Nowadays, the upgrading of TV products and technology seems to have far exceeded the scope of ordinary people's needs, and even led the public's consumption outlook to a certain extent. It only took two years for the full popularization of 1080P to 4K, and the construction of 8K content is on the line. In the hardware arms race, the increase in resolution can no longer satisfy the appetite of manufacturers, and variable refresh rate, HDMI 2.1, etc. have been launched. So the question is, are these functions really just needed for ordinary users?

What exactly is HDMI 2.1 upgraded?

Is HDMI 2.1 just needed? We must first understand what it has upgraded compared to its predecessor standards.

Compared with the HDMI 2.0 released in 2013, the main feature of the current HDMI 2.1 standard supports a larger bandwidth, increasing from the previous 18Gbps to 48Gbps. With the rapid development of ultra-high-definition content and display technology, there are higher requirements for the transmission speed of the interface, and the HDMI 2.1 interface can meet the transmission needs of most of the current ultra-high-definition content. To put it simply, the HDMI 2.1 interface can meet the larger data transmission volume, which means that the picture it transmits can have a higher resolution and a higher frame rate. Picture formats that were not previously supported by the HDMI 2.0 interface, such as 4K@120Hz, 8K@60Hz, or even 10K@100/120fps, can be easily handled by upgrading to HDMI 2.1.

In addition, the increased bandwidth also plays a key role in supporting the latest color gamuts, such as BT.2020 (Rec.2020) and 10-bit, 12-bit and even more advanced uncompressed 16-bit colors. Of course, if you want to enjoy the convenience and performance enhancement brought by the HDMI 2.1 interface, you also need a brand new HDMI 2.1 cable. According to the official news of the HDMI Forum, the new HDMI cable will use the existing A, C and D connectors, and will be backward compatible with existing multimedia devices. It can be said that gamers will be the first to feel the experience upgrade brought by HDMI 2.1.

In recent years, many game manufacturers have begun to develop 120FPS 4K games, including next-generation game consoles that also support 4K@120FPS games. The increase in frame rate and resolution will greatly enhance the player’s gaming experience, and all of these are inseparable. Open HDMI 2.1 interface support.

Is HDMI 2.1 really just needed?

It is true that today's TV products have gradually realized the HDMI 2.1 interface adaptation. Based on the principle of "buy the new and not the old", we certainly recommend that you buy products with HDMI 2.1 interface in one step. However, if you have a limited budget and the HDMI 2.1 interface happens to be the key point that affects the price, then whether to choose it or not depends on your usage habits. For console game players, the importance of HDMI 2.1 is unquestionable. If you want to experience the next-generation game masterpiece under 4K 120FPS, in addition to the host, the most important thing is the HDMI 2.1 adaptation of the TV. Without it, the game experience will be greatly reduced.

Therefore, for host game players, the addition of HDMI 2.1 interface is necessary and critical. And if you are not cold about games, and your daily needs are limited to watching high-definition movies, cable TV and other light experience, in the case of a limited budget, the transmission rate of HDMI 2.0 can also fully meet your needs, and the interface transmission rate improve does not bring about obvious changes in the user experience. Having said so much, in fact, it can be summed up in two points: when the budget is sufficient, it is natural to get it in one step. Purchasing products with HDMI 2.1 interface can improve the experience of watching movies and games, and at the same time eliminates it. The trouble of upgrading in the future; in the case of a limited budget, if you are a console game user and want to experience the charm of the next-generation game masterpiece, then this money cannot be saved. HDMI 2.1 is the first condition for you to buy a TV; and if you are just a light user, daily use will not have too high requirements for resolution and frame rate, and the existing HDMI 2.0 interface can fully meet your needs.