Best for HDMI 2.1 gaming
Samsung HW-Q990D Soundbar
4.9 feature score
Highest scored product for this feature based on supporting review evidence.
Best Speakers for HDMI 2.1 gaming
HDMI 2.1 gaming Decision Dashboard
Safest pick
Samsung HW-Q990F Soundbar
4.8 feature score
Balances feature score, supporting reviews, and overall product strength.
Most evidence
JBL Bar 1300X Soundbar
5 supporting reviews
Has the broadest review evidence for this feature.
Best overall product
JBL Bar 500 MK2 Soundbar
4.3 overall score
Strongest overall product among items with scored evidence for this feature.
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HDMI 2.1 gaming is a standout addition, adding 4K/120Hz, VRR, ALLM, and low-latency use cases.
Pros: AirPlay compatibility, HDMI ARC)
Cons: Status indicators, Weight convenience
HDMI 2.1 gaming support is a consistent strength, including 4K/120Hz, VRR and no-lag PS5 testing.
Pros: Cohesive presentation, Detail retrieval
Cons: Weight convenience, Status indicators
HDMI 2.1-related gaming support is mixed: eARC brings modern bandwidth, but gaming passthrough and direct console input support are missing.
Pros: Smart assistant integration (Alexa, Dialogue clarity (for TV/soundbar use)
Cons: Bluetooth codec support, Gaming HDMI passthrough
HDMI 2.1 is mentioned positively, but the evidence does not show broader gaming passthrough features.
Pros: optical, Weight convenience
Cons: Gaming HDMI passthrough, Smart features
HDMI 2.1 gaming support is a weakness because reviews state the HDMI input is not HDMI 2.1 or is limited to 4K/60.
Pros: AirPlay compatibility, Chromecast compatibility
Cons: HDMI 2.1 gaming, Gaming HDMI passthrough
Gaming over HDMI is limited by the product’s ARC-only implementation rather than newer eARC or immersive-format support.
Pros: Google, Chromecast compatibility
Cons: On-device controls, HDMI 2.1 gaming
HDMI 2.1 gaming support was a clear limitation, with several reviews noting missing 4K/120Hz, VRR, or ALLM passthrough.
Pros: Amplifier power requirements, HDMI ARC)
Cons: HDMI 2.1 gaming, Gaming HDMI passthrough
HDMI 2.1 gaming support is weak because the only gaming-relevant passthrough evidence says 4K passthrough is not supported.
Pros: Setup simplicity, Dialogue clarity (for TV/soundbar use)
Cons: AirPlay compatibility, Chromecast compatibility
HDMI 2.1 gaming support is not part of this soundbar; the reviewed spec lists no video support.
Pros: Multi-speaker pairing reliability, Inter-speaker connectivity
Cons: Wi-Fi streaming reliability, AirPlay compatibility