If you compare HDMI and DisplayPort directly in the context of PC use, the winner is actually quite obvious. When monitor update rates exceed 144Hz, DisplayPort leads the pack with little to no suspense. The upper limit of HDMI 2.0 is 4K/60Hz (18Gbps). Although HDMI 2.1 is upgraded to 4K/144Hz (48Gbps), the specifications of DisplayPort are more forward-looking. DisplayPort 1.4 already supports 4K/144Hz (32Gbps), while DisplayPort 2.1 can reach 4K/240Hz or 8K/120Hz (80Gbps). The bandwidth is almost twice that of HDMI 2.1, and the overall performance greatly exceeds the latter. For gamers or creators who pursue high resolution and high update rate, DisplayPort 2.1 is undoubtedly the ideal choice.
3 things HDMI can do that DisplayPort can’t
However, once the perspective shifts from PCs to living room TVs and other home devices, the focus of discussion will clearly shift towards HDMI. There are several key reasons why HDMI still dominates the consumer audio and video field.
HDMI supports Dolby Vision
Both DisplayPort 1.4 and 2.1 support standard 10-bit HDR10, but if you want to use 12-bit Dolby Vision, you can’t do it through DisplayPort. By 2026, Dolby Vision will be available on more streaming devices, including Apple TV 4K, Nvidia Shield TV, and Fire TV Stick 4K Max. In terms of brightness, the peak of HDR10 usually falls between 1,000 and 4,000 nits, while the theoretical upper limit of Dolby Vision can reach 10,000 nits, with a wider dynamic range.
So, what exactly does High Dynamic Range (HDR) bring? Simply put, it delivers brighter highlights, deeper black levels, and more saturated colors. Although the TV industry introduces various new features every few years to attract consumers to upgrade, such as 8K, a specification with extremely limited content supply, the improvement of HDR is a technology that can truly make a huge difference in picture quality. Not only does UHD Blu-ray support HDR, mainstream streaming platforms such as Netflix and Prime Video have also fully introduced it, making HDR one of the most valuable upgrades in the modern audio-visual experience.
HDMI-CEC provides multi-device switching
Plugging your device into your TV’s HDMI‑CEC port enables a host of convenient features. The most intuitive effect is that you often only need one remote control to operate all connected devices, because they will exchange basic commands with each other through the TV. For example, I can use the Apple TV 4K’s Siri Remote to turn on the TV and adjust the soundbar’s volume directly. In addition, all devices can be turned off at once with the press of a button on the remote control, a level of integration that was usually achieved with bulky and difficult-to-set-up universal remote controls.
Most modern TV brands support HDMI‑CEC, including Samsung, LG, Sony, Hisense, etc., but each brand has different naming methods, which can be confusing. LG calls it Anynet+, Sony calls it Bravia Sync, and Hisense simply labels it HDMI‑CEC. On the other hand, the external device connected to the TV itself must support HDMI‑CEC, and fortunately this feature is already widely available. Mainstream streaming players such as Apple TV 4K and Google TV Streamer are supported; in terms of game consoles, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S also have HDMI‑CEC functionality.
eARC is the easiest way to connect your soundbar or receiver to your TV
If you’ve ever connected a soundbar or surround amplifier to your TV, you’re probably familiar with the importance of eARC. Launched with HDMI 2.1 (and also compatible with some HDMI 2.0 devices), eARC allows the TV to transmit high-quality audio back to the soundbar or AV receiver through HDMI cables, eliminating the need for additional cables such as optical fiber or RCA, greatly simplifying the wiring and setup process of the entire home theater.
In terms of audio specifications, the formats supported by eARC are quite complete, including mainstream high-end audio technologies such as Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Atmos, DTS, DTS‑HD, and DTS:X. In comparison, although DisplayPort can transmit PCM stereo, 5.1/7.1 channel audio, and basic bit streams of Dolby and DTS, it does not support eARC and cannot handle the advanced audio formats that HDMI can provide.
Source: KOCPC Chinese