According to Engadget, the same Ethernet cables used for wired internet can also carry power, audio, and video in the right setup. Video runs need adapters like HDMI extenders at each end. The cable itself is just the conduit.
This solves real problems in real homes. TVs mounted far from consoles. Cameras in another room. Ceiling-mounted access points. Smart-home gear that struggles on Wi-Fi. One run of Ethernet can replace three different cables and their adapters. Fewer cable types means simpler installs, less clutter, and fewer failure points. That's boring infrastructure, but boring wins.
Ethernet can be the neat answer without being the cheap or easy one. Adapters, standards, and cable quality determine whether your setup works or becomes a weekend of trial and error. Not every device supports power over Ethernet, and video extension requires specific hardware on both ends.
Consumer tech spends years selling wireless freedom, then leaves people debugging dead zones, lag, and power bricks. Ethernet survives because a single cable solves several problems at once. That's a better product story than another app-controlled box. The companies that make home tech feel simple in 2026 won't be the ones adding the most radios. They'll be the ones that hide the wiring plan behind one Cat6 cable.
Filed to the Technology desk · 3 days ago