Live From CES: HDMI 2.1 Supports 8K60, 4K120, and More

Anyone interested in 4K at 120 frames per second? HDMI took a big step forward at CES today when the HDMI Forum announced that version 2.1 of the HDMI specification will have 48 Gbps of throughput to support a range of higher video resolutions and refresh rates, including 8K60 and 4K120, Dynamic HDR, and increased bandwidth. It is also backward-compatible with earlier versions of the specification and was developed by the HDMI Forum’s Technical Working Group, whose members represent some of the world’s leading manufacturers of consumer electronics, personal computers, mobile devices, cables, and components.

HDMI 2.1 will support 4K at 120 frames per second or 8K at 60 frames per second.

HDMI 2.1 will support 4K at 120 frames per second or 8K at 60 fps.

“This new release of the specification offers a broad range of advanced features for enhancing the consumer entertainment experience, as well as providing robust solutions to the commercial AV sector,” says Sony Electronics’ Robert Blanchard, president of the HDMI Forum. “This is part of the HDMI Forum’s continuing mission to develop specifications for the HDMI eco-system that meet the growing demand for compelling, high-performance, and exciting features.”

Along with HDR support, it offers eARC, supporting the most advanced audio formats, such as object-based audio. It also enables advanced audio-signal–control capabilities, including device auto-detect.

There is also a game-mode VRR with variable refresh rate, enabling a 3D graphics processor to display the image at the moment it is rendered for more fluid and better detailed gameplay. It also reduces or eliminates lag, stutter, and frame tearing.

The new specification will be available to all HDMI 2.0 adopters, and they will be notified when it is released early in the second quarter.

Password must contain the following:

A lowercase letter

A capital (uppercase) letter

A number

Minimum 8 characters