RIP HDMI Alt Mode (HDMI over USB-C), we hardly knew ye

guest · Jan 13, 2023

After failing to release any cables or adapters, HDMI Alt Mode is dead.
By Scharon Harding - January 12, 2023

If you're using a USB-C port to connect a computer to a display, you're most likely using DisplayPort Alternate Mode (Alt Mode), and due to non-existent adoption, we can pretty much guarantee you're not using HDMI Alt Mode. According to the HDMI Licensing Administrator (HDMI LA), you never will because the feature is dead.
Click to expand...

HDMI Alt Mode allows HDMI video signals to travel from a USB-C port to an HDMI host, like a TV. It's similar to DisplayPort Alt Mode, which lets you connect DisplayPort displays to USB-C ports. NotebookCheck spoke with HDMI LA, which is responsible for licensing the HDMI Forum's HDMI specs, at CES 2023 in Las Vegas last week and learned that there won't be any certified adapters supporting HDMI Alt Mode over USB.

"According to HDMI LA, there are simply no more uses for Alt Mode," the publication reported on Wednesday. "One of the reasons is that companies like Apple have begun putting HDMI ports on their products again. HDMI Alt Mode also no longer offers any advantages. As a result, the specification will not receive any further updates."
Click to expand...

HDMI Alt Mode feels out of date, since it maxes out at HDMI 1.4b. The HDMI LA's page about HDMI Alt Mode addresses the lack of HDMI 2.0 support, pointing out that the HDMI Forum is responsible for HDMI specs and hasn't made any public statements about HDMI Alt Mode supporting HDMI 2.0b. It makes no mention of newer HDMI specs.

In fact, the HDMI LA admitted to NotebookCheck that it doesn't know of any HDMI to USB-C adapter that uses HDMI Alt Mode. NotebookCheck also spoke with people "familiar with the certification process" at the USB Implementers Forum, who said that they also don't know of any HDMI Alt Mode adapters.
Click to expand...

NotebookCheck: The demise of HDMI over USB-C (Alt Mode) and more power in cables

January 11, 2023
True USB-C to HDMI adapters are no longer going to be a thing. The HDMI Alt Mode is more or less history, and DisplayPort has won. Notebookcheck spoke to HDMI LA and the USB-IF about it. Furthermore, there is hope that more devices can be powered directly over HDMI in future.
Click to expand...

Log in or Sign up

RIP HDMI Alt Mode (HDMI over USB-C), we hardly knew ye

guest Guest

Log in or Sign up

RIP HDMI Alt Mode (HDMI over USB-C), we hardly knew ye

guest Guest

Useful Searches