HDMI 2.2 Is Coming: Should You Wait or Buy an HDMI 2.1 KVM Now?

Introduction

HDMI 2.2 is no longer an upcoming specification. The HDMI Forum officially released HDMI Specification Version 2.2 on June 25, 2025, increasing maximum bandwidth from 48Gbps to 96Gbps and introducing features such as Ultra96 and Latency Indication Protocol.

But that does not mean most users should replace their HDMI 2.1 equipment in 2026.

The specification is available now, while the hardware ecosystem needed to use its highest bandwidth is still developing. At Computex 2026, HDMI Licensing Administrator CEO and President Rob Tobias said chip manufacturers were expected to begin sampling next-generation FRL2 silicon during 2026, with the first products supporting up to 96Gbps expected in 2027.

For someone using a PS5, Xbox Series X, RTX gaming PC, 4K120 TV, 4K144 monitor, or an HDMI KVM today, that creates a much more useful question than simply asking which specification is newer:

Does HDMI 2.2 solve a problem your current HDMI 2.1 setup cannot solve?

For most 2026 desktop and gaming workflows, the answer is still no. But there are specific high-bandwidth scenarios where HDMI 2.2 will matter significantly.

HDMI 2.2 Status in 2026: Quick Answer

Question	2026 Status
Is HDMI 2.2 officially released?	Yes. The specification was released June 25, 2025.
Maximum specified bandwidth	96Gbps
HDMI 2.1 maximum bandwidth	48Gbps
New HDMI 2.2 cable category	Ultra96 HDMI Cable
Does Ultra96 always mean 96Gbps?	No. Ultra96 may identify 64Gbps, 80Gbps, or 96Gbps implementations.
Is full-bandwidth 96Gbps hardware common in 2026?	No.
When are first up-to-96Gbps products expected?	2027, based on HDMI LA comments at Computex 2026.
Does PS5 require HDMI 2.2?	No. PS5 uses HDMI 2.1 and supports 4K120.
Does RTX 5090 require HDMI 2.2?	No. Its HDMI output is HDMI 2.1b.
Should most current KVM users wait?	Usually not if their target display modes are already supported by HDMI 2.1 hardware.

HDMI Licensing Administrator describes Ultra96 as a feature name that may be used for compliant 64Gbps, 80Gbps, or 96Gbps HDMI 2.2 implementations. It should therefore not be read as an automatic guarantee that every product carrying the name operates at the full 96Gbps rate.

That distinction will become important as HDMI 2.2 hardware begins appearing.

HDMI 2.1 vs HDMI 2.2: Key Differences

The most visible difference between HDMI 2.1 and HDMI 2.2 is bandwidth, but bandwidth matters because it determines how much resolution, refresh rate, color depth, and chroma information can travel through the link before compression or other compromises become necessary.

Feature	HDMI 2.1 / 2.1b	HDMI 2.2
Maximum bandwidth	Up to 48Gbps	Up to 96Gbps
Cable for maximum specified bandwidth	Ultra High Speed HDMI Cable	Ultra96 HDMI Cable
4K120	Supported	Supported
8K60	Supported	Supported with more uncompressed options
4K240	Possible in current implementations with conditions such as DSC	Supports uncompressed 4K240 4:4:4 at 10/12-bit
12K120 / 16K60	Not a normal HDMI 2.1 target	Included in HDMI 2.2 capabilities
DSC importance at extreme modes	Often important	Higher bandwidth reduces dependence on compression for some modes
LIP	No	Yes
Consumer hardware maturity in 2026	Mature	Early-stage ecosystem

HDMI 2.1b supports bandwidth up to 48Gbps and formats including 4K120 and 8K60.

HDMI 2.2 doubles that maximum to 96Gbps. The HDMI Forum specifically identifies uncompressed 4K240 4:4:4 and 8K60 4:4:4 at 10-bit and 12-bit color among the higher-quality formats enabled by the new specification.

That is the practical technical difference worth paying attention to.

What Does 96Gbps Actually Change?

A larger bandwidth number is useful only if it changes what the display chain can transmit.

For many current users running 4K120 or 4K144, HDMI 2.1 already provides enough capability when the GPU, display, cable, and any intermediate device support the required mode.

The difference becomes more important at combinations such as:

very high refresh rate 4K
higher color depth
full 4:4:4 chroma
high-refresh 8K
professional visualization
future AR, VR, and spatial-display workloads

HDMI 2.1 and DSC

Current HDMI 2.1 equipment can reach display modes whose raw data requirements exceed what a 48Gbps link could otherwise transport by using technologies such as Display Stream Compression.

DSC should not be treated as a defect. VESA describes DSC as a visually lossless compression technology used by major display interfaces, including HDMI and DisplayPort, to transport demanding UHD display signals more efficiently.

This is why specifications such as “4K240 over HDMI 2.1” need context.

They may depend on:

DSC
color depth
chroma format
GPU output capability
monitor DSC support
firmware
the implementation of any KVM or adapter in the chain

For example, NVIDIA specifies the RTX 5090 with HDMI 2.1b and states that modes as high as 4K at very high refresh rates can use DSC.

What HDMI 2.2 Changes

HDMI 2.2 provides considerably more raw link bandwidth.

That means some modes that previously depended on compression or reduced signal parameters can be transported with fewer such constraints.

The HDMI Forum highlights uncompressed 4K240 at 4:4:4 with 10-bit or 12-bit color as one example.

For a user with a 4K120 gaming TV, this extra bandwidth does not change much today.

For someone planning future 4K240 professional-color workflows, high-refresh 8K, or other extremely data-heavy display chains, it can matter much more.

HDMI 2.2 Release Timeline: When Will Hardware Arrive?

The HDMI 2.2 specification and HDMI 2.2 hardware should not be treated as the same milestone.

January 2025: HDMI 2.2 Announced

The HDMI Forum first announced HDMI 2.2 in January 2025 and outlined the 96Gbps bandwidth target, next-generation Fixed Rate Link, Ultra96 cable, and LIP.

June 25, 2025: HDMI 2.2 Specification Released

The final Version 2.2 specification was formally released on June 25, 2025.

From that point onward, calling HDMI 2.2 “coming” was no longer technically accurate. What remained upcoming was broad hardware adoption.

2026: Certification and FRL2 Silicon Development

At Computex 2026, HDMI Licensing Administrator discussed the next stage of the rollout. FRL2 chip sampling was expected during 2026, while LIP-certified products and Ultra96-related hardware could appear earlier than full 96Gbps source/display implementations.

2027: First Up-to-96Gbps Products Expected

Based on those comments, the first products using the new FRL2 silicon and providing up to 96Gbps HDMI 2.2 bandwidth are expected in 2027.

“Expected” matters here. This is an industry rollout timeline, not a guarantee that every GPU, monitor, TV, receiver, capture device, and KVM will immediately offer 96Gbps ports in 2027.

Display ecosystems normally adopt a new interface gradually.

Do Current GPUs, PS5, and Xbox Need HDMI 2.2?

For most current devices, HDMI 2.2 would not unlock a hidden capability because the source itself is built around HDMI 2.1-class hardware.

PS5

Sony confirms that PS5 consoles support the HDMI 2.1 specification and 4K120 output. Sony's troubleshooting guidance also emphasizes that the display, HDMI port, cable, and any intermediary equipment can affect whether 4K120 works correctly.

There is therefore no reason to wait for an HDMI 2.2 KVM just to use a PS5 at 4K120.

The more important question is whether the KVM you choose can preserve the PS5 mode you actually use, including relevant HDR and VRR behavior.

Xbox Series X

Xbox Series X hardware was designed with HDMI 2.1 output and support for 4K120-class gaming workflows.

Again, an HDMI 2.2 intermediate device would not increase the console's source output beyond the signal the console itself generates.

RTX 5090 and Current High-End PCs

Even a current flagship GPU such as the GeForce RTX 5090 uses an HDMI 2.1b output, not HDMI 2.2. NVIDIA specifies high-refresh display modes using HDMI 2.1b together with DSC where required.

This is a useful illustration of why the latest interface specification does not automatically become necessary as soon as it is published.

The source, display, and intermediate hardware all have to move together.

Should Gamers Wait for HDMI 2.2?

For most gamers in 2026, waiting solely for HDMI 2.2 is difficult to justify.

Consider the display mode first.

If Your Target Is 4K120

Current HDMI 2.1 equipment already addresses this use case.

That includes current consoles, many gaming TVs, GPUs, and properly specified KVMs.

If Your Target Is 4K144

This remains well within the range of current high-bandwidth HDMI gaming equipment when every component in the signal chain supports the mode.

Again, HDMI 2.2 is not required simply because the refresh rate is higher than 120Hz.

If Your Target Is 4K240

This requires more careful reading.

Current 4K240 workflows can depend on DSC and the exact GPU/display implementation. Do not interpret “HDMI 2.1” as a guarantee that every 48Gbps product can pass every 4K240 color-depth and chroma combination.

This is one of the areas where HDMI 2.2 becomes technically interesting: the extra link bandwidth supports more demanding uncompressed 4K240 configurations.

That does not mean a user with a current 4K240 monitor must wait. It means the purchase decision should be based on how the monitor and GPU currently achieve 4K240.

If both already support the mode you need, changing the interface generation does not automatically improve the experience.

Should You Wait for an HDMI 2.2 KVM?

A KVM sits in the middle of the display chain, which means it cannot create capabilities that do not exist at the source or display.

Think of the path as:

GPU / Console → Cable → KVM → Cable → Monitor

For the complete path to use a future 96Gbps HDMI 2.2 mode:

The source must output that HDMI 2.2 mode.
The KVM must accept and switch the required bandwidth.
The cables must support the required data rate.
The display must accept the same mode.
EDID and feature negotiation must remain compatible.

If your GPU is HDMI 2.1b and your monitor is an HDMI 2.1 display, inserting an HDMI 2.2 KVM between them does not turn the connection into a 96Gbps workflow.

That is why waiting for a future HDMI 2.2 KVM makes sense mainly when you are also planning to replace the source and display with hardware that can use the new bandwidth.

For an existing HDMI 2.1 desk, the better question is:

Can a current KVM preserve the exact resolution, refresh rate, HDR, VRR, color, DSC, EDID, and USB behavior I need?

That is a much more useful buying criterion than choosing the newest specification number.

Why HDMI 2.1 KVMs Still Make Sense in 2026

Current HDMI 2.1 KVMs remain relevant because the hardware people actually use is still predominantly built around HDMI 2.1-class display paths.

A typical setup may include:

a gaming PC and work PC
two computers sharing two high-refresh monitors
a PS5 and PC sharing a display and peripherals
an HDMI 2.1 OLED gaming monitor
keyboard and mouse sharing
USB devices that need to follow the active computer
EDID requirements to reduce display re-detection during switching

For example, TESmart HKS202-M24 is designed for a 2-PC, 2-monitor HDMI setup. TESmart lists HDMI 2.1 bandwidth up to 48Gbps, dual 4K144-class operation, EDID functionality, and support for gaming-related features including VRR and ALLM.

This is more suitable for a user whose real requirement is:

Two current PCs need to share two high-refresh HDMI displays and USB peripherals.

It is not a reason to claim that HDMI 2.2 is unnecessary forever.

It simply matches the hardware available and the problem being solved today.

For 4K240 scenarios, the distinction becomes more important. TESmart's current high-bandwidth product documentation describes 4K240 operation in conjunction with DSC, which is exactly why HDMI 2.2's higher uncompressed bandwidth is relevant as a future technology improvement.

Before choosing any KVM for a high-refresh setup, verify:

number of computers
number of monitors
video outputs available from each computer
exact resolution and refresh rate
color depth
DSC requirements
HDR and VRR requirements
EDID behavior
cable capability
USB peripherals that need to be shared

This prevents a common mistake: buying by the label “HDMI 2.1” while ignoring the actual display mode.

When Does Waiting for HDMI 2.2 Make Sense?

There are users for whom waiting is reasonable.

You Are Planning a 2027-or-Later Full Hardware Refresh

If you expect to replace the GPU, monitor, KVM, and cables together, you may benefit from seeing which HDMI 2.2 bandwidth tiers manufacturers actually implement.

Waiting also gives the market time to establish clearer compatibility and certification information.

You Specifically Need Uncompressed High-Refresh 4K

If your workflow requires combinations such as 4K240, full 4:4:4 chroma, and 10-bit or 12-bit color without relying on DSC, HDMI 2.2 directly addresses a limitation that matters to you.

This is a much stronger reason to wait than simply wanting the newest HDMI version.

You Are Building Around Future High-Refresh 8K or Professional AV

The additional bandwidth is more relevant to professional imaging, advanced AV distribution, immersive displays, and future resolution/refresh-rate combinations than to an ordinary 4K120 gaming desk.

You Have Not Bought Any Part of the Display Chain Yet

If the entire workstation is still theoretical and there is no immediate need to deploy it, waiting for actual HDMI 2.2 GPUs and displays gives you more information before committing.

The key distinction is simple:

Wait when HDMI 2.2 enables a display mode you actually need. Do not wait only because 2.2 is newer than 2.1.

FAQ

Is HDMI 2.2 available now?

The HDMI 2.2 specification is available now. It was formally released on June 25, 2025.

However, the specification being released does not mean full 96Gbps consumer hardware is already common.

When will HDMI 2.2 devices be available?

Some HDMI 2.2-related features and products can appear before full-bandwidth implementations. Based on HDMI Licensing Administrator comments at Computex 2026, the first products using FRL2 silicon with up to 96Gbps bandwidth are expected in 2027.

Is HDMI 2.2 really 96Gbps?

HDMI 2.2 defines maximum bandwidth up to 96Gbps.

However, the Ultra96 feature name can also be used with compliant 64Gbps and 80Gbps implementations, so buyers will still need to check the actual product bandwidth.

Does HDMI 2.2 require a new cable?

For the full HDMI 2.2 bandwidth range, the new Ultra96 HDMI Cable is the relevant cable category. It supports up to 96Gbps and is part of the HDMI cable certification program.

Existing Ultra High Speed HDMI cables remain applicable to configurations up to 48Gbps.

Does RTX 5090 support HDMI 2.2?

No. NVIDIA lists the GeForce RTX 5090 with HDMI 2.1b output. High-resolution and high-refresh modes may use DSC.

Does PS5 support HDMI 2.2?

No. Sony specifies PS5 consoles with HDMI 2.1 support and up to 4K120 output.

For a PS5 setup, an HDMI 2.2 KVM would therefore not increase the console's native HDMI output capability.

Should I wait for HDMI 2.2?

Most users with current HDMI 2.1 gaming PCs, consoles, TVs, and monitors do not need to wait.

Waiting makes more sense if you are planning a future full-chain upgrade and specifically need the additional bandwidth for modes such as uncompressed high-refresh 4K with high color depth.

Are HDMI 2.2 KVM switches widely available?

Full 96Gbps HDMI 2.2 hardware is still at an early stage in 2026, and the silicon needed for next-generation FRL2 implementations is only beginning its rollout. It is therefore reasonable to expect KVM adoption to follow source and display hardware rather than lead it.

Will HDMI 2.1 become obsolete soon?

Not for current HDMI 2.1 equipment.

A PS5, Xbox, HDMI 2.1 GPU, or HDMI 2.1 display will not stop needing the same signal path because a newer specification exists.

HDMI 2.2 becomes relevant when the source and display actually use capabilities that require its additional bandwidth.

Conclusion

The important difference between HDMI 2.1 and HDMI 2.2 in 2026 is not simply 48Gbps versus 96Gbps.

It is the difference between a mature hardware ecosystem and a specification whose highest-bandwidth hardware is only beginning to reach the implementation stage.

HDMI 2.2 was officially released in June 2025. It introduces up to 96Gbps bandwidth, Ultra96, LIP, and enough link capacity for demanding uncompressed formats such as 4K240 4:4:4 at 10-bit and 12-bit color. Full up-to-96Gbps consumer products are expected to begin appearing in 2027 rather than being widespread today.

For most 2026 gaming and workstation users, HDMI 2.1 remains the relevant standard because current PS5, Xbox, GPUs, gaming monitors, TVs, and high-refresh KVM workflows are already built around it.

If your current requirement is 4K120, 4K144, or a supported DSC-based high-refresh mode, there is little reason to delay a working setup purely to wait for HDMI 2.2.

If your requirement is future uncompressed 4K240 at high color depth, higher-bandwidth 8K, or an entirely new 2027+ display chain, waiting becomes easier to justify.

For KVM buyers, the same rule applies:

Choose the switch around the signal your current computers and displays actually need to pass—not around the newest HDMI version number.