The Anker 4K HDMI Switcher is a compact bi-directional HDMI switch that can connect 2 HDMI sources to 1 display or send 1 HDMI source to 2 displays. It supports resolutions up to 4K at 60Hz, along with HDR, 3D content, and HDCP 2.2. Audio formats, including DTS, DSD, Dolby AC3, and 5.1 and 7.1 channel surround sound pass through the switch at up to 24-bit, 192KHz sampling rates. The unit measures 2.17 x 2.17 x 0.57 inches and uses a single button on top to switch between connected sources.
An easy and simple device to swap between your peripherals
This is a bi-directional switch, so you can use it in two different modes. In 2-in-1-out mode, it acts like a normal switch. You can plug in two devices and switch between them as the output. In 1-in-2-out mode, it functions somewhat like a splitter. So you can plug in one input and output it to two different screens. However, only one screen can show the content at a time.
The switch supports 4K resolution at 60Hz with HDR pass-through. Backward compatibility covers 1080p, 720p, 576p, and 480p signals for older devices like the original Xbox One, PS4, or older Blu-ray players. HDCP 2.2 support means protected 4K content from streaming services and 4K Blu-rays will pass through without throwing copy-protection errors.
Audio support covers most surround formats, including DTS, DSD, Dolby AC3, and 5.1- and 7.1-channel layouts. The switch can support sampling rates up to 192 kHz at 24-bit, which covers high-resolution audio from Blu-ray and streaming services. The switch does not support HDMI ARC or eARC, so it cannot pass audio from a TV back to a connected sound system through the same cable. CEC pass-through is also not supported, meaning devices cannot control each other through the switch.
For 4K at 60Hz to work reliably, Anker recommends HDMI cables shorter than 3.3 feet with a 30 AWG specification, and the total combined length of input and output cables should stay under 6.5 feet. Cables longer than these recommendations may drop to 4K at 30Hz or show signal issues at higher resolutions. The switch is plug-and-play and does not require driver installation, but high-bandwidth signals are sensitive to cable quality and length.
At $10 with the $3 discount applied, the Anker 4K HDMI Switcher is an easy pickup for anyone who needs to switch between HDMI sources on a single display or send a single source to multiple displays. The $13 list price was already low for a 4K-capable HDMI switch, and the $3 discount brings it down further.