HDMI Standards

All HDMI standard versions with speeds, features, and compatibility.

HDMI standards govern audio-visual signal transmission between source devices and displays. Major milestones include HDMI 1.4 (4K at 30 Hz, Audio Return Channel), HDMI 2.0 (4K at 60 Hz, HDR), and HDMI 2.1 (8K at 60 Hz, Dynamic HDR, eARC, VRR). The HDMI Licensing Administrator manages compliance testing, ensuring interoperability across billions of devices from hundreds of manufacturers worldwide.

HDMI 1.0

1/10

First HDMI release supporting single-link DVI video up to 1080p plus 8-channel audio. Introduced the concept of a single cable for digital audio and video.

HDMI 1.2

1/10

Added support for Super Audio CD (SACD) one-bit audio and made Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) features available. First version to support consumer electronics beyond PCs …

HDMI 1.3

2/10

Doubled bandwidth to 10.2 Gbps with Deep Color support (30/36/48-bit). First HDMI version to carry Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio bitstreams.

HDMI 1.4

3/10

Added 4K@30Hz support, Audio Return Channel (ARC), and 3D capability. Still common on budget TVs and monitors.

HDMI 2.0

5/10

Increased bandwidth to 18 Gbps, enabling 4K@60Hz and HDR10. The mainstream standard for 4K TVs and gaming monitors.

HDMI 2.0b

5/10

Incremental update adding HDR10 and Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG) support. The minimum HDMI version recommended for 4K HDR content on streaming devices and Blu-ray players.

HDMI 2.1

8/10

Major leap to 48 Gbps, enabling 4K@120Hz, 8K@60Hz, Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), eARC, and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM). The gold standard for next-gen gaming …