stuck at 60Hz” problems.

What Video Specs Do PS5 and Xbox Series X Actually Support?

Situation	Use the included cable?	Upgrade recommendation
PS5 / Xbox Series X new out of box	✅ Yes, it’s HDMI 2.1 48Gbps	Keep it
Included cable too short (TV is 2m+ away)	❌	Buy certified Ultra High Speed HDMI 2.1 in 2m / 3m
Lost or damaged the original cable	❌	Replace with certified 48Gbps HDMI 2.1
Replaced with old HDMI 2.0 cable from old Blu-ray	❌	Old cable caps at 4K@60Hz; upgrade
Long in-wall run (5m+) from rack to TV	❌	Use fiber optic AOC HDMI 2.1 for stable 4K@120
Want best build quality / braided jacket	Opcional	Braided, gold-plated Ultra High Speed cable

Espec	Minimum	Recommended	Why
Versión HDMI	HDMI 2.1	HDMI 2.1	Required for 4K@120 / 8K@60
Ancho de banda	48 Gbps	48Gbps (Ultra High Speed)	18Gbps HDMI 2.0 = 4K@60 only
Certificación	Alta velocidad Premium	Ultra High Speed certified	Genuine 48Gbps test certificate
Length for 4K@120	Up to 2–3m copper	Up to 5m certified copper / fiber AOC beyond	Copper signal degrades at 4K@120 over distance
VRR / ALLM support	✅	✅	Same HDMI 2.1 spec; cable must not drop these features
HDCP 2.3	✅	✅	Required for streaming apps and 4K Blu-ray
Build quality	Basic	Braided, gold-plated connectors	Durability, repeated plugging

Problema	Likely Cause	Fijar
PS5 / Xbox outputs 4K@60, not 120	Cable is HDMI 2.0 (18Gbps)	Replace with Ultra High Speed 48Gbps HDMI 2.1
4K@120 available on PC but not console	TV’s HDMI port is not 2.1 / not 120Hz	Plug into the TV’s HDMI 2.1 / 120Hz-labeled port
Flicker or black screen at 120Hz	Cheap uncertified cable	Use certified Ultra High Speed cable
VRR option greyed out	TV doesn’t support VRR over that port	Enable VRR in TV menu; use HDMI 2.1 port
Game runs at 60fps despite 120Hz support	Game / performance mode setting	Enable Performance Mode / 120Hz Mode in game settings
Long cable (5m+) drops 4K@120	Copper signal loss	Switch to fiber optic AOC HDMI 2.1
Dolby Vision on Xbox looks wrong	HDMI 2.1 bandwidth limitation	Check cable is 48Gbps; use correct TV port

The PS5 includes a HDMI 2.1 (Ultra High Speed, 48Gbps) cable out of the box, capable of 4K@120Hz and 8K@60Hz. Use it unless you need a longer or premium braided cable.

Yes. You need a 48Gbps Ultra High Speed HDMI 2.1 cable. The included cable works; if you replace it, make sure the new cable is certified for Ultra High Speed bandwidth.

Three common causes: (1) you’re using an old HDMI 2.0 cable; (2) you’re plugged into a TV port that doesn’t support 4K@120Hz; (3) the game itself hasn’t got Performance / 120Hz mode enabled. Check all three.

Few games render natively at 8K, and 8K TVs are still rare. Most gamers get more benefit from 4K@120Hz with VRR than 8K. Choose a 48Gbps HDMI 2.1 cable that supports both.

Copper certified cables work reliably up to 2–3m at 4K@120Hz. For longer in-wall or projector runs, use a fiber optic AOC HDMI 2.1 cable for stable 15m, 20m or 30m.

Xbox Series S outputs up to 1440p@120Hz. It works with a 48Gbps HDMI 2.1 cable; an 18Gbps HDMI 2.0 cable can also handle its lower bandwidth, but Ultra High Speed is recommended for future-proofing.