Anyone connecting a current-gen console or a gaming PC to their TV quickly runs into three acronyms: HDMI 2.1, VRR and ALLM. Knowing them in detail avoids surprises at purchase time, since they’re often advertised generically without specifying exactly which physical ports actually support them.
HDMI 2.1: more bandwidth for high-refresh 4K
HDMI 2.1 is the latest version of the HDMI connection standard, with far more bandwidth than HDMI 2.0 (up to 48 Gbps versus 2.0’s 18 Gbps). It’s the standard required to carry 4K at 120Hz or above, and also supports gaming features like VRR and ALLM. For 4K at 60Hz (most streamed movies and shows), HDMI 2.0 is enough: HDMI 2.1 isn’t needed for cinematic use alone.
VRR: goodbye screen tearing
VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) dynamically syncs the TV’s refresh rate with the frame rate actually produced by the console or PC, instead of staying fixed at a predetermined value. The result is eliminating (or greatly reducing) screen tearing, the horizontal visual “tear” effect that happens when a new frame starts being drawn before the previous one finished, particularly visible during fast pans or when the console’s frame rate dips below the maximum.
ALLM: automatic game mode
ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode) lets the TV automatically recognize when a gaming source is connected and switch to low-latency game mode without needing to enable it manually from the menus every time the console turns on, reducing the delay between input on the controller and action on screen. Without ALLM, many gamers forget to manually enable Game Mode, unknowingly playing with higher latency than necessary.
How to actually check for them on a TV
These features should be listed in the spec sheet under headings like “gaming features” or “HDMI 2.1”: not every HDMI port on a TV necessarily supports the 2.1 standard and its related features — often only 1 or 2 out of a total of 4 genuinely do, while the rest stay at version 2.0, fine for a set-top box or media player but not for a console at full refresh rate. Before connecting your console, it’s always worth checking how many of the TV’s ports actually support the 2.1 standard, a detail we also cover in our full guide on how to choose a TV.
