Why Are TV Cables Black?

TVs are growing larger and flatter, but the thick, black cords powering them seem to be staying the same. I looked into why companies don’t just make electronics cables white to blend in with our walls, and if anyone is trying to change this.

0:00 Black cables are annoying, right?
0:39 Why most TV cables are black
2:14 History of TVs
2:53 Cord solutions

I’m Dalvin Brown, a WSJ reporter covering personal technology, which includes the latest smart devices, apps and services making an impact on consumers. Subscribe if you're curious about what the latest tech developments mean for you, or if you want to go behind the scenes to find out what’s powering today's digital services.

#Cables #PTech #DalvinBrown

[DalvinBrownWSJ]

Is there a different color you would prefer cables to be?

[TheShowerofSlime]

Things I never thought about until now

[davedooney]

Paint your walls black, problem solved! 😄

[lovvyr]

Don't be racist. All cables are cables. Stop dividng the cable world.

[DocLitmus]

Interesting video but the answer is missing. Cables are black because there the plastic used is charged with carbon black based pigment. There is also white pigment (titanium dioxide) but black is more suitable with plastics used for cables: 1) cosmetics (not only), 2) better mechanical properties 3) resistance to ageing. Is also cheaper? Not sure, since carbon black mainly comes from Russia...

[kevintoner]

not the same thing, but...
My apple Mac charger was white once upon a time, but now it's very yellow...

If it were black, it wouldn't turn yellow...

[LimitedWard]

I highly doubt any replacement power chord will advertise compatibility with a specific product unless the connector is super obscure. Realistically, as long as the cable has a matching connector and compatible specs (voltage/amperage/temperature rating) then you should be fine.

[swagastaunite]

All these black cables ending up in landfills 😩 we need to solve the worlds 🌎 plastic problem

[pennryan]

Thanks for covering this issue and along these questions.

[TheCleric]

What are those hexagonal boxes on your walls? Are they filled with rocks and moss?

[gearkid]

Can you please send the link to the potted plants behind you? They look really amazing!

[basit]

you miss the biggest reason cables of black because if it was white or another color it would turn pale brown gray after some time black will remain black for the most of his life and if you wipe it with just wet cloth it will get clean . white or any other color will change periodically

[Krycky]

Best 1st world problem reporting guys. Top shelf journalisms…..oh by the way, we’re in the bricks or WW3, inflation is exacerbated, and gas prices will be insane…

[johnmarkfrancisco]

Why not paint your cord similar to the color of your wall?

[ella_komiya]

So this is a very strange debate.

For the past year I’ve been listening to people complain the PS5 is ugly because it’s white. However, having the PS5 for over a year I’ve found the PS5 being white blends in with my white wall and forgot it’s there, the very same argument in this video about white cables.
Yet people argue that a white PS5 is “ugly” and want a black one.

I’ve personally not cared what colour the cable is. It’s no different to an annoying fiddly long black cable coming out of my kettle or toaster.

The way I handle my cables is I cut a rubber band or ribbon and tie my cables at both ends and maybe a third in the middle if it’s really long. Reason why is because I find cable covers annoying when you need to reconnect for various reasons (moving if you aren’t a home owner, replacing or adding equipment or doing a reboot). I don’t mount my TV for this very reason, too. I’ve found a really nice TV unit that’s not cheap but it does a really good job hiding cables and my media equipment for my TV.

[jaystus]

Congrats you beat LLT to a topic. Pretty impressive. My HDMI from blue jeans cable are white. So I know which cable is 4k/120

[KamiInValhalla]

I feel like everyone should have a cable box / draw

[marcuslee]

This video answers a question I never knew I had and gives an answer that I never knew I wanted

[kristi_welch]

I like what Samsung is doing by putting all functions into one cable but of course because of that they are much more expensive to buy or replace

[justtherecord]

Black cords comes with black tv. Ok here is a thought - why can't we have white TVs?