HDMI 2.2 is Here

At last, the HDMI Forum has stepped up and announced their 2.2 revision at CES earlier this year. This long-anticipated update promises higher resolutions, though it’s worth questioning whether most supporting electronics will be able to deliver on this potential within the next five to 10 years. After all, we’ve yet to see true 8K or 10K resolutions fully realized under Revision 2.1, which was introduced back in 2017. 

Arriving alongside this update, however, came the HDMI Ultra96 cable, as well–a groundbreaking development in the high-definition multimedia interface space.

What is HDMI 2.2 Capable Of?

The Ultra96 cable is designed to push the boundaries of audiovisual transmission with enhanced resolution capabilities, improved HDR performance, superior audio features, and, intriguingly, advanced EMI shielding techniques.

Other new claims highlight expanded applications and improved compatibility, with capabilities to handle high-resolution video and audio with minimal latency. These features are particularly beneficial for broadcast, video production, and medical imaging.

In short, HDMI 2.2 and Ultra96 introduces significant advancements which will be discussed below.

Bandwidth Limits

These will now increase to 96Gbps, doubling the HDMI 2.1 standard of 48Gbps. This expansion enables support for resolutions up to and including 16K. In addition, Deep Color will offer 16-bit color depth for several resolutions with color space of 4:2:0.

HDR Improvements

Ultra96 is designed to elevate HDR (High Dynamic Range) performance by incorporating advanced metadata handling and supporting a broader range of formats. This is said to bring improved contrast ratios, richer color reproduction, and more dynamic visuals, particularly on modern displays optimized for these standards.

 By addressing the limitations of previous revisions, HDMI 2.2 Ultra96 aims to deliver a more consistent and immersive HDR experience across compatible devices.

Audio Enhancements

HDMI 2.2 brings significant advancements in audio support, enhancing spatial audio formats such as Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. These upgrades include increased bandwidth for lossless audio transmission and smoother integration with home theater systems. Additionally, advanced synchronization mechanisms aim to minimize latency and ensure accurate lip-sync across connected devices.

Interoperability

Interoperability has long been a challenge, but HDMI 2.2 seeks to tackle this with stricter compliance testing and improved device communication protocols. Advanced EMI shielding techniques have been introduced to minimize signal interference, enhancing reliability across diverse environments.

However, as all of us have experienced in the past, real-world effectiveness of these improvements will largely depend on how effectively manufacturers implement these features and adhere to the updated standards. This has been one of the major issues DPL Labs has discovered throughout the years.

Why You Might Need to Wait Before Viewing HDMI 2.2 Content

With any HDMI update, its success will hinge on widespread industry adoption and proper implementation by device manufacturers.

With the data rate doubling to 96Gbps, cable performance must also rise to meet the demand. It will be some time before we can count on Smart TV Apps to carry this level of a load. As we observed when HDMI 2.1 was introduced, long-distance applications largely relied on active cable solutions, such as cables with equalizers or fiber-based products. 

At a 96 Gbps data rate, we anticipate an increase in fiber-based cables even for shorter distances, ranging from 1 to 5 meters. While only time will reveal how the market adapts, some 96 Gbps products are already scheduled for testing. Rest assured; we’ll keep you updated on these developments.