4 HDMI devices I always keep plugged into my TV

• Fire TV Stick 4K Max
• Nintendo Switch 2
• My Windows 11 PC
• PlayStation 5

Earlier this year, I finally decided it was time to buy a new TV, and during this process, I made a couple of decisions early on to help narrow down the options. Number one, it had to be an OLED because I finally wanted to see what all the fuss was about. And second, it had to have four HDMI 2.1 ports to be as future-proof as possible.

I primarily use four HDMI devices on my TV, but my old TV had only two ports, which meant constantly swapping devices in and out. Sure, HDMI switches exist, but since I was going all out on a new TV, I didn’t want to add yet another gadget to the chaos that is currently my TV stand. I just wanted a setup that could handle everything I use without a second thought.

In the end, I chose the LG C5, which has a stunning WOLED panel — and most importantly, four HDMI 2.1 ports. With this setup, I no longer have to juggle around HDMI cables or worry about swapping devices. All my essential HDMI devices stay plugged in, ready to go at a moment’s notice. Here are the four HDMI devices I never unplug from my TV, and why they’ve earned a permanent spot in my entertainment setup.

Fire TV Stick 4K Max

All my streaming needs

Like a lot of people, the main thing I use my TV for is streaming, and the device I keep coming back to is Amazon’s Fire TV Stick 4K Max. I’m a fan of its simple interface, and since I rely on Prime Video and its subscription channels for most of my streaming, jumping into a show or movie is quick and painless. Even when I switch to other apps like YouTube, Netflix, Disney+, or Pluto TV, everything I need is easy to find right on the home screen.

Another big plus of the Fire TV Stick, and streaming sticks in general, is its compact size. With the Fire TV Stick 4K Max, there’s no bulky box cluttering up my TV unit — it plugs straight into an HDMI port, and you can barely tell it’s there. I did consider picking up an Apple TV 4K, but the Fire TV Stick 4K Max is tough to beat on price. It regularly sells for $60 and often drops to around $40 on sale, which is about $100 cheaper than the latest Apple TV 4K, while still having ample performance and supporting Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and fast Wi-Fi 6E speeds.

Nintendo Switch 2

A seamless gaming experience

One of my favorite things that happened in 2025 was the release of the Nintendo Switch 2. When it launched in June, I rushed out to buy one in-store on day one after missing out on a pre-order. Since then, I haven’t gone a single day without playing it. Compared to the original Switch, it’s a much more enjoyable experience overall, thanks to the larger 7.9-inch 1080p display and the more powerful Nvidia Tegra processor. Playing games like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Pokémon Legends: Z-A at 60FPS has been an absolute joy.

Like the original Switch, one of the console’s biggest strengths is its hybrid design, letting you play in handheld mode or dock it and pick up right where you left off on your TV. So naturally, keeping the Switch 2 dock always plugged into my TV makes it incredibly easy to jump into a game whenever I feel like it. With my old TV, I was constantly unplugging my Switch dock to make room for other HDMI devices, so having the Switch 2 always connected has been a nice change.

My Windows 11 PC

Its versatility is unmatched

When I first set up my TV, the first device I plugged into one of its HDMI ports to test it was my Windows 11 PC — and it’s stayed plugged in ever since. I don’t use my PC on my TV for streaming shows all that often, but I regularly use it to play Steam games and watch YouTube videos. Having it always connected via HDMI makes it incredibly convenient. I just switch my TV to my PC’s HDMI input, and boom, my desktop is right there, ready to go.

One of the big reasons I went with the LG C5 in the first place was its 120Hz refresh rate and Nvidia G-Sync support. Since my PC is powered by an RTX 4080, I can enjoy games in 4K at higher refresh rates with no screen tearing. So far, the experience has been sublime, with titles like The Last of Us Part 2 and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle looking stunning and running well.

More broadly, having a PC hooked up to your TV via HDMI makes it insanely versatile. Beyond gaming or watching videos, it opens the door to things like web browsing and using apps like emulators on your TV — stuff you simply can’t do as easily on a console or streaming stick.

PlayStation 5

PlayStation’s exclusive titles are hard to beat

Finally, the device I always keep plugged into my TV’s fourth and last HDMI port is my PlayStation 5 (PS5). While it’s not the platform I game on the most, I keep it handy for gaming with friends who mainly use the PS5, and to enjoy PlayStation exclusives that haven’t made it to PC yet, like Death Stranding 2 and Astro Bot.

Lately, I’ve also discovered that the PS5 is a great way to revisit classic PlayStation games without worrying about emulation. I’ve been diving back into gems like the Sly Cooper series — and even indulging in one of my all-time favorite PS1 titles, however terrible it may be — the Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace video game tie-in.

With the PS6 rumored to be delayed due to the ongoing RAM shortage, it seems my PS5 will likely stay plugged into my TV for a long time.