Apple TV 4K Features HDMI 2.0a. But HDMI 2.1 is Coming

Apple TV 4K event logo

4K/UHD TV is now mainstream.  But new 8K TVs are coming. CNET writes: “The current version of the ubiquitous HDMI [2.0] audio video connection can handle pretty much every video format available today, but with 8K on the horizon, TV and other hardware makers could hit its limits in the next few years. That’s where HDMI 2.1 comes in.”

This article fills you in on the new standard, what video protocols it supports, which TV makers are moving to it in 2019, and whether you’ll need new cables.

Check It Out: Apple TV 4K Features HDMI 2.0a. But HDMI 2.1 is Coming

5 thoughts on “Apple TV 4K Features HDMI 2.0a. But HDMI 2.1 is Coming

  • Most people (and this website) are always in denial about new standards – I remember 1080p and 4g being poo-poo’d here not long ago just as they are poo-pooing 5g now – and then the crow diet a year later…probably to cover Apple always being late to adopt new standards?
    I mentioned last year that most TV and movies are shot in 8k for a few years now – the Red Dragon and Monstero cams for one – well kids – why do you think that is? Two reasons – downsampling to 4k with superior specs during editing, and future content. The differences will be a much wider color gamut more accurate to Pantone spec colors in RGB, dynamic range – the blacks are much blacker and most important motion – 8k will flow motion where 4k gets jittery just as 720p does say when you track an arrow crossing the sky or show a race car with the background blurred out. 🎬

  • 4k with HDR is pretty nice.
    Not certain 8K will be a big improvement, but once it becomes mainstream I am certain apple will have a device for it with whatever cable is needed.

    Until then I will go on reveling in my ATV 4K and its awesomeness.

  • 1080p to 4k is mostly a visible improvement but anecdotal comments suggest typical users won’t be able to discern any significant improvement going from 4k to 8k. Since my engineering knowledge of this topic is pathetic, maybe others will chime in to correct my notions.

  • I was reading that 70mm film could be 9.3K or above. So 8K is great, but not quite up to the 70mm or IMAX film level.

    What is the latest 8K screen size by Samsung? 85″ or something.
    Still not quite as big as an IMAX theater or a regular old time theater spinning up 70mm.

    Not much left that does that anymore with actual film. Digital is the new standard…. it just is less that 70mm in detail, depth, dynamic range and many other qualities.

    Perhaps 16K will remedy all such issues with capturing detail.

  • Isn’t 8K just a future thing really.

    Much content in distant days was produced on Academy Format or 4:3 aspect.
    Large amounts content up until now has been produced on 35mm film
    Currently 4k cameras are taking a lot of footage but were only really becoming ubiquitous a few short years ago.

    Certainly 70mm film was used for some films shot in the 1960’s and on up until today, but not a large number of films and other content.

    Not sure that 8K will really be beneficial in increasing detail for most of the 35mm, Academy format, 2k or 4k footage shot.

    Perhaps 70mm will be useful for 8K conversions in general, but there haven’t been a ton of 70mm content comparatively. So content available could be problematic except for those who just want to have the best always.

    Some consumers will want the 8K because it says 8K instead of 4K, but to truly see what 70mm films look like an actual theater with its immense screen is the way to go. Not sure of the general benefit within the home.

    4K with its HDR is a great thing over current HD so that makes sense. I wonder what they will do to get people into 8K….. curved 3D screens? I might bite on that to get it back now that LG abandoned curved 3D in 2016.

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