The HDMI Forum consortium has announced the specifications for the HDMI 2.2 standard, which was first announced at CES 2025. It provides a bandwidth of 96 Gbps, supports the next-generation HDMI Fixed Rate Link technology, and also allows you to play video in 16K resolution at 60 Hz.
At lower resolutions, HDMI 2.2 supports up to 480 Hz at 4K, up to 240 Hz at 8K, and up to 120 Hz at 10K. While the HDMI Forum has already released the specifications, it is not yet known when hardware compatible with the new standard will be available.
“The HDMI Forum is proud to introduce the new HDMI 2.2 specification, which delivers higher performance capabilities and features for exciting new solutions and products,” said Chandley Harrell, president of the HDMI Forum. “And the introduction of the new Ultra96 feature name will help consumers and end users ensure their product supports the maximum bandwidth.”
As for Ultra96, it’s a special name to indicate that a device supports the maximum bandwidth of HDMI 2.2 — 64, 80, or 96 Gbps. If a product is labeled Ultra96, it must be used with an appropriate Ultra96 HDMI cable for full functionality, the company’s press release states. As with previous cables, Ultra96 requires that each model undergo testing and certification and have the appropriate label.
The new specification also adds the Latency Indication Protocol (LIP), which improves audio and video synchronization — especially in systems with multiple devices, such as an AV receiver or soundbar.