HDMI 2.1 is a connection interface standard widely adopted on new graphics cards, displays, games consoles and other devices; allowing support for improved bandwidths, resolutions, refresh rates and features. It’s promoted by manufacturers, often as one of the leading items in their spec.
TFT Central looks at what the “HDMI 2.1” term really means, and addresses a worries in the market. They delve in to what is required for this certification and what that means to the consumer buying something labelled with HDMI 2.1.
The capabilities and features are things not previously possible with older HDMI standards like v2.0, or at least not in the more mainstream way they are supported now with v2.1. They include:
Support for much higher bandwidths than older generations, allowing for…
Support for higher resolutions – including 4K and even up to 8K
Support for the combination of 4K and 120Hz high refresh rate (including at 10-bit, HDR and without colour compression)
Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) support
ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode) support
So these are all things most people probably expect an HDMI 2.1 display to support, and it is fair to say these would be the benefits they expect to have available to them when buying a display with HDMI 2.1 advertised. Sadly, it isn’t nearly as simple as that.
Adafruit publishes a wide range of writing and video content, including interviews and reporting on the maker market and the wider technology world. Our standards page is intended as a guide to best practices that Adafruit uses, as well as an outline of the ethical standards Adafruit aspires to. While Adafruit is not an independent journalistic institution, Adafruit strives to be a fair, informative, and positive voice within the community – check it out here: adafruit.com/editorialstandards
Stop breadboarding and soldering – start making immediately! Adafruit’s Circuit Playground is jam-packed with LEDs, sensors, buttons, alligator clip pads and more. Build projects with Circuit Playground in a few minutes with the drag-and-drop MakeCode programming site, learn computer science using the CS Discoveries class on code.org, jump into CircuitPython to learn Python and hardware together, TinyGO, or even use the Arduino IDE. Circuit Playground Express is the newest and best Circuit Playground board, with support for CircuitPython, MakeCode, and Arduino. It has a powerful processor, 10 NeoPixels, mini speaker, InfraRed receive and transmit, two buttons, a switch, 14 alligator clip pads, and lots of sensors: capacitive touch, IR proximity, temperature, light, motion and sound. A whole wide world of electronics and coding is waiting for you, and it fits in the palm of your hand.
Have an amazing project to share? The Electronics Show and Tell is every Wednesday at 7:30pm ET! To join, head over to YouTube and check out the show’s live chat and our Discord!
Python for Microcontrollers – Adafruit Daily — Python on Microcontrollers Newsletter: Open Hardware is In, New CircuitPython and Pi 5 16GB, and much more! #CircuitPython #Python #micropython @ThePSF @Raspberry_Pi
EYE on NPI – Adafruit Daily — EYE on NPI Maxim’s Himalaya uSLIC Step-Down Power Module #EyeOnNPI @maximintegrated @digikey
Oh no. They learned the wrong lesson from the USB IF: rebranding old capabilities as just a profile of the new spec name/version…