The cables and connectors that carry video from a computer or player to a screen periodically gain new versions that support higher resolutions and smoother motion. Recent updates, spreading through 2026, allow sharper displays and faster refresh rates, which make movement look smoother in games and video.
As with other standards, the benefit appears only when the source device, the cable and the screen all support the newer version. High refresh rate monitors and very high resolution televisions are the clearest beneficiaries. For most people the upgrade arrives naturally with a new screen or computer rather than as a purchase on its own.