We've all had over seven years to figure out why our interconnected devices refused to work properly with the HDMI 2.1 specification. The HDMI Forum announced today at CES that it's time to consider new headaches. HDMI 2.2 requires new cables for full compatibility, but it has the same physical connectors. However, small QR codes are suggested to help with that.
The new specification is called HDMI 2.2, but compatible cables will carry an “Ultra96” marking to indicate that they can carry 96 GBps, double the 48 of HDMI 2.1b. The Forum expects this will result in higher resolutions and refresh rates and a “next-gen HDMI Fixed Rate Link”. The Forum mentioned “AR/VR/MR, spatial reality and light field displays” that benefit from the increased bandwidth, along with medical imaging and machine vision.
Examples of how HDMI 2.2's sync capabilities will benefit home theaters.
Examples of how HDMI 2.2's sync capabilities will benefit home theaters.
A visualization of how far HDMI has come in bandwidth, from 1.0 to 2.2.
A visualization of how far HDMI has come in bandwidth, from 1.0 to 2.2.
Examples of how HDMI 2.2's sync capabilities will benefit home theaters.
A visualization of how far HDMI has come in bandwidth, from 1.0 to 2.2.
A little closer to home, the HDMI 2.2 specification also includes “Latency Indication Protocol” (LIP), which can help improve audio and video synchronization. This should matter most in “multi-hop” systems, such as home theater setups with soundbars or receivers. Illustrations provided by the Forum show LIP is working to correct delays on headphones, soundbars connected via ARC or eARC, and mixed systems where some components can plug into a TV while others go directly into the receiver.
