HDMI Forum unveils finalised HDMI 2.2 specs – 96 Gbps bandwidth and 16K resolution support
HDMI 2.2’s specifications have been finalised, and it’s a big upgrade over HDMI 2.1
The HDMI Forum has finalised the specifications for HDMI 2.2, the newest version of the HDMI specification. With this new standard, the maximum bandwidth of HDMI is increasing to 96 Gbps, double that of HDMI 2.1. This is enough to run 16K screens at 60Hz, or run 4K screens at 240Hz without compression.
Thanks to its 96 Gbps bandwidth, HDMI has surpassed DisplayPort 2.1. DisplayPort 2.1 maxes out at 80 Gbps. HDMI 2.2’s maximum bandwidth is 96 Gbps, which is 20% higher. This increased bandwidth creates the need for new “Ultra96” HDMI cables.
Using HDMI 2.2, resolutions of 8K at up to 240Hz are supported at 12-bit. The same is true for 12K at up to 120Hz. 16K and 12K resolutions are also supported up to 60 Hz. HDMI 2.2 is a versatile standard, and it will enable higher screen resolutions and refresh rates.
Mandatory cable certifications and labelling for 96 Gbps HDMI 2.2 cables
To avoid the messes of early HDMI 2.1 cable selection, HDMI 2.2’s specifications make “Ultra96” certifications and labelling mandatory. This means that all certified cables must have labels printed directly onto the cables for easy identification. Furthermore, all lengths of each manufacturer’s cables need to be certified.
This change will make it easier for users to purchase and verify the specifications of their cables. The HDMI Forum did not enforce these labels and certifications for HDMI 2.1, causing issues, as many sellers falsely claimed their cables were HDMI 2.2 certified.
New features
Aside from HDMI 2.2’s increased bandwidth, the standard also offers users a new feature called Latency Indication Protocol (LIP). This feature aims to avoid audio-visual (AV) sync issues in multi-device setups. This means that pictures and audio will sync between devices, avoiding a mismatch between the two. Note that this change primarily benefits users of AV receivers, soundbars, and other home theatre setups.
Note that AMD is reportedly planning to support HDMI 2.2 with its next-generation UDNA graphics cards. However, it remains uncertain when screens supporting HDMI’s new high-bandwidth standard will become available.
You can join the discussion on HDMI 2.2 on the OC3D Forums.
