Breaking Down HDMI 2.2: The Next Giant Leap for Digital Connectivity

When it comes to the latest in consumer electronics and professional AV integration, we’re often still thinking that we’re on the “next big thing” when the actually new technology arrives. While HDMI 2.1 has only been on the scene for a couple of years and really coming into its own for 4k gaming and high-end home cinemas, the HDMI Forum is already working on its successor.
HDMI 2.2 is not just a small update to HDMI, it instead is a fundamental shift on how we handle data, synchronization and resolution. We’re moving into a new 96Gbps era, so if you’re a gamer or an AV professional you definitely want to learn more about HDMI 2.2.

The Bandwidth Revolution: 96Gbps

The biggest thing to know about in regards to HDMI 2.2 is the fact that it is doubling the Fixed Rate Link, or FRL, bandwidth. When compared to HDMI 2.1 the ceiling for bandwidth is a very high 48Gbps, however HDMI takes that to an entirely new level of 96Gbps.

You might be asking yourself, who needs that much bandwidth and is there even any content that could push that? The first thing we need to understand though is the “why” behind increasing this bandwidth to begin with. When you take a solid look at the math of modern visuals, it’s not uncommon to keep seeing large jumps in resolutions and increasing color depths. Throw in higher and higher refresh rates and suddenly the bandwidth starts ballooning. By doubling the bandwidth of HDMI 2.1 there is less need to force use of Display Stream Compression (DSC) in order to send large amounts of data and the closer we get to “lossless” high-fidelity signals.

Key Features of the 2.2 Specification

1. 10K and 16K Resolution Support

8K is still in its infancy, at least as a consumer grade resolution, however it and much higher resolutions aren’t uncommon to see in more specialized use cases. Some broadcast cameras for example are already at 16K resolution and some displays for large venues have special resolutions. HDMI 2.2 is going to provide the backbone for resolutions between 10K and 16K to be pushed through an HDMI cable. And while you’re not going to be seeing these resolutions on your living room TV in the next year, you can instead find demands for something like this in digital signage for stadiums, medical imaging, and even advanced flight simulators.

2. The 480Hz Refresh Rate

As computers get more powerful, the likelihood that gaming PCs can start pushing super high refresh rates at 4K resolution continues to rise. As it is now, most competitive eSports communities will default to 1080p or 1440p to be able to satisfy their requirements at 240Hz or higher, but one of the coolest things about HDMI 2.2 is it can bring support for 4K@480Hz. The reason why this frequency is desirable is that it helps to eliminate motion blur through providing more frames for the animation, and because there are more frames it not only cuts down on latency but it also provides more information in the same period of time allowing for the player to react “faster”.

3. Latency Indication Protocol (LIP)

One of the coolest updates to HDMI with the new 2.2 standard is what they are calling Latency Indication Protocol. Essentially this will help to remove those maddening moments where your soundbar or receiver might be out of sync with the video on the screen causing a lip sync error.
LIP will allow every device in the chain to “talk” to each other regarding their internal processing times. That way they can adjust their timing to ensure that the audio and video are in sync, no matter how many “stops” the signal might take along the way.

The Hardware: Ultra96 Cables

So you might be asking yourself with this new HDMI version on the horizon: “Do I need new cables?” In the short term, the answer is likely no. HDMI 2.2 isn’t bringing any changes to the shape or design of the connector so it will be backwards compatible with your existing devices if you’d like to upgrade. So if you’d like to be ready just in case you want to exceed a 48Gbps bandwidth, you’ll need to look for Ultra96 HDMI cables.
Ultra96 cables are constructed with better shielding, better internal materials and will be a great way to future proof your home theater (or professional environment)!

Use Cases: Who Is This For?

The Ultra-Competitive Gamer Who Cares About Resolution

For players who not only count frames to gain a competitive edge but also want the most jaw dropping vistas, the jump to 480Hz is a game-changer. HDMI 2.2 ensures that the hardware inside the PC can actually communicate that speed to the 4K high refresh rate monitors that are hitting the market without compromise.

Immersive Home Cinema

As projectors and Micro-LED displays grow in size (not to mention the cameras that shoot the content), 8K and 10K resolutions become more relevant. HDMI 2.2 allows for high-bitrate HDR and uncompressed audio formats that turn a home theater into a truly cinematic experience.
Professional Creators and Engineers

From video editors working with 8K RAW footage to engineers designing complex 3D models, the ability to see massive amounts of detail with zero lag is a massive productivity boost.

When Can We Expect It?

Much like HDMI 2.1, while we saw the first versions of the cables in 2017, we really didn’t see them hitting the market until 2019. We’re currently seeing the first HDMI 2.2 cables being shown at major tech shows this year so we can take a solid guess that it will probably be another 18 to 24 months before we see the standard hit consumers hands.

That being said, if you want to “future proof” your studio, home or digital signage understand that HDMI 2.2 will be an essential addition. HDMI 2.2 represents the future of the next decade of digital media.

Summary

Resolutions are getting bigger, frames rates are getting higher and color depth is getting deeper. As we keep trending to more complex and data rich video signals, bandwidth requirements are only going to continue to skyrocket. By doubling the bandwidth of HDMI 2.1 and introducing more features like LIP, HDMI 2.2 is representing a melding of future and current needs with a more robust consumer experience. The future of connectivity is faster, clearer, and more synchronized than ever before.