The HDMI Forum has officially introduced HDMI 2.2 with up to 96 Gbps of bandwidth, but consumers will have to wait till next year before the compatible products launch in the market.
First HDMI 2.2 Devices With Full 96 Gbps Bandwidth May Not Arrive Until 2027
The HDMI Forum unveiled its next-generation HDMI 2.2 interface at CES 2026, which promised a significant increase in bandwidth and support for future ultra-high-resolution displays. However, as per the latest reports, products capable of utilizing the new 96 Gbps interface will not arrive before 2027 (including RDNA 5, which is expected to support the HDMI 2.2 interface).
HDMI 2.2 doubles the maximum throughput of HDMI 2.1, increasing bandwidth from 48 Gbps to a whopping 96 Gbps, which is even higher than DP 2.1. This is done through an updated Fixed Rate Link (FRL) transmission mode. The additional headroom will support higher resolutions and refresh rates without relying on Display Stream Compression or DSC.
As per ARMdevices, the HDMI LA CEO and President, Rob Tobias, said that the chip manufacturers are expected to start sampling FRL2 silicon this year, and by next year, we should be seeing HDMI 2.2 products in the market. The new standard will support configurations such as 4K@240Hz and 8k@60Hz with full chroma subsampling. These configurations are aimed at enthusiast-grade gaming monitors/displays, professional video production equipment, and immersive VR applications.
Alongside the specs update, the HDMI Forum also introduced a new cable certification program called Ultra96. Certified Ultra96 cables will be required to unlock the full 96 Gbps bandwidth offered by HDMI 2.2-compatible devices. That said, the delayed rollout of HDMI 2.2 mirrors the previous HDMI developments. Even though HDMI 2.1 was announced in 2017, mainstream products were widely available a couple of years later.
News Sources: ARMDevices, Videocardz
About the author: Sarfraz Khan is a hardware reporter with a focus on PC components and the builder community. With years of experience writing about PC hardware and laptops, his work has been featured on several reputable technology publications. Sarfraz's hands-on experience is demonstrated through his first-person accounts of using and comparing different hardware configurations, providing practical and relatable insights for everyday users. His technical analysis is respected by peers in the enthusiast community and has been cited by specialized hardware sites such as Germany's Igor's Lab.
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