HDMI 2.2 Officially Released: 96Gbps Bandwidth, 16K Support, and New Ultra96 Cable Standard

After teasing it earlier this year at CES, HDMI Forum has officially launched the HDMI 2.2 specification, bringing a major leap in bandwidth and video capability to the next generation of devices.

The headline feature of HDMI 2.2 is its massive 96Gbps bandwidth, doubling the capacity of HDMI 2.1. Devices will be classified based on their support for 64Gbps, 80Gbps, or the full 96Gbps, adding a layer of complexity similar to past HDMI versions.

With this expanded bandwidth, HDMI 2.2 now supports resolutions up to 16K at 60Hz or 12K at 120Hz, using Display Stream Compression (DSC) or chroma subsampling. While those numbers may seem excessive, the real value lies in practical benefits at 4K and 8K resolutions:

4K at 240Hz with 10-bit or 12-bit color can now run uncompressed, eliminating the need for visual compromises.

True 8K 60Hz 4:4:4 at 10-bit/12-bit color is also possible without compression.

New Features in HDMI 2.2:

Latency Indication Protocol (LIP)

Dynamic HDR and Source-Based Tone Mapping (SBTM)

Enhanced eARC for better audio passthrough

Advanced gaming features: VRR, ALLM, QFT

Quick Media Switching (QMS)

HDMI Cable Power

To handle this new data load, HDMI Forum has introduced a new cable spec: Ultra96 HDMI. The previous Ultra High Speed HDMI standard used for HDMI 2.1 will not suffice. Only Ultra96 Certified Cables, marked with a hologram and QR code, will support the full capabilities of HDMI 2.2.

This launch signals the next big leap in display technology and sets the stage for a wave of future-ready TVs, monitors, consoles, and accessories.