If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to connect your MacBook or MacBook Pro to an HDMI-enabled input, then Aukey’s USB-C to HDMI Cable might be able to do the job.
Aukey’s USB-C to HDMI Cable is a single-cable solution with a USB-C connector on one end, and an HDMI connector on the opposite end. The cable itself, at 1.8 meters, should be generally long enough to connect to TVs mounted on a wall.
The cable supports HDMI 1.4b-only, which means that it can connect to a 4K television or monitor at full 3840-by-2160 resolution, but it’s only capable of doing so at a max of 30 Hz. That’s because HDMI Alt Mode for the USB Type-C Connector only supports HDMI 1.4b at this time.
30 Hz is okay for a quick and dirty solution, but it’s not something you’d want to use over the long-term. If you’re more interested in lesser resolutions, such as connecting to a Full HD television, then Aukey’s cable is much more suitable for the application, since plain old 1080p mode supports 60 Hz with no issue.
Video walkthrough
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Inside the box you’ll find the cable and corresponding documentation. The USB-C portion of the cable is a standard port that will easily connect to a 2016 MacBook Pro via its USB-C ports. Keep in mind that this cable is for USB ports, and doesn’t require Thunderbolt 3. That means that it’s also compatible with the 12-inch MacBook.
Because the cable maxes out at 30 Hz for higher resolutions, including 1920-by-1080p “Retina” (pixel-doubled), it’s not something that I would recommend for long-term usage in a computing environment. The eyestrain issues caused by a 30 Hz refresh rate negates some of the convenience brought to the table by Aukey’s adapter.
Higher resolutions max out at 30 Hertz
That said, I think this adapter is good to have on hand for those situations where you need to quickly connect to an HDTV from a port-challenged MacBook. In those cases, Aukey’s cable proves to be quite handy, especially since watching traditional television/movie content is usually fine at 30 Hz and below.
You can find the reasonably-priced Aukey USB-C to HDMI Cable on Amazon. Would you consider adding such an adapter to your tech repertoire?
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