The HDMI Forum has officially released the HDMI 2.2 specification, which enhances video and audio capabilities for manufacturers and was first announced at CES 2025.

This new standard supports impressive resolutions, including 4K at 480 Hz, 8K at 240 Hz, and 12K at 120 Hz, with a bandwidth of 96 Gbps.

To fully leverage HDMI 2.2's capabilities, consumers will need new cables that meet the Ultra96 HDMI certification, clearly marked for easy identification.

Among its features, HDMI 2.2 introduces Display Stream Compression (DSC), which enhances refresh rates while maintaining image quality without noticeable latency.

Another significant addition is the Latency Indication Protocol (LIP), designed to improve audio and video synchronization, particularly in complex setups with multiple devices.

HDMI 2.2 is also backward compatible, allowing it to function with older HDMI ports and devices, ensuring users can still benefit from existing hardware.

Despite these advancements, the availability of native 8K and 16K content remains limited, which may hinder the widespread adoption of HDMI 2.2 capabilities in the near future.

The timeline for HDMI 2.2 implementation in PCs is uncertain, but historically, it may take around three years after finalization for graphics cards to support the new standard.

AMD is expected to be among the first manufacturers to adopt HDMI 2.2 with its upcoming UDNA GPUs, potentially launching in late 2026 or early 2027, although full support details are still unclear.

The first HDMI 2.2 devices are anticipated to launch in the last quarter of 2025, with AMD's upcoming Radeon UDNA GPUs possibly supporting the standard at a maximum of 80 Gbps.

Only cables specifically labeled Ultra96 will support the high resolutions and bandwidth of HDMI 2.2, as manufacturers can claim compliance without enforcing strict bandwidth rules.