HDMI 2.2 will support Ultra96 HDMI cables, while DisplayPort 2.1b is set to arrive soon for DP80LL cables

At CES 2025, the HDMI Forum and VESA introduced HDMI 2.2 and DisplayPort 2.1b, highlighting future cables designed for higher bandwidth. The Ultra96 HDMI cable will support up to 96 Gbps, while the DP80LL cable will handle up to 80 Gbps.

HDMI 2.2 for Ultra96 HDMI cable

We don’t have much information about this product at the time of writing. HDMI Forum states that HDMI 2.2 is a next-gen specification designed to enhance audio and video quality across various applications. Revealed at CES 2025, it has a higher 96Gbps bandwidth and next-gen HDMI Fixed Rate Link technology, enabling better support for high resolutions, faster refresh rates, and immersive experiences like AR, VR, MR, and spatial reality.

It helps content creators, digital signs, medical imaging, and machine vision. A big addition is the Ultra96 HDMI cable, which supports the full 96Gbps bandwidth and is tested for reliable performance through the HDMI Cable Certification Program. The HDMI 2.2 also includes the Latency Indication Protocol (LIP) to keep audio and video in sync, especially when using multiple devices. HDMI 2.2 aims to future-proof the HDMI ecosystem and will be available to HDMI 2.x adopters in the first half of 2025.

As we can in the table above, the Ultra96 cable will mainly be useful for high-performance setups, supporting 4K at up to 480 FPS (depending on chroma), 8K at 240 FPS, 10K at 48-60 FPS (10-bit and higher), and 12K at 50 FPS. While 16K isn’t listed, it will likely require these cables at any resolution. For most users, an Ultra96 cable won’t be necessary anytime soon. Even the HDMI Forum states that upcoming TVs will support 4K at 240 Hz without needing one. Despite this, Ultra96 cables are expected to launch in Q3 or Q4 2025. The press release might have a few more details, and there’s also a press resources page with useful information.

DisplayPort 2.1b for DP80LL cable

VESA has announced an update to DisplayPort 2.1 with the new DP80LL active cable specification, enabling up to three times the length of existing DP80 passive cables while supporting UHBR20’s 80Gbps bandwidth. Set to be part of DisplayPort 2.1b, expected in spring 2025, these cables will allow up to three-meter connections between GPUs and displays, providing greater flexibility for gaming and professional setups. VESA showcased DP80LL cables and UHBR20 demos at CES 2025, highlighting their advantages for high-resolution HDR visuals, ultra-smooth gameplay, and multi-display setups.

VESA is being worked with by NVIDIA to make sure that its GPUs work well with DisplayPort 2.1b, helping improve performance for gaming and work setups. DisplayPort 2.1 offers additional benefits like multi-stream transport (MST) for driving multiple displays, support for USB Type-C through DisplayPort Alt Mode, and tunneling via Thunderbolt and USB4. This is used in laptops, tablets, and car displays, making it an important standard for video connections in different industries. At the time of writing, there was not much information available about DisplayPort 2.1b compared to HDMI 2.2. You can check the press release, it might have a few details.

The company also mentioned that VESA-certified DP80LL cables will be available in the next few months. However, it is already showcasing pre-certified samples of DP80LL cables and DisplayPort 2.1 UHBR20 solutions at CES 2025.

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