Nothing lasts forever, and even if something doesn’t break, it doesn’t mean it hasn’t expired. HDMI cables aren’t immune to this fate, and I would guess that quite a few people out there don’t even know that the cable they’re using is long past its expiration date. Sure, you can still keep it plugged into your TV, but you might not realize you’re leaving a lot of performance on the table by using an older cable with your modern devices.
If you’re like me and are someone who was around for the early days of HDMI, you might still have those old Xbox 360-era cables in your rotation. It’s easy to do since all cables look the same, and it’s not like your new Xbox is going to tell you that you’re using the wrong cable unless you go looking for it. The Xbox Series X and PS5 can use VRR and hit 120 FPS, and that means you want to use those consoles with an HDMI 2.1 cable. They’ll still work with a 1.4 or 2.0 cable, and that’s where the problem is.
Quiz
HDMI 2.0 and its history
Trivia challenge
Think you know everything about the standard that supercharged your home cinema? Put your knowledge to the test.
HistoryStandardsVideoHardwareBandwidth
In what year was HDMI 2.0 officially released?
Correct! HDMI 2.0 was released in September 2013 by the HDMI Forum. It arrived just in time to support the growing demand for 4K content and displays entering the consumer market.
Not quite. HDMI 2.0 launched in September 2013. This timing was deliberate, as manufacturers needed a standard capable of handling 4K resolution at smoother frame rates than its predecessor could manage.
What is the maximum bandwidth offered by HDMI 2.0?
That’s right! HDMI 2.0 delivers a maximum bandwidth of 18 Gbps, a significant jump from HDMI 1.4’s 10.2 Gbps. This extra headroom was essential for supporting 4K at 60 frames per second.
Not quite. HDMI 2.0 supports up to 18 Gbps of bandwidth. For comparison, its predecessor HDMI 1.4 was capped at 10.2 Gbps, which wasn’t enough for smooth 4K playback at 60fps.
What is the maximum frame rate HDMI 2.0 supports at 4K resolution?
Correct! HDMI 2.0 can handle 4K resolution at up to 60fps. This was a major improvement over HDMI 1.4, which could only push 4K at 30fps — a limitation that made motion look choppy on large screens.
Not quite. The answer is 60fps. HDMI 1.4 had already introduced 4K support but was limited to 30fps, and HDMI 2.0 doubled that frame rate, making a huge difference for sports and gaming content.
Which organisation took over governance of the HDMI specification from HDMI Licensing LLC, leading up to the release of HDMI 2.0?
Spot on! The HDMI Forum was established in 2011 and took over development of the HDMI specification, releasing HDMI 2.0 as its first major standard in 2013. It brought a broader group of industry members into the process.
Not quite. The HDMI Forum was the body responsible. Founded in 2011, it replaced the original HDMI Licensing LLC structure for specification development, opening membership to a wider range of consumer electronics companies.
How many simultaneous audio streams does HDMI 2.0 support?
Correct! HDMI 2.0 supports up to 4 simultaneous audio streams, an upgrade over earlier versions. This made it better suited to multi-room audio setups and more complex home theatre configurations.
Not quite. HDMI 2.0 can carry up to 4 simultaneous audio streams. This was one of several audio improvements in the specification, alongside support for up to 32 audio channels in total across those streams.
What sub-revision of HDMI 2.0 introduced support for HDR (High Dynamic Range) video?
Well done! HDMI 2.0a, released in April 2015, was the revision that added static HDR metadata support. This allowed TVs and displays to receive HDR content from sources like Ultra HD Blu-ray players and streaming devices.
The correct answer is HDMI 2.0a. Released in 2015, this update added static HDR support to the standard. A later revision, HDMI 2.0b from 2016, then extended that with support for the HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma) HDR format.
HDMI 2.0 uses the same physical connector type as which earlier version of HDMI?
Correct! One of the great conveniences of HDMI 2.0 is that it uses the same physical connectors introduced with the original HDMI 1.0 specification. That means existing cables and ports are physically compatible, though older cables may not support the full bandwidth.
Not quite — the answer is all previous HDMI versions. HDMI has always maintained physical connector compatibility going back to version 1.0. The key caveat is that older cables may not have the bandwidth capacity to carry HDMI 2.0 signals reliably.
Which colour space format did HDMI 2.0 add support for, enabling more vivid colours on compatible displays?
Excellent! HDMI 2.0 introduced support for the Rec. 2020 colour space, which covers a far wider gamut than the Rec. 709 standard used for HD content. This laid the groundwork for truly vibrant, lifelike images on 4K HDR televisions.
Not quite. The answer is Rec. 2020, also known as BT.2020. This wide colour gamut standard was a key feature of HDMI 2.0, enabling displays to reproduce colours much closer to what the human eye can perceive compared to older HD standards.
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Not every HDMI cable is the same
It might be time for an upgrade
HDMI cables are completely backwards compatible, so your modern 2.1 cable can be used with your old devices without a problem. When in doubt, plug a 2.1 cable in and call it a day. Of course, it’s not always that simple, and I don’t imagine people want to go out and replace all of their cables like that. The good news is that you don’t have to do that. Your old cables still work just fine with most devices, so they might not have reached their expiration date.
What’s strange is that HDMI 2.2 is here, but there’s pretty much no reason to have it. There are still just a handful of reasons to have a 2.1 cable, in fact. HDMI 2.1 is mainly worth it for HDMI eARC for superior audio and your game consoles. For everything else, including a 4K Blu-ray player, you can get away with HDMI 2.0.
I just try to use the accompanying cable that comes with my devices as a good rule of thumb. That’s never going to steer you wrong, and it’s not like your new PS5 is going to come with an HDMI 2.0 cable that hamstrings its performance. If you’re ever in doubt, take a look at the writing on your cable. If it says something along the lines of Ultra High-Speed, then you know it’s a 2.1 cable. In the settings of your Xbox and PS5, you can also find out if it’s a 2.1 cable by seeing if your console supports 120 FPS. If you don’t have the right cable, just head over to the nearest store and pick one up for cheap. You can even get a 2.2 cable and use it and be prepared for the future all in one fell swoop.
Don’t rush out to replace your cables if you don’t need to, but just know that there are probably some that need to be replaced if you haven’t upgraded in a while. TV technology has been advancing, and that aforementioned eARC port is a step up from the ARC port. ARC works with your 2.0 cables, but the eARC port benefits from the faster speeds provided by 2.1. I use a 2.1 cable with my Dolby Atmos setup, and you should do the same.
What this all means is that some of your current cables might be expired, so just take a look behind your TV the next time you’re around and see if there are any cables that need to be switched out. Chances are good that there’s at least one weak link in there.
You don’t have to throw away your old cables
They still have their uses
Like I mentioned before, the HDMI format is cool because your new cables can be used with old devices and your old cables can be used with new devices. You don’t want to do the latter one very often, but you can keep on using your older cables with devices they were meant to be used with. This means your 2.0 cable can still be used with your Apple TV 4K or 4K Blu-ray player without leaving performance on the table.
You can also use those 2.0 cables to dive back into retro gaming with the PS3 and Xbox 360. It might make your back hurt to see me call those retro, but they’re 20 years old now, so I’d say they fit the bill. The point is that HDMI cables might not be able to hang with the newest of the new, but that doesn’t mean they’re useless. I wouldn’t suggest you become a hoarder who never gets rid of cables, but I don’t think it’s difficult to give those expired cables a new home. I wish I had more lying around because it feels like I find a new hobby that needs a cable with each passing day.
