HDMI · 2017
HDMI 2.1
48 Gbps, 4K 120 Hz, 8K, VRR and eARC. The console and gaming-TV standard.
- data: 48 Gbps
- video: 4K 144 Hz / 8K 60 Hz (DSC)
Spec card
- Max link rate
- 48 Gbit/s (4 lanes × 12 Gbit/s FRL)
- Usable video
- 42.67 Gbit/s after 16b/18b
- Common 40G ports
- 40 Gbit/s FRL → 35.56 Gbit/s usable
- Max video
- 4K 120–144 Hz 10-bit uncompressed; 8K 60 Hz with DSC or 4:2:0; up to 10K with DSC
- Gaming
- VRR, ALLM (auto low latency), QMS, QFT
- Audio
- eARC: lossless 7.1 PCM, Dolby TrueHD/Atmos, DTS:X
- Cable
- Ultra High Speed HDMI (48 Gbps certified)
Also sold as HDMI 2.1aHDMI 2.1bHDMI FRL
The cable you need
An Ultra High Speed HDMI cable with the certification label. Older cables may work at short lengths but aren't tested at 48 Gbps.
Watch out for
- "HDMI 2.1" alone doesn't guarantee 4K 120 Hz or VRR. Check the specific features.
- There is officially no "HDMI 2.1 cable". The cable for it is called Ultra High Speed HDMI.
- Many "HDMI 2.1" ports run at 40 Gbps, not 48.
HDMI 2.1 replaced TMDS with Fixed Rate Link (FRL): four lanes at up to 12 Gbps, coded 16b/18b, for 42.67 Gbps of usable bandwidth. That covers 4K at 120 Hz in 10-bit HDR uncompressed. Display Stream Compression (DSC) extends it to 8K 60 Hz and beyond.
"HDMI 2.1" on a box is a feature list, and every feature is optional. A TV can be labelled HDMI 2.1 and lack 4K 120 or VRR. Many TVs, the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X run their ports at 40 Gbps rather than 48. That's still enough for 4K 120 Hz 10-bit, but not 12-bit.
eARC is the other big change. It carries lossless multichannel audio such as Dolby TrueHD with Atmos to a soundbar or receiver over the same cable.
What it can carry
Computed from each link's usable bandwidth; 4K at 60 Hz and above assumes 10-bit HDR colour. How.
| Mode | HDMI 2.1 40G | HDMI 2.1 48G |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p 60 Hz 8-bit | Fits 3.2 Gbps | Fits 3.2 Gbps |
| 1080p 144 Hz 8-bit | Fits 8.0 Gbps | Fits 8.0 Gbps |
| 1440p 144 Hz 8-bit | Fits 14.1 Gbps | Fits 14.1 Gbps |
| 4K 30 Hz 8-bit | Fits 6.2 Gbps | Fits 6.2 Gbps |
| 4K 60 Hz 10-bit | Fits 15.7 Gbps | Fits 15.7 Gbps |
| 4K 120 Hz 10-bit | Fits 32.3 Gbps | Fits 32.3 Gbps |
| 4K 144 Hz 10-bit | With DSC 39.2 Gbps | Fits 39.2 Gbps |
| 4K 240 Hz 10-bit | With DSC 68.6 Gbps | With DSC 68.6 Gbps |
| 8K 60 Hz 10-bit | With DSC 62.1 Gbps | With DSC 62.1 Gbps |