Atif Qazi
While looking at the teraflops, 4K resolution, and 60 FPS and beyond can get certainly get you excited, this can often lead you to overlook the importance of seemingly trivial components.
One such component is HDMI and its version. You see while all HDMI ports may look the same, they can belong to different versions with drastic ramifications for your overall gaming experience.
The importance of HDMI ports first surfaced for console gamers with the advent of PS4 Pro and its counterpart from Xbox. This was the time when gamers started asking questions like what is PS4 Pro HDMI version and why it matters.
Basically, PS4 Pro comes with an HDMI 2.0 port. This is an upgrade to the HDMI 1.4 as found on the Original PS4 and PS4 Slim versions.
As a gamer, you can easily get caught with the glimmer of the more powerful components like the CPU and the GPU, while completely neglecting the smaller details that are equally as important.
In the following text, I will talk in detail about the HDMI port on PS4 and why it matters. But let me first introduce PS4 Pro.
PS4 Pro and What Sets it Apart
PS4 Pro was released in 2016, three years AFTER the original PS4 model and it brought with it some serious upgrades.
When we want to gauge the performance or the graphics rendering prowess of a machine, we often look at its teraflops number.
The Original PS4 and the PS4 Slim variants are the same in terms of hardware. They both are rated at 1.84 Teraflops of computation power.
As such, their maximum gaming capabilities were limited to 1080P at 30 FPS.
PS4 Pro, however, has almost twice as many teraflops. It is rated at 4.2 Teraflops. The additional Teraflops brought with it the support for 4K resolution at up to 60 FPS for certain games.
So in short:
- Original PS4/PS4 Slim: 1.84 Teraflops / 1080P @ 30FPS gaming max
- PS4 Pro: 4.2 Teraflops / 4K @ 60FPS gaming max
So What is PS4 Pro HDMI Version?
PS4 Pro conforms to HDMI 2.0 version. The original PS4 and the PS4 Slim conform only to HDMI 1.4 version.
Now, why so? and particularly WHY does the PS4 Pro feature an HDMI 2.0?
I answer this below:
HDMI Version and Their Impact on Gaming
You see while HDMI 1.4 and HDMI 2.0 ports may look the same, they are drastically different in terms of much resolution and frame they can carry.
The following table sheds some light on this:
| HDMI Version | Max Resolution | Refresh Rate | HDR |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.2 | 1440P | 1080P = 60Hz 1440P = 30Hz | No |
| 1.3-1.4 | 4K (4096 x 2160) | 1080P = 120Hz 1440P = 60Hz 4K = 30Hz | No |
| 2.0 | 4K (4096 x 2160) | 1080P = 240Hz 1440P = 144Hz 4K = 60Hz | Yes |
| 2.1 | 8K (7680 x 4320) | 1440P = 240Hz 4K = 144Hz 4K = 240Hz (DSC) 8K = 120Hz (DSC) | Yes |
You can see here how important a role the HDMI version plays for PS4 Pro.
While the HDMI 1.4 interface is more than capable of supporting the 1080P @ 30 FPS on the original and the Slim PS4 variants. It is NOT sufficient for PS4 Pro.
In order to cater to the 4K @ 60 FPS specs of the PS4 Pro, it has to have an HDMI 2.0 port.
Of course, having an HDMI 2.0 port on PS4 Pro is just half the story.
You Need to Have a 4K @ 60 FPS TV or Monitor
In order to enjoy the 4K @ 60 FPS gaming that PS4 Pro supports, you need to have a TV or a monitor that supports 4K @ 60Hz refresh rate and has an HDMI 2.0 port.
You Need to Have a Premium HDMI Cable
Like the HDMI ports, the HDMI cables also conform to different versions.
In order to enjoy the benefits of an HDMI 2.0 port, you need to have a Premium High-Speed HDMI cable.
| HDMI Cable Certification | Supported Specs | Intended HDMI Port Version |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | 1080P @ 60Hz | 1.0-1.3 |
| High Speed | FHD @ 144Hz QHD @ 60Hz 4K @ 30hz | 1.4 |
| Premium High Speed | FHD @ 240Hz QHD @ 144Hz 4K @ 60Hz | 2.0 |
| Ultra High Speed | FHD @ > 240Hz 1440P @ > 240Hz 4K @ 144Hz (240Hz with DSC) 8K @ 120Hz (DSC) 10K @ 120Hz (DSC) | 2.1 |
The average HDMI 1.4 cable or High-Speed cable will bottleneck the entire performance.
Luckily, the PS4 Pro does come bundled with a Premium HDMI 2.0 cable. However, if you wish to replace it or get a longer one, you need to make sure that you get the right HDMI cable.
Also Read: Do You Need a 4K TV for PS4 Pro?
Final Words
Again, while the version of the HDMI port may seem very trivial, it plays a very important role.
Not just the HDMI port, but the cable that would go along with a particular version matters equally.
You do not want to end up building an entire gaming cave only to be bottlenecked by a minor error in not taking the HDMI port version into consideration.
So, the answer to the question “What is PS4 Pro HDMI version?” is HDMI 2.0.
Its weaker and older cousins i.e. the original PS4 and PS4 Slim, only feature an HDMI 1.4 port.
The newer sibling i.e. the PS5, however, features an even further upgraded HDMI 2.1 port that is capable of handling its rated 4K @ 120FPS specs.
Add comment