You may not always realize it, but HDMI 2.1 has been around since 2013. Along with DisplayPort, this is probably the most well-known connection for conjuring video on your screen. But USB-C is impatiently knocking on the door.
Of course, these technologies are not standing still. At the CES 2025 conference, HDMI 2.2 was introduced, which will be implemented later this year. It is said to have better latency, higher bandwidth, and faster response time. How do the other standards compare?
HDMI and DisplayPort: the Big Players
The two most popular cables for transmitting video are HDMI and DisplayPort. USB-C and Thunderbolt are also widely used, especially in modern laptops and tablets. They do, however, use the DisplayPort protocol to transmit video.
Televisions almost always use HDMI, while DisplayPort is mainly found in PCs, monitors, and professional displays. In recent years, laptops usually have a USB-C port that supports DisplayPort, but HDMI is still common as well.
HDMI 2.2: Ready for the Future
The successor to HDMI 2.1 was introduced in January 2025. HDMI 2.2 inherits all the capabilities of its predecessor but focuses primarily on higher performance for demanding applications. At 4K resolution, HDMI 2.2 now supports a refresh rate of up to 480 Hz. At 8K, it’s 240 Hz. HDMI 2.1 “only” reaches 120 Hz at 4K.
This is good news for content creators. Today, there are hardly any screens on the market that can handle these speeds, but once HDMI 2.2 becomes established, the right hardware will quickly follow and be used for VR and professional photo and video editing.
Latency has also been improved. Through more efficient compression, the display responds faster to input. This difference is particularly noticeable in interactive applications such as video editing.
Bandwidth: What is it?
The bandwidth of an HDMI or DisplayPort cable determines how much data can pass through the cable per second. The higher the resolution (e.g., 4K or 8K) or refresh rate (e.g., 120 Hz or 144 Hz), the more bandwidth you need.
Often, the functions of HDMI, DisplayPort, or USB-C depend on the type of device.
For 4K images at 120 Hz or higher, you quickly need 40 Gbps. HDMI 2.1 supports up to 48 Gbps. HDMI 2.2 doubles that bandwidth to 96 Gbps. This leaves room for future innovations such as dynamic HDR, lossless audio, and probably even 10K resolution someday. For now, this extra bandwidth isn’t interesting because no devices have been developed for it yet.
Note: Not every HDMI cable can handle these speeds. To fully utilize HDMI 2.2, you need a new generation of “Ultra High Speed HDMI 2.2” cables.
DisplayPort: the Favorite Choice of Professionals
DisplayPort is the best solution for graphic professionals and developers. The current standard, DisplayPort 2.1, supports up to 80 Gbps and is thus comparable to HDMI 2.2. An important difference is that DisplayPort supports higher resolutions and refresh rates.
DisplayPort offers a few advantages that HDMI doesn’t have. For instance, it supports daisy chaining: connecting multiple monitors with one cable. The exact number depends on your graphics card, with most supporting up to 3 or 4 monitors. DisplayPort doesn’t transmit audio by default, but some drivers make it possible.
read also
How do you choose a monitor?
With DisplayPort Alt Mode via USB-C, you can send video signals, data, and electricity through one cable. Not every USB-C port or cable is suitable for this. The possibilities depend on which device you’re using. Although they look visually universal, this is not the case in practice.
So What is USB-C?
USB-C is not a video standard, but a connection that can use multiple protocols. Many laptops send DisplayPort signals via USB-C, and some also support Thunderbolt 4: a faster variant with higher bandwidth and additional functionalities such as charging and data transfer through the same port.
USB-C is especially handy for laptops or docking stations: one cable for everything. But in terms of video performance, they depend on the underlying standard, which is usually DisplayPort.
What should You Choose?
Which connection is best for you depends on your situation:
- Professionally working on graphic design?
Then DisplayPort 2.1 is still the best choice, especially with multiple screens or high refresh rates.
- Laptop with USB-C?
Make sure your cable and screen support USB-C with DisplayPort Alt Mode. For maximum performance, a Thunderbolt cable is the best option.
HDMI and DisplayPort each have their own audience and they simply evolve in their own direction. HDMI 2.2 provides a big leap forward in terms of resolution, refresh rate, and latency, while DisplayPort remains equally flexible.