The next big HDMI leap has arrived – what the 2.2 standard means for you

The HDMI Forum, which is responsible for developing HDMI technology standards, officially unveiled the new HDMI 2.2 specification at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.

The new specification will introduce a new data transfer wizard that should provide higher throughput and a wider range of higher resolutions and refresh rates. For example, “Higher 96 Gbps throughput and next-generation fixed-rate HDMI technology deliver optimal audio and video for a wide range of device applications,” according to a press release Monday.

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Debuting back in 2002, HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface, in case you ever wondered) has been continually improved over the decades. The current HDMI 2.1b standard already supports up to 10K resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, dynamic HDR, and up to 48Gbps data transfer bandwidth—and these specifications are about to take another big step forward.

“The HDMI Forum’s ongoing mission is to develop specifications to meet the HDMI ecosystem’s growing demand for high-performance capabilities and features,” said Chandley Harrell, president of the HDMI Forum.

The new specifications will bring HDMI 2.2 closer to the capabilities of DisplayPort 2.1 (80 Gbps) and thus provide filmmakers and game developers with a significant opportunity to create next-generation media for years to come. HDMI 2.2 also supports Latency Indication Protocol (LIP) for more synchronized audio-visual quality – which will benefit soundbar users, for example.

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Fortunately, HDMI 2.2 cables will retain their familiar physical design, allowing them to connect to all existing devices with full backwards compatibility.

Finally, and most importantly for many users, expect new HDMI cables to be more expensive than standard ones—at least in 2025. Guys, innovation comes at a price. Graphics card and TV manufacturers will soon adopt the new specification, lowering the price as HDMI 2.2 becomes the new AV standard.