High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) is a channel through which devices can transmit and receive high-definition (HD) audio and video between external sources and receivers.
Laptops with HDMI ports allow you to project high-quality video and audio onto HD-capable devices such as televisions and audio receivers.
HDMI ports aren’t as popular as USB ports because of the latter’s vast applicability which has overshadowed the former, yet the HDMI ports are equally beneficial.
The HDMI port is embedded on almost all laptops produced today and is automatically configured to send audio and video to external devices but most users have not yet put this port to good use.
Below are a few ways you can put your laptop’s HDMI port to good use;
1. Connecting your Laptop to TV
If you are tired of a small screen, you might consider using your TV screen to get the best out of your laptop entertainment.
But there’s a catch, not all TVs have HDMI slots.
But the good news is most TVs manufactured today have HDMI slots.
Using an HDMI cable, you can connect one end to your laptops HDMI port and the other end into your TV’s HDMI slot.
The rest of the work is automatic. All you might need to do is switch your TVs display mode to the HDMI section and you should be set to go.
2. Connecting the Laptop to a Decoder
If you have a laptop and a decoder without a TV, the laptop can play the display role.
As long as your laptop supports HDMI input, you can simply use the HDMI cable to connect the decoder to the laptop and you can start viewing your digital TV on your laptop.
In most cases, a laptop should have an inbuilt TV card
3. Connecting to a Blu-ray player
Blu-ray players support 3D, Ultra HD and 4K video which same standards are supported by most HDMI input laptops.
And just like with the decoder above, your laptop’s HDMI cable can be used to connect to a Blu-ray player to enjoy the best quality video and audio.
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4. Connecting to game consoles
With an HDMI port, you can use your laptop to enjoy the best picture quality and sound for the best gaming experience.
Your laptop should have a dedicated port for input, where you plug the HDMI cable into the port while it’s turned off and should automatically detect the HDMI input and switch your laptop to output from the game console.
All this can happen with just a simple connection of your game console to your laptop using an HDMI cable.
5. Connecting to home theater systems
The HDMI port on your laptop can also be used for connecting to other devices such home theater systems.
If you wish to improve the sound of your home theater system, you can consider connecting your laptop and home theater via an HDMI cable.
This should deliver the best audio quality for your listening pleasure. Once connected, right click on the audio/speaker icon on your laptop and select your output option as HDMI output.
Related:
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5 best ways to improve the sound on your TV
