Even though the cable looks the same, modern HDMI connections are vastly more capable than when they first arrived over 20 years ago. The latest version, called 2.1b, is only a small update, but 2.1 in general is a big deal with lots of performance improvements and new features. The standard is found in the best new TVs, including recent models from LG, Samsung, Sony, TCL, Vizio and more. HDMI 2.1 is also on both of the next-generation game consoles, the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. In fact, to get the most out of those consoles
you’ll want a TV that supports at least some HDMI 2.1 features.
That doesn’t mean you need HDMI 2.1, however. For most people the extra features are not a good enough reason to buy a higher-end TV. If you’re on a budget, those new consoles will play perfectly well (and still look spectacular) on a TV that lacks HDMI 2.1. Many midrange and higher-end sets support the new connectivity standard, though, so it’s worthwhile to understand what it means if you are looking to purchase soon.
For the first time in a while, there is a new cable. It looks… well, it looks the same as the old cable. There’s no new connector; that stays the same. These cables were originally called “48G” since they will have 48Gbps bandwidth, though now they’re officially called Ultra High Speed HDMI cables. These have roughly 2.6 times the 18Gbps bandwidth that the better-made HDMI cables have now. These cables are backward compatible, so they’ll work with all your other HDMI gear (at whatever speed that gear operates).
You probably don’t need to buy Ultra High Speed HDMI cables right now. Even with 4K TVs nearly all your gear should work fine with your current cables. There are, however, important exceptions. The biggest is with the new gaming consoles, the PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X. These are capable of 4K resolutions at 120 frames per second. That’s almost certainly going to require a new cable. We’ll talk more about those consoles below, but the short version is, if you want 4K120 and you have a new TV that can handle that resolution (older TVs almost universally can’t), check out Ultra High Speed HDMI cables.
If you’re having issues getting a 4K source to work with your current TV, especially with HDR, it’s possible new cables will fix that. So if you’re in the market, check out Ultra High Speed cables. They’re a bit more “future-proof” and at this point aren’t that much more expensive than other HDMI cables (at least, in the ~6-foot length most people buy).
PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X
You can connect the PS5 and Xbox Series X to any TV you could connect a PS4 and Xbox One X
to. You don’t need a new TV. You probably don’t need new cables either. Definitely not if you have a 1080p TV. If you have a 4K TV and want to play these new consoles in 4K, your current cables will probably work. You’ll know pretty quickly: If you connect the console and the TV says it’s a 4K signal, you’re good to go.
There are, however, exceptions that relate to HDMI 2.1. Both new consoles are capable of 4K up to 120 frames per second. Some new TVs can handle this higher frame rate. Almost no older TVs can, even those called “120Hz.” The TV will need HDMI 2.1 to let the console run in all this high frame-rate glory. Your current HDMI cables probably won’t be able to handle 4K120. You’ll need to spend just a little extra on Ultra High Speed HDMI versions.
One final important reminder: if you have a receiver or soundbar in your system, and the game console is connected to that, it too has to be HDMI 2.1 in order to pass 4K120. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link, so to speak. So if your console is 2.1, your TV is 2.1, but your receiver is 2.0, you’ll only get resolutions and features possible with HDMI 2.0.
See Ultra High Speed HDMI Cables at Amazon
Quick Media Switching (QMS) and Fixed Rate Link (FRL)
With the latest HDMI 2.1b rollout it’s worth discussing some additional new features and terms. First is Quick Media Switching, or QMS, which seems like something TVs should just “do” and not need a new feature and abbreviation. It’s fairly self-explanatory, in that it allows your TV to more quickly switch between content of different frame rates. Any TV that supports VRR (see above) should be able to support QMS. This is specifically about frame rates, not resolutions, but if your TV goes blank for a moment between the menu of a streaming service and the show you want to watch (for example), this should prevent that.
Both the source and the display will need to be QMS-compatible, but theoretically this could be added via a firmware update to newer devices (most likely those capable of VRR).
While a bit “in the weeds” so to speak, it’s worth putting “Fixed Rate Link” on your radar. FRL is what lets HDMI 2.1 handle ultra-high resolutions and frame rates and is a new way to encode data for transmission across an HDMI cable. All HDMI connections up to this point use TMDS, or Transition-minimized differential signaling. For a description about how that works, you can step back in time to my very first CNET article or check out this more numbers-heavy explanation.
You can think of the HDMI connection like a highway. TMDS has multiple highway lanes of buses that are full of data. Each bus has a tiny portion of the overall image. Additionally, there’s a separate lane that’s just for a traffic cop who helps make sure the buses arriving at the destination (the TV) have the same data inside as they had when they left. FRL has two big changes. First, it repurposes the “traffic cop” lane to also transmit data, if needed. It also uses larger, more efficient buses. This is an oversimplification, but the point is that it’s going to allow the higher resolutions and frame rates initially promised with HDMI 2.1.
To take advantage of FRL, both a source and a display will need to be compatible. However, all devices that will have FRL-compatibility will still support TMDS. So it’s not something you need to worry about until you’re looking at a new 8K source for your new 8K TV, for example. Which is to say, it’s going to be a while. The good thing is, because FR is just repurposing existing channels, new cables aren’t needed.
Do you need to upgrade?
Probably not. At least, not yet. Right now the only common source that can really take advantage of what 2.1 has to offer are the PS5 or Xbox Series X. If you really need 4K120 in your gaming life, then it’s also worth looking for a TV that can take advantage of that.
If you’re buying an 8K TV for some reason, it’s worth considering getting Ultra High Speed HDMI cables, too. Not because there’s anything that requires that bandwidth now, the consoles notwithstanding, but it can’t hurt for a bit of future-proofing.
So don’t rush out and buy Ultra High Speed cables unless you’re sure you need them. But if you need new cables anyway, get Ultra High Speed as they’ll offer a bit more future-proofing than other cables.
One last thing to keep in mind: Not all TVs that claim HDMI 2.1 compatibility are actually capable of everything we’ve discussed. In fact, most aren’t. A TV with a 4K120 input might also have eARC, but not necessarily on the same input. A TV might have eARC, but not have any high frame rate or high resolution inputs. It’s confusing, to say the least. Best to do your homework on what models have what capabilities before you set your heart on something specific. In some cases manufacturers can add 2.1 features to already-sold TVs, but don’t count on this. It’s fairly rare and in some cases not possible because of hardware limitations.
Note: This article was first published in 2017 but is updated regularly with new info.
As well as covering TV and other display tech, Geoff does photo tours of cool museums and locations around the world, including nuclear submarines, massive aircraft carriers, medieval castles, airplane graveyards and more.
You can follow his exploits on Instagram and YouTube about his 10,000 mile road trip. He also has written a bestselling sci-fi novel about city-size submarines, along with a sequel.