No TV or Console We Checked Needs an Ultra96 HDMI Cable

You need an Ultra96 HDMI Cable only for a device that runs HDMI faster than 48Gbps, and none of the TV, console or graphics card pages we read lists one. For a TV, PS5 or PC doing 4K at 120Hz or 8K at 60Hz, HDMI Licensing Administrator (HDMI LA) names the Ultra High Speed HDMI Cable, rated to 48Gbps.

HDMI LA’s rule is to match the cable to the device’s maximum bandwidth, not to the HDMI version number.

Which cable carries what

HDMI LA certifies cables by bandwidth. Its own descriptions:

Cable name on the label	Bandwidth	What HDMI LA says it is for
High Speed HDMI Cable	up to 10.2Gbps	1080p and 4K at 30Hz
Premium High Speed HDMI Cable	up to 18Gbps	4K at 60Hz, HDR, BT.2020 colour
Ultra High Speed HDMI Cable (Category 3)	up to 48Gbps	4K at 50 to 120Hz, 8K at 50 and 60Hz, eARC
Ultra96 HDMI Cable (Category 4)	up to 96Gbps	Every HDMI 2.2 application, including uncompressed 8K at 60Hz and 4K at 240Hz in full 4:4:4 colour at 10- and 12-bit

HDMI 2.2 itself was released on 25 June 2025. HDMI LA lists those uncompressed 8K60 and 4K240 formats, and resolutions up to 12K at 120Hz and 16K at 60Hz, among what it adds. HDR at 4K120 or 8K60 still fits the 48Gbps tier: HDMI LA says an Ultra cable is needed for those because of the bandwidth, and the Ultra High Speed one is rated for both formats.

Compression moves the line. HDMI 2.2 includes VESA’s Display Stream Compression, which HDMI LA calls visually lossless. Nvidia’s spec page for the GeForce RTX 5090 shows the effect on an HDMI 2.1b port: up to 4K at 480Hz or 8K at 120Hz, with DSC.

What your device asks for

What the device’s spec says	Cable to use
Ultra96 or U96, or 64, 80 or 96Gbps	Ultra96 HDMI Cable
4K at 100 or 120Hz, 8K at 60Hz, up to 48Gbps	Ultra High Speed HDMI Cable
4K at 60Hz or 1080p	Either Ultra cable, or a Premium High Speed one

Ultra96 is a feature name HDMI LA says makers are “encouraged to use” for HDMI 2.2 devices running at 64, 80 or 96Gbps, and it says products carrying it “require the Ultra96 HDMI Cable”. The name is optional, so HDMI LA also tells buyers to check the maker’s specifications.

“HDMI 2.2” on a device does not tell you the speed. HDMI LA does not allow a version number on its own to describe a product’s capabilities, its Ultra96 name covers three different speeds, and it tells buyers to use the cable that matches the product’s bandwidth. Read the bandwidth or the Ultra96 name instead, much as a TV’s panel refresh rate tells you more than its motion-rate figure. HDMI LA’s FAQ also says no product can claim HDMI 2.2 compliance until it has passed the 2.2 compliance tests.

TV, PS5 and PC, checked

• PS5 (affiliate link to Amazon, opens in a new tab). Sony’s PS5 FAQ recommends the included cable, which it describes as compatible with Ultra High Speed, “but in general, use an Ultra High Speed HDMI Cable that supports HDMI 2.1”. The PS5 Pro’s page describes play at 60fps or up to 120fps with “AI-enhanced 4K resolution” from PSSR, a cousin of the AI upscaling Sony is now bringing to base PS5 games, and 4K at 120Hz sits inside the 48Gbps tier. Neither page mentions HDMI 2.2 or Ultra96.
• PC. Nvidia’s RTX 5090 page lists its HDMI port as HDMI 2.1b.
• TV. LG’s US release for its 2026 OLEDs gives the C6 (affiliate link to Amazon, opens in a new tab) 4K at 165Hz with VRR and names no HDMI version at all. If you are choosing a new TV, count the HDMI ports its spec sheet lists for 4K at 120Hz: that is how many 120Hz sources it takes without a switch.

Android Authority reported on 18 June 2026, citing FlatpanelsHD, that HDMI LA’s chief executive Rob Tobias said chip makers were preparing HDMI 2.2 silicon samples, with certification and testing under way; the outlet expects devices from 2027. No maker page we read gives a date.

When an Ultra96 cable is worth it now

It works with what you own. HDMI LA says both Ultra cables are backwards compatible with all existing HDMI devices and support every HDMI 2.1b and 1.4b feature, so an Ultra96 cable carries everything a PS5 or HDMI 2.1 TV sends, as an Ultra High Speed one does.

The case for buying one today is a cable you cannot easily replace. HDMI LA suggests Ultra cables for runs inside walls as “a future-proof solution”, and Ultra96 is the tier that covers HDMI 2.2. For a cable behind the TV that you can swap in a minute, buying one now pays for bandwidth none of the devices on the maker pages we read can use.

What does not work as well is an old cable. HDMI LA says existing High Speed cables “can only deliver some of the new features”, and that eARC may work over them but they are not certified for it. If a soundbar on eARC drops out over an older cable, a certified Ultra one is the first swap to try; our soundbar shortlist covers why eARC matters for lossless Atmos.

How to buy the right one

HDMI LA bans version numbers on cable packaging outright. A box that says “HDMI 2.2 cable” is not using HDMI LA’s certification names; look instead for:

1. The Ultra96 HDMI Cable or Ultra High Speed HDMI Cable Certification Label on the package.
2. The same cable name printed on the cable jacket.
3. A QR code on the label. HDMI LA says scanning it shows the brand, model and length, and confirms the cable is certified.

HDMI LA also buys cables from shops and online marketplaces and re-tests them. A cable that fails cannot get more labels until the maker fixes it.

Questions people ask

Do I need an HDMI 2.2 cable for my TV?

Only if the TV’s spec lists Ultra96 or a bandwidth of 64, 80 or 96Gbps. For 4K at up to 120Hz and 8K at 60Hz, HDMI LA names the Ultra High Speed HDMI Cable, rated to 48Gbps. LG’s release for its 2026 OLEDs, the TV page we read, does not list Ultra96.

Do I need a new HDMI cable for my PS5?

No. Sony recommends the cable in the box, which it describes as compatible with Ultra High Speed, or any Ultra High Speed HDMI Cable. That carries the PS5’s 4K at 120Hz.

Will an Ultra96 cable work with my HDMI 2.1 TV?

Yes. HDMI LA says both Ultra cables are backwards compatible with all existing HDMI devices and support every HDMI 2.1b and 1.4b feature. It just carries more bandwidth than an HDMI 2.1 device can use.

Is an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable the same as HDMI 2.1?

It is the cable HDMI 2.1 introduced, certified for up to 48Gbps. HDMI LA does not let cable makers print a version number on packaging, so look for the Ultra High Speed HDMI Certification Label rather than “2.1” on the box.

How do I know an Ultra96 cable is genuine?

Look for the Ultra96 HDMI Cable Certification Label on the package and scan its QR code. HDMI LA says the scan shows the brand, model and length and confirms the cable is certified. The cable name must also be printed on the jacket.

Is it worth buying an Ultra96 cable now?

For a cable you can swap later, there is no device on the maker pages we read that needs one. For a run inside a wall, HDMI LA itself suggests Ultra cables as a future-proof choice, and Ultra96 covers more than Ultra High Speed.