The PS5 uses HDMI 2.1, which supports up to 4K at 120fps, 8K at 60fps, VRR, and ALLM — and comes with an HDMI 2.1 cable in the box.
- Your TV has an HDMI 2.1 port
- You use the included HDMI 2.1 cable (or a certified replacement)
- Your display supports the resolution and refresh rate you want
- Your TV only has HDMI 2.0 ports — 4K is limited to 30fps maximum
- Your display doesn’t support high refresh rates like 120Hz
- You use a non-certified cable that can’t carry 48 Gbps bandwidth
Why HDMI 2.1 Matters for PS5
HDMI 2.1 delivers 48 Gbps of bandwidth — nearly three times more than HDMI 2.0’s 18 Gbps. That extra headroom is what allows the PS5 to push 4K at 120fps or 8K at 60fps, depending on the game and your display. It also enables gaming-specific features that older HDMI versions simply can’t carry.
Key features unlocked by the PS5’s HDMI 2.1 port:
- 4K @ 60–120fps — for smoother gameplay in supported titles
- 8K @ 60fps — future-proofed for 8K displays
- Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) — eliminates screen tearing
- Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) — automatically switches your TV to game mode
- Dynamic HDR — per-frame HDR optimization for better picture quality
- eARC — supports high-bitrate audio including Dolby Atmos
PS5 + TV Compatibility at a Glance
| Setup | Works? | Need | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| PS5 + HDMI 2.1 TV | Yes | HDMI 2.1 cable | Full 4K/120fps, VRR, ALLM |
| PS5 + HDMI 2.0 TV | Partial | HDMI 2.1 cable | 4K capped at 30fps, no VRR |
| PS5 + 1080p TV | Yes | Any HDMI cable | No 4K output, lower performance |
Do You Need a New Cable?
Sony includes an HDMI 2.1 cable in the PS5 box, so most people are covered from day one. If you need a replacement, look for cables labeled Ultra High Speed HDMI — these are certified to handle the full 48 Gbps the PS5 can output. Standard or High Speed HDMI cables won’t reliably carry HDMI 2.1 signals.
If you’re connecting the PS5 to a monitor or TV using a USB-C port on another device, check out whether USB-C can connect to HDMI for your setup. And if you’re troubleshooting a display that isn’t showing a picture, our guide on why USB-C to HDMI isn’t working covers common fixes.
Bottom line: The PS5 uses HDMI 2.1. To get 4K at 120fps and features like VRR, you need both an HDMI 2.1 port on your TV and an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable. On an older HDMI 2.0 TV, the PS5 still works — but you’ll be capped at 4K/30fps and lose gaming-specific features.