HDMI™ 2.1 defined 48Gbps and made 8K practical. HDMI™ 2.2, announced by the HDMI Forum at CES 2025, doubles that to 96Gbps and introduces a new cable category, Ultra96. The question that matters when sourcing is simpler than the version numbers suggest: how much bandwidth does the content actually need, and is the cable certified to carry it?
The two bandwidth tiers
| HDMI™ 2.1 | HDMI™ 2.2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum bandwidth | 48Gbps | 96Gbps |
| Cable category | Ultra High Speed | Ultra96 |
| Signalling | FRL (Fixed Rate Link) | FRL, extended |
| Announced | 2017 | CES 2025 |
| Audio/video sync | eARC | eARC plus LIP (Latency Indication Protocol) |
What each resolution actually consumes
Bandwidth demand is driven by resolution × refresh rate × colour depth. Approximate uncompressed requirements:
| Format | Approx. bandwidth | Fits in |
|---|---|---|
| 4K @ 60Hz, 8-bit | ~12Gbps | HDMI™ 2.0 (18Gbps) |
| 4K @ 120Hz, 10-bit | ~32Gbps | HDMI™ 2.1 (48Gbps) |
| 8K @ 60Hz, 10-bit | ~48Gbps | HDMI™ 2.1, at the limit |
| 8K @ 120Hz | >48Gbps | HDMI™ 2.2, or DSC on 2.1 |
| 4K @ 480Hz / 8K @ 240Hz / 10K @ 120Hz | approaching 96Gbps | HDMI™ 2.2 |
Two practical points follow. First, most installations do not need 96Gbps today — displays that can consume it are rare. Second, Display Stream Compression (DSC) lets HDMI™ 2.1 carry formats that exceed 48Gbps uncompressed, so "needs HDMI™ 2.2" is often really "needs HDMI™ 2.2 or DSC".
What changes at the cable
Higher FRL rates mean tighter insertion-loss and skew budgets. In manufacturing terms that translates into conductor consistency, dielectric uniformity, shielding coverage and connector termination repeatability along the entire length. A cable that passes at 48Gbps can fail at 96Gbps for reasons invisible from the outside.
This is why the HDMI Forum operates a certification programme with an anti-counterfeit label rather than relying on printed claims. For Ultra High Speed and Ultra96 cables, certification is done at an Authorized Testing Centre (ATC), and the packaging carries a scannable certification label.
How to check a cable is really certified
- Look for the certification label on the packaging and scan it. Ultra High Speed and Ultra96 cables carry a holographic anti-counterfeit label with a QR code.
- Ask which ATC tested it and ask for the test report. A manufacturer with ATC-qualified products can produce this.
- Check the category name, not the version number. Cables are certified as "Ultra High Speed" or "Ultra96". A cable advertised as an "HDMI™ 2.1 cable" without a category name is being described loosely — HDMI licensing rules discourage version numbers on cables precisely because they mislead.
- Verify the organisation at hdmi.org.
Where our own cables sit
- High Speed HDMI™ Cable 8K@60Hz 1.8m - PF331A — 48Gbps, 8K, available in 1.5 m / 1.8 m / 3.0 m / 5.0 m; ATC test confirmation for 3.0 m and 5.0 m
- HDMI™ A 16K 96Gbps Cable — PF442A — built for the 96Gbps bandwidth tier
Ask us for the specification sheet
Tonetron is the export brand of Dongguan Taitron Electronic Limited (东莞台昶电子有限公司), a cable and connector manufacturer in Dongguan, Guangdong, China, established in 1984. We build HDMI™, USB-C, DisplayPort and custom cables on our own lines and ship factory-direct to more than 40 countries.
- Email: sales@tonetron.com
- Phone: +86-0769-83356158
- Contact form: tonetron.com/contact
Tell us the target specification, quantity and destination market and we will send the matching datasheet and a quote. MOQ, tooling and lead-time figures are project-specific.