The 10 Best Mini Displayport To HDMI Cables and Adapter
Updated by · How we research
Want 4K at 60 Hz? It takes an active converter, like the Cable Matters 101021, our pick of 10 mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapters and cables. When users buy our independently chosen editorial picks, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
Passive adapters lean on the computer's dual-mode port to do the conversion, so they fail on docks such as the Surface Dock and top out at 4K at 30 Hz. Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapters and cables let an older MacBook, Surface Pro, ThinkPad or workstation graphics card drive an HDMI TV, monitor or classroom projector.
From the manual
- 4K at 60 Hz needs a 4K source, cable and display; if nothing shows, try 1080p at 60 Hz or 4K at 30 Hz. p. 1
- Macs made before 2010 send no audio over mini DisplayPort, so the adapter can't add sound to them. p. 1
- After switching Windows sound output to the HDMI display, you may need to restart the PC before audio plays. p. 2
- One-year limited warranty on parts and labor, plus lifetime technical support; misuse, alteration and normal wear aren't covered. p. 1
Why the Cable Matters 101021 is our top pick
Our pick wins on proof: its maker's own manual commits to 4K at 60 Hz with a 4K source, cable and display, says the active chip improves compatibility with mini DisplayPort computers and docks, and lists AMD Eyefinity multi-monitor support and copy protection for streaming.1 Our runner-up, the Ivanky 4K60 Active, makes similar claims and adds faster refresh rates for gaming, but only in store listings. Its maker's site lists no mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapter at all,4 and the chip inside is never named, so there's nothing to check those figures against.
The manual also spells out the support behind it: a one-year warranty on parts and labor, plus lifetime technical support.1 The product page adds Nvidia Surround to the multi-monitor list and rates audio at up to 7.1 channels.2 The runner-up's brand warranty is longer: 18 months, or 54 if you register it.3
Neither one gets around a Mac limit. Plugable reports that recent macOS releases can hold mini DisplayPort and Thunderbolt 2 Macs to 4K at 30 Hz through any HDMI adapter, active ones included.5 On a Windows laptop, a dock or a workstation card, the 101021 is the documented bet.
| Cable Matters 101021 | Ivanky 4K60 Active | |
|---|---|---|
| Maker documentation | Manual and product page | None on maker's site |
| 4K at 60 Hz | Rated, with 4K cable and display | Listing claim |
| Docks | Active chip, dock-friendly | Listing claim |
| Multi-monitor | AMD Eyefinity, Nvidia Surround | Not stated |
| Warranty | 1 year, lifetime tech support | 18 months, 54 if registered |
Sources
- Cable Matters 101021 1User manual, v2 07/2016 (PDF), p. 1 2Product page
- Ivanky 3General FAQ, warranty 4Site search for mini DisplayPort
- Plugable 5MDP-HDMI notes on Macs
From the manual
- Full-color 4K at 60 Hz needs a mini DisplayPort 1.2 or newer source and an HDMI 2.0 display. p. 1
- Runs on port power with no drivers, and also drives 1080p screens at up to 144 Hz. pp. 2-3
- StarTech names the converter chip, a Parade PS176, lists HDR support, and backs the cable with a three-year warranty. pp. 2-4
From the manual
- 8K and high-refresh 4K need a mini DisplayPort 1.4 source with compression support, an HDMI 2.1 display and a certified HDMI 2.1 cable. product page
- Any Thunderbolt 2 source, Macs included, stops at 4K at 60 Hz with this adapter, whatever the display. product page
- Some TVs need 8K or 4K at 120 Hz switched on by hand, and only certain HDMI ports may carry those modes. p. 1
- Through an AV receiver, the computer may fall back to 1080i and lose audio; set a progressive mode such as 1080p. p. 1
Editor's Notes
November 5, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Editors:
We read Cable Matters' manual for the 101021, its product and support pages for the 101101 and StarTech's datasheet for its one-piece cable, and added their key points under those picks, along with a section on why the 101021 leads. The buyer's guide had credited Dell with a 4K checklist that actually comes from Plugable; that is fixed, and the guide now warns that macOS can hold older Macs to 4K at 30 Hz. A 2019 note now says newer Surface Pro models use USB-C.
October 19, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Editors:
The Cable Matters 101021 is now on top because its maker still backs its 4K at 60 Hz rating. The rest of the old list had mostly aged out. The Plugable Active, our old favorite, is no longer available from the store we link to, and the UGreen 10439 is gone too. The ToPoint, Topoint, Rankie and QGeeM multi-port converters have dropped out of sight, so they're off.
Three stay: the Cable Matters 101021, the Cable Matters 101001 for 1080p projectors, and the Ivanky 4K30, renamed from Ivanky Super Slim. New picks split the list by what people actually need: 4K at 60 Hz dongles like the Benfei 4K60, one-piece cables like the StarTech 6F-MDP-HDMI2-4K60, and the Cable Matters 101101 for 4K at 120 Hz.
We found no lab tests for any of these, so the refresh numbers are makers' figures. The buyer's guide explains why the computer, cable and screen matter as much as the adapter.
Earlier notes
January 29, 2021, by Christopher Thomas:
Whether your older laptop has a dedicated mini DP port, or you're using a MacBook with Thunderbolt 2, there are plenty of adapters available for turning the video signal over to an HDMI connector. The Plugable Active is the top choice because of its active configuration, which ensures it works well with finicky devices like the Microsoft Surface Pro. If an active cable is okay and you want to spend less, get the Ivanky Super Slim. If you need legacy display options as well, the ToPoint 4 in 1 is the way to go, and the Rankie R1101 is a highly reliable choice that eliminates the need to buy a separate cable.
April 2, 2019, by Christopher Thomas:
If your older-model MacBook is still kicking or if you invested in a nice Ultrabook before the USB-C craze hit, one of these handy adapters and cables could really come in handy when it's time to share your display with a larger monitor or TV. Users of Wacom's popular drawing tablets may also find these immensely useful, especially if their desktop doesn't have a full-size DisplayPort. Owners of even the newest Microsoft Surface Pro and Laptop will also benefit from these, which is a bit of a disappointment to many, but hey, at least it's (a little bit) less confusing than the jungle of type C connector standards. [2026 update: Microsoft replaced mini DisplayPort with USB-C starting with the Surface Pro 7 in late 2019, so newer Surface Pro models need a USB-C adapter instead.] For that matter, if you're one of those with a late-model Surface Pro or a relatively powerful MacBook, skip right to the top and check out the Plugable. It's one of the few around that outputs to HDMI 2.0, and a lot of users find it to work well right out of the box. If it doesn't work seamlessly -- and with the MacBook, we promise that it won't and you can thank Apple for that -- grab a freeware program called SwitchResX, which will let you set a custom resolution within the OS, and it should solve your problem.
If you're not terribly worried about 4K at 60Hz or 1080p at 120Hz, there are plenty of other options. The active Cable Matters model can also support high refresh rates at 4K, though it doesn't appear to officially support the HDMI 2.0 protocol. The iVanky is cheap, durable, compact, and its relatively attractive appearance won't stick out like a sore thumb if you're using it to give an important presentation. The CableCreation is even more affordable, and while it will actually stand out (because it's bright blue), at least it'll be a little easier to fish out of your laptop bag (although we'd recommend picking up a small zippered bag if you've got more than a couple dongles to deal with). The QGeeM is an interesting choice as it's nearly the only one you'll find with a female miniDP connector. And check out the ToPoints or UGreen if you ever need to connect to older display devices like legacy monitors or projectors, as they have a wider range of output formats.
Special Honors
Plugable MDP-HDMI Plugable's active mini DisplayPort to HDMI 2.0 adapter is VESA certified and rated for 4K at 60 Hz, and the maker publishes unusually frank notes on what older Macs and HDR screens can and can't do with it. Plugable still lists it on its own site. plugable.com
Active Or Passive: The 4K At 60 Hz Question
It's what you need for 4K at 60 Hz, and it also works from ports and docks that lack dual-mode output.
Most mini DisplayPort jacks are dual-mode, sometimes labeled DP++. A dual-mode port can send an HDMI-style signal itself, so a passive adapter only has to rewire the pins; Dell notes that Thunderbolt ports work this way (Dell). That's why passive adapters cost so little. Their limit is speed: Plugable rates its own passive model for 4K at only 30 Hz, with 1440p and 1080p at 60 Hz (Plugable), and none of the passive picks here goes past it.
An active adapter has its own converter chip. It's what you need for 4K at 60 Hz, and it also works from ports and docks that lack dual-mode output. Microsoft's Surface Dock is the common example: SurfaceTip notes that the dock needs an active adapter (SurfaceTip). Active adapters draw a little power from the port.
At 4K, 30 Hz is fine for movies, but the pointer and scrolling look jerky. For a 4K desktop, get an active adapter. For a 1080p TV or projector, a passive one does the job.
Cable Or Dongle, And The Rest Of The Chain
A dongle is a few inches long and needs a separate HDMI cable. That's handy if you already own a good cable or need an unusual length. A one-piece cable has the converter built in, so there's one less plug to work loose, but a damaged end means replacing the whole thing.
4K at 60 Hz needs every link to cooperate. Plugable's notes for its active adapter list the pieces: a mini DisplayPort 1.2 output, a display with an HDMI 2.0 input, and an HDMI cable no longer than about 6 feet, because the port supplies only a little power (Plugable). If one link is older, the picture drops to 4K at 30 Hz. A worn or uncertified HDMI cable is the usual suspect when the screen flickers or blanks, and Dell advises certified cables rated for the resolution you want (Dell). The 8K adapters go further, with HDMI 2.1 output, but Cable Matters says those modes need a mini DisplayPort 1.4 source with compression support, an HDMI 2.1 display and a certified HDMI 2.1 cable (Cable Matters).
Audio rides along on all of these. Cable Matters, for example, rates its active adapter for up to 7.1-channel uncompressed audio (Cable Matters).
Check Your Port, Your Mac And The Direction
Mini DisplayPort is the small, flat jack with one slanted side on Macs from about 2008 to 2017, early Surface Pro tablets, many ThinkPad, Dell and HP laptops, and workstation graphics cards. Thunderbolt 1 and 2 use the same jack, so these adapters fit them; the 2017 MacBook Air still had one (Apple). Thunderbolt 3, Thunderbolt 4 and USB-C are oval and need a USB-C adapter instead. Mini HDMI is a different plug again, found on cameras and some tablets.
Older Macs have limits of their own. Plugable notes that recent macOS releases can hold Macs with mini DisplayPort or Thunderbolt 2 to 4K at 30 Hz through an HDMI adapter, even an active one, and that some Thunderbolt 2 Macs won't send audio over HDMI (Plugable). Cable Matters adds that Macs made before 2010 send no audio over mini DisplayPort at all. If your Mac has a full-size HDMI port, you don't need an adapter; Apple lists which models have one (Apple).
Finally, direction: every pick here sends video from mini DisplayPort to HDMI only. Cable Matters states plainly that its adapter isn't bidirectional. Connecting an HDMI laptop or game console to a mini DisplayPort monitor takes a separate, powered converter.
How we researched this
We compared 15 current mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapters and cables and kept these 10. We read Cable Matters' 101021 user manual, its 101101 product page and 8K adapter troubleshooting article, StarTech's datasheet for the 6F-MDP-HDMI2-4K60, and the Benfei, Belkin and Ivanky store and support pages; Ivanky's own site lists no mini DisplayPort adapter, so its figures are listing claims. Plugable's and Dell's notes on active and passive conversion shaped the buyer's guide. A CPSC search found no recall of any of these adapters; Belkin's recent recalls cover power banks and charging stands.
Sources (18)
- Cable Matters: Active Mini DisplayPort to HDMI Adapter
- Plugable: MDP-HDMI active adapter
- Plugable: DPM-HDMIF passive adapter
- Dell: HDMI to DisplayPort conversion information
- SurfaceTip: Best active mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapters
- Apple: Macs with an HDMI port
- Cable Matters: 101021 user manual (PDF)
- Cable Matters: 101101 8K adapter product page
- Cable Matters: 8K video adapter troubleshooting (KB 136)
- StarTech.com: 6F-MDP-HDMI2-4K60 datasheet (PDF)
- Benfei: 4K60 active adapter store page
- Benfei: 6-foot 4K30 cable store page
- Belkin: F2CD079bt Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapter, 4K
- Ivanky: general FAQ and warranty
- Apple: MacBook Air (13-inch, 2017) specifications
- The Verge: Surface Pro 7 switches to USB-C
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: recalls
- CPSC: Belkin power bank and charging stand recall
Frequently asked questions
Can I use one of these to connect an HDMI device to a mini DisplayPort monitor?
No. These adapters and cables only send video from a mini DisplayPort output to an HDMI input. Going the other way takes a separate, powered HDMI to DisplayPort converter.
Do I need an active adapter?
Only for 4K at 60 Hz or higher, or when the port or dock lacks dual-mode output, as with Microsoft's Surface Dock. For 1080p screens, a passive adapter is enough.
Will it work with a USB-C or Thunderbolt 3 MacBook?
No. MacBook Pro models from 2016 on and MacBook Air models from 2018 on use oval USB-C or Thunderbolt 3 ports, which need a USB-C to HDMI adapter. Mini DisplayPort adapters fit Thunderbolt 1 and 2 ports only.
Does a mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapter carry sound?
Yes. HDMI carries audio, and these adapters pass it through, most of them up to 7.1 channels. Some older Macs with Thunderbolt 2 can't send audio this way, according to Plugable.
Is mini DisplayPort the same as mini HDMI?
No. Mini DisplayPort is a flat jack with one slanted side, used on computers. Mini HDMI is a smaller version of the HDMI plug, found on cameras and some tablets. They need different adapters.
Why does my 4K screen run at only 30 Hz?
One link is holding it back: a passive adapter, an older HDMI cable, a display input below HDMI 2.0 or a computer that can't output 4K at 60 Hz. On a Mac, macOS itself can cap an HDMI adapter at 30 Hz. Check each piece.
