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HDMI 2.2 Double the Bandwidth (just not yet)

HDMI is leveling up again. At CES 2025, the HDMI Forum unveiled HDMI 2.2, promising a massive leap to 96Gbps bandwidth that could unlock everything from 8K gaming to 16K displays. But like every HDMI upgrade before it, you’ll need to buy new cables — and wait quite a while before actual devices support it.

HDMI 2.2 cables
courtesy HDMI Forum

More Power More Gigabits

The headline feature is that beefy 96Gbps pipeline, which doubles HDMI 2.1’s 48Gbps and even passes DisplayPort 2.1’s 80Gbps. This extra bandwidth could enable some truly next-level specs: think 4K at 240Hz without compression, or even some flavors of 4K at a mind-bending 480Hz.

To handle all this data, HDMI 2.2 introduces the new “Ultra96” cable standard. If you’re getting flashbacks to the HDMI 2.1 cable switchover, you’re not alone. At least this time they’re being upfront about the requirement.

There’s also a new feature called Latency Indication Protocol (LIP) that promises to fix those annoying audio sync issues, especially when you’re routing sound through receivers or soundbars. “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,” says Chandlee Harrell, HDMI Forum’s president. That’s a nice way to cushion the realization that we’re all about to go through an upgrade cycle.

HDMI 2.2 resolution
courtesy HDMI Forum

Not So Fast

While the HDMI 2.2 spec will be available to manufacturers in the first half of 2025, and those Ultra96 cables should appear by year’s end, history suggests we’re in for a wait. Think back to when HDMI 2.1 was unveiled. That was announced in January 2017, but didn’t show up in TVs until LG’s 2019 OLEDs, and most other manufacturers didn’t get on board until 2020. Even now, some media players still don’t support full HDMI 2.1 bandwidth.

While the specification is great that the technology is ready in theory it won’t be useful for a while. And by useful, I mean you aren’t going to upgrade any of your conference or classroom systems this year. Maybe not even next. What it does mean is that if you have systems coming online in late 2026 and beyond you need to be aware of the new spec and its capabilities.

The HDMI Forum is painting a picture of future-proof connectivity but as always with HDMI updates, the real question is: how long until we can actually use it? Right now no one really knows. We are all on a wait, watch, and see.

Tim Albright is the founder of AVNation and is the driving force behind the AVNation network. He carries the InfoComm CTS, a B.S. from Greenville College and is pursuing an M.S. in Mass Communications from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. When not steering the AVNation ship, Tim has spent his career designing systems for churches both large and small, Fortune 500 companies, and education facilities.

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