HDMI is just as confusing as USB-C — and that's a problem

HDMI has grown increasingly confusing, much like USB-C. While HDMI was once a simple universal standard, version numbers no longer reliably indicate what features a device supports. HDMI 2.1 allows manufacturers to omit features like VRR, ALLM, and eARC while still carrying the certification. Cables add further confusion since they are classified by bandwidth tiers rather than version numbers, and marketing labels like 'HDMI 2.1 cable' are technically meaningless. The new HDMI 2.2 standard compounds the problem further. While HDMI is more forgiving than USB-C in that it always provides at least a basic signal, the lack of strict feature requirements in certification means consumers must still dig through specs to understand what they're actually getting.