Announced at CES 2025 in Las Vegas this week, the HDMI Forum has put the world on notice that HDMI 2.1 hasn’t been enough. No, we’re ready to step into the bold new future of HDMI 2.2. This is actually a pretty major announcement too as this latest HDMI version promises to double the data transfer capability.
HDMI 2.2 is set to deliver 96Gbps of bandwidth and will be capable of supporting up to 16K resolution. The current version of HDMI 2.1 (which was announced just two years ago) can deliver 48Gbps and support up to 10K resolution for context.
The focus of the HDMI 2.2 announcement has been on future needs for supporting HDR video and virtual reality, mixed reality, and augmented reality content. Which, in many ways, might end up being the future of content creation and consumption.
Let’s take a look at HDMI 2.2 and explore when and how you might be able to utilize it for your projects.
HDMI 2.2 Has Been Announced
So, first off, this is just an announcement by the HDMI Forum at CES this year. This new HDMI specification is set to deliver enhanced options for the vast HDMI ecosystem, with more advanced solutions to create, distribute and experience the best end-user outcome.
“The HDMI Forum’s continuing mission is to develop specifications to meet the HDMI eco-system’s growing demand for high-performance capabilities and features. This new specification supports the fast-evolving landscape for amazing new technologies and products entering the markets now and in the future.” — Chandlee Harrell, president of the HDMI Forum.
This new technology is set to enable higher quality options now and in the future for content producers such as TV, movie and game studios, while enabling multiple distribution platforms. The biggest specs are a higher 96Gbps bandwidth and next-gen HDMI Fixed Rate Link technology, which should provide optimal audio and video for a wide range of device applications.
Plus, end-users can be assured that their displays support a native video format in the best way possible and can deliver a seamless and reliable experience.
The Future of AR/VR/MR
It does seem like the camera and content industries are hitting some breaking points in a few ways. One of course is with generative AI and what that might ultimately unlock (and actually stay) with how content is created. The other is with AR, VR, and MR types of content creation.
This HDMI 2.2 announcement assures that higher resolutions and refresh rates will be supported and more high-quality options will be provided. Also, faster 96Gbps bandwidth will improve demanding data-intensive, immersive and virtual applications such as AR/VR/MR, spatial reality and light field displays—along with various commercial applications such as large scale digital signage, medical imaging and machine vision.
Cameras will continue to improve as well and will need new HDMI Fixed Rate Link technology to support both video and audio going forward.
When Will HDMI 2.2 Be Available?
Considering that HDMI 2.1 took quite a bit to roll out, we can expect that with HDMI 2.2 just being announced, it might be a bit longer until we start to see HDMI 2.2 become the new standard.
However, the HDMI Forum has shared that the HDMI 2.2 technology will be shared to TV and cable manufacturers here in the first half of 2025.
Author: Jourdan Aldredge
This article comes from No Film School and can be read on the original site.
