HDMI Versions: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 2, 2.1 - differences & compatibility
HDMI Versions: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 2, 2.1 - differences & compatibility
HDMI has been updated since its first introduction with several versions now released since its initial launch.
HDMI Technology Includes:HDMI - the basics HDMI versions HDMI connectors Pinout / pin connections HDMI cables USB C to HDMI HDMI & DVI HDMI switch, splitter & matrix - the differences HDMI extenders HDMI repeaters Essential HDMI products
HDMI has been existence since 2002 and since then many advances have been made in the field of audio visual data capabilities. Video formats have advanced and the data rates have increased significantly. Also many new facilities and capabilities need to be controlled.
To keep up with these advancements several HDMI versions have been launched. These HDMI versions have been progressively launched and have enabled the HDMI interface to keep pace with technology, ensuring that HDMI is relevant and up to date.
One major advantage of the way that HDMI has advanced through successive versions is that the same 19 pin connector has been used and the versions have been backwards compatible.
Although the same basic connector has been used for HDMI, the many updates to the standard have been difficult to track. All the time it has been keeping up with the requirements for audio visual data transmission. New televisions, computer displays, DVD recorders, computers all use HDMI, and as updates to consumer equipment occur relatively rapidly, they will normally use the latest HDMI versions, or at least ones that will be able to accommodate the latest features.
HDMI has been existence since 2002 and since then many advances have been made in the field of audio visual data capabilities. Video formats have advanced and the data rates have increased significantly. Also many new facilities and capabilities need to be controlled.
To keep up with these advancements several HDMI versions have been launched. These HDMI versions have been progressively launched and have enabled the HDMI interface to keep pace with technology, ensuring that HDMI is relevant and up to date.
One major advantage of the way that HDMI has advanced through successive versions is that the same 19 pin connector has been used and the versions have been backwards compatible.
Although the same basic connector has been used for HDMI, the many updates to the standard have been difficult to track. All the time it has been keeping up with the requirements for audio visual data transmission. New televisions, computer displays, DVD recorders, computers all use HDMI, and as updates to consumer equipment occur relatively rapidly, they will normally use the latest HDMI versions, or at least ones that will be able to accommodate the latest features.
HDMI Version 1
HDMI Version was the first incarnation of HDMI and it underwent a number of revisions and updates.
The HDMI version numbers were of the form HDMI version X.y. Initially X was the figure 1, i.e. HDMI versions 1 and this was followed by another figure and this was increased by 1 for each revision. In other worlds HDMI 1.0 increased to 1.1 and so forth.
The initial HDMI versions were in the series HDMI version 1.y.
HDMI Version 1.0: As the name indicates, HDMI 1.0 was the first version of HDMI that was released. The release date was 9 December 2002, and it included the basic HDMI capabilities for a single cable digital audio/video connector interface. The format for HDMI Version 1.0 used the basic DVI concept but requiring audio and other ancillary data to be sent during the blanking intervals of the video stream.
The key HDMI 1.0 features included:Initial release of the HDMI standard.
Audio and video interface that provided transfer of standard and high-definition video
Provision for up to 8 channels of uncompressed digital audio
Data transfer up to 4.95 Gbps
Playback of standard Blu-ray disc video and audio at full resolution
This release added support for high quality DVD audio.
HDMI version 1.1 introduced a number of small changes to the mechanical and electrical specification.
HDMI Version 1.1: HDMI 1.1 was released on 20 May 2004
The key HDMI 1.1 features included:HDMI 1.1 was a straightforward update to the basic specification, allowing the ability for the transmission of a special high quality DVD-Audio signal format from the player to the receiving device. This is the high resolution audio format and not that normally carried on normal DVDs which could be sent over a 1.0 system.
Provided the capability for HDMI 1.2 and later displays to support low-voltage sources used in arenas like PCI Express, a display interface standard used in many PC video cards.
Introduced the HDMI Type A connector for PC based applications
Introduced the capability for YCbCr colours used within many consumer electronics systems.
Some of the key additions introduced in the HDMI 1.2 release included:With all these introductions, HDMI 1.2 stared to gain a much larger foothold within the industry and broaden its appeal.
Full specification for Consumer Electronic Control, CEC features, commands, and compliance testing. CEC provides the capability to allow HDMI devices to control each other when necessary. This means that it is possible for the user to operate multiple devices with one handheld remote control device. This can be a great advantage with the proliferation of devices required for some systems where each one needs its own remote.Unless the use of native DSD signals is envisaged, then HDMI 1.2 or even 1.1 in many cases will operate just as well.
HDMI 1.3 increased the single link bandwidth to 340 MHz providing a data rate of 10.2 Gbps.
Increased the 8 bit colour resolution up to 10-bit, 12-bit, or 16-bit per channel. This provided "Deep Colour" capability.
Upgraded the sRGB and YCbCr capability to include xvYCC.
Introduced new HDMI Type C miniature connector for portable devices.
Support for Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio formats for external decoding.
Included Reference Cable Equaliser to enable high frequency displays to recapture data degraded over copper cable.
HDMI version 1.4 added an HDMI Ethernet Channel (HEC) to accommodate a 100 Mbit/s Ethernet connection between the two HDMI connected devices to enable an Internet sharing connection.
Support was introduced for 3D video formats with input and output protocols defined.
New high definition formats introduced: 4K x 2K resolution (3840 x 2160) at 24Hz, 25Hz, and 30Hz and 4096 x 2160 at 24Hz.
Signalling of content type in real-time was introduced to enable TVs to optimise picture settings according to the content.
An audio Return Channel was added and this enabled an HDMI-connected TV with a built-in tuner to send audio data "upstream" to a surround audio system. This eliminated the need for a separate audio cable.
Additional colour profiles added to accommodate digital photography and computer graphics: Adobe RGB, AdobeYCC601 and sYCC601.
New cables and connectors were introduced to support video, etc in automotive applications.
A new Micro HDMI connector was introduced for use with small devices like mobile phones and other small portable devices.
HDMI Version 1.4a: HDMI 1.4a was a relatively minor version update that was released on 4 March 2010. It focussed in improvements to 3D video technology and was delayed from being incorporated into HDMI 1.4 pending decisions that needed to be made by the broadcast industry.This version of HDMI incorporated the 3D broadcast format, that could not be decided in time for the initial release of HDMI version 1.4.
The most important change added within HDMI version 1.4b is given below:This version of HDMI provided for full HD to be provided for both pictures used for 3D pictures enabling 3D 1080p video at 120 Hz, i.e. 1080p 60 Hz for each picture giving a total picture rate of 120 Hz.
HDMI Version was the first incarnation of HDMI and it underwent a number of revisions and updates.
The HDMI version numbers were of the form HDMI version X.y. Initially X was the figure 1, i.e. HDMI versions 1 and this was followed by another figure and this was increased by 1 for each revision. In other worlds HDMI 1.0 increased to 1.1 and so forth.
The initial HDMI versions were in the series HDMI version 1.y.
HDMI Version 1.0: As the name indicates, HDMI 1.0 was the first version of HDMI that was released. The release date was 9 December 2002, and it included the basic HDMI capabilities for a single cable digital audio/video connector interface. The format for HDMI Version 1.0 used the basic DVI concept but requiring audio and other ancillary data to be sent during the blanking intervals of the video stream.
Initial release of the HDMI standard.
Audio and video interface that provided transfer of standard and high-definition video
Provision for up to 8 channels of uncompressed digital audio
Data transfer up to 4.95 Gbps
Playback of standard Blu-ray disc video and audio at full resolution
This release added support for high quality DVD audio.
HDMI version 1.1 introduced a number of small changes to the mechanical and electrical specification.
Provided the capability for HDMI 1.2 and later displays to support low-voltage sources used in arenas like PCI Express, a display interface standard used in many PC video cards.
Introduced the HDMI Type A connector for PC based applications
Introduced the capability for YCbCr colours used within many consumer electronics systems.
HDMI 1.3 increased the single link bandwidth to 340 MHz providing a data rate of 10.2 Gbps.
Increased the 8 bit colour resolution up to 10-bit, 12-bit, or 16-bit per channel. This provided "Deep Colour" capability.
Upgraded the sRGB and YCbCr capability to include xvYCC.
Introduced new HDMI Type C miniature connector for portable devices.
Support for Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio formats for external decoding.
Included Reference Cable Equaliser to enable high frequency displays to recapture data degraded over copper cable.
HDMI version 1.4 added an HDMI Ethernet Channel (HEC) to accommodate a 100 Mbit/s Ethernet connection between the two HDMI connected devices to enable an Internet sharing connection.
Support was introduced for 3D video formats with input and output protocols defined.
New high definition formats introduced: 4K x 2K resolution (3840 x 2160) at 24Hz, 25Hz, and 30Hz and 4096 x 2160 at 24Hz.
Signalling of content type in real-time was introduced to enable TVs to optimise picture settings according to the content.
An audio Return Channel was added and this enabled an HDMI-connected TV with a built-in tuner to send audio data "upstream" to a surround audio system. This eliminated the need for a separate audio cable.
Additional colour profiles added to accommodate digital photography and computer graphics: Adobe RGB, AdobeYCC601 and sYCC601.
New cables and connectors were introduced to support video, etc in automotive applications.
A new Micro HDMI connector was introduced for use with small devices like mobile phones and other small portable devices.
This version of HDMI incorporated the 3D broadcast format, that could not be decided in time for the initial release of HDMI version 1.4.
This version of HDMI provided for full HD to be provided for both pictures used for 3D pictures enabling 3D 1080p video at 120 Hz, i.e. 1080p 60 Hz for each picture giving a total picture rate of 120 Hz.
HDMI Version 2
HDMI 2 was the first update to be managed by the new HDMI Forum. In view of the fact that it was being managed by a different body, the version number was raised from 1 to 2 reflecting the major change.
HDMI Version 2.0: HDMI 2 was released on 4 September 2013 and it was also referred to as HDMI UHD. There were several improvements that were introduced with this HDMI version.
There were several enhancements that were included for HDMI version 2.0:The bandwidth was increased to enable data transfer at 18 Gbps.
Provided capability for UHD video with resolution levels up to 4K at 50 or 60 Hz.
Enabled use of 8b/10b encoding.
Allowed the transmission of up to 32 audio channels.
Provided for audio sampling at a rate of 1532kHz.
Capability introduced to enable delivery of dual video streams to multiple users on the same screen.
Enabled the simultaneous delivery of multi-stream audio to up to four users.
Support added for wide angle cinematic video with 21:9 aspect ratio.
HDMI Version 2.0a : This minor update to HDMI 2.0 was released on 8 April 2015. As this was a relatively minor update, it was released as an alpha update only.The main enhancement included in this HDMI version update was:
Provided support for High Dynamic Range video with static metadata.
It added support for HDR video as described in CTA-861.G specification.
It extended the static metadata signalling to include Hybrid Log-Gamma.
Additional support for HDR video was provided in an extra release of the standard that took place in December 2016.
Support added for resolution of 10k at 120 Hz.
Display Stream Compression (DSC) 1.2 is used for video formats higher than 8K with 4:2:0 chroma subsampling.
Introduction of a new HDMI cable category called 48G to enable cables to be certified to carry the new higher data rates.
Capability added for specifying HDR metadata on a scene-by-scene or even a frame-by-frame basis.
HDMI 2 was the first update to be managed by the new HDMI Forum. In view of the fact that it was being managed by a different body, the version number was raised from 1 to 2 reflecting the major change.
The bandwidth was increased to enable data transfer at 18 Gbps.
Provided capability for UHD video with resolution levels up to 4K at 50 or 60 Hz.
Enabled use of 8b/10b encoding.
Allowed the transmission of up to 32 audio channels.
Provided for audio sampling at a rate of 1532kHz.
Capability introduced to enable delivery of dual video streams to multiple users on the same screen.
Enabled the simultaneous delivery of multi-stream audio to up to four users.
Support added for wide angle cinematic video with 21:9 aspect ratio.
Provided support for High Dynamic Range video with static metadata.
It extended the static metadata signalling to include Hybrid Log-Gamma.
Support added for resolution of 10k at 120 Hz.
Display Stream Compression (DSC) 1.2 is used for video formats higher than 8K with 4:2:0 chroma subsampling.
Introduction of a new HDMI cable category called 48G to enable cables to be certified to carry the new higher data rates.
Capability added for specifying HDR metadata on a scene-by-scene or even a frame-by-frame basis.