It looks like an unlikely name in the gaming monitor market will be the first to offer HDMI 2.1 support – just in time for the next-gen console releases this year. Eve Devices will be offering Spectrum monitors in three different configurations later this year.
What Is HDMI 2.1?
First of all, what exactly is HDMI 2.1? Announced in 2017, HDMI 2.1 is the new version of HDMI. It offers more features and more bandwidth to your connection.
HDMI 2.1 cables are able to transfer video data at a much higher rate than the previous HDMI 2.0. This will be a maximum of 48.0 Gbit per second – almost twice the rate your HDMI 2.0 cables are capable of.
The good thing is that HDMI 2.1 doesn’t involve a different connector so there hasn’t been a huge panic to switch over yet. However, more companies are looking into HDMI 2.1 support including new TVs and the upcoming next-gen consoles – the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5.
New Gaming Monitor With HDMI 2.1 Support
If you have been eyeing up a brand new monitor to prepare for the release of the new consoles, you may be looking at HDMI 2.1 and wondering where to find a monitor that supports it.
Until now, there haven’t been any gaming monitors that support HDMI 2.1.
The Spectrum gaming monitor is a crowd-developed monitor from Eve Devices and it will be the first one to offer HDMI 2.1 support.
Spectrum’s design and features are voted on by a community of PC enthusiasts which means it typically offers more unique features than your average monitor.
Spectrum Monitor Specs
The Spectrum is an interesting monitor. It’s a 27-inch monitor with Nano IPS panel technology. The monitor is G-Sync compatible and features 100 W USB-C pass-through charging and integer ratio upscaling.
Support for HDMI 2.1 is the icing on the cake here and could help to make it more popular in the runup to the console releases.
The Spectrum design has also changed a bit since the previous versions. The 1440p 240 Hz and 4K 144 Hz models now have a smaller bottom bezel to help them look a bit more modern and sleek.
When Will They Be Available?
While the entry-level version won’t be out until early next year, the two higher-end versions should release in the final quarter of this year. This puts them out at a good time alongside the next-gen consoles which are expected during the holiday season.
If we hear any updates about a firm release date, we will keep you updated.
How Much Will These Monitors Cost?
The Spectrum Monitor is available for pre-sale in three different configurations.
The 2560 x 1440 display at 144 Hz is available for $389, the 2560 x 1440 at 240 Hz display is available for $529 and the 3840 x 2160 at 144 Hz is selling for a huge $629. Be aware though that only the two latter models will support HDMI 2.1.
If we were going to choose one for running either the Xbox Series X or PlayStation 5, we’d probably go with the 4K 144 Hz model. This offers the 4K 120 Hz combination that many of the best monitors out there already do. However, it also leaves open the opportunity for console game developers to support different resolutions and refresh rates.
This is certainly not a monitor for the price-conscious shoppers out there! However, as the trend moves towards HDMI 2.1 support, we should start to see manufacturers develop new gaming monitors with these new ports. Hopefully, they should turn out to be less expensive.
There is a rumor that AMD and Nvidia are planning to include HDMI 2.1 ports on their next-gen graphics cards. So, it looks like you’ll be able to build an HDMI 2.1 gaming system in no time.
If the Spectrum gaming monitors are a bit out of your price range, why not take a look at our roundup of the best console gaming monitors of 2020?