HDMI is on nearly every TV, monitor, projector, games console, and laptop sold in Australia, yet the version numbers printed on boxes and datasheets rarely come with a useful explanation. HDMI 1.4, 2.0, 2.1, Ultra High Speed, Premium High Speed — it reads like a marketing checklist rather than a spec sheet. This guide cuts through the noise so you can match the right cable and port to your actual setup.
What HDMI actually does
HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) carries uncompressed digital audio and video over a single cable. The first version launched in 2002 and replaced a tangle of separate component, composite, and audio cables with one connector. The standard is maintained by HDMI Licensing Administrator, which controls certification and sets the bandwidth limits that define each version.
Bandwidth is the core number to understand. More bandwidth means higher resolutions, faster refresh rates, and richer colour. Each major HDMI version roughly doubled or significantly increased maximum bandwidth over its predecessor, which is why the jump to HDMI 2.1 mattered so much for 4K gaming and next-generation displays.
HDMI version by version: what actually changed
HDMI 1.4
HDMI 1.4 arrived in 2009 and held the market for years. It caps at 10.2 Gbps of bandwidth and supports 4K resolution, but only at 24 or 30 frames per second. For streaming 4K video from Netflix or Stan, that's adequate. For gaming at 4K 60fps, it isn't. HDMI 1.4 also introduced the HDMI Ethernet Channel, allowing two connected devices to share a network connection, though very few products ever used it.
HDMI 2.0
HDMI 2.0 (2013) pushed bandwidth to 18 Gbps and made 4K at 60fps possible for the first time. It also added support for HDR (High Dynamic Range) in the 2.0a and 2.0b sub-revisions. Most TVs sold between 2016 and 2020 carry HDMI 2.0 ports. The PS4 Pro used HDMI 2.0. It's still perfectly capable for HDR streaming, 4K 60fps gaming on older consoles, and 1440p displays at high refresh rates.
HDMI 2.1
HDMI 2.1 is the version that matters most right now. It raises maximum bandwidth to 48 Gbps, which is a step-change rather than an incremental update. That headroom enables 4K at 120fps, 8K at 60fps, and 10K resolution support. It also introduced several features that have become standard language in gaming and home cinema: Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), and Enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC).
The PS5 ships with an HDMI 2.1 port. Xbox Series X does too. For anyone running a PS5 at 4K 120fps, an HDMI 2.1 cable connected to an HDMI 2.1-compatible TV port is a hard requirement, not an optional upgrade. Without it, you're capped at 4K 60fps at best, and VRR won't work either. If you're exploring PS5 VRR and whether your TV supports it, the port and cable version are the first things to verify.
The cable naming problem
HDMI cable packaging does not use version numbers. That's deliberate policy from HDMI Licensing Administrator, because a cable doesn't have a "version" in the way a port does. Instead, cables are categorised by speed tier:
- Standard (Category 1): Up to 2.25 Gbps. Adequate for 1080i and 720p. Not useful for modern setups.
- High Speed (Category 2): Up to 10.2 Gbps. Matches HDMI 1.4 bandwidth. Fine for 1080p and 4K 30fps.
- Premium High Speed: Up to 18 Gbps, certified for HDMI 2.0. Covers 4K 60fps and HDR.
- Ultra High Speed: Up to 48 Gbps, certified for HDMI 2.1. Required for 4K 120fps, 8K, and VRR.
A cable labelled "HDMI 2.1" on the box isn't guaranteed to be Ultra High Speed unless it carries the official certification label. Cheap cables from online marketplaces frequently use the version number as a marketing term while shipping cables that physically can't support 48 Gbps. Buy certified Ultra High Speed cables from recognised brands: Belkin, Club3D, and AudioQuest all carry properly certified stock in Australia.
eARC: what it is and why it matters
Audio Return Channel (ARC) has existed since HDMI 1.4. It lets a TV send audio back down the HDMI cable to a soundbar or AV receiver, eliminating a separate optical audio cable. The older ARC channel is narrow — it supports compressed audio only, like Dolby Digital 5.1.
eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel), introduced with HDMI 2.1, widens that channel dramatically. It supports uncompressed audio formats including Dolby Atmos and DTS:X in their full lossless forms. If your TV connects to a premium soundbar and you want bitstream Atmos, the HDMI port and cable both need eARC support. Check both ends: a TV with eARC but a Premium High Speed cable will downgrade the audio signal.
VRR and ALLM explained
Variable Refresh Rate synchronises the TV or monitor's refresh rate to the frame rate the console or GPU is outputting at any given moment. This eliminates screen tearing without the input lag penalty of traditional VSync. ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode) automatically switches the display into its lowest-latency game mode when it detects a gaming source. Both are HDMI 2.1 features and require the display to support them, not just the cable.
It's worth noting that VRR and ALLM are separate from AMD FreeSync and NVIDIA G-Sync, which operate over DisplayPort or via proprietary certifications. The HDMI versions of these features work across different manufacturers without additional certification fees, which is why Sony, Microsoft, and TV brands adopted them quickly.
Connector types: full-size, Mini, and Micro
Standard HDMI (Type A) is the large rectangular connector on TVs, monitors, and games consoles. Mini HDMI (Type C) appears on some cameras and older tablets. Micro HDMI (Type D) is found on compact cameras and a handful of laptops. All three carry the same signal; the connector size is a physical design choice, not a bandwidth limitation. When connecting a laptop to a TV or monitor, the port on the laptop determines which adapter or cable you need. For a full breakdown of connection options across USB-C, HDMI, and DisplayPort, the guide on how to connect a laptop to a monitor or TV covers every scenario.
Which cable should you actually buy?
The answer depends on what's at each end of the cable, not on what sounds most impressive on the shelf.
For a PS5, Xbox Series X, or a PC GPU connected to a 4K 120Hz TV: buy an Ultra High Speed certified HDMI cable. Length matters for signal integrity; go no longer than 2 metres for passive copper cables if you need reliable 48 Gbps. Longer runs require active cables or fibre HDMI, which are more expensive but maintain signal quality up to 10 metres or beyond.
For a 4K 60fps setup, a streaming box, or a Blu-ray player: a Premium High Speed cable is enough. Spending on Ultra High Speed is harmless but unnecessary.
For a 1080p TV or a secondary monitor: a High Speed cable does the job. These are cheap and plentiful, and there's no picture quality improvement from upgrading them.
Cable length is worth taking seriously. A 0.5-metre passive Ultra High Speed cable costs around AU$20–$30 from a certified brand. A 5-metre passive cable at the same spec can cost AU$80–$120 and may still degrade at 48 Gbps. If you're running cable behind walls or over long distances, budget for an active or fibre option from the start.
Checking what version your TV or monitor actually has
Not every HDMI port on a modern TV is the same version. It's common for a 4K TV to have one HDMI 2.1 port and two or three HDMI 2.0 ports. The 2.1 port is typically labelled, often positioned on a specific side of the panel, and usually marked as the recommended port for gaming consoles. Check the TV's manual or the port labelling directly — plugging your PS5 into the wrong port means you'll never see 4K 120fps regardless of the cable.
Smart TV marketing terms like QNED, Mini LED, and Google TV describe display and software features, not HDMI version. If you've been working through what smart TV terms like Google TV and Mini LED actually mean, HDMI version belongs in the same conversation as a separate spec to verify before buying.
HDMI vs DisplayPort: a quick comparison
DisplayPort is the alternative standard found on most PC monitors, graphics cards, and business laptops. DisplayPort 2.1 supports up to 80 Gbps, well ahead of HDMI 2.1's 48 Gbps, making it the better choice for very high refresh rate gaming monitors at 4K and above. HDMI holds the advantage on TVs, projectors, and AV receivers, where DisplayPort connections are rare. For a home cinema or console gaming setup, HDMI is the right choice. For a PC monitor at 240Hz or above, DisplayPort is worth the slight added complexity.
USB-C with DisplayPort Alt Mode can carry a DisplayPort signal over a USB-C cable, which is how most modern laptops connect to monitors without a dedicated HDMI port. This is unrelated to HDMI and doesn't require an HDMI cable at all unless you're using a USB-C to HDMI adapter.
For most Australian households with a 4K TV and a current-generation games console, the answer is simple: one certified Ultra High Speed HDMI cable, plugged into the right port. Everything else follows from that.