The HDMI Forum has revealed the HDMI 2.1 specification, offering massive improvements over the previous version.

This latest HDMI specification supports a range of high video resolutions and refresh rates – including 8K60 and 4K120 – along with increased bandwidth with a new 48Gbps cable.

HDMI 2.1 is also backwards-compatible with earlier versions of the specification.

New features

The new HDMI specification supports several new features, including:

Support for higher resolutions and faster refresh rates, up to 4K/120Hz and 8K/60Hz.

Dynamic HDR support.

Increased bandwidth – 48Gbps.

Game Mode VRR variable refresh rate.

HDMI 2.1’s bandwidth of 48Gbps is a big increase over the 18Gbps delivered by HDMI 2.0.

The HDMI 2.1 specification is set to release in Q2 2017.