Samsung has confirmed to FlatpanelsHD that not only its 8K TVs but also several of its 4K TV ranges will be equipped with an HDMI 2.1 port in 2020. Here are the details.
HDMI 2.1 in Samsung TVs
Like Sony there has been confusion over HDMI 2.1 support in Samsung's 2020 TVs. Initially, the company said that only its 8K TVs were equipped with a full-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 port.
Samsung has now officially confirmed that the Q70T, Q80T, Q90T and Q95T 4K "QLED" LCD TVs will be equipped with an HDMI 2.1 port for 4K120 (via FRL, or Frame Rate Link, the new high-bandwidth signaling system in HDMI 2.1). This is great news for gamers planning to invest in a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X as both will be capable of outputting 4K120.
Like the 8K TVs, the 4K TVs will be equipped with a single HDMI 2.1 port (HDMI4) so you will not be able to connect two next-gen consoles via HDMI 2.1. Samsung's hometown rival LG offers four HDMI 2.1 ports in its high-end LCD and OLED TVs.
Also read: Samsung 2020 TV line-up
Samsung has also confirmed the level of HDMI 2.1 support and clarified details to FlatpanelsHD. We have summarized the information below.
HDMI 2.1 features in Samsung 2020 TVs
| 4K120
(via FRL) | VRR | ALLM | eARC |
|---|
Samsung Q950TS
Samsung Q900TS
Samsung Q800T |
(+ 8K60) | | | |
Samsung Q95T
Samsung Q90T
Samsung Q80T (55"+)
Samsung Q70T (55"+) | | | | |
| Samsung Q80T (49") | | | | |
| Samsung Q60T | | | | |
FlatpanelsHDPlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X
Sony and Microsoft have confirmed that their next-gen game consoles will support 4K120 (4K at 120 frames per second) and 8K. Microsoft has confirmed VRR (variable refresh rate) for Xbox Series X, whereas Sony has yet to comment on its plans for VRR. Samsung did not specify the frequency range (Hz) for its VRR implementation in 2020 TVs.
4K120 and 8K from an external device require HDMI 2.1 so having an HDMI 2.1 port in a 4K TV will be needed to take full advantage of PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.
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.
In 2020, LG, Samsung, Sony, and Vizio will offer 4K TVs with one or more HDMI 2.1 ports.
Samsung 2020 TVs with HDMI 2.1
