HDMI Forum has officially introduced the HDMI 2.2 standard with revolutionary Ultra96 cables providing up to 96 Gbps bandwidth and supporting resolutions up to 16K.
G. Ostrov
HDMI Forum has officially finalized the HDMI 2.2 specification — the next generation video standard that will begin rolling out to devices in the second half of 2025. The new standard surpasses DisplayPort in maximum bandwidth capacity thanks to innovative Ultra96 cables.
What are Ultra96 Cables?
The key improvement of HDMI 2.2 over its predecessor HDMI 2.1 is the bandwidth increase from 48 Gbps to 96 Gbps. To ensure consistent performance across all HDMI 2.2 devices, new HDMI cables appear with "Ultra96" labeling, denoting the specified data transfer rate. These cables will be certified by HDMI Forum with clear branding for easy identification.
Technical Capabilities of the New Standard
The increased bandwidth enables 16K resolution support at 60 Hz and 12K at 120 Hz with chroma subsampling. For 4K, 240 Hz frequency is available at up to 12-bit color depth without compression. DisplayPort 2.1b UHBR 20 was the first standard with similar capabilities, but it's limited to 80 Gbps, while HDMI 2.2 exceeds it by 16 Gbps, allowing uncompressed 8K at 60 Hz.
Importance of Proper Cables
It's critically important to remember that only cables with explicit Ultra96 labeling provide all the benefits of the new standard. HDMI Forum allows manufacturers to claim their devices are HDMI 2.2 compatible but doesn't enforce bandwidth requirements. Therefore, looking for Ultra96 labeling is necessary to guarantee full functionality.
Backwards Compatibility and New Features
HDMI 2.2 is fully backwards compatible with previous versions. New cables work with old ports, and new ports work with old cables, providing functionality at the lowest common denominator level. For example, connecting an HDMI 2.2 Ultra96 cable to a TV with only HDMI 2.1 support will provide HDMI 2.1 features and speeds.
Additionally, HDMI 2.2 includes the Latency Indication Protocol (LIP) for improved audio and video synchronization. This is particularly important for complex home theater systems with multiple audio channels, receivers, and projectors, where significant reduction in lip-sync issues is expected.
Adoption Prospects
The first HDMI 2.2 devices are expected in the fourth quarter of 2025. AMD will likely be among the first manufacturers to implement the standard in their upcoming UDNA graphics processors. It's still unknown whether AMD will limit full HDMI 2.2 bandwidth to professional cards only, as happened with DisplayPort 2.1b.
Official HDMI Forum website: https://www.hdmi.org
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