If you own a PlayStation 5, or if you are considering owning it, it is likely that you have also thought about acquiring a new television that is compatible with the HDMI 2.1 standard. This new technology is being sold as a must-have feature to get the most out of PS5. But as you will see in this post today, you may not need it at all for now.
HDMI 2.1 is not a new standard either. It was released right at the end of 2017. The adoption of this new revision was extremely slow. Today, four years later, many manufacturers still do not support this technology in some of their models, and this version of HDMI is so abundant that currently we are not going to need it either.
What’s new? HDMI 2.1 vs. HDMI 2.0
The differences between HDMI 2.0 and 2.1 are not exactly few. Next, we will show you a quick review of the new features that the connector offers, as well as a slight comparison between the two and a brief explanation of how these technologies affect when playing video games .
Bandwidth
Any good standard in the world of connectivity tends to double the bandwidth of the previous generation. HDMI 2.0 failed to double the data throughput of its predecessor, HDMI 1.4 (18 Gbps versus 10.2 Gbps). However, HDMI 2.1 supports a data stream of up to 48 gigabits per second. This is 2.6 times more bandwidth than its predecessor , not having a proper generation between them.
Automatic Low Latency Mode (AALM)
Smart TVs are not limited to simply showing the signal they receive through the connector on the screen. They also process information to maximize vision quality, sharpness, and colors. Hence the importance of the firmwares that are included in smart TVs, where there is a lot of hype about the artificial intelligence algorithms that are responsible for image processing .
All this is interesting when we see a series, a movie or any TV program, but it is a hassle when it comes to playing . The processing carried out by the television takes time, producing the phenomenon called “input lag”, which is basically a delay from when you press the button on your console’s remote until the action is reflected on the screen.
Almost all modern TVs have a low latency support mode, you just have to activate it manually . What AALM technology does is simply make the change for us automatically.
QFT or Quick Frame Transport
Another interesting feature for gaming is the QFT, which uses the HDMI cable itself to reduce the latency between the device that outputs the image and the screen. It allows to gain fluidity , but the field in which this technology becomes interesting is in that of virtual reality .
VRR or Variable Refresh Rate
The VRR or Variable Refresh Rate allows us to camouflage the variations of frames per second that occur while we play. It is an interesting technology, but not exactly for desktop consoles. When we play, especially on PC, it often happens that a frame is not fully rendered by the graphics card just when it has to go out on the screen. Normally there is a small jerk (also called lag) or even there is a merge between several frames that fixes the situation a bit.
With VRR, the screen is able to wait for that frame, creating a sense of fluidity . Still, on consoles like PlayStation 5, the framerate is quite stable, and this particular technology needs a lot of rapport between device and screen to work properly.
Color, dynamic range and sound enhancements
There are also improvements in HDMI 2.1 in terms of support for color spaces, sound and the use of metadata to process the image on our televisions:
- Expanded color spaces (BT.2020)
- eARC, improved version of ARC for high resolution audio return
- Using dynamic metadata for high dynamic range content
New Cable: Ultra High Speed HDMI
The HDMI 2.1 standard is only compatible with the new cable called Ultra High Speed HDMI . It is the one that allows to support the new bandwidth. While HDMI 2.0 is limited to 4K resolution and 60 frames per second or 8K at 30 fps , HDMI 2.1 supports a resolution of 10K at 120 fps without fuss. Come on, we have cable for a while.
However, some features of HDMI 2.1 are fully compatible with the HDMI 2.0 cable, such as eARC. It is only necessary that the PS5 and TV support HDMI 2.1. Here too there is a labeling problem on the part of technology. It would be easier for everyone if HDMI cables had the same name as the technology they support, starting with something as basic as that the standard has always been backward compatible .
PlayStation 5 and the HDMI 2.1 standard
According to directors of Sony itself, it is not necessary at the moment to have a television with HDMI 2.1 support to get the most out of the PS5. It is somewhat surprising that they admit it themselves, since part of their business is also the sale of smart TVs.
The new generation has just begun, and HDMI 2.1 was already created in its time to more than meet the needs of the market for a long time. It is normal that PS5 or Xbox Series X are not able to use each and every one of the features that the new connector offers.
Ready for PlayStation 5
Sony also released a label , “Ready for PlayStation 5,” which allows you to identify the ideal TVs for the perfect PS5 experience. This seal also has a lot of marketing involved, and it is included only in 4K 120 Hz or 8K 60 Hz televisions, when in practice, we know that the PS5 is not a machine fully capable of moving those resolutions at the moment.
What should we look for in a television to play?
Whether you’re on PlayStation 5 or Xbox One, one of the most important features to look for is HDR support . This feature notably marks the experience of using the console, but also when consuming any multimedia content.
Regarding the number of pixels, it is not at all necessary to exceed 4K resolution if our objective is simply to play the Sony console. On the other hand, the panel technology is a totally determining factor that will have a direct impact on your user experience. But here it should be your decision to choose one type of panel or another depending on the budget that you have set.
Finally, if the Smart TV that you have located meets all these requirements well and also supports HDMI 2.1 … then go ahead. You will not regret. If, on the contrary, it stays in HDMI 2.0, do not panic, and do not be obsessed with this connector , since today, it will not be a limiting factor when it comes to enjoying your video games on PlayStation 5.