That’s achieved in part by a new technology called Auto Low-Latency Mode, which will automatically adjust the television's settings to ensure fast-moving content isn’t slowed down. Lag, in other words, could be tossed aside. All those extra pixels – six times that of standard 4K video – require greater bandwidth to send the information across. HDMI 2.1 cables are up to the task, with an upper limit of 48Gbps (Gigabits per second) rather than 18Gbps. VRR also eliminates stutter delays and screen tearing to produce a smoother image. Gaming monitors also use this technology. By integrating VRR into HDMI 2.1, the differences between PC gaming and console gaming reduces. However, VRR specified by HDMI 2.1 is not compatible with AMD Free Sync which appears in PC gaming software.

Denon's AVRs from the AVR-X2700H and up have at least one HDMI 2.1 input and output, and Yamaha's latest models are HDMI 2.1 certified, too, although are still waiting on a firmware update in August 2022 to enable VRR and ALLM, while QMS and QFT are still in the works. It's also worth noting that both companies (and more besides) have had issues around support for 4K@120fps via the Xbox Series X, but there are now a number of fixes available. As long as that pipe is "big" enough, which is to say it has enough bandwidth, you should be good to go. The 18Gbps bandwidthmentioned above came about with the HDMI 2.0 spec, so if a cable claims it, it's likely built to handle the additional data that HDMI 2.0 connections can provide. The new Ultra High Speed cables are capable of 48Gbps, but that's far beyond what any current source can send.

Want to be sure that you get the highest resolutions and frame rates? Buying a great HDMI cable could make all the difference

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.

Often, PC-centric display devices will support both HDMI and DisplayPort (providing inputs for both), so the choice then comes down to which one works best for your specific usage case. (See our feature HDMI vs. DisplayPort: Which Should I Use for My PC Monitor? for some guidance on that.) However, based on HDMI 2.1’s improvements, it is a better choice for home entertainment needs for some reasons that may be new to you. It's also working up some steam on the PC and console-gaming side. These cables tend to be a bit pricier than those that support HDMI 2.0 or lower, but that, unfortunately, comes with having the latest and greatest tech.Colour can also be affected, as Category 1 and Category 2 cables haven’t got the bandwidth to convey the enhanced 10-bit colour depths, or Deep Colour, output by 4K Blu-ray players and 4K HDR consoles, let alone the 12-bit colour depth used by some Dolby Vision screens and 4K Blu-ray players. The Series S, on the other hand, comes with HDMI 2.1 port but an HDMI 2.0 cable ("high speed" rather than "ultra high speed"). This means that the cheaper console can play games in 4K, but it won't be able to play games at 4K/120fps with its included cable. We all know good old HDMI. For quite some time, it has been the typical cable you use to connect a laptop, a game console, or a cable or satellite box to a TV. In previous HDMI generations, the technology allowed for something called ARC, or Audio Return Channel. The technology allowed for audio to be sent between your television and audio equipment.

Put another way, you could have a streaming box connected to your TV via HDMI 2.1, then connect the TV to an A/V receiver or a sound bar with another HDMI cable. It’s a true passthrough to simplify a home theater setup with fewer cables. Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) HDMI 2.1, however, will ship with eARC, or enhanced Audio Return Channel. With help from eARC, audio bandwidth will be significantly expanded and allow for more audio content to pass through the cable. That should ultimately translate to even better-sounding audio. The difference between HDMI 2.0 and 2.1 is pretty noticeable too. A PS5 game, running in 4K at 60fps (or 120fps) will look and play magnificently compared to 4K at 30fps.

New features

As part of the process, you should consider enabling HDMI CEC (Consumer Electronics Control), so you can turn your TV on and control the volume on your soundbar or amp without the need for multiple remotes. A word of warning, though: turning HDMI CEC on can have some unwanted AV side effects, so you might want to experiment first. In general, however, if you want the best results from your shiny new next-gen console, you'll want to have a TV which also supports the HDMI 2.1 connection so you can enjoy 4K gaming at 120fps. Yet another improvement for gamers, ALLM lets a TV or other display know when the signal is coming from a game console or PC. When that happens, the display can automatically turn off any picture processing that could introduce latency or lag. You’ll never have to select Game Mode on your TV again. No more lip-sync issues