HDMI: New certifications make old HDMI app almost obsolete

The new certifications for HDMI cables are now slowly coming onto the market. Known as Gen 2, these certifications will provide verification for the authenticity of a given cable and gradually replace the first generation certifications.

This formally began in May 2023, but the HDMI Licensing Administrator (HDMI LA) has allowed the old labels to continue to be used until stocks of the corresponding cables have all been sold. In its February newsletter, cable manufacturer Club3D drew attention to this change and stated that it is currently changing its label fulfillment provider, so packs with both the old and the new certifications will soon appear in stores.

The new certification has the advantage that it can be checked more easily. According to the HDMI LA, a simple scan of the QR code on the pack is enough to verify its authenticity. The old verification, on the other hand, required the proprietary HDMI app.

According to the HDMI LA, the app will not be discontinued because of this. It will remain available in the app stores for old packs. Nevertheless, over the course of the months - depending on how quickly retailers can sell off "old" packaging - the app is likely to become obsolete. This is likely to come as a significant relief for customers.

However, the HDMI app will not be able to scan the new labels. Instead, according to the HDMI LA, a message will appear indicating that a QR reader app must be used.

During the transition period, it will be permitted for packs to have both Gen 1 and Gen 2 stickers on the packaging.

In addition to the QR code, the Gen 2 sticker also has a hologram strip in the upper area and a new hologram in the middle area next to the QR code. The material has also been changed. However, the size of the label remains identical to the first generation.