HDMI 2.2 Ultra96 cable preview at CES 2026: up to 96 Gbps and gaming demos

HDMI Licensing Administrator says it will stage the first public showcase of the new HDMI 2.2 Ultra96 cable at CES 2026, a model rated for bandwidths up to 96 Gbps. At its booth, visitors will see gaming-focused demos that contrast different classes of HDMI cables, including early Ultra96 prototypes built to the latest HDMI 2.2 specification.

The Ultra96 cable was officially introduced in June this year alongside the HDMI 2.2 standard and is positioned as the new certified option for devices that demand maximum throughput. HDMI.org also uses Ultra96 as a capability label for gear supporting 64, 80, or 96 Gbps modes. The standard is expected to roll into future graphics cards and displays, with leaks already pointing to support in AMD’s RDNA 5 GPUs.

On the HDMI LA stand, the spotlight will be on gaming scenarios. A key demo pairs a 500 Hz gaming monitor with an Xbox Series X and a high-performance gaming PC. While the console itself runs over HDMI 2.1 rather than HDMI 2.2, the setup underscores that the new cable remains compatible with existing signal sources. Visitors will also be shown the differences between an Ultra96 HDMI Cable, an Ultra High Speed HDMI Cable rated up to 48 Gbps, and a Premium High Speed HDMI Cable designed for 18 Gbps.

Beyond sheer refresh rates, the demos will cover plugging handheld consoles into big screens and a modernized spin on retro gaming with Ultra HD output and improved audio. Featured technologies will include VRR, ALLM, and QFT, alongside new HDMI 2.2 capabilities such as the Latency Indication Protocol, aimed at more precise audio–video synchronization when using receivers and soundbars.

According to HDMI Forum, HDMI 2.2 supports resolutions up to 16K at 60 Hz, as well as uncompressed 4K at 240 Hz and 8K at 60 Hz with full chroma. Taken together, Ultra96 emerges as a building block for upcoming gaming and media systems that are chasing extreme resolutions and refresh rates.