Enlarge / HDMI… porn? (credit: HDMI Forum)
Have you already been through HDMI headaches thanks to differing spec standards? Confused by the differences between HDMI 1.4, HDMI 2.0, and HDMI 2.0a/b? Then get ready for more—but in the case of the upcoming HDMI 2.1 spec, the headaches might actually be worth it.
The new spec, announced Wednesday during this year’s Consumer Electronics Show, is a beast. HDMI 2.1 is going to unlock the kind of throughput and features that should feed delicious content to higher-res, faster-refresh screens for years to come. Let’s dive in to what to expect and when to expect it.
Pixels and refresh rates
This photo is actually from the HDMI Forum’s announcement of HDMI 2.1. They cannot wait to blow the minds of stock-photo gamers. (credit: HDMI Forum)
The first upgrade: more pixels. HDMI 2.1-compatible displays will be able to receive a resolution as high as “10K” from a compatible source device and cable. However, the HDMI Forum has yet to spell out what it means by “10K.” That K-factor could mean a 16:9 multiple in line with the UHD versions of 4K (3840×2160) and 8K (7680×4320). However, since the spec sheet also lists “5K,” the HDMI Forum may be referring to a wider version of an 8K resolution display, at 10240×4320, which some screen makers have opted for. (Thus, 5K would also be a wider take on 4K, with the exact same boost in width ratio.)
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Source: Ars Technica – 10K video, object-based sound, and more: What’s new in HDMI 2.1