The basic difference between HDMI and Mini HDMI, as the names suggest, is the size; however, there are also other differences, which are addressed in this article. HDMI and mini HDMI are two port sizes that come under the HDMI standard. HDMI is the large sized slot used on devices such as monitors, projectors and graphics cards while mini HDMI is the smaller version of HDMI that is found on small devices such as digital camera, camcorders, and DSLRs. The number of pins is the same despite the difference in sizes, but the order of what pins are assigned have been changed. Other details such as voltages, speeds, bit rates, and protocols remain the same in both interfaces. It is important to note that there is a further smaller interface size known as micro HDMI used for devices like phones and it is NOT the same as mini HDMI.
What is HDMI?
HDMI, which stands for High Definition Multimedia Interface, is an interface used to transmit multimedia. It can transmit both audio and video in digital format where the video stream is uncompressed and audio stream can be compressed or uncompressed. There are several types of HDMI ports that differ in size under names type A, type B, type C and type D.
In general language, what HDMI refers is to the HDMI type A interface. This port has dimensions of 13.9 mm × 4.45 mm. This port has a number of 19 pins. HDMI carries out differential transmission and, therefore, to transmit one data bit there should be a pair of wires. In HDMI, there are 3 data lines as Data 0, Data 1 and Data 2. Data 0+, Data 1+ and Data 2+ are connected to pin numbers 7, 4 and 1 respectively and Data 0-, Data 1- and Data 2- are connected to pins 9, 6 and 3 respectively. Pin 8, 5 and 2 are connected to the shield for Data 0, Data 1 and Data 2. Pin 10,11 and 12 are used for the clock and they are respectively used for Clock+, Clock shield and Clock-. Pin number 13 is used for CEC (Consumer Electronics Control), which is a feature used to send user commands to control HDMI devices. Pin 14 is reserved and will be used in future standards. Pins 15 and 16 are used for something called DDC (Display Data Channel) and pin 17 is a shield for the CEC and DDC channels. Pin 18 is the power supply, which is connected to +5v to allow a maximum of 50 milliamperes. Pin 19 is the Hot Plug Detect, which is responsible for detecting connection and disconnection of devices while turned on.
HDMI type A port is usually found on comparatively larger devices such as Monitors and projectors. What is found on computers graphics cards as well is HDMI type A slots.
What is Mini HDMI?
Mini HDMI refers to the HDMI type C interface. This connector is much smaller than HDMI type A interface. The dimensions are 10.42 mm × 2.42 mm. However, the special thing is that it has the same number of pins that is 19. The order of the pins is bit different with what is found on type A. Positive signal pins have been swapped with the corresponding shields. That is pins 1, 4 and 7 have been swapped with pins 2,5 and 8. Shield for the CEC and DDC channels is connected to pin 13 instead of pin 17. CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) is connected to pin 14 instead of pin 13. The reserved pin here is pin number 17.
The speed, bit rate and the protocol are exactly similar to the HDMI type A. Because of the small size this is used in comparatively smaller devices such as Digital cameras, camcorders, DSLR where space is not enough to accommodate a full HDMI port.
A device with a mini HDMI interface can be connected with any device with a full HDMI interface without any issue. For example, a camcorder with a mini HDMI output can be connected to a monitor with an HDMI input using a HDMI cable whose one side is mini HDMI and the other side is HDMI.
What is the difference between HDMI and Mini HDMI?
• HDMI refers to the HDMI receptive of type A and mini HDMI refers to HDMI receptacle of type C.
• HDMI has a port size of 13.9 mm × 4.45 mm while the size of mini HDMI is 10.42 mm × 2.42 mm. So, the size of mini HDMI is much smaller than HDMI.
• Positive signal pins used in HDMI are 7, 4 and 1 and the respective pins for shield are 8, 5 and 2. However, in mini HDMI these are swapped. 7, 4 and 1 are used for the shield while 8, 5 and 2 are used for positive data.
• Shield for the CEC and DDC on HDMI is connected to pin 17. However, on mini HDMI this is connected to pin 13.
• CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) is connected to pin 13 on HDMI while this is connected to 14 on mini HDMI.
• Pin 14 on HDMI is reserved while on mini HDMI it is the pin 17 that is reserved.
• HDMI is used in larger devices such as monitors, projectors and graphics cards while mini HDMI is used in relatively small devices such as digital camera, camcorders and DSLRs.
Summary:
Mini HDMI vs HDMI
The major difference between HDMI and Mini HDMI is in the sizes. HDMI is the larger version and mini HDMI is the smaller version. The number of pins is the same, but there are differences in what each pin is assigned to. Despite the size and the difference in pin assignment there are no other changes. Both are used for transmitting multimedia including video and audio. HDMI most precisely known as type A HDMI is found on large devices while mini HDMI known as type C is found on small devices that cannot accommodate the space for a type A HDMI.
Images Courtesy:
- HDMI – HDMi Mini – HDMI Micro by SIMOBORTOLO (CC BY-SA 4.0)