HDMI Turns 2.1 at CES

New Version, Coming Soon, Supports Higher Resolution, Dynamic HDR, Object-Based Audio, and More

The HDMI Forum said at CES in Las Vegas that version 2.1 of the HDMI specification will be released to HDMI 2.0 adopters early in the second quarter of this year. 

"This new release of the specification offers a broad range of advanced features for enhancing the consumer entertainment experience, as well as providing robust solutions to the commercial AV sector," said HDMI Forum president Robert Blanchard of Sony Electronics in a prepared statement.

Additions to the existing HDMI 2.0 spec will include higher video resolutions, topping out at 8K 60Hz and 4K 120Hz, the forum said. The spec will soon support dynamic HDR on a scene-by-scene or frame-by-frame basis as well as object-based audio formats. Some uncompressed feature support, such as 8K video with HDR encoding, will require new cables capable of carrying up to 48 Gbps. And a new Game Mode variable refresh rate feature will reduce or eliminate lag, stutter, and frame tearing for gamers.

The HDMI Forum is looking to recruit new members beyond its current 83-company roster, and asked interested entities to visit the HDMI Licensing Administrator in the South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center at booth 20930 during CES this week for more information on the organization, or to answer questions about the HDMI 2.1 spec.