Skip to main content

Surprise! Sony says HDMI 2.0 is just a firmware update away

surprise sony says hdmi 2 0 is just a firmware update away
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Panasonic touted at IFA 2013 today that its 65-inch WT600 4K Ultra HDTV is the world’s first to include the new HDMI 2.0 standard. But recent news from Sony indicates that may not be as big of a deal as Panasonic claims it to be. According to Sony, all of its 4K televisions will be able to be upgraded to HDMI 2.0 by way of a simple firmware update by the end of the year. 

HDMI 2.0 is a necessary evolution to the cable standard we’ve all gotten used to. If 4K Ultra HD televisions are going to take off, they’ll need a digital audio/video cable standard that can handle a lot more data at much higher speeds. Some have argued that Displayport could potentially step in as the connection of choice for the next generation of 4K Ultra HD TV’s, but HDMI’s ubiquity and strong support from television manufacturers has always made that a tough argument. And with Sony’s recent announcement at IFA 2013, HDMI’s dominance  is pretty much guaranteed, as it turns out that an upgrade to HDMI 2.0 is as simple as a quick download over the Internet.

As part of its news conference, Sony prominently featured the launch of its 4K Video Unlimited service, a new line of 4K TVs, and a 65-inch curved LED television. But tucked in among all those new product announcements was a tiny little blurb on HDMI 2.0. According to Sony, it is prepared to “support the HDMI 2.0 specification on its line-up of 4K Ultra HD televisions with an easy firmware update to be available over the Internet by the end of this year.”

There you have it. HDMI 2.0 is just a firmware update away. Or is it? It’s great to know that some early 4K adopters won’t have to pull out a screwdriver or hire a technician to replace an input board to accommodate a new connector type, but what about cables? Not all HDMI cables are created equal. Will today’s existing high-speed HDMI cables be able to support 4K Ultra HD resolutions at 50/60 FPS with this firmware update, or will a new ultra high-speed cable start appearing in stores shortly? 

We may have to wait to find out, but not very long. HDMI Licensing, LLC’s press conference is scheduled for Friday afternoon in Berlin, where we’re sure to get all the details on HDMI 2.0 

Editors' Recommendations

Caleb Denison
Digital Trends Editor at Large Caleb Denison is a sought-after writer, speaker, and television correspondent with unmatched…
This JBL waterproof Bluetooth speaker is 43% off right now
JBL Xtreme 2 on a beach.

Bring the party with you wherever you go with a portable Bluetooth speaker like the JBL Xtreme 2, which is currently on sale from Best Buy at 43% off. From its original price of $350, it's down to a more affordable $200 for savings of $150. We're not sure how much time is remaining for you to take advantage of this offer though, so if you're interested, you're going to have to proceed with the transaction as soon as possible. The bargain may be gone by tomorrow, so complete the purchase today if you can.

Why you should buy the JBL Xtreme 2 Bluetooth speaker
JBL is one of the best speaker brands with portable audio as its calling card, so it's not a surprise that there are multiple JBL devices in our roundup of the best Bluetooth speakers. The JBL Xtreme 2 isn't the latest version in its line -- the JBL Xtreme 4 has already been released -- but it's still a fantastic Bluetooth speaker by today's standards with powerful audio using your mobile device as the source. If you prefer a wired connection over Bluetooth, the JBL Xtreme 2 also offers auxiliary audio input.

Read more
Apple’s AirPods Pro earbuds are back at their cheapest-ever price
Apple AirPods Pro 2 inside their charging case, near iPhone 14.

The second-generation Apple AirPods Pro with USB-C are back down to their cheapest-ever price of $189 on Amazon, for savings of $60 on their sticker price of $249. If you don't own the wireless earbuds yet, or if you're thinking about upgrading from an older model, here's another chance at this discount. However, like with most AirPods deals, we don't think it will last long, so if you want to take advantage of the bargain, you're going to have to proceed with the purchase right away.

Why you should buy the Apple AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C
The Apple AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C are featured in our list of the best wireless earbuds as the top choice for Apple fans, partly because of how easy it is to pair them with an iPhone or iPad. Just open their charging case, hold it close to your device, and you're done after a few taps. The Apple AirPods Pro 2 also offer solid audio quality with the capability for wireless lossless audio and Apple's immersive Spatial Audio, so you'll enjoy your favorite music even more.

Read more
Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones are back at their Black Friday price
Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones seen in silver.

Here's a highly recommended offer from Crutchfield if you're on the lookout for headphone deals -- the Sony WH-1000XM5 for $328, which is what they were going for during last year's Black Friday. If you weren't able to buy them for this cheap for any reason, here's another chance at the $70 discount on their original price of $398. We're not sure how long stocks will last though, so if you want to buy these wireless headphones for a more affordable price, you're going to have to add them to your cart and check out as soon as possible.

Why you should buy the Sony WH-1000XM5 wireless headphones
There are multiple reasons why the Sony WH-1000XM5 reign supreme in our roundup of the best headphones, but it all begins with its impressive active noise cancellation that allows them to stand out among other wireless headphones. They're very comfortable to wear, so you'll be able to maximize their long battery life of up to 30 hours on a single charge with ANC activated and up to 40 hours without it, and they'll allow you to call up Amazon's Alexa or Google Assistant through voice commands.

Read more