ASUS announces the world's first HDMI 2.1 4K gaming monitors

The next gen consoles from Sony and Microsoft launching later this year are supposed to make 120 Hz console gaming a thing through the HDMI 2.1 standard, but, without screens that can take advantage of the increased bandwidth, gamers will not be able to enjoy all the benefits. Right now, if you are looking to buy an HDMI 2.1 screen, you need to dish out ~US$1,500 for a 48-inch TV. Luckily, this may not be the case in a few weeks when Asus will begin shipping the world’s first gaming monitors with HDMI 2.1 certification, which also come in smaller sizes.

The new HDMI 2.1 monitors will be launched as part of the Asus ROG brand and will include 43-inch, 32-inch and 27-inch sizes. Thanks to the full 48 Gbps bandwidth coming with the HDMI 2.1 certification, the latest Asus ROG monitors support 4K resolutions with variable refresh rates of up to 120 Hz (over FreeSync and hopefully G-Sync). Additionally, the Auto Low Latency mode allows game consoles to directly access the processing hardware of the display in order to prioritize lower latencies in fast paced games.

Allion Labs, one of the most prominent companies that specialize in product testing, ensured that the Asus monitors can deliver the full 48 Gbps bandwidth via a series of stringent Fixed Rate Link (FRL) tests, including FRL Electrical, FRL Pixel Decoding and FRL Protocol.

Unfortunately the press release does not reference any panel specs or price points. Presumably, the latest monitors will integrate LED-backlit VA LCD panels with 125% sRGB and 90% DCI-P3 color gamuts, making them HDR-compatible, as well. Prices should not exceed US$1,000 for the 43-inch version.