HDMI cables come if a variety of versions. All HDMI cables are backwards compatible meaning the newest version of HDMI cable will work with older equipment. Below is a breakdown by classification:

High Speed Cables with Ethernet

• High Speed HDMI cables (category 2) are capable of handling high speed transition of 13.8Gbps for next generation 2160p applications.
• They also encompass 3D resolutions up to dual-stream 1080p for 3D gaming and other 3D video applications.  
• The new specification enables HDMI devices to support extremely high HD resolutions, effectively four times the resolution of a 1080p device.
• Support for 4K allows the HDMI interface to transmit digital content at the same resolution as the state-of-the-art Digital Cinema systems used in many movie theaters. 
• They are also designed to support the new HDMI v1.4 specification for three addition colour spaces.
• These cables have an audio "upstream" channel that reduces the number of cables required from TV to A/V receivers. Allows the TV to send audio to the AV receiver over the HDMI cable when a built-in tuner or DVD player is being used.
• Finally, a built in Ethernet channel which allows high-speed, bi-directional communication up to 100 Mb/sec. Eliminates the need for Ethernet cables between the internet connection and individual device by allowing internet-enabled HDMI devices to share an internet connection via the HDMI link.

High Speed Cables

• High Speed HDMI cables (category 2) encompass all of the above points with the exception of Ethernet compatibility. High Speed cables with Ethernet are backwards compatible and can be used in the non-Ethernet applications.

Standard Speed with Ethernet

• Standard Speed HDMI cables (category 1) are capable to perform at speeds of up to 2.25Gbps which is equivalent to 720p/1080i signal. 
• a built in Ethernet channel which allows high-speed, bi-directional communication up to 100 Mb/sec. Eliminates the need for Ethernet cables between the internet connection and individual device by allowing internet-enabled HDMI devices to share an internet connection via the HDMI link.

Standard Speed

• Standard Speed HDMI cables encompass all of the above points with the exception of Ethernet compatibility.