HDMI 2.1 support on 2020 Sony TVs is a mess
By: Sohrab Osati
Tags: Ps5, Television, Tech, Sony, Home Theater

HDMI 2.1 support on 2020 Sony TVs is a mess

It only took a few weeks into 2020, and Sony’s entire lineup of new TVs is an absolute mess when it comes to HDMI 2.1 support. For some, and if we’re honest here, for many, HDMI 2.1 won’t mean a damn thing. You’ll be able to plug your Apple TV 4K or whatever method you use to watch Netflix and consume your media just like before. But for some, especially those eyeing PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, the new standard can have a lot of consiquences.

Rasmus Larsen for flatpanels hd on two critical parts of HDMI 2.1 when it comes to gaming — VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) and ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode).

ALLM is a nice addition but not a huge deal, whereas 4K120 and VRR have the potential to improve the gaming experience markedly together with next-generation game consoles such as PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. Both new consoles have been confirmed to support up to 4K120. Microsoft has also confirmed VRR for Xbox Series X while Sony has yet to comment on the matter in regard to PlayStation 5. HDMI eARC will be an important feature with next-generation game consoles if you own a AV surround receiver without HDMI 2.1 passthrough (meaning all existing and current receivers). You will lose 4K120 and VRR if you loop the HDMI signal through a HDMI 2.0 receiver. You must therefore connect next-generation consoles directly to the TV via HDMI 2.1 and use the HDMI eARC port to return audio to the receiver (must support eARC, too). Or alternatively upgrade to a HDMI 2.1-capable AV receiver.

With PS5 likely less than nine months away and years in development, that the team at PlayStation and Sony Electronics would be in contact to ensure both sides complement each other. This is doubly true as it only comes down to a single component, HDMI 2.1 input and not an entirely new screen technology, and yet, this is how Sony’s 2020 TV line will look.

two of Sony’s new LCD TV ranges for 2020 will feature an HDMI 2.1 port capable of receiving 4K at 120 frames per second (4K120) — and 8K60 for 8K TVs. These are the 8K Z8H (Z8H) and the 4K X900H (XH90) ranges. Last year’s Sony 8K Z9G (Z9G) will carry over into 2020 and also feature an HDMI 2.1 port for 4K120 and 8K60. In addition, X900H (XH90) will be the first Sony TV to offer support for HDMI 2.1’s VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) and ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode). The former is variable refresh rate for smoother, lag-free gameplay via a PC or game console (must also support VRR). The latter allows the TV to automatically switch into ‘Game’ mode when it detects a game via HDMI. These features will be added through a future software update for X900H (XH90) only. Sony’s A8 OLED as well as X950H (XH95) and X850H (XH85) LCDs will not feature an HDMI 2.1 port capable of 4K120 but they will feature a single optional HDMI 2.1 feature that can be supported on HDMI 2.0 ports. This feature is eARC (enhanced Audio Return Channel), which supports lossless audio formats such as Dolby TrueHD (with/without Atmos) and DTS-HD MA (with/without DTS:X). HDMI eARC is also supported in most other 2020 Sony TVs and some previous TV models.

And there you have it, the ‘entry-level’ X850H does not offer HDMI 2.1 while the more expensive X900H series will, at a later date, via a firmware update, but the even more costly X950H will not. But to make it even more confusing, the A8 OLED will not offer HDMI 2.1 but will support some of its features through HDMI 2.0, and the 8K Z8H fully does provide HDMI 2.1. Got it. Not a cluster fuck at all.

How the entire range of 2020 Sony TVs don’t offer HDMI 2.1 is mind-boggling and completely unsurprising. This should have been an easy win for Sony Electronics — want the best PS5 experience? Buy any of our 2020 TVs — but instead, consumers will have to either do their homework and dig out tech specs to make the right purchase decision, which isn’t solved by the old mantra of ‘pay more and get better specs’ or go to a competitor.

Is HDMI 2.1 support a must for you on your next TV?