HDMI 2.2 data transfer at 96Gbps

The next version of HDMI is all about increasing bandwidth to carry better video and audio, not small, incremental improvements. HDMI 2.2, unveiled at CES 2025 and officially released by the HDMI Forum in June of that year, increases the maximum bandwidth to 96Gbps, double that of HDMI 2.1, allowing more uncompressed video data to be moved between devices.

HDMI 2.2 can carry uncompressed 4K video at up to 240Hz, which currently requires Display Stream Compression. It can also reach 4K at 480Hz using 4:2:0 chroma subsampling, and handle uncompressed 8K RGB at 60Hz.

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The extra bandwidth reduces compression and other tricks, tricking current hardware into pushing high frame rates. For gamers, this extra headroom makes it easier to achieve high refresh rates at 4K and beyond without needing as much compression or other workarounds.

With compression still available when needed, the specifications allow for more extreme modes, such as 1440p at refresh rates over 1.000Hz – numbers that currently far exceed everyday use.

This leap is tied to FRL2, the updated signaling technology that HDMI 2.2 supports. The transition is already underway at the hardware level. “We’re hearing that chipmakers will start testing their FRL2 chips this year,” Rob Tobias, CEO and president of HDMI Licensing, told ARMdevices at Computex 2026. “So we should start seeing 96 or even 96 gigabit HDMI 2.2 products next year.” Certification efforts are ongoing, and the first wave of compliant devices is expected to ship in 2027.

However, the number that stands out – 96Gbps – doesn't tell the whole story.

HDMI 2.2 will come in multiple tiers, including 64Gbps and 80Gbps versions, and certification won't require manufacturers to achieve the maximum speed. This means that two devices labeled "HDMI 2.2" could have very different performance depending on how they're built.

For buyers, this means they should read the specifications and not the brand name.

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