HDMI 2.1a is a confusing new spec arriving at CES 2022

HDMI two.1a adds support for Source-Based Tone Mapping, just manufacturers don't need to actually offer the feature to use the HDMI 2.1a label

HDMI cables

There's a new HDMI standard on the way that will both bring welcome new features and exacerbate existing problems with the increasingly confusing connection standard.

Set to debut at CES 2022 is HDMI 2.1a, a revision to the electric current HDMI ii.i that's already rather disruptive. HDMI 2.1a adds support for Source-Based Tone Mapping (SBTM), a new HDR characteristic that can offload some of the HDR tone mapping to the content source (i.east. your computer or set-top box) that can work alongside the tone mapping happening on your Telly or monitor.

It's important to note that SBTM doesn't supercede HDR10 or Dolby Vision — instead, it's meant to assistance existing HDR set-ups work better. According to The Verge, it does so by letting the content source optimize content it passes to the display and can remove the need to have users calibrate their screens for HDR past making the source device configure content for a specific brandish.

Another plus: the HDMI Forum (an organization that defines the HDMI standard) says that companies tin add together HDMI 2.1a support to fix-top boxes, consoles and TVs through firmware updates "depending upon their design." However, every bit The Verge points out, most people will likely never run across these firmware updates and volition instead need to wait and buy a new version of the hardware with HDMI 2.1a support when it becomes available.

Like HDMI ii.1, the new features in 2.1a aren't mandatory

Equally for the downsides, HDMI 2.1a'due south features will act similar all the other HDMI 2.1 features. That means they're optional.

The problem, according to TFTCentral, is that the HDMI Licensing Administrator (the organization that handles licensing of the HDMI standard) treats HDMI standards as a set that contains all other HDMI standards. In other words, once HDMI ii.1a comes out, all new ports will, in theory, exist labelled every bit HDMI 2.1a considering HDMI ii.one effectively doesn't exist anymore.

However, because the new HDMI ii.1a features aren't required, manufacturers can finer send devices with ports labelled equally HDMI 2.1a but without the total functionality of HDMI 2.1a. Granted, TFTCentral notes that most manufacturers don't abide by those rules and properly label HDMI ports based on the included features, but the rules don't strength companies to practice this.

All this means that one time HDMI ii.1a arrives, it'll be in a very similar position to HDMI 2.1. In other words, 2.1a volition offering new, benign features that companies don't have to adopt. Customers, meanwhile, will be left needing to research and figure out if the new device they want actually supports HDMI two.1a features or just happens to have the HDMI two.1a characterization.

You lot tin can check out more news from CES 2022 here.

Source: The Verge, TFTCentral