HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) is the interface standard du jour. If your TV was bought in the last decade it has an HDMI port, as does almost every set-top box, games console and a decent number of still and video cameras. The benefit to HDMI, apart from its ubiquity (which means it’s cheap), is that it accommodates HD video and audio simultaneously, allowing you to connect devices without worrying about watching a film in full HD but having to make do with your tablet’s tinny speakers. An HDMI output is an advantage that many Android tablets have over Apple’s iPad.
HDMI plugs come in three sizes. Regular HDMI (or Type A, left) are the full-size ports you’ll find on devices where space isn’t an issue: think TVs, laptops and games consoles. The sockets you’re likely to find on tablets and phones will be either Type C (also known as Mini HDMI, middle) or Type D (Micro HDMI, right). Of these, Micro HDMI, or Type D, is the smallest. Whichever type of port your tablet has, connecting it to an HDMI socket isn’t going to cost you the Earth: expect to pay well under £10 (under £5 in some cases) for an HDMI to Mini- or Micro-HDMI cable.
