There are so many electronic products on the market that are only VGA compatible. Good products that would go to the garbage thanks to the ever changing technology.
But you don't need to dispose of an old monitor (or projector) just because it is not HDMI compatible. You can even repurpose your monitor as a TV if you need it. So why not use an adapter instead?
In this article I'll give you a step by step guide to help you choose a HDMI to VGA adapter.
How to choose a new HDMI to VGA adapter
Choosing a HDMI to VGA adapter (Or converter) can be very challenging if you know nothing about technology.
Step 1: Where will you use it?
- Home or Commercial?
- TV, PC or laptop?
Some brands have made adapters and converters that are better suited for each application.
Second to that, there are adapters that do not work on low power devices like laptops and some video game consoles. You should watch out for the ones that do not include a secondary power source (Like a USB cable).
Also look at your connections. Do you need a male HDMI connector or should it be a female connector? The same thought applies to VGA.
Look at the examples below:
Female HDMI (And male VGA)
Male HDMI (And female VGA)
Step 2: Choose your price range
How much are you willing to spend on your HDMI to VGA adapter?
The more you spend, the better the features. But you need a limit, a budget.
A budget will allow you to narrow down alternatives and save you time.
Step 3: Choose the features your adapter needs
First of all, please double check if you really don't have an HDMI connection in your device.
With that said, think of what you need to accomplish with your cable:
- HDMI to VGA or do you also need VGA to HDMI?
- Do you need audio?
These features make your cable more expensive and are not necessarily needed for everybody.
But if you really need these features, then just consider the adapters that have them.
Example 1: There are 2 types of converters: Active and passive. Passive adapters can only transfer video one way.
Example 2: "VGA" does not receive audio input. You will need an audio output in your converter to be able to hear audio from your original device.
Step 4: Choose the resolution you need (Image quality)
The more resolution you need the more expensive that the adapter will be. But you may not need the best resolution at all.
Check what resolution is output from the original device.
Popular Brands (Optional)
- Amazon Basics
- Belkin
- Benfei
- Cable Matters
- Moread
- Rankie
- Ugreen
Recommendation
Amazon Basics
- Has audio.
- Only HDMI to VGA (No VGA to HDMI).
- Up to 1080P.
- Gold-plated connectors.
- Works well without an additional power supply.
- Not DRM compatible.
Buy now:
Belkin B2B137-BLK
- Has audio.
- Only HDMI to VGA (No VGA to HDMI).
- Up to 1080P.
- Gold-plated connectors.
- Has an additional USB cable for power.
- High quality and expensive.
Buy now:
Benfei Cable
- No audio.
- Only HDMI to VGA (No VGA to HDMI).
- Up to 1080P.
- Gold-plated connectors.
- Not compatible with low power devices.
Buy now:
Cable Matters
- No audio.
- Only HDMI to VGA (No VGA to HDMI).
- Up to 1080P.
- Gold-plated connectors.
- Has an additional USB cable for power.
- Not compatible with HDCP.
Buy now:
Moread HDMI2VGA-A-B
- No audio.
- Only HDMI to VGA (No VGA to HDMI).
- Up to 1080P.
- Gold-plated connectors.
- Not compatible with low power devices.
Buy now:
Rankie 1080P
- Has audio.
- Only HDMI to VGA (No VGA to HDMI).
- Up to 1080P.
- Gold-plated connectors.
- Has an additional USB cable for power (HDMI is not enough).
Buy now:
UGreen 40248
- Has audio.
- Only HDMI to VGA (No VGA to HDMI).
- Up to 1080P.
- The connectors are not gold-plated.
- Has an additional USB cable for power.
- Not compatible with HDCP protected content.
Buy now:
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