(January 7, 2025) We knew it was coming, and now it's official. The HDMI Forum has unveiled its next-generation HDMI Specification, Version 2.2, promising a new era of high-performance audio and video. Announced today at CES 2025 in Las Vegas, this latest update is designed to meet the growing demands of modern content-rich ecosystems while preparing for tomorrow's innovations. From gamers and cinephiles to professionals in AR/VR and commercial industries, HDMI 2.2 is crafted to represent a transformative leap forward.
At the heart of the new specification is an impressive 96Gbps bandwidth, nearly doubling the capacity of HDMI 2.1. Theoretically, this should translate into smoother support for ultra-high resolutions and faster refresh rates. Whether immersed in the latest 8K blockbuster or exploring the possibilities of virtual and augmented reality, HDMI 2.2 is billed as the pipeline needed for seamless integration. It also introduces Fixed Rate Link (FRL) technology, designed to deliver optimal performance for everything from cutting-edge gaming systems to machine vision applications in medical imaging, and Latency Indication Protocol (LIP), a feature that could save many a home theater enthusiast and soundbar user from lip-sync nightmares.
The HDMI Forum hasn’t just thought about gamers and movie buffs; its latest spec also caters to industries like digital signage and spatial reality. Imagine massive, crystal-clear LED walls running on 96Gbps pipelines or light field displays that bring AR applications to life. It's all part of the HDMI 2.2 vision to expand far beyond traditional home entertainment setups.
To support these advancements, HDMI 2.2 will launch with a new Ultra96 HDMI Cable, explicitly designed for the new specification. Certified under the HDMI Cable Certification Program, every Ultra96 cable will undergo rigorous testing and display an official certification label, ensuring consumers know they’re getting the real deal.
“This new specification supports the fast-evolving landscape for amazing new technologies and products entering the markets now and in the future,” said Chandlee Harrell, president of the HDMI Forum.
Adopters of the HDMI 2.x family will have access to the new specification sometime during the first half of 2025, and Ultra96 cables are expected to hit the market soon after.
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