HDMI 2.2: Everything You Need to Know

HDMI has replaced the archaic multicolored cables with a single, easy-to-use alternative. Every modern TV, game console, and desktop uses HDMI. However, it hasn’t seen any new developments in the past seven years, up until now. At CES 2025, the latest HDMI 2.2 was released, offering some crucial improvements over the last generation. So here’s an all-you-need-to-know guide to HDMI 2.2 and its new features.

What’s New in HDMI 2.2?

Back in December, we discussed a bit about this new HDMI standard, but now we have the full list of HDMI 2.2 features. So we can go in-depth and compare it with the older HDMI 2.1 that came out in 2017. As you can tell by the naming scheme, it is an iterative upgrade bringing support for high resolutions, larger bandwidth, audio improvements, and a new cable. Here are all the new additions:

• Higher Bandwidth: HDMI 2.2 doubles the bandwidth from 48 Gbps of HDMI 2.1 to 96 Gbps. This will offer more data to pass through the cable.
• Ultra-High Resolution and Frame rates: The larger bandwidth allows HDMI 2.2 to support ultra-high resolutions and frame rates. It can deliver content up to 4K at 480Hz, 8K at 240Hz, or even 10K at 120Hz. It can even push to 12K and 16K resolutions, which are new to the standard. That is 16 times the quality of Full HD.
• Next-Gen HDMI Fixed Rate Link Technology: This new technology will allow for stable audio and video transmission even under high bandwidth.
• Latency Indication Protocol: New LIP protocol that fixes audio video latency and sync issues with soundbars and other external speakers. This will reduce lip sync issues.
• Ultra 96 HDMI Cable: HDMI 2.2 will now use the Ultra 96 cable that will be tested and certified to meet the new performance standards. They will have a label showing off their certification and will start rolling out in the second half of 2025.

You can read more about HDMI 2.2 here (website). But as you can see, the new HDMI version doesn’t carry a lot of new tricks, but improves key factors, future proofing your entertainment needs.

How HDMI 2.2 Compares to HDMI 2.1

Now a lot of you must be wondering that how the introduction of this new HDMI version compare to the current one. What are the major differences between the current and the next gen, and how much of a difference these new additions bring to the table. Well, here’s the answer:

HDMI 2.2 vs HDMI 2.1: Specifications

Double the Bandwidth

Now many of you must be wondering what is all this fuss about higher bandwidth. Well, the higher bandwidth allows the cable to carry a larger stream of data. HDMI 2.1b has a bandwidth ceiling of 48Gb per second, whereas the new HDMI 2.2 can push 96Gb per second. This doubles the numbers, allowing the new cable to support much higher refresh rates and resolutions than the current one.

Support for Much Higher Resolution

As explained about how HDMI 2.2’s higher bandwidth allows it to support higher resolutions. But how much of a difference it makes? Well, the new standard can do 4K at 480Hz, 8K at 240Hz, and 10K at 120Hz with support for 12 and 16K as well.

This is a huge leap over the current 2.1b, which can only do 8K at 60Hz and tops out at 10K. Now, this might not seem necessary, since the number of 8K TV sets and monitors are quite sparse as of now. However, this will come in handy of virtual reality headsets and holographic light field displays. But as the years go on, and we push higher and higher resolutions, we can see them being more common.

New LIP Synchronization and Improved Cable

While the above improvements will shine in the future, the new Latency Indication Protocol or LIP is what a lot of people may find useful today. It helps improve the latency and synchronization between the content on screen, and when you hear it. In simple terms, it fixes lip sync errors. This is a common issue when using a multi-hop system like an external speaker or a soundbar.

The new standard will be available in a new cable dubbed the Ultra96. This differs from the ultra high-speed wire used in the current version. They will have the same port, but the new certified cable will bear an HDMI Certification Program badge. This ensures that you can take benefit of all the new features we discussed above.

When Will HDMI 2.2 Come Out?

Now that it is announced, you can expect to see the Ultra96 HDMI 2.2 cable go on sale somewhere around the first half of 2025. We can expect to see devices supporting this new standard to come out in the second half of this year. But wider adoption will become apparent as more devices start taking advantage of all the merits this standard offers.

A thing to note here is that HDMI 2.2 will be backwards compatible. So, a future gadget with an HDMI 2.2 port will be able to connect to older devices with an HDMI 2.1 port or through an HDMI 2.1 cable. Since the cables aren’t that different in terms of configuration, you can expect its adoption to come sooner than usual, but whether you really need it or not, that we’ll discuss in the next section.

Should You Upgrade to HDMI 2.2?

HDMI 2.2 is mainly beneficial when it comes to pushing higher resolutions and refresh rates. And as of now, you won’t be diving into ultra-high quality content, or find devices that support it. We are reaching the ceiling of what HDMI 2.1 could do and maybe over the years, as technology improves, push further into double-digit resolutions.

Then, it will be viable to get HDMI 2.2, and it will be as common as the current generation. But as of now, even for gaming, there is not much need or use to upgrade. You can continue using your current cable for the next 3–4 years and I believe it won’t still go obsolete.