The HDMI Forum has introduced the HDMI 2.2 specification at CES 2025, showcasing its potential to reshape audiovisual technology. The new standard delivers an unprecedented 96Gbps bandwidth via the Ultra96 HDMI cable, enabling resolutions as high as 12K and refresh rates of 4K at 480Hz and 8K at 240Hz.
A defining feature of HDMI 2.2 is its support for Dolby’s Latency Indication Protocol (LIP), designed to eliminate frustrating audio-video synchronization issues, particularly in multi-device setups.
The HDMI 2.2 advancements were presented as addressing the needs of gaming environments while aiming to resolve audio-video synchronization issues for home theater setups.
With its release planned for the second half of 2025, HDMI 2.2 promises to meet the evolving demands of both consumers and industries, addressing challenges in home entertainment, gaming, and professional applications.
A Growing HDMI Ecosystem
HDMI has long been a cornerstone of modern audiovisual connectivity. By the end of 2024, nearly 14 billion HDMI-enabled devices had been shipped globally, reflecting the technology’s wide adoption across consumer electronics, PCs, and professional AV systems. In 2024 alone, over 900 million HDMI devices reached consumers, underscoring its ubiquity in displays, gaming consoles, and automotive systems.
HDMI 2.2’s technical enhancements are anchored by its Ultra96 HDMI cable, which supports uncompressed formats like 8K60/4:4:4 and 4K240/4:4:4 at 10-bit and 12-bit depths. This is made possible by Fixed Rate Link (FRL), a transmission technology that ensures the seamless delivery of massive amounts of data, crucial for high-resolution displays and rapid refresh rates.
With 96Gbps bandwidth, HDMI 2.2 not only supports cutting-edge resolutions and refresh rates but also enables data-intensive applications across AR/VR, medical imaging, and beyond.
Another key innovation is the Latency Indication Protocol (LIP), which dynamically resolves audio and video synchronization issues. By delegating latency adjustments to source devices, LIP offers a significant improvement for setups involving soundbars, AV receivers, and other intermediate devices.
The HDMI 2.2 specification isn’t limited to home theater applications. Its 96Gbps bandwidth unlocks possibilities for professional and industrial use cases, including AR/VR systems, spatial reality displays, and machine vision. With gaming and AR/VR bandwidth demands projected to double every 2–3 years, HDMI 2.2 ensures the standard remains future-proof.
The new HDMI 2.2 specification delivers enhanced options for the HDMI ecosystem, with more advanced solutions to create and more options for uncompressed and compressed video and chroma sampling. HDMI 2.2 supports higher resolutions and refresh rates, including 4K at up to 480Hz, 8K at up to 240Hz, and 10K at 120Hz.
Addressing Counterfeiting Challenges
As HDMI adoption has grown, so too have counterfeit products, posing challenges to performance and consumer trust. The Ultra96 HDMI cable is part of the HDMI Ultra Certification program, requiring rigorous testing to ensure compliance. Anti-counterfeiting labels, factory audits, and international customs partnerships are key components of HDMI Licensing Administrator’s (HDMI LA) strategy to combat these issues.
“As we look toward a future of higher resolutions and immersive experiences, the Ultra96 HDMI cable and its certification program are integral to ensuring that every HDMI device delivers the performance and reliability that consumers expect,” commented Rob Tobias, CEO of HDMI Licensing Administrator Inc.
In 2024, HDMI LA delisted nearly 100,000 counterfeit products from online marketplaces and seized millions of dollars’ worth of unauthorized goods in collaboration with customs authorities.
