unless you are intending to play 120 FPS on 4K or 8K (if that exists), you don't need HDMI 2.1 for gaming. HDMI 2.0 can already support up to 165 FPS QHD (2K) gaming without any problem. so, you can play the games you like in 2.0 anyways.
If you bought a 4K TV with a true 120Hz refresh rate, like for use with a PlayStation or Xbox, you should move up to an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable.
Does HDMI 2.0 Support 120Hz and 144Hz? It is capable to support higher refresh rates of 120Hz and 144Hz. But bearing this high refresh rate results in the destruction of video quality.
The Xbox Series X console comes with a 2-meter Ultra High Speed HDMI cable that supports HDMI 2.1 features. This cable is required to support 4K gaming at 120Hz.
You don't need an HDMI 2.1 connection for 120hz gaming, and many PC players have been able to experience 120fps for some time with an HDMI 2.0 connection. An HDMI 2.1 connection essentially allows for 120fps at 4K, or 8K at 60fps, while an HDMI 2.0 connection can allow for 120fps, but at either 1080p or 1440p.
HDMI 2.1 is backward compatible with HDMI 2.0. In terms of the functionalities, buying an HDMI 2.1 is a good choice to have enough capacity for data transmission, enjoy ultimate entertainment (if you already get a 4k/8k TV and video player), and also future-proof the 8K needs.
You'll need to set the TV HDMI® Signal format to Enhanced format for your source device to recognize the 4K 120Hz capability of the TV. Note: Make sure your device is connected to the HDMI 3 or HDMI 4 input on the TV using the supplied Certified Premium HDMI cable.
The Xbox Series X console comes with a 2-metre Ultra High Speed HDMI cable that supports HDMI 2.1 features. This cable is required to support 4K gaming at 120Hz. Using a different HDMI cable may impact your video quality. Make sure to place your console within 2 metres of your TV so that this cable will reach.
Games in 4K 60Hz with HDR work perfectly on premium HDMI (HDMI 2.0), with room to spare. Note that the PS5/Xbox Series X|S ship with an ultra high speed HDMI cable (HDMI 2.1), so if you have that, use it. All HDMI versions are backward compatible.
Read on for details, but short answer is HDMI 2.1 is becoming increasingly relevant if you're pushing 4K @120Hz or 2K faster than 165Hz. For lower refresh rates at lower resolutions, you can still get by just fine with HDMI 2.0 connections. What is HDMI 2.1?
Both the Xbox Series X/S and the PlayStation 5 use HDMI 2.1 to deliver 4K 120Hz gaming on supporting TVs and monitors. That just wouldn't have been possible with an HDMI 2.0 connection. Although it does support 4K resolution, HDMI 2.0's more-limited data rate only lets it do so at up to 60Hz.
HDMI 2.1 allows for higher resolutions like 8K and higher frame rates of up to 120 frames per second (fps). Resolution improves the clarity and sharpness of the picture, which means you can simply see more details, and have less distance to the screen or a bigger screen without noticing any pixels.
While HDMI 2.0 does support 1080p 120Hz and even 1440p 120Hz in theory, the PS5 is designed with HDMI 2.1 in mind and therefore any lower bandwidth version of HDMI will produce unexpected results.
For resolutions near 4K, it's recommended to use an HDMI cable that is no longer than 3 meters (10 feet). After that distance, the signal can start to degrade. For lower resolutions, the reliable distance is much longer, with the most common being 15 meters (50 feet).
It is only necessary that the PS5 and the TV support HDMI 2.1. There is also a labeling problem here on the part of the technology. It would be easier for everyone if HDMI cables had the same name as the technology they support, starting from something as basic as that the standard has always been backward compatible.
You don't absolutely need HDMI 2.1 to reach 120Hz or even 144Hz refresh rates, but it is important for supporting both high refresh rates and high resolution at the same time.
To get any of them you need to have both one of the new consoles (or another HDMI 2.1 source) and an HDMI 2.1 TV. Not all TVs will support all of HDMI 2.1's features either. That's fairly obvious given almost all HDMI 2.1 sets will be 4K for some time to come.
Accomplishing faux-4K with the Xbox Series S
This means the Xbox Series S doesn't reach or even attempt to target a 4K resolution in the majority of games. Instead, the budget-oriented current-gen console targets a 1080p-1440p (FHD to QHD) resolution at up to 120 FPS.
Can a very expensive HDMI cable show a better picture and sound quality than a cheaper one? The quick answer is no. An HDMI cable, regardless of the materials used, can either transmit a signal or not – there's no in-between. An expensive HDMI doesn't produce richer colors or crisper sound than cheaper versions.
PS5/ Xbox Series X|S equipped with an ultra high-speed HDMI port, or HDMI 2.1, the aims to deliver 4K 60Hz-120Hz and 1080p 120Hz. While the majority of games are 4K 60Hz or lower, means a premium HDMI cable is still just fine for a PS5.
unless you are intending to play 120 FPS on 4K or 8K (if that exists), you don't need HDMI 2.1 for gaming. HDMI 2.0 can already support up to 165 FPS QHD (2K) gaming without any problem.
For 144Hz at 1440p, you will need at least HDMI 2.0 or DisplayPort 1.2 while for 4K 144Hz you are going to need HDMI 2.1 or alternatively, DisplayPort 1.4 with DSC 1.2.
HDMI 2.1 comes with quick frame transport or QFT technology. It allows sources to deliver active video signals over the HDMI cable. As a result, gamers can experience a reduction in input lag.
Yes. Ultra High Speed HDMI cables support all HDMI 2.1a and 1.4b features. Should I buy this cable if I have a 1080p or 4K television? Installations with 1080p or 4K displays can benefit by using the new Ultra High Speed HDMI cables.