HDMI standards: 1.4 vs 2.0 vs 2.1

The number on the box decides whether your screen or cable actually supports what you need.

Resolution and frame rate

HDMI 1.4 supports 4K but caps out at 30 frames per second. HDMI 2.0 raises that to 4K at 60fps, which is the reasonable minimum for any modern 4K use. HDMI 2.1 adds 4K at 120fps and 8K support, which is specifically what current-generation gaming consoles need.

The cable alone isn't enough

The HDMI standard is as much a property of the two connected devices (source and display) as it is of the cable. An HDMI 2.1 cable between a device and a screen that only support HDMI 2.0 won't unlock 2.1 features — the weakest link in the chain sets the outcome.

Bandwidth

HDMI 1.4: up to 10.2 Gbps. HDMI 2.0: up to 18 Gbps. HDMI 2.1: up to 48 Gbps. The higher the resolution or frame rate, the more bandwidth is needed — which is exactly where cheap, unreliable cables fail at high resolutions.

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