HDMI 2.2 Is Here: New Cables, Extended Bandwidth and More

The HDMI Forum says the upcoming HDMI 2.2 standard will bring more bandwidth, new ways to handle lip sync errors, and new backwards-compatible cables. CES 2025.

The good news is that most people probably don’t even need to worry about HDMI 2.2, since any mainstream TV won’t use the increased bandwidth, and, while lip-sync adjustments may be useful, that’s not the case for your system. Thankfully, new higher bandwidth cables are not required in most cases. That said, it’s still good to know what’s coming.

More bandwidth

Bandwidth refers to the amount of data that can be transferred between two devices. Essentially the size (data) of the pipes that carry all the water. HDMI 2.2 doubles the size of the pipe from HDMI 2.1’s 48 Gbps to 96 Gbps. This allows for higher resolutions and frame rates. A resolution and frame rate that your TV can’t do anything about. Even if your TV can accept and play 4K120 signals, or even an 8K TV with some mythical 8K60 sources, HDMI 2.1 can carry that much data without any problem. The spec can handle resolutions up to 10K, but there are currently no TVs that can display that resolution.

The additional bandwidth of HDMI 2.2 is used to virtual reality headsetcommercial use such as large digital signage, or even light field display. So, yes, your TV doesn’t need this bandwidth, especially considering we don’t even have 8K sources other than computers.

More lip products

Mainstream consumers are more interested in how this cable will help combat lip sync error. Latency Indication Protocol is a rather cheeky name, as its abbreviation is LIP, and is designed to further reduce the difference between what’s happening on the screen and what you hear. Often this is most noticeable when people are talking and their words are inconsistent.

This is an evolution of a feature we first saw back in the HDMI 1.3 era. According to the HDMI Forum, LIP improves timing synchronization for “multi-hop system configurations, such as those with audio-visual receivers or soundbars.” When products with HDMI 2.2 finally hit the market, we’ll have to see how it’s implemented.

new cable

To handle the increased bandwidth, HDMI 2.2 requires new cables. While colloquially these cables will almost certainly be called “HDMI 2.2 cables,” their actual name is Ultra96. Fortunately, the connectors are the same, so you don’t need to replace all the cables if you buy a device with HDMI 2.2.

That said, for most people this will be long They require Ultra96 cable. Most people don’t need the 48 Gbps HDMI 2.1 provides, so 96 Gbps is like buying a Ferrari to drive in traffic. By the time anyone really needs 96 Gbps, the cable will be about the same price as any other cable (we’ll probably be using HDMI version 4.0 Quattromegaultraspeed then).

The HDMI Forum suggests that to get some of the additional features of HDMI 2.2, you may need these new cables. Even so, most people won’t need these new features, so don’t worry about replacing all your cables now, certainly not anytime soon if you don’t buy any new equipment.

The new Ultra96 cables will also be part of the HDMI Cable Certification Program, which requires every cable supplied by the company to be tested in order to receive the certification badge. This badge is not required for the cable to work properly, but it is an extra guarantee that the cable is working properly and usually comes with a slight price increase.

When will it be launched?

HDMI 2.2 is expected to be launched in the first half of this year. It will take a while for it to make its way into widespread products. So you might see some products in 2025, but next year you’ll see a wider variety of products.

The cables are the easiest part, so you’ll probably see them quickly. Keep in mind that you will almost certainly not need them, even if you want to “future-proof” your system.

Additionally, it’s worth reiterating that HDMI 2.2 devices will be backwards compatible with devices with earlier versions of HDMI. The latest features of 2.2 may not be supported, but assuming a PlayStation 6 with HDMI 2.2 will connect just fine to a 4K TV with HDMI 2.1, it will likely connect to most earlier versions of HDMI as well.

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