Learn this earlier than plugging something into your TV’s HDMI 2.1 port

Whereas most TVs come outfitted with a handful of ports, corresponding to USB, Ethernet, and even a coaxial port, the one one I discover myself utilizing, and the one most individuals depend on, is HDMI.

For greater than 20 years, HDMI has been the go-to customary for connecting all the pieces from Blu-ray gamers and recreation consoles to streaming units and sound programs to TVs. And despite the fact that HDMI has been across the block for some time now, it is performed a stable job of maintaining with the instances, evolving alongside greater resolutions and sooner refresh charges.

The unique HDMI 1.0 specification, launched in 2002, supported as much as 1080p at 60Hz with a most bandwidth of 4.9 Gbps. Quick-forward to 2013, and HDMI 2.0 arrived with assist for 4K at 60Hz, quadrupling the bandwidth to 18 Gbps. Then got here HDMI 2.1 in 2017, which is the usual most good TVs use as we speak.

HDMI 2.1 is the place issues actually take off. It greater than doubles bandwidth to 48 Gbps, enabling a lot greater resolutions and refresh charges, together with 8K at 60Hz or 4K at 120Hz. That additional bandwidth additionally permits greater shade bit depths and enhanced assist for superior HDR codecs like HDR10+ and Dolby Imaginative and prescient, due to Dynamic HDR. On the audio facet, HDMI 2.1 standardizes assist for eARC, which lets your TV ship higher-bit-rate audio to a soundbar or receiver.

So, with all that in thoughts, when you’ve received a bunch of units however solely a restricted variety of HDMI 2.1 ports in your TV, this is what you need to plug in first.

Consoles and PCs profit most from HDMI 2.1

For streaming, HDMI 2.0 will do the job if mandatory

The units that profit most out of your TV’s HDMI 2.1 ports are gaming consoles and PCs. The PlayStation 5 and Xbox Sequence X assist 4K gaming at as much as 120Hz and VRR (Variable Refresh Price), which syncs your TV’s refresh price with the sport’s body price for smoother, tear-free gameplay — options that require HDMI 2.1. The Nintendo Swap 2 tops out at 4K 60Hz when docked and would not assist VRR, so plugging it into an HDMI 2.0 port as a substitute of HDMI 2.1 is not an enormous deal if you need to.

On the PC facet, when you’re connecting a gaming PC particularly to your TV, you may possible wish to use an HDMI 2.1 port, because it’s the one approach to obtain 4K at greater refresh charges and the perfect HDR high quality. Nonetheless, when you’re not gaming or utilizing a decision under 4K, HDMI 2.0 is completely advantageous.

In the case of streaming units, issues are a bit much less clear. Most streaming sticks or containers do not really need HDMI 2.1. Units just like the Fire TV Stick 4K Max and Apple TV 4K assist HDMI 2.1, however they nonetheless prime out at 4K 60Hz, which HDMI 2.0 handles simply advantageous. Codecs like Dolby Imaginative and prescient and HDR10+ additionally work over HDMI 2.0. That stated, plugging a streaming gadget into HDMI 2.1 positively would not harm although, as it will possibly improve HDR codecs, corresponding to HDR10+ and Dolby Imaginative and prescient, due to the upper bandwidth and shade depth it helps, in addition to Dynamic HDR.

On the audio facet, HDMI 2.1 is particularly helpful you probably have newer {hardware}. In case your receiver or soundbar helps eARC, you may positively wish to join it to your TV’s HDMI 2.1/eARC port. That enables full passthrough of Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and different lossless audio codecs out of your TV. For those who’re utilizing an older soundbar or receiver that solely helps customary ARC, there is not any actual benefit to HDMI 2.1, so HDMI 2.0 will get the job performed.

Waiting for the way forward for HDMI, the HDMI 2.2 specification was introduced final 12 months and is on the horizon, with spectacular capabilities, together with 4K at 480Hz, 8K at 240Hz, 10K at 120Hz, and 16K at 60Hz. Nonetheless, it’s going to possible take just a few years for TV producers and gadget makers to undertake it, and I do not suppose anybody shall be gaming at 4K 480Hz anytime quickly. Till then, HDMI 2.1 will stay the gold customary.