Unless you own an aging or budget TV, there’s a good chance your set has three or four HDMI ports. Yet not all connections are created equal. While many high-end TV ports function identically, mid-range models may sport HDMI slots that won’t necessarily squeeze the most out of modern consoles, like the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X.
Even though I stopped using my PS5 after discovering these Steam Big Picture features (at least for a while), I do still value my console. As such, it’s important to me that I’m getting the most out of my PS5 Pro. If you own Sony’s system and have it paired with an HDMI 2.1-compatible TV, you could still be choosing the wrong port, in turn hobbling your PS5’s potential. Here’s how to ensure you have your console hooked up to the correct slot on your TV.
The PS5 Pro costs $900 — you can build a PC that beats it for the same price
Why drop nearly a grand on a console when you can build a similarly-abled PC for the same price?
How to find your HDMI 2.1 port
Choosing the right connection to unleash your PS5’s full potential
Even though your TV might support HDMI 2.1 features, that doesn’t mean every one of its ports is actually compatible with HDMI 2.1. For those of you who own an early HDMI 2.1 display, there’s a good chance only one of its connections supports the full 48Gbps bandwidth the interface is capable of. The rest may merely be HDMI 2.0 ports, which are capped at 18Gbps of data transfer and thus max out at 4K/60Hz output, rather than HDMI 2.1’s max signal of either 8K/60Hz or 4K/120Hz.
To make sure you’re connecting a PS5 to a bona fide HDMI 2.1 slot, it’s always a good idea to check your TV’s manual. If you’ve thrown it out, just search for your specific model online, and you should be able to download a PDF copy lickety-split. If you happen to own a flat screen that’s mounted flush to a wall and isn’t on an extendable bracket, double-checking the manual will probably be your best bet for correctly identifying your ports if you can’t physically see them.
How the HDMI 2.1 connections on your television are actually named will vary depending on the manufacturer
If your TV is sitting on a cabinet, and you can easily access its rear, figuring out which ports support HDMI 2.1 and which don’t is a simpler task. While modern LG TVs usually support HDMI 2.1 across all their connections, brands like Samsung often only have a duo of slots that support the 4K/120Hz format. That’s why it’s important to identify your set’s console-friendly ports.
How the HDMI 2.1 connections on your television are actually named will vary depending on the manufacturer. The key terms to look out for? “HDMI 2.1” is clearly the most obvious one, but some brands may also label their slots as “120Hz”, “4K 120”, “Game”, or “8K”. Certain panels with only one HDMI 2.1 connection may have it labeled as the eARC port (Enhanced Audio Return Channel), which is often best reserved for use with a soundbar or home theater setup.
Depending on your TV brand, the order of your HDMI 2.1 slots is also going to vary. In the case of Samsung and Sony sets, their PS5-friendly connections are usually the third and fourth ports on the back of your television.
The benefits of HDMI 2.1 gaming
Unlocking 120 FPS console play
Like many gamers, once I upgraded to a 4K 120Hz smart TV there was no going back. More importantly, there’s zero chance I could ever return to an HDMI 2.0 display after reveling in its more advanced format. Make no mistake, when it comes to enjoying both cutting-edge PC games and PS5 titles, HDMI 2.1 is where it’s at.
Though there aren’t a ton of PS5 games that support native 4K and 120 FPS gameplay, high-profile examples of current-gen console titles that get the most out of HDMI 2.1’s bandwidth are Gran Turismo 7, Destiny 2, Doom Eternal, Fortnite and Overwatch 2. It’s also important to note games that use dynamic resolution to reach close to native 4K while supporting high frame rate modes — such as God of War Ragnarök and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 — also benefit from an HDMI 2.1 connection.
Frame-smoothing, input lag-reducing features like VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) and ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode) normally work better with the increased bandwidth of an HDMI 2.1 signal compared to the limitations of HDMI 2.0, too.
Make sure you choose the right display settings
Game Mode matters
Once you know your PS5/Xbox Series console is connected to an HDMI 2.1 port that is going to make the most out of that current-gen hardware, the next step is to ensure any other gaming-friendly features on your TV are enabled. Also, here’s how to enable 120Hz on your Xbox Series X/S.
Chief among them is Game Mode. Most modern televisions have this setting enabled by default, while high-end sets will automatically switch this feature on when they detect the input from a console. If your TV doesn’t instantly enable game mode, you’ll most likely find it under the general settings of your display’s menu.
What does game mode do? It opens up features that help smooth out frame rates while reducing input lag
What does game mode do? In the case of my LG G3 OLED, it opens up a variety of features that help smooth out frame rates while reducing input lag. As is the case with my set, many mid- and high-end sets support Nvidia G-Sync Now, AMD FreeSync Premium, VRR and ALLM.
On that latter feature, your PS5 also has built-in settings to adjust to ALLM. To ensure your TV and PlayStation are on the same page when it comes to low latency, on your PS5’s home menu, go to Settings -> System -> HDMI -> Related settings -> set ALLM to Automatic.
Own an HDMI 2.1 TV? Choosing the right port for your PS5 is crucial
At time of writing, both the base PS5 and the upgraded Pro model have never been more expensive (thank you very much, global RAM crisis). To that end, you need to ensure you’re getting the best performance and display quality possible from your console. If you own a modern 120Hz TV, ensuring you’re using your display’s proper HDMI 2.1 ports is essential if you want to sample Sony’s systems at their very best.