HDMI 2.1 just made buying that new 4K TV even trickier

Just when you thought you’d got your head around 4K and the nightmare that is HDR, the HDMI Forum has announced details of the 2.1 HDMI Specification.

HDMI 2.1 supports a range of Higher Video Resolutions and refresh rates including 8K60, 4K120 and 10K; Dynamic HDR; and increased bandwidth when using a new 48G cable. Below you’ll find a rundown of the new features:

• Higher Video Resolutions support a range of higher resolutions and faster refresh rates including 8K60Hz and 4K120Hz for immersive viewing and smooth fast-action detail.
• Dynamic HDR ensures every moment of a video is displayed at its ideal values for depth, detail, brightness, contrast, and wider colour gamuts—on a scene-by-scene or even a frame-by-frame basis.
• 48G cables enable up to 48Gbps bandwidth for uncompressed HDMI 2.1 feature support including 8K video with HDR. The cable is backwards compatible with earlier versions of the HDMI Specification and can be used with existing HDMI devices.
• eARC supports the most advanced audio formats such as object-based audio, and enables advanced audio signal control capabilities including device auto-detect.
• Game Mode VRR features variable refresh rate, which enables a 3D graphics processor to display the image at the moment it is rendered for more fluid and better detailed gameplay, and for reducing or eliminating lag, stutter, and frame tearing.

For gamers it’s Game Mode VRR which could greatly transform the current experience. Any PC gamer who has used similar G-Sync and FreeSync technologies will tell you what a difference it can make to image clarity, and to have such functionality available to console gamers could be great.

You will of course need a compatible TV – and this could be years away yet – but it seems entirely possible that the likes of the PS4 Pro and upcoming Scorpio could make use of the technology via a future system update.

Source: HDMI Forum