I'm trying to minimize the number of cables I carry while traveling. I need to connect both my laptop and my USB-C iPad, and possibly my phone, to an HDMI display. Would a USB-C-to-USB-C cable with an HDMI adapter on each end work, or are HDMI adapters directional and incompatible when chained together? If that setup is unreliable, would it be better to use an HDMI-to-HDMI cable with a USB-C adapter, or a USB-C-to-HDMI cable and another adapter for the other device? My main priority is having one video cable that works with both the laptop and iPad; charging through the same cable is not essential.
4 Answers
A normal HDMI cable plus a USB-C-to-HDMI adapter can also work, but it means carrying an extra piece. A USB-C-to-HDMI cable is effectively the same arrangement built into one cable and is probably the most compact choice for your use case. Avoid HDMI-to-USB-C adapters unless they specifically state that they support HDMI input, since many products only convert USB-C output into HDMI.
USB-C and HDMI aren’t interchangeable just because both can carry video. USB-C video output depends on the device supporting DisplayPort Alt Mode, Thunderbolt, or USB4, and USB-C-to-HDMI adapters are generally directional. Chaining two adapters usually won’t reverse the signal or recreate the required USB-C video mode, so USB-C cable plus HDMI adapters on both ends is very unlikely to work reliably.
The simplest practical option is usually a USB-C-to-HDMI cable, assuming both devices support video output over USB-C. Leave the HDMI end connected to the display and use the USB-C end with either device. Be aware that this cable carries video only, not charging, and some phones or tablets may need a separate compatible adapter or may not support external displays at all.
If you want charging and video through one connection, use a USB-C hub or dock with HDMI and USB-C Power Delivery. For video alone, though, a direct USB-C-to-HDMI cable is more compact. Some inexpensive USB display adapters perform conversion in software and can use significant CPU resources, so a proper DisplayPort Alt Mode cable is preferable when the device supports it.
Charging isn’t really important to me. I mainly want one video cable that works with both my laptop and USB-C iPad, even if one end is permanently HDMI.