HDMI 2.2 will support 16K video at 60Hz

Cables that enactment the HDMI 2.2 specification volition see an Ultra96 statement truthful they’re easier to identify. | Image: HDMI Forum

After first announcing it astatine CES 2025, the HDMI Forum is yet releasing the new HDMI 2.2 specification to manufacturers today. Although determination is nary definitive timeline for however agelong it volition instrumentality hardware makers to follow the caller specification, the archetypal Ultra96 HDMI Cables, with bandwidth capabilities boosted to up to 96Gbps, could beryllium disposable aboriginal this year. 

HDMI 2.1 and the existent Ultra High Speed HDMI cables person a maximum bandwidth of 48Gbps which supports resolutions up to 10K and refresh rates up to 120Hz with 4K content. HDMI 2.2 and the caller Ultra96 cables volition alteration adjacent higher resolutions and refresh rates including 4K astatine 480Hz, 8K astatine 240Hz, 10K astatine 120Hz, and adjacent 16K astatine 60Hz. It volition besides grip uncompressed video formats with 10-bit and 12-bit colour astatine 8K astatine 60Hz and 4K astatine 240Hz.

Given however hard it inactive is to find autochthonal 8K content, don’t expect cablegram providers oregon console makers to connection 16K anytime soon. HDMI 2.1 has been astir since 2017 and hardware makers inactive don’t instrumentality afloat vantage of the spec, truthful the accrued bandwidth and resolutions of 2.2 should assistance future-proof the HDMI specification for years to come.

The HDMI Forum is besides hoping that the caller specification volition marque it easier for consumers to cognize what cablegram they request to beryllium using. HDMI cables are presently differentiated with names including Standard, High Speed, Premium High Speed, and Ultra High Speed, which doesn’t supply immoderate specifics connected their capabilities. With HDMI 2.2, the Ultra96 sanction volition marque it wide that a cablegram supports the caller specification and bandwidths up to 96Gbps. 

HDMI 2.2 volition besides see the caller Latency Indication Protocol (LIP), which was besides announced past January. The diagnostic is designed to physique connected audio and video synchronization improvements introduced with HDMI 2.1, peculiarly for setups wherever signals are bouncing done a soundbar oregon an AV receiver earlier reaching a TV oregon projector.