How to read a TV spec sheet: HDMI 2.1, eARC and energy cost

On a TV box, “HDMI 2.1” reads like a guarantee. It is not one. The HDMI Licensing Administrator (HDMI LA) says support for each HDMI 2.1 feature is optional, and that a maker promoting HDMI 2.1 compliance is required to list the HDMI 2.1 features the product supports. Its advice to buyers is direct:

it is up to consumers to check that a product supports the features they want
HDMI Licensing Administrator, February 2022

The same note says products can no longer be certified for HDMI 2.0. Put together, the version number on a TV tells you little. The feature list next to it tells you what you are buying.

The features to look for

HDMI features as described by the HDMI Licensing Administrator, and who should look for them
Feature	What HDMI LA says it does	Look for it if
eARC	Carries uncompressed 5.1, 7.1 and 32-channel audio, and formats including Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Atmos and DTS:X	You have, or plan to buy, a soundbar or AV receiver
Variable Refresh Rate (VRR)	Cuts lag, stutter and frame tearing, so games play more smoothly	You play games
Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM)	Switches to the ideal latency setting by itself	You play games
Quick Frame Transport (QFT)	Lowers latency, for smoother games and real-time virtual reality	You play games or use VR
Quick Media Switching (QMS)	Removes the pause that can occur when a device switches between HDMI frame rates	You stream films and series
Dynamic HDR	Displays each scene, or even each frame, at its ideal values for brightness, contrast and color	You watch HDR content
Source-Based Tone Mapping (SBTM)	Lets the source device, rather than the display, perform a portion of the HDR mapping	You connect a console, PC or player that supports it

HDMI LA's overview of the current version, HDMI 2.2, lists 4K at 120Hz, 8K at 60Hz and resolutions up to 10K among the formats it supports. It describes the Ultra High Speed HDMI Cable, introduced with the HDMI 2.1 specification and on the market since 2020, as the cable for setups of up to 48Gbps.

eARC: the one soundbar owners need

eARC, the enhanced Audio Return Channel, is an advance over the original Audio Return Channel (ARC). HDMI LA says it supports uncompressed 5.1 and 7.1 audio, 32-channel uncompressed audio, high-bitrate formats up to 192kHz and 24-bit, and DTS-HD Master Audio, DTS:X, Dolby TrueHD and Dolby Atmos.

Soundbar makers spell out what that means in practice. Sonos's spec sheets, such as the Arc Ultra's, carry the footnote “HDMI eARC connection required” against Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD and multichannel PCM, but not against Dolby Atmos via Dolby Digital Plus. So with a TV that lists ARC but not eARC, the footnoted formats are not available on that soundbar. Our comparison of six Sonos and Bose soundbars shows how each maker describes its HDMI connection.

HDMI 2.2 and the Ultra96 name

The HDMI 2.2 specification launched in June 2025, according to HDMI LA. It raises maximum bandwidth to 96Gbps, supports up to 12K at 120Hz and 16K at 60Hz, and adds the Latency Indication Protocol (LIP), which HDMI LA describes as an advance in audio and video synchronization, especially in setups with an AV receiver or soundbar. HDMI 2.2 is backward compatible with earlier versions.

Makers are encouraged, not required, to use the name Ultra96 to show that a product supports a maximum of 64Gbps, 80Gbps or 96Gbps. Ultra96 therefore describes a bandwidth tier, not a list of features, and the features still need checking one by one.

Cables: read the label

The cable has to keep up. HDMI LA says the Ultra96 HDMI Cable supports up to 96Gbps and is the only cable that supports all HDMI 2.2 applications. Both Ultra96 and Ultra High Speed HDMI Cable models fall under a mandatory certification program: every model must pass certification at an HDMI Forum authorized center, and each package must carry a certification label that standard QR code apps can scan.

The EnergyGuide label: what the dollar figure assumes

The FTC's Energy Labeling Rule requires EnergyGuide labels on televisions, showing an estimated annual energy cost and the range of costs for similar screen sizes. Under the rule as amended in 2024, that estimate assumes 5 hours a day in on mode and 19 hours in standby, at an electricity cost of 16 cents per kWh. Makers had to use the new ranges on labels for units produced from May 2, 2024.

Annual energy cost ranges on TV EnergyGuide labels, by screen size (FTC Energy Labeling Rule, effective May 2, 2024)
Screen size (diagonal)	Low	High
40-44 in	$13	$51
50-54 in	$22	$51
55-59 in	$24	$69
60-64 in	$29	$113
65-69 in	$27	$110
69.5 in or larger	$32	$155

Actual prices vary from that figure. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) puts the average US residential price at 18.16 cents per kWh in August 2026, a preliminary figure, with 12.87 cents in Louisiana and 30.48 cents in Massachusetts among the state averages.

To adjust the label, multiply its dollar figure by your price per kWh and divide by 16. A TV labeled $30 a year works out at about $34 at the August 2026 US average, about $24 at Louisiana's and about $57 at Massachusetts's, still on the label's 5-hour viewing assumption. If you watch for longer, the cost rises with it.

A checklist for TV listings

Find the HDMI feature list, not just the version number: look for eARC, VRR, ALLM, QMS and QFT by name.
If you have or plan a soundbar, confirm the TV lists eARC, not only ARC.
For high-refresh gaming, check the stated bandwidth and use a certified Ultra High Speed or Ultra96 cable with a scannable label.
Rescale the EnergyGuide estimate to your own electricity rate and viewing hours.

HDMI 2.1, eARC and the EnergyGuide label: how to read a TV spec sheet

Our take

Key points