HDMI 2.1 is here and promises more speed, more resolution and more refresh rate on our monitors and televisions. However, there is controversy, because some manufacturers are taking advantage of certain certification loopholes HDMI to advertise TVs as 2.1 when they really aren't at all. How to know if your future Smart TV has "good" HDMI 2.1 and not fall into this trap? We explain everything you need to know so that you don't get caught in a poke.
What is the HDMI 2.1 standard and what features does it support?
HDMI 2.1 is the latest evolution of this cable data transfer specification, which is capable of supporting higher resolutions, refresh rates and therefore bandwidth in data transmission.
For example, that maximum bandwidth in HDMI 2.0 (the previous most modern version), is 18 Gbps, while in HDMI 2.1 it is no less than 48 Gbps.
All that It also implies that it can support 4K video with 120 Hz refresh rate and 8K with 60 Hz refresh rate.. If you're a bit high, you already know what it means, if not, it's about getting a sharper and more immersive experience, thanks to smoother movements of images with much higher resolution, both in movies and series, as well as in games.
Besides that, it implies that HDMI 2.1 supports other new technologies that enhance the viewing and gaming experience, such as Dynamic HDR instead of static, Variable Refresh Rate (VRR in English) to adjust it to the need of what you are seeing, Automatic Low Latency Mode (eARC in English), etc.
As you will see, the latter is going to play an important role in the matter of recognizing a true Smart TV with next-generation HDMI.
The thing is, when you read this, it's clear to you, you want your future smart TV to support HDMI 2.1. However, knowing if this is the case may not be so easy.
Why are they promoting TVs with HDMI 2.1 when they are not?
We have the problem because the entity that controls the development of the specifications, the HDMI Licensing Administrator Inc. or HDMILA, is not putting much emphasis on certification.
In fact, it does not certify as standard, simply, Manufacturers must specify which HDMI 2.1 features their TVs support. And this is where the problem comes in. HDMI.org considers that HDMI 2.0 no longer exists. Now, HDMI 2.0 is a subset of specifications built into HDMI 2.1. Messy, right? Well, things get complicated, because for the organization, it is the manufacturer that must detail which HDMI 2.1 features each device supports. And obviously this is not being done correctly.
The makers trick. Are they selling us a fake HDMI 2.1?
The trick they use to sneak an HDMI 2.1 into us false it's easy to see with an example. Here below we have built a table with features on one side and the different versions of HDMI on the other. In this way, you can easily and visually see which version supports a certain feature. If you look, HDMI 2.1, which is the last column, supports all of them and that's why it's completely painted green.
Well, imagine that the television supports DualView and has 2 image sources. If you look at the table, that's supported by HDMI versions 2.0 and 2.1. But remember, according to HDMI.org, HDMI 2.0 is no more. That means the manufacturer of said TV can advertise the device as "DualView HDMI 2.1”. However, that does not mean that said equipment supports each and every one of the features of the standard.
Obviously, complying with the obligation to specify which features in the last column you support by putting that tag "2.1" after the name is misleading, because you think that everything is HDMI 2.1 and then you are surprised.
That is be very careful when you see the name HDMI 2.1 on a television. You have to look carefully at how he specifies it and for which specific characteristics.
A new faux pas from HDMILA
It seems unbelievable that there is a better standard —yes, DisplayPort is the true standard and it is more advanced, whether we like it or not—, the market continues to agree with HDMI, which has spent years with a system that misleads even the most advanced users.
Some Youtube channels, such as HDTVTest, contacted HDMILA to clarify this confusion with the new standard and received a rather vague response. As we have told you, the association answered them saying that being a backward compatible standard, it is the manufacturer that must clarify what HDMI 2.1 features are in its connector. However, HDMILA does not explain how to put the data on the table, and blames buyers, who have to investigate whether or not they are cheating us before buying a television.
In other words, HDMILA does not intend to correct its absurd way of classifying this new standard. This problem is added to that of the wiring itself, which we will talk about in the final paragraph of the article, since it also seems designed to confuse users.
How to check that a TV is really HDMI 2.1
Now that we know that seeing an "HDMI 2.1" in the list of features may not mean anything, we have an easy way to see if the television is really of this type.
It consists of going back to the table that we have given you above and looking for the television that we want to buy specifies some of the features that only HDMI 2.1 has.
For example, if you have dynamic HDR, which is only in version 2.1, we already know that it is a real 2.1, because no other version supports it. The same with the variable refresh rate (VRR). If it does, it's probably HDMI 2.1, because no other version can support it.
Since manufacturers must specify the features, in true HDMI 2.1 televisions you will see those that only correspond to the latest version.
We have put the table in English, because it is likely that you will find the benefits listed in this way. Keep it handy.
At the moment, and while some manufacturers continue to make it mandatory to list HDMI 2.1 capabilities, looking for a feature that only supports the latest version is the better way not to sneak something false, although it puts HDMI 2.1 everywhere on the box, the manual or the web.
And how do I know if a cable is HDMI 2.1 or not?
In case you were wondering, yes you will need new HDMI 2.1 cables if you want to take full advantage of all the features of the specification.
Fortunately, in this case the certification process is stricter and those that are HDMI 2.1 must be specified as Ultra High Speed Cables or Ultra High Speed HDMI Cable. In addition, the box contains the certificate symbol that you see in the image above.
If you see that designation written on the cable itself, you can be sure that it is HDMI 2.1 and will support the transport of the highest data flow well. If you don't see that Ultra high speed, forget. However, here we must give HDMILA a new smack. Was it so difficult to call the cable itself 'HDMI 2.1'? If it is already difficult to understand the standard they have created, they do not make it easy either with the new cable, since anyone memorizes that complex name when looking for something as simple as 'an HDMI cable for my HDMI 2.1 television'. What does this organization like to complicate things...
As you can see, the proverb "Made the law, made the trap" is true. Some unscrupulous manufacturers are taking advantage of the obligation to list the HDMI 2.1 specifications by putting that name and causing confusion. However, using what we have told you, you should not have a problem.