What is the difference between component vs. HDMI?

The difference between component and HDMI video is the way the signal is delivered from the source to the display device. HDMI delivers the signal in a digital format, while component video delivers the signal in an analog format.

HDMI and component are quite similar fundamentally; both break up the signal into three color components, deliver the same information into the display device and support a variety of resolutions. Knowing which type will produce a better image is difficult and depends not only on the signal but on the source and display devices as well. Cables can also affect image quality but should not be significant as long as the cables are high quality.