The HDMI cable will connect the USB Type-C connector on the source side via a basic cable to any HDMI connector on the display side.
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Although USB is unlikely to serve as a full-on replacement to HDMI anytime soon, according to Intel architects Brad Saunders and Rahman Ismail, the development should nevertheless make it much easier for phones and tablets to connect to a television without the need for cumbersome adaptors. Developed by the HDMI founders, this specification essentially means that native HDMI connectivity will be supported by a single USB Type-C cable that doesn’t require a separate HDMI adapter.
Despite those small drawbacks, this new standard is great news for just about anyone with a modern mobile device.
Called “HDMI Alt Mode” the new standard supports up to HDMI 1.4b, a version that supports resolutions up to 4K and extras such as Audio Return Channel (ARC), 3D, HDMI Ethernet Channel and Consumer Electronic Control (CEC).
It now does not support HDR or 4K streaming that uses the HDMI 2.2 standard. This specification will also result in more source devices incorporating HDMI.
As Tobias points out, USB Type-C is definitely becoming more common in devices, and should be more mainstream within the next year. “We’re also coordinating with HDMI Licensing to ensure consumers can recognize when HDMI Alt Mode is supported on USB Type-C devices”.
When USB Type-C first showed up in smartphones like the OnePlus 2, it was originally thought of as nothing more than a reversible cable, and another reason to go out and buy new cables. “Consumers expect to easily connect these devices to displays with a USB Type‐C to HDMI cable and utilize the capabilities and features of native HDMI”. The latest specification has been uploaded to the HDMI site for manufacturer implementation.
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