HDMI 2.1a: These features are intended to make televisions interesting for gamers

The High Definition Multimedia Interface connection standard has existed since 2002. Even with HDMI 2.1, the sockets have not changed on the outside, but in order to be able to use all the functions, explicitly certified HDMI 2.1 cables are required. Some end devices have HDMI 2.1, but the exact feature set is always different. In 2020, many devices came onto the market that did not support the full data bandwidth of 48 Gbit/s. The Playstation 5 can only do 32 Gbit/s, the Xbox Series X comes to 40 Gbit/s. As a result, not all HDMI 2.1 functions can be used because there is simply not enough bandwidth. Jeff Park, Chief Technology Office at the HDMI consortium HDMI Licensing Administrator Inc., is now self-confident in an interview with PC Gamer magazine. Thanks to HDMI 2.1a will become smart TVs viewed by gamers as an alternative to high-end monitors, Park believes.

More comfort with Source-Based Tone Mapping

After all, you can spend more than 1,000 euros for a top-class monitor, a price for which there are also televisions. More and more gaming functions are finding their way into HDMI. Source-Based Tone Mapping is available with the new connector version. With this feature, the extended color space HDR should be improved. This allows PCs and game consoles to automatically generate an optimized HDR signal, eliminating the need for the user to manually enable HDR.

As Park explains, HDMI 2.1a offers support for Variable Refresh Rate, Auto Low Latency Mode, eARC and 120 Hz at 4K resolution. In addition, 8K-UHD with up to 60 Hz is supported. However, in order to be able to use these functions, all end devices must support HDMI 2.1a. In addition, the end devices must be connected to each other with a so-called ultra high-speed HDMI cable. However, if the HDMI cable only says Premium Highspeed HDMI, not all HDMI 2.1 features are supported. It only guarantees a bandwidth of 18 Gbit/s and 4K with 60 Hz as well as HDR support. Incidentally, HDMI 2.0 should no longer be advertised, instead device manufacturers can go after customers with HDMI 2.1 or HDMI 2.1a.

Also worth reading: Drama about HDMI 2.1 licensing: In the end, only the socket and signal processing are guaranteed

Collection on HDMI 2.1a and the gaming features:

• Jeff Park of HDMI Licensing Administrator Inc. is certain that new smart TVs should become an alternative for high-end gaming monitors. For this purpose, there is the new connection standard HDMI 2.1a.
• HDMI 2.1a supports Variable Refresh Rate, Auto Low Latency Mode, eARC and 120 Hz at 4K resolution. In order to be able to use all of this, the corresponding end devices themselves must support HDMI 2.1a and be connected to one another via an Ultra High Speed ​​HDMI cable.
• Source-Based Tone Mapping is also new with HDMI 2.1a, so that HDR end devices can automatically activate the extended color space.

Sources: PC gamers, HDMI Licensing Administrator Inc.