HDMI 2.1
HDMI 2.1 is a big deal in a lot of ways, but it’s especially important for gamers — and particularly for the PS5 and Xbox Series X gamers. HDMI 2.1’s higher bandwidth opens the door for high frame rates (HFR) variable refresh rates (VRR), and many more possibilities specific to high-performance gaming.
TVs that feature this newer connection will immediately see game-changing advantages 4K at 120fps or even higher resolutions — like 8K at 60fps! You’ll need a PS5 Ready TV to take full advantage of this, but don’t worry — our list covers the best TVs to game with.
While not a console feature, eARC is a next-gen TV feature to keep in mind when shopping for a high-performance soundbar or a TV to game on. It's the evolution of ARC (or Audio Return Channel), and it transmits full Dolby Atmos (and other object-based surround formats like DTS:X and tempest 3D) from the TV back down the HDMI cable without compression. It’s important to note you will not get true 3D Dolby Atmos surround sound without a TV that features the newer eARC connection (unless you use an AVR with video passthrough). If your TV supports HDMI eARC, all you’ll have to do is connect an HDMI cable from your TV to the soundbar, and you’re done.