At CES 2025, the HDMI Forum presented the new HDMI 2.2 standard, which enables an impressive increase in the data transfer rate to up to 96 Gbit/s.
Highlights
- Increase in bandwidth from 48 Gbit/s (HDMI 2.1) to 96 Gbit/s
- Support for resolutions up to 12K at 120 Hz
- Introduction of the new “Ultra96 HDMI” cable
- Improved audio-video synchronization through the Latency Indication Protocol (LIP)
Technical innovations and improvements
HDMI 2.2 doubles the maximum data transfer rate compared to HDMI 2.1 from 48 GB/s to 96 GB/s. This opens the door to higher resolutions and frame rates. It should be possible to transmit uncompressed 4K content at 480 FPS and 8K content at 240 FPS. Compression is used for even higher resolutions such as 12K with 120 FPS. The new standard is therefore ideally equipped for the coming years.
A central element of the new standard is the “Ultra96 HDMI” cable, which has been specially developed to meet the high requirements of HDMI 2.2. These cables are certified and carry the “Ultra96” label, which signals to consumers that they support the full performance of the new standard. Each cable model and length must be individually certified by the HDMI Forum. This ensures that they meet the requirements.
HDMI 2.2 also introduces the Latency Indication Protocol (LIP), which is intended to improve synchronization between audio and video signals. This is particularly beneficial in setups with multiple devices such as soundbars and receivers and ensures a seamless entertainment experience without annoying delays between picture and sound.
Possible applications and future prospects
The introduction of HDMI 2.2 is particularly interesting for applications with high data requirements. Data-hungry things such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR) are likely to benefit in particular. The new standard should also bring considerable advantages in professional areas such as large-format digital signage or medical imaging.
Conclusion
With HDMI 2.2, the HDMI Forum is setting a new standard that meets the requirements of future display technologies. The doubling of the bandwidth and the introduction of new functions such as the Latency Indication Protocol offer exciting possibilities for both private and professional users. It remains to be seen how quickly the industry will take up these innovations and bring corresponding devices onto the market. The specifications are to be released to partners in the first half of 2025. We should therefore expect the first compatible products in 2026.
