Televisions and gaming monitors offer HDR. But what is HDR actually, and what do I need to use it? MeinMMO explains what you need to know, what HDR formats exist, and why there are certifications.
What is HDR? HDR stands for “High Dynamic Range.” Simply put, HDR is primarily about a more natural representation of contrast between darkness and brightness, making the image look more realistic and natural.
HDR relies on multiple differently exposed images stacked on top of each other to show the best contrast from all images (via nikonimglib.com). For this reason, HDR gives an image a significantly higher dynamic range: bright areas become brighter, and shadows and dark scenes become much more expressive.
What do you need for HDR? If you want to use HDR on your gaming PC or TV, you need an HDR-capable monitor or screen. Your monitor must be able to achieve a certain brightness for HDR to work at all.
Important HDR Formats at a Glance
HDR is not the same as HDR. When it comes to “High Dynamic Range,” there are now several different formats; currently, there is no uniform standard. Some formats are royalty-free and used by many devices, while others are exclusive to certain manufacturers. You can find official specifications directly at DisplayHDR.org by the VESA organization.
With the different formats, it depends on what metadata a movie or series delivers to the TV. Here, a distinction is made between “static” and “dynamic” metadata. Better HDR formats like HDR10+ or Dolby Vision rely on dynamic data and can therefore be flexibly adjusted from scene to scene.
| Format | Royalty-Free? | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| HLG | Royalty-Free | Hybrid Log Gamma to display HDR content over cable and satellite programs. |
| HLG Pro | LG License | Improved version of HLG, where the image is rendered by LG and is supposed to look better. |
| HDR10 | Royalty-Free | Absolute minimum for required HDR content; 1,024 brightness levels (10-bit), conditionally recommended. |
| HDR10+ | Royalty-Free | A dynamic update for HDR10. Backward compatible with HDR10. |
| HDR Pro | BenQ License | Relevant only for certain HDR projectors from BenQ. |
| Dolby Vision | Dolby Labs License | Higher quality than HDR10, up to 4,096 brightness levels (12 bit). Backward compatible. |
| Dolby Vision IQ | Dolby Lab License | Automatic adjustment of the image to the environment based on readings from an ambient sensor. |
HDR Certifications for Monitors
In addition to the formats, there are also several certifications that monitors can achieve or need to reach in order to be compatible with HDR. Luminance is usually specified in candelas per square meter (cd/m²). The higher the candela value, the higher the brightness.
| Certification | Explanation |
|---|---|
| HDR400 | Designation for maximum luminance; at least 400 cd/m² and a constant minimum of 320 cd/m². |
| HDR 400, 500 and 600 True Black | maximum 0.0005 cd/m² luminance. |
| HDR600 | Designation for maximum luminance; at least 600 cd/m² and a constant minimum of 350 cd/m². |
| HDR1000 | Designation for maximum luminance; at least 1000 cd/m² and a constant minimum of 600 cd/m². |
| HDR 1400 | Designation for maximum luminance; at least 1400 cd/m² and a constant minimum of 900 cd/m². |
| Q HDR 1500 | Special versions from Samsung with even higher brightness. |
Many OLED monitors use HDR and are now also offered for gaming. MeinMMO presents the best models you can currently buy and briefly explains the advantages and disadvantages that OLED displays may have: The best OLED monitors for gaming that you can buy
