HDMI Forum, Inc., has announced the release of Version 2.2 of the HDMI Specification after being revealed at CES 2025 earlier this year, marking a new era in AV connectivity.
The format provides follows the HDMI 2.1 format, which was originally announced back in 2017, with HDMI 2.2 being said to offer higher 96Gbps bandwidth capabilities and next-gen HDMI Fixed Rate Link technology to provide improved audio and video for a wide range of device applications.
“The HDMI Forum is proud to release the new HDMI 2.2 Specification to enable higher performance capabilities and features for exciting and immersive new solutions and products,” says Chandlee Harrell, president of the HDMI Forum. “And the introduction of the new Ultra96 feature name will help consumers and end-users ensure their product’s maximum bandwidth is supported.”
Highlighting HDMI 2.2’s specifications, HDMI Forum states the new format supports higher resolutions and refresh rates including up to 12K at 120Hz and 16K at 60Hz. Additionally, more high-quality options are supported including uncompressed full chroma formats such as 8K at 60Hz/4:4:4 chroma sub-sampling and 4K at 240Hz 4:4:4 chroma subsampling at 10-bit and 12-bit color.
The industry group points out that “Ultra96” is a feature name that manufacturers are encouraged to use (similar to a previous HDMI feature: Cable Power) to indicate a product supports a maximum of 64Gbps, 80Gbps or 96Gbps bandwidth in compliance with the HDMI 2.2 Specification. Products that market or display the Ultra96 feature name require the Ultra96 HDMI Cable to ensure a product’s maximum bandwidth is properly supported. The new Ultra96 HDMI Cable supports up to 96Gbps and all HDMI 2.2 applications. The current Ultra High Speed HDMI Cable is applicable for system configurations supporting up to 48Gbps maximum bandwidth.
The Ultra96 HDMI Cable, the HDMI Forum continues, just like the Ultra High Speed HDMI Cable, is part of the HDMI Cable Certification Program requiring each model length to be tested and certified and display a Certification Label.
HDMI Forum adds that also included in the new HDMI 2.2 specification is Latency Indication Protocol (LIP) for improving audio and video synchronization, especially for multiple-hop system configurations such as those with an audio video receiver or soundbar.
