Cable Matters (Southborough, MA) has launched one of the first USB-C video adapters on the market to support 8K resolution per the HDMI 2.1 specification. The company says its USB-C Video Adapter extends USB-C's versatility to drive the latest 8K and 4K 120Hz displays.
Cable Matters says the adapter offers more than 2.5x the bandwidth of older models -- enough to drive 8K displays at 30Hz, and 4K displays at up to 120Hz without any loss in picture quality -- all though the versatile USB-C connector commonly found on laptops, smartphones, tablets, and desktop computers.
The company contends the adapter fills a growing demand for high resolution, high refresh rate video over USB-C connectivity. While there are many adapters on the market, the company contends that "few of them support blazing-fast 4K 120Hz displays or ultra high resolution 8K displays as specified in HDMI 2.1. Most existing adapters lack support for more advanced features," adds Cable Matters.
"As USB-C and display resolutions beyond 4K become ubiquitous, Cable Matters' USB-C video adapter is among the first to offer 8K performance as specified in HDMI 2.1 over USB-C," said Cable Matters President and CEO Jeff Jiang.
The new adapter is notable for portability, with a sleek design and small form factor enabling it to fit in a laptop or tablet carrying case. The cable is also suited for more permanent installation in a home office or entertainment center.
Cable Matters will also launch its USB-C Video Cable supporting 8K as specified in HDMI 2.1 in early 2021. The Cable Matters USB-C video adapter and cable are just two entries in Cable Matters' line of 8K video products, representing the company's commitment to providing innovative connectivity solutions for the latest in cutting-edge consumer electronics.
Both products utilize the Cayenne family of USB-C video interfaces created by Synaptics. The companies note the Cayenne chipset "provides advanced video features like HDR, ultra high definition resolutions, and fast refresh rates in a secure, universal, low-cost, and low-power design."
"Synaptics' Cayenne chipset enables companies like Cable Matters to provide reliable, high-bandwidth video solutions that push the performance envelope," said Synaptics Senior Marketing Director for Video Interface Products, Jeff Lukanc. "We are proud to work with Cable Matters to bring the industry's first converter chipset supporting 8K as specified in HDMI 2.1 to market with a leading brand in the consumer electronics industry."