In today’s digital era, connecting source devices to display and audio gadgets is key. For modern monitors, the two latest interfaces are HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4. Despite their comparable functions, there are significant differences that can significantly affect your multimedia experience. Therefore, our guide dives into both interfaces’ technological specifications, benefits, drawbacks, and applications.
HDMI 2.1 is a revolutionary version of the earlier models. It was first unveiled in 2017 as a multimedia interface to support high-resolution videos and faster refresh rates. In contrast, DisplayPort 1.4 is the latest version of the DisplayPort standard. It was unveiled in March 2016 and designed for top-of-the-line displays, including 4K and 8K monitors. In addition, it has emerged as a preferred choice in the professional and gaming industries, catering to graphic designers, video editors, and high-performance computing applications with absolute ease.
HDMI 2.1 vs. DisplayPort 1.4: Side by Side Comparison
| HDMI 2.1 | DisplayPort 1.4 | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Audio/ video interface | Audio/video interface |
| Designer/manufacturer | HDMI Forum | Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) |
| Initial release date | November 2017 | March 2016 |
| Primary use | Home theater setups, gaming, and consumer electronics devices | Professional use, gaming, and high-performance displays |
| Maximum data transfer speed | 48Gbps | 32.4Gbps |
| Compatibility | Widely used across many consumer electronic devices | Found mostly on PCs and high-end displays |
| Supported resolution and refresh rate corresponding to it | 4K @ 120Hz 8k@ 60Hz and up to 10k resolutions | 4K @ 120Hz,8K @ 60Hz |
| HDR support | Dynamic | Standard |
| No. of Displays per cable | 1 | Up to 4 |
| Audio | Supports up to 32 channels of audio, including Dolby Atmos, and DTS:X | Supports up to 32 channels of audio, including DTS-HD and Dolby TrueHD |
| Typical usage | Home theater setups, gaming, and consumer electronics devices | Professional use, gaming, and high-performance displays |
| Number of pins | 19 | 20 |
- Supports a resolution of up to 8K at 60Hz or 4K at 120Hz
- 48Gbps transmission speed
- 12-bit Color support
- Backwards compatible with all previous HDMI versions
HDMI 2.1 vs. DisplayPort 1.4: What’s the Difference?
Are you looking for a monitor or TV and wondering which display interfaces to opt for between HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4? Below is a comprehensive breakdown of their individual features.
Bandwidth and Data Rates
HDMI 2.1 offers a greater amount of bandwidth and data rates when compared to DisplayPort 1.4, enabling it to support an array of features like high resolutions and fast refresh rates for smooth fast action details. With a maximum bandwidth of 48Gbps, HDMI 2.1 can transfer up to 44.1Gbps of uncompressed data. Therefore, HDMI 2.1 can support high-quality audio formats, such as Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, as well as high-resolution video with deeper color depth and higher refresh rates.
On the other hand, DisplayPort 1.4 has a lower bandwidth (32.4Gbps) and can transfer up to 25.92Gbps. In addition to its bandwidth, DisplayPort 1.4 only supports 10-bit color depth. In contrast, HDMI 2.1 also supports 12-bit color depth, providing a range of colors and better color precision.
Supported Resolutions
HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4 are two advanced technologies that can handle high-resolution displays with clear details. With HDMI 2.1, you can enjoy a range of resolutions from 720p up to 10K with higher refresh rates, providing a seamless viewing experience. Further, HDMI 2.1 comes with Dynamic HDR, a revolutionary feature that can improve color accuracy, details, brightness, and contrast by sending dynamic metadata with the video signal. It also supports DSC (display stream compression), which facilitates even large resolutions, such as 10K at 120Hz in 12-bit color.
On the other hand, DisplayPort 1.4 can handle resolutions of up to 8K, along with stunning HDR content. DisplayPort 1.4 also supports DSC, which enables the transmission of higher resolutions. With DSC, DisplayPort can support 10K resolution at 60Hz with 10-bit color depth, providing an unmatched visual experience. Ultimately, each technology has unique features that take your watching experience to new heights.
HDR and Color Depth
HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4 both support HDR. While both are impressive, there are some key differences to keep in mind. For instance, HDMI 2.1 is the jack-of-all-trades, supporting HDR10, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision HDR formats. In addition, HDMI 2.1 supports 12-bit color depth and a stunning brightness of up to 10,000 nits, while DisplayPort 1.4’s HDR10 and HDR10+ top out at 10-bit color depth and 4,000 nits. HDMI 2.1 also has static and dynamic HDR metadata, letting your TV adjust its settings for each scene and deliver unbeatable picture quality.
Refresh Rates
Whether you’re a gamer or love high-quality visuals, HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4 are exceptional choices for high refresh rates. For instance, HDMI 2.1 offers a lightning-fast maximum refresh rate of 120Hz at 4K and can even support resolutions as high as 10K. Meanwhile, DisplayPort 1.4 is a favorite among gamers, with a maximum refresh rate of 240Hz at 1080p resolution and 120Hz at 4K resolution. In short, with variable refresh rate (VRR) technology, both interfaces can synchronize your display with your graphics card for less screen tearing, making gaming smoother.
Real-World Examples
Gaming
As a gamer seeking the optimal video interface, both HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4 support variable refresh rate (VRR) and significantly enhance your gaming experience. Thus, they can provide incredibly fluid and responsive gameplay. In addition, HDMI 2.1 also has an auto-gaming mode. However, if you want to use a dual monitor setup to play games, choose DisplayPort 1.4, as it has the ability to output multiple displays from a single cable. In contrast, HDMI 1.2 needs an additional cable each time a display is added.
Home Theater
HDMI 2.1 is the better choice for home theater setups because of its wide compatibility and support for ARC, which works across modern audio formats. Besides, HDMI 2.1 also supports up to 10K resolution, making it ideal for the latest ultra-high-definition displays. However, DisplayPort 1.4 may be a good choice for users who need longer cable lengths or higher power delivery.
Professional Use
As far as tech-savvy professionals, DisplayPort 1.4 is usually their go-to video interface. In short, it supports multiple displays, making it the perfect fit for those who prefer a multi-monitor setup. So, if you’re a professional who desires performance and versatile functionality, DisplayPort 1.4 is worth considering.
HDMI 2.1 vs. DisplayPort 1.4: Pros and Cons
HDMI 2.1:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| HDMI 2.1 is the ultimate connection for most electronics we use at home. | HDMI 2.1 cables have a restricted length range. |
| With ARC technology, you don’t have to use multiple cables to send your audio from your tv to the soundbar. | HDMI 2.1 can only support one display at a time. |
| HDMI 2.1 has a higher transmission rate of 48Gbps and data rate of 44.1Gbps | |
| Supports higher video resolutions of up to 10k |
DisplayPort 1.4:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| With impressive length capabilities, DisplayPort 1.4 cables are ideal for larger setups. | DisplayPort 1.4 does not support Audio Return Channel (ARC), so a separate audio cable is needed for audio transmission. |
| DisplayPort 1.4 can deliver a substantially higher level of power. | Not all TV brands offer a DisplayPort connection. |
| It can support multiple output displays from a single cable. | |
| Has a forward error correction needed for compressed videos transportation |
- Supports up to 8K at 60Hz and 4K at 120Hz
- 32.4Gbps bandwidth transmission speed supported
- Backwards compatible with previous DisplayPort versions
- Supports multiple monitors over a single cable
HDMI 2.1 vs. DisplayPort 1.4: 6 must-know facts
- HDMI 2.1 has a maximum bandwidth of 48Gbps, much larger than the maximum bandwidth of 32.4Gbps of DisplayPort 1.4.
- Both HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4 support 4K resolution at 120Hz and 8K at 60Hz.
- HDMI 2.1 offers eARC (enhanced Audio Return Channel), which enables the transmission of high-quality audio formats such as Dolby Atmos and DTS:X over HDMI.
- HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4 have backward compatibility with older devices like HDMI 2.0 and DisplayPort 1.2
- HDMI is the most popular video interface in consumer devices, while DisplayPort is more prevalent in the computer and gaming industry
- Both HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4 support HDR (High Dynamic Range), Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), and Fast Frame Transfer.
HDMI 2.1 vs. DisplayPort 1.4: Which One is Better?
Both are excellent choices for connecting devices to displays, each with their own pros and cons. However, DisplayPort 1.4 is better suited for professional use and gaming (a single cable can output multiple displays) with longer cable lengths. In short, it was designed to be the ultimate display for computers. In contrast, HDMI 2.1 is the more widely used household connection ideal for home theaters. Therefore, evaluate your objectives and use cases while deciding between the two.
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- Supports a resolution of up to 8K at 60Hz or 4K at 120Hz
- 48Gbps transmission speed
- 12-bit Color support
- Backwards compatible with all previous HDMI versions
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11/27/2023 01:46 am GMT - $13.49Buy Now on Amazon
- Supports up to 8K at 60Hz and 4K at 120Hz
- 32.4Gbps bandwidth transmission speed supported
- Backwards compatible with previous DisplayPort versions
- Supports multiple monitors over a single cable
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11/26/2023 12:35 am GMT
