HDMI 2.2 — Everything We Know So Far

In December of 2024, the HDMI Forum teased the impending arrival of a new HDMI standard, to be revealed ahead of CES 2025. We were told that this new standard would support higher bandwidth and would require a new cable, but we could only speculate about the details. (See our article HDMI 2.2 New Standard Promises Higher Bandwidth?) As promised, HDMI Forum, Inc. has since divulged the details of HDMI 2.2, which was announced on January 6th, 2025, nearly eight years after the advent of HDMI 2.1. The latter enabled support for 4K/120Hz and 8K/60Hz content, among other features. The press conference started with some remarkable specs from the business side of things, including the fact that over 900 million HDMI-enabled products shipped in 2024 alone. Since the announcement of HDMI 1.0 in 2002, nearly 14 billion HDMI-enabled devices have shipped. Over 2,000 licensed HDMI Adopters have produced products for nearly 100,000 manufacturers, brands, and resellers of HDMI Products. In 2024, TVs with 4K/144Hz capability became commonplace (though only high-end gaming PCs can send such a signal, as both the Sony PS5 and Xbox Series X max out at 4K/120Hz). Looking forward, it’s not hard to imagine that next-generation TVs and gaming machines will support higher resolutions and refresh rates, such as 4K/240Hz and 8K/120Hz. And it is with the future in mind that the HDMI Forum announced the upcoming release of Version 2.2 of the HDMI Specification, which reportedly “delivers enhanced options for the vast HDMI ecosystem, with more advanced solutions to create, distribute, and experience the best end-user outcome.”

HDMI 2.2 Supports 96Gbps Bandwidth

The big news is that HDMI 2.2 supports up to 96Gbps bandwidth, which is twice as much as the final iteration of HDMI 2.1. The new standard also supports next-gen HDMI Fixed Rate Link (FRL) technology to provide optimal audio and video for a wide range of device applications. According to the HDMI Forum, the end user “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 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

The press release announcing the new standard stressed that the increase to 96Gbps bandwidth will improve data-intensive, immersive, and virtual applications. In particular, augmented reality, virtual reality, and mixed reality applications might become a part of daily life during the next decade as these technologies find their way into next-gen gaming rigs and computing devices. Spatial reality and light field displays were also mentioned among the categories of devices that will benefit from increased bandwidth, along with various commercial applications, such as large scale digital signage, medical imaging, and machine vision.

HDMI 2.2 Latency Indication Protocol

Whether it is the obvious lag between a person’s lip movements and hearing the words, or fast-paced gaming interactions, the out-of-sync experience is a distraction and can make content unwatchable. This can be even worse when a system involves multiple audio and video connections.

— HDMI Forum, Inc.

Another very welcome feature included in the HDMI 2.2 specification is the cleverly-named Latency Indication Protocol, or LIP. This feature is designed to improve audio and video synchronization, especially for “multiple-hop” system configurations, such as those with a separate audio system (e.g. an AV receiver or soundbar) connected to a TV or projector. The HDMI Forum said that this feature was developed in direct response to demand for sync improvements, as “content, distribution, devices, and installations have become more diverse and demanding.” If, like me, you are an AV enthusiast with a high sensitivity to even the slightest lip-sync discrepancy, this new Latency Indication Protocol will be music to your golden ears.  

HDMI 2.2: The Cable

As expected, the HDMI 2.2 specification includes a new cable, called the Ultra96 HDMI Cable, so named for its ability to handle 96Gbps of bandwidth. This new cable, which promises to support a range of upcoming HDMI 2.2 Specification features, is part of the HDMI Cable Certification Program, which requires each model length to be tested and certified. Each officially-recognized Ultra96 cable must display a certification label, as we saw with the Ultra High Speed cables associated with HDMI 2.1. This process is overseen by the HDMI Licensing Administrator (HDMI LA), the agent appointed by the HDMI Forum to license Version 2.2 of the specification. The HDMI Licensing Administrator was also appointed by the HDMI Founders to license earlier HDMI Specifications. Interestingly, the HDMI LA isn’t just a bunch of measurement geeks in lab coats; the organization also has a surprisingly robust enforcement department. Not only is the HDMI LA responsible for testing and certifying new cables, it also must crack down on counterfeit products to ensure that the end user isn’t duped into buying an under-performing fake. So in addition to guaranteeing that the new Ultra96 HDMI Cable actually supports 96Gbps, the HDMI LA will be searching online marketplaces and reseller sites for fake cables, and removing the infringing product listings. (In 2024, the HDMI LA was responsible for nearly 100,000 takedowns, even helping to orchestrate factory raids!)

Although there was some speculation that the new cable might sport a new, more user-friendly connector or other physical changes, the HDMI Forum has stuck with the familiar form-factor for the Ultra96 cable, in order to ensure industry-wide compatibility across devices. 

We expect to learn more about the specific resolutions and refresh rates supported by the first version of HDMI 2.2 when the specification becomes available to all HDMI 2.x Adopters; this is slated for sometime during the first half of 2025, according to the HDMI Forum. These specs may depend on the particulars of the hardware and software being used, since compression and chroma subsampling enable higher resolutions and refresh rates. For now, these numbers are largely academic, but it will be interesting to see what to expect from the next generation of AV sources and displays.

More information: HDMI Forum