may be on your mind too. Any 8K TV will almost certainly ship with the newer HDMI port – but 8K sets are still expensive, and 8K gaming isn't quite on the horizon yet.

resolution combined with 120 FPS at present provides the highest level of smoothness and clarity for video and game content. These capabilities coupled with next-generation games dramatically reduce input lag while significantly increasing response speed. This means that the delay between the screen and your commands will reduce, while the response time for pixels to change from one colour to the next also improves. If you played it on the same TV, using a current-gen PS4 or Pro, you won't hit 60fps because the console simply isn't powerful enough to do so. In this case, the HDMI port and cable won't matter.Plenty of products other than TVs also offer eARC connectivity. Onkyo and Pioneer were the first to offer eARC updates on select AV products such as the Onkyo TX-RZ830, Integra DRX-5.2, Pioneer SC-LX502 and Pioneer VSX-LX503 AV receivers.

HDMI 2.1 soundbars are rarer but becoming more common. Typically HDMI 2.1 ports are found on more premium models such as the Sennheiser Ambeo and LG SP11RA, but there are also a number of mid-range models such as the Creative SXFI Carrier that offer the feature.Full HD TVs and monitors, depending on their refresh rate, will be able to play games in 60fps or 120fps. Since the PS5 doesn't support 1440p, the resolution of many gaming monitors and projectors, it seems likely that the graphics would instead default to 1080p, which means the PS5 won't benefit massively from a 1440p resolution monitor or screen. HDMI 2.1 vs HDMI 2.0 Picture the scene. You have a set-top box, games console and Blu-ray player all plugged into your TV via HDMI. Or perhaps your smart TV is using a built-in video app such as Netflix, Disney+ or Prime Video. Either way, you don’t want to use your TV’s speakers for audio – you’d rather hear everything played through a soundbar or AV receiver instead.

Why you can trust Windows Central Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test. HDMI Cable Power will be available for all categories of HDMI cable, but for ARC/eARC support, you'll want to look out for cables labelled as Ultra High-Speed HDMI Cable, Premium High-Speed HDMI Cable with Ethernet, High-Speed HDMI Cable with Ethernet or Standard HDMI Cable with Ethernet. What HDMI 2.1 sources are available now?

Do you need to upgrade?

Put another way, you could have a streaming box connected to your TV via HDMI 2.1, then connect the TV to an A/V receiver or a sound bar with another HDMI cable. It’s a true passthrough to simplify a home theater setup with fewer cables. Variable Refresh Rate (VRR)

There's no debating that HDMI 2.1 presents major new opportunities. And, yes, you will need to buy a new television eventually to take full advantage of all its benefits. But for HDMI 2.1 to take off, we need actual content that can take advantage of it and use the technologies and resolutions outlined above. Denon's AVRs from the AVR-X2700H and up have at least one HDMI 2.1 input and output, and Yamaha's latest models are HDMI 2.1 certified, too, although are still waiting on a firmware update in August 2022 to enable VRR and ALLM, while QMS and QFT are still in the works. It's also worth noting that both companies (and more besides) have had issues around support for 4K@120fps via the Xbox Series X, but there are now a number of fixes available. Yet another improvement for gamers, ALLM lets a TV or other display know when the signal is coming from a game console or PC. When that happens, the display can automatically turn off any picture processing that could introduce latency or lag. You’ll never have to select Game Mode on your TV again. No more lip-sync issues HDMI 2.1 supports Dynamic HDR at 4K/120fps and 8K/60fps. This allows the television to adjust its picture based on frame-by-frame information in the manner of Dolby Vision and HDR10+. Since dark landscapes might have different contrast requirements to that of brighter scenes, the ability to make instant adjustments allows your movies and TV shows look their best. This means all those high bitrate formats currently available on Blu-ray discs, 4K Blu-rays and some streaming services – Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio and object-based formats such as Dolby Atmos and DTS:X– will all be compatible.A 50-inch 4K TV is a good size to suit most rooms, and the Insignia F30 has almost everything you could hope for in a TV this size. It presents all of your favorite content in breathtaking 4K resolution, and HDR technology provides a wide range of color details and sharper contrast, making movies more immersive and things like sports more impactful. Versatile connectivity ports make it easy to connect home theater peripherals. This TV also offers smart features like Alexa voice control, DTS Studio Sound, and Apple AirPlay. And because the Insignia F30 is a Fire TV, it will give you instant access to over 500,000 streaming movies and TV episodes, and access to thousands of channels and apps. Enhanced Audio Return Channel (also known as eARC) is the next generation of ARC. It’s a feature implemented in the most recent HDMI 2.1 specification. There’s a lot to get excited about when it comes to HDMI connections and the Xbox Series X, as well as a lot to learn, which is why we’ve created this guide. The capabilities of your TV are crucial here too. If your TV doesn't support 4K resolutions, for example, you won't be able to play next-generation games at 4K. Most 4K TVs tend to come with three or four HDMI 2.0 ports as standard, whereas newer models are starting to ship with anywhere between one and four HDMI 2.1 ports – it really varies between TV brands, and you'll have to be careful you end up getting the inputs you need for your intended level of play. ALLM detects when a console is turned on and automatically switches the TV to game mode. Game mode reduces the delay between your inputs on a controller and the corresponding action that takes place on your TV.