The 5 Best HDR Gaming Monitors — Winter 2022: Reviews
- Table of Contents
- Intro
-
Best Monitor
-
Best Upper Mid-Range
-
Best Mid-Range
-
Best Lower Mid-Range
-
Best Budget
- Notable Mentions
- Recent Updates
- All Reviews
- Discussions
Updated Dec 13, 2022 at 03:53 pm
By Nicholas Di Giovanni
Monitors are great for gaming as they deliver low input lag and a fast response time, but they aren’t as good as TVs yet when it comes to HDR. However, they’re slowly getting better as new technologies in monitors like QD-OLED panels and Mini LED backlights result in brighter highlights, better contrast, and better colors than traditional monitors. Like with TVs, you’ll want a monitor that gets bright enough to make highlights pop and also display a wide range of colors for a vivid HDR experience. It’s also important to get a monitor that supports HDR on the PS5 and Xbox Series X.
We’ve bought and tested more than 260 monitors, and below you’ll find our recommendations for the monitors for gaming in HDR. Also, see our recommendations for the best gaming monitors, the best 4k HDR monitors, and the best 4k gaming monitors.
-
Best HDR Gaming Monitor
Dell Alienware AW3423DW
SEE PRICE
Amazon.de
Unavailable
Missing Store
Gaming
8.7
HDR
9.3
Size
34″
Pixel Type
QD-OLED
Max Refresh Rate
175 Hz
Variable Refresh Rate
Yes
Native Resolution
3440 x 1440
HDR10
Yes
See all our test results
The best HDR gaming monitor we’ve tested is the Dell Alienware AW3423DW.
It’s best to buy directly through Dell’s website and this 34-inch ultrawide monitor uses a new QD-OLED display, which offers a near-infinite contrast ratio and decent peak brightness in HDR. It allows it to display extremely bright highlights in HDR right next to darker areas with no distracting blooming. Thanks to its quantum dot technology, it can display an incredibly wide color gamut in HDR, so your favorite games or movies look stunningly vivid and life-like.Like other OLED displays, it has a near-instantaneous response time, resulting in crystal-clear motion in games, with no distracting blur trail behind fast-moving objects. It also natively supports NVIDIA’s G-SYNC variable refresh rate (VRR) technology, which helps reduce tearing and ensures a visually consistent gaming experience, even if the frame rate of your game drops. While it has a 175Hz max refresh rate, it can only reach a max of 144Hz with a 10-bit signal over DisplayPort, and unfortunately, it doesn’t support HDR with the Xbox Series X because it doesn’t support a 4k signal, but it’s still a great choice if you want to use it for PC gaming in HDR.
See our review
-
Best Upper Mid-Range HDR Gaming Monitor
Samsung Odyssey Neo G7 S32BG75
SEARCH
Amazon.de
Unavailable
Missing Store
Gaming
8.8
HDR
8.0
Size
32″
Pixel Type
VA
Max Refresh Rate
165 Hz
Variable Refresh Rate
Yes
Native Resolution
3840 x 2160
HDR10
Yes
See all our test results
If you’re looking for the best HDR monitor for gaming and prefer something with a higher 4k resolution, check out the Samsung Odyssey G7 S32BG75.
It costs about the same as the Dell Alienware AW3423DW, but you can find it cheaper when it goes on sale. The difference is that it doesn’t use a QD-OLED panel for perfect black levels, so you get worse HDR performance, but considering it still has a VA panel with Mini LED local dimming that produces deep blacks with minimal blooming and highlights pop, the HDR performance is great.In terms of gaming, it’s better than the Dell if you want to use it with the PS5 or Xbox Series X. It has HDMI 2.1 bandwidth that lets you play 4k games up to 120 fps on either console, including in HDR, but like most monitors, it doesn’t support Dolby Vision from the Xbox. You can reach its max refresh rate of 165Hz over DisplayPort in HDR, and if you want a future-proof monitor, the Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 S32BG85 is a similar model with a max 240Hz refresh rate that costs more, so the Neo G7 is the cheaper option.
See our review
-
Best Mid-Range HDR Gaming Monitor
Gigabyte M32UC
SEE PRICE
Amazon.
de
Unavailable
Missing Store
Gaming
8.7
HDR
6.8
Size
32″
Pixel Type
VA
Max Refresh Rate
160 Hz
Variable Refresh Rate
Yes
Native Resolution
3840 x 2160
HDR10
Yes
See all our test results
If you’re looking for something cheaper in the mid-range price category, there are some trade-offs you’re going to have to make, especially when it comes to HDR performance, as cheaper monitors don’t usually have good HDR performance.
That’s the case with the Gigabyte M32UC, which is an excellent gaming monitor with many of the same features as the Samsung Odyssey Neo G7 S32BG75, but its HDR performance is just okay. It’s because it doesn’t have Mini LED backlighting or even a local dimming feature, so while it displays deep blacks thanks to its high contrast ratio, it doesn’t have anything to further improve it. It also has decent HDR peak brightness, but small highlights don’t pop against the rest of the image.Luckily, it offers HDMI 2.1 bandwidth that lets you take full advantage of the PS5 and Xbox Series X, including in HDR. It has good motion handling with low input lag for a responsive feel and has VRR support to reduce screen tearing. Also, its 32-inch screen has a slight curve that brings the edges more within your field of vision, so they don’t look too washed out if you’re gaming and sitting too close to it.
See our review
-
Best Lower Mid-Range HDR Gaming Monitor
Dell S3422DWG
SEE PRICE
Amazon.
de
Unavailable
Missing Store
Gaming
8.2
HDR
7.2
Size
34″
Pixel Type
VA
Max Refresh Rate
144 Hz
Variable Refresh Rate
Yes
Native Resolution
3440 x 1440
HDR10
Yes
See all our test results
If you want to save money and find the Gigabyte M32UC too expensive, then a lower mid-range option like the Dell S3422DWG is a good alternative.
It’s different from the Gigabyte because it has a wider 34-inch screen with a lower 1440p resolution, so you don’t get the same sharp images. However, unlike the Dell Alienware AW3423DW, it downscales a 4k @ 60Hz signal from the PS5 and Xbox Series X, which results in a sharper image than a native 1440p signal. It means you can use it for HDR gaming from the Xbox, but because it’s an ultrawide display and the consoles don’t support ultrawide gaming, you’ll get black bars at the sides.Despite its lower cost, it still delivers a decent HDR experience. Like the Gigabyte, it has a VA panel with a good native contrast, and while it doesn’t have a local dimming feature either, blacks look deep, and the black uniformity is excellent. One of its advantages is that it has good HDR peak brightness, making highlights pop, and it also displays a wide range of colors in HDR with good color volume that makes most colors look vivid.
See our review
-
Best Budget HDR Gaming Monitor
Gigabyte M27Q
SEE PRICE
Amazon.
de
Unavailable
Missing Store
Gaming
8.4
HDR
6.5
Size
27″
Pixel Type
IPS
Max Refresh Rate
170 Hz
Variable Refresh Rate
Yes
Native Resolution
2560 x 1440
HDR10
Yes
See all our test results
While you won’t get good HDR performance with a budget monitor, some still offer great gaming performance with a decent enough HDR experience.
That’s the case with the Gigabyte M27Q, which is an impressive 1440p gaming monitor with alright HDR performance and is good enough if you’re on a tight budget. It has a smaller screen than the Dell S3422DWG, so you don’t get the same immersive gaming experience, but the 27-inch screen is still big enough to view a lot of your game at once. In terms of HDR, it has a lower contrast than the Dell, so blacks look gray in the dark, but it at least has an impressive color gamut and okay HDR peak brightness.You’ll enjoy gaming on this monitor because it has excellent motion handling, especially with high-frame-rate signals, but it’s limited to a max refresh rate of 120Hz over a DisplayPort connection with 10-bit signals due to bandwidth limitations. Still, you get a responsive gaming experience thanks to its low input lag. Like the Dell, it also downscales 4k @ 60Hz signals from the PS5 and Xbox Series X, meaning you can play HDR games on it.
See our review
Notable Mentions
- Gigabyte AORUS FO48U:
The Gigabyte AORUS FO48U OLED is an excellent gaming monitor with an OLED panel like the Dell Alienware AW3423DW, but with a bigger 48-inch screen and 16:9 aspect ratio, so it’s a good choice for console gaming.
However, it doesn’t use a QD-OLED panel, so colors aren’t as vivid as on the Dell.
See our review - Samsung Odyssey Neo G9:
The Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 is a super ultrawide monitor that uses Mini LED backlighting like the Samsung Odyssey Neo G7 S32BG75. However, only get this if you want the larger screen and don’t mind spending more.
See our review - Sony INZONE M9:
The Sony INZONE M9 is a good HDR monitor that costs a bit more than the Gigabyte M32UC and has great HDR peak brightness. It also has an alright local dimming feature, but considering there’s more blooming than on the Gigabyte, the Gigabyte delivers better dark room performance.
See our review - Dell S3221QS:
The Dell S3221QS is in the same price range as the Dell S3422DWG, and it’s a different type of monitor because it has a 4k screen, but it doesn’t get as bright in HDR, so only get it if you want the 4k resolution and don’t want the ultrawide screen of the S3422DWG.
See our review
Recent Updates
-
Dec 13, 2022:
Restructured article to reflect overall HDR performance and not just focus on gaming; replaced the Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 with the cheaper Samsung Odyssey Neo G7; replaced the Sony INZONE M9 with the Gigabyte M32UC because it has better dark room performance; replaced the ASUS TUF Gaming VG259QM with the Gigabyte M27Q because it has better gaming performance; updated the Notable Mentions based on changes. -
Oct 07, 2022:
Restructured the article, adding mid-range, upper mid-range, and lower mid-range picks. Replaced the budget model with the ASUS TUF Gaming VG259QM. -
Jun 10, 2022:
Replaced the Samsung LC32G75TQSNXZA with the Dell Alienware AW3423DW, as it’s far superior for gaming in HDR.
-
Mar 15, 2022:
Swapped the LG 48 C1 OLED and the Gigabyte AORUS FV43U to reflect user needs and renamed the Gigabyte to ‘LED Alternative’; replaced the ASUS TUF VG34VQL1B with the Dell S3422DWG for consistency; updated Notable Mentions based on changes. -
Jan 14, 2022:
Verified picks for availability and updated text for clarity; added the LG 32GN600-B to Notable Mentions.
All Reviews
Our recommendations are based on what we think are the best HDR monitor for gaming currently available. They are adapted to be valid for most people, in each price range. Rating is based on our review, factoring in price, and feedback from our visitors.
If you would prefer to make your own decision, here is the list of all of our monitor reviews.
Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. Most monitors are good enough to please most people, and the things we fault monitors on are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.
Discussions
The 4 Best 4k HDR Monitors — Winter 2023: Reviews
- Table of Contents
- Intro
-
Best Monitor
-
Best Upper Mid-Range
-
Best Mid-Range
-
Best Budget
- Notable Mentions
- Recent Updates
- All Reviews
- Discussions
Updated Dec 12, 2022 at 10:18 am
By Nicholas Di Giovanni
Getting a monitor for watching HDR content can be beneficial if you like playing HDR games or if you want to watch content on a smaller screen. Although most modern monitors support HDR, they still lag behind TVs for HDR performance. Supporting HDR is one thing, but you also need the monitor to display a wide color gamut, get bright, and have a good local dimming feature so that HDR looks vivid with highlights that pop.
If you’re looking for a new monitor and HDR is important to you, then there are still a few choices out there. Although most of them lack good local dimming and can’t get as bright as TVs, they’re still decent enough and are better than simple SDR monitors.
We’ve bought and tested more than 260 monitors, and below you’ll find our recommendations for the best HDR monitors with a 4k resolution that are available to buy. Check out our recommendations for the best HDR gaming monitors, the best 4k gaming monitors, and the best multimedia monitors.
-
Best 4k HDR Monitor
Gigabyte AORUS FO48U
SEARCH
Amazon.de
Unavailable
Missing Store
HDR
8.9
Size
48″
Pixel Type
OLED
Max Refresh Rate
120 Hz
Variable Refresh Rate
Yes
Native Resolution
3840 x 2160
HDR10
Yes
See all our test results
The best 4k HDR monitor we’ve tested is the Gigabyte AORUS FO48U OLED.
It’s a great overall monitor that’s unique because it has an OLED panel that’s incredible to use in dark rooms. It means it can turn individual pixels off, resulting in a near-infinite contrast ratio for perfect black levels, and there isn’t any blooming around bright objects. It makes it amazing for HDR because you want to see those bright highlights with deep blacks next to them, and while the overall HDR peak brightness is just acceptable, small highlights still stand out. It also displays a wide range of colors in HDR with good tone mapping, and it gets bright enough to make colors look vivid.While its 48-inch screen may seem big to you, this is the size you need to get if you want the best HDR experience possible, as smaller 4k monitors aren’t as good and usually don’t come with an OLED panel like this one. If you want to use it for 4k HDR gaming, it also supports HDMI 2.1 bandwidth that lets you hit its max refresh rate of 120Hz in HDR, and it fully works with the PS5 and Xbox Series X, but it doesn’t support Dolby Vision.
See our review
-
Best Upper Mid-Range 4k HDR Monitor
Samsung Odyssey Neo G7 S32BG75
SEARCH
Amazon.de
Unavailable
Missing Store
HDR
8.0
Size
32″
Pixel Type
VA
Max Refresh Rate
165 Hz
Variable Refresh Rate
Yes
Native Resolution
3840 x 2160
HDR10
Yes
See all our test results
If you don’t want a large monitor or aren’t a fan of OLED displays, consider an LED monitor like the Samsung Odyssey Neo G7 S32BG75.
It’s a lower-end monitor compared to the Gigabyte AORUS FO48U OLED because it has worse HDR performance and a smaller screen, and you can find it for less directly through Samsung’s website. It doesn’t have an OLED panel like the Gigabyte, so it doesn’t deliver the same perfect black levels, but instead, it has Mini LED backlighting that lets it get much brighter with small highlights in HDR so that they pop. It also displays a wide color gamut and makes those colors look vivid, thanks to its great color volume.Thanks to its 4k resolution and a smaller screen than the Gigabyte, the image clarity is extremely sharp, so you’ll see details in movies and games that you play. HDR works without issue with the PS5 and Xbox Series X, but like the Gigabyte, it doesn’t support Dolby Vision on the Xbox. It also has a higher 165Hz refresh rate than the Gigabyte, which you can achieve over HDMI or DisplayPort even with 10-bit signals in HDR.
See our review
-
Best Mid-Range 4k HDR Monitor
Samsung Smart Monitor M8 S32BM80
SEE PRICE
Amazon.
de
Unavailable
Missing Store
HDR
7.2
Size
32″
Pixel Type
VA
Max Refresh Rate
60 Hz
Variable Refresh Rate
No
Native Resolution
3840 x 2160
HDR10
Yes
See all our test results
If you want something cheaper and don’t need the most premium picture quality, the Samsung Smart Monitor M8 S32BM80 is a good alternative.
It has the same 32-inch, 4k screen as the Samsung Odyssey Neo G7 S32BG75, but it doesn’t have Mini LED backlighting, so it can’t get as bright as the Neo G7 to make highlights pop as much. Still, it has a VA panel with a high native contrast ratio for deep blacks in dark rooms, resulting in a decent overall HDR experience. The most unique part about this monitor is that it includes Samsung’s proprietary Tizen smart platform, which means you can watch HDR content without connecting a PC, essentially making it a small TV.It displays a wide range of colors in HDR, and while its peak brightness is limited, the color volume is still great as it displays most bright and dark colors well. Even though it doesn’t have a local dimming feature, it still has very good black uniformity, as there’s minimal blooming around bright objects. Unfortunately, it isn’t as good for HDR gaming as the Neo G7 as it has a slow response time and doesn’t support HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, so this is a good choice if you aren’t also going to game on it.
See our review
-
Best Budget 4k HDR Monitor
Dell S3221QS
SEE PRICE
Amazon.de
Unavailable
Missing Store
HDR
6.9
Size
32″
Pixel Type
VA
Max Refresh Rate
60 Hz
Variable Refresh Rate
Yes
Native Resolution
3840 x 2160
HDR10
Yes
See all our test results
If you want something for 4k HDR use and you’re on a budget, you’re limiting yourself to the performance you’re going to get, but there are a few alright options available, like the Dell S3221QS.
Like the Samsung Smart Monitor M8 S32BM80, it has a 32-inch, 4k screen, but it doesn’t have a built-in smart platform, and it’s focused on office use, so the HDR performance is just okay. Dark scenes look great thanks to the monitor’s high contrast ratio, meaning blacks look black. It lacks a local dimming feature, and its HDR peak brightness is unremarkable, so bright highlights don’t stand out very well, but that’s what you can expect from a budget-friendly display.On the other hand, it has a wide color gamut, with great coverage of the DCI-P3 used by most current HDR content, and it has superb gradient handling, with almost no noticeable banding in areas of similar color. Even at a 32-inch size, the pixel density is still very high, which results in exceptional text and image clarity, meaning it delivers an immersive viewing experience while watching 4k HDR content. While it has narrow viewing angles, it has a slightly curved screen that brings the edges within your field of vision.
See our review
Notable Mentions
- Dell Alienware AW3423DW:
The Dell Alienware AW3423DW is a premium display with exceptional HDR performance because it has an OLED panel similar to the Gigabyte AORUS FO48U OLED and gets even brighter. However, it’s a 1440p monitor and doesn’t support 4k signals.
See our review - Samsung LS32BG852NNXGO:
The Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 S32BG85 is a higher-end version of the Samsung Odyssey Neo S32BG75 with a higher refresh rate. Considering it has the same HDR performance, it isn’t worth spending more on it.
See our review - Gigabyte M32UC:
The Gigabyte M32UC is a 32-inch, 4k monitor that’s alright for HDR with a high native contrast ratio. Considering it costs about the same as the Samsung Smart Monitor M8 S32BM80, it’s worth getting the Samsung because it’s a bit better overall for HDR and has a built-in smart platform.
See our review - Dell U2723QE:
The Dell U2723QE is a decent HDR monitor that displays a wide range of colors and has a smaller screen than the Samsung Smart Monitor M8 S32BM80, but it also costs a bit more with a worse native contrast ratio, so the Samsung is slightly better for HDR.
See our review
Recent Updates
-
Dec 12, 2022:
Replaced the Gigabyte AORUS FV43U with the Samsung Odyssey Neo G7 because it’s smaller and has Mini LED backlighting; replaced the Gigabyte M32UC with the Samsung Smart Monitor M8 S32BM80 because it’s better for HDR; updated Notable Mentions based on changes. -
Oct 20, 2022:
Replaced the Samsung Odyssey Neo G7 with the Gigabyte AORUS FO48U because it’s much better for HDR; added the Gigabyte AORUS FV43U as the ‘Best Upper Mid-Range’ and renamed the Gigabyte as the ‘Best Mid-Range’.
Removed the Dell U2723QE and the Samsung Smart Monitor M8 because they aren’t among the best for HDR; updated Notable Mentions based on changes.
-
Aug 02, 2022:
Removed the LG C1 and the Gigabyte AORUS FV43U because they’re larger displays and bigger than most monitors; added the Samsung Odyssey Neo G7, Dell U2723QE, Gigabyte M32UC, and the Samsung Smart Monitor M8 to reflect user needs. Renamed the Dell S3221QS as the ‘Best Budget’; removed the LG 27GP950-B and Dell S2722QC because they aren’t anything special for HDR. -
Mar 30, 2022:
Completely restructured the article to better represent what people are looking for in an HDR monitor, and adjusted the Notable Mentions accordingly. -
Feb 03, 2022:
Replaced the Dell S2721QS with the Dell S2722QC.
Removed a few out-of-date Notable Mentions.
All Reviews
Our recommendations are based on what we think are the best HDR monitors that support 4k. They’re adapted to be valid for most people. Rating is based on our review, factoring in price, and feedback from our visitors.
If you would prefer the make your own decision, here is the list of all of our 4k monitors that have HDR10 support. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. Most monitors are good enough to please most people, and the things we fault monitors on are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.
Discussions
How to enable HDR on a computer or laptop
- Computer store
- Blog
- Monitors (monitor)
- How to enable HDR on a computer or laptop
Article author: Sergey Koval
([email protected])
Published: 24 August 2021
We figure out how to improve image quality using HDR, and on which computers it can be done
Almost all modern TVs come with support for HDR technology, which makes the image brighter, clearer and richer.
Also, this feature has long been available to game console owners. However, not all users of computers and laptops could use it. The fact is that until recently, the Windows 10 operating system experienced certain difficulties with this mode. But now, when Microsoft has finalized the mode and introduced the Auto HDR function, PC owners also have the opportunity to enjoy high image quality.
nine0013
What is HDR?
The abbreviation HDR is derived from the English definition of «extended dynamic range». This technology allows you to improve image quality by working with the following screen parameters:
- brightness;
- contrast ratio;
- color rendering;
- local illumination.
- dynamic metadata.
The main task of HDR is to achieve maximum realism of the image. In practice, the implementation of HDR allows you to increase the brightness and detail of the dark areas of the image, but without highlighting the bright areas.
nine0013
What do you need?
HDR mode may not be enabled on every device. This requires certain characteristics of a number of components.
Many modern monitors and TVs have HDR support in the specification. But in some cases it can be purely nominal.
To be sure that HDR activation will be noticeable to the user, the following characteristics should be checked:
- Full HD resolution or higher.
- DisplayHDR-400 certified and above.
- Maximum (peak) brightness from 400 nits, although the effect will be noticeable on monitors with 250 — 300 nits.
- Ultra HD Premium certification requires at least 1000 nits of brightness.
- Black level 0.05 nits or less.
Since the HDR mode is quite energy-intensive, therefore, when watching a video, the laptop must be connected to the mains. Otherwise, the battery may not be enough even for one standard episode of the series.
nine0013
To summarize, most modern monitors and laptop screens no older than 2019 meet these requirements.
Exceptions can only be the most budget models.
HDR mode can be played on NVIDIA 9-series graphics cards and later. For a number of AMD graphics cards, the new mode is supported by devices from the 300 series and later. Also, the performance of the video card affects the possibility of implementing HDR. Budget models simply won’t be able to stream 4K video at high bitrates, even if HDR is written into their specification.
nine0013
Not the last role is played by the connection interface, both on the monitor and on the video card. You can feel the benefits of HDR if your devices are equipped with:
- HDMI 1.4, 2.0, 2.1.
- DisplayPort 1.4.
The cables themselves do not have versions, but they can differ in bandwidth, which can be significantly limited for budget unnamed models.
Also, the operating system should be a version no earlier than 2017, since it was in this year that HDR support appeared in the fall. There is also HDR software emulation for Windows 7, 8/8.
1, but the quality of the implementation is much weaker than the «native» version.
nine0013
What content can be played in HDR?
You can watch movies and videos in HDR mode, and also use it when playing games.
Not all players are suitable for playing movies in enhanced quality. For example, the VLC player has built-in codecs, so no additional settings are needed. But for PotPlayer and MPC players, you will need to install the MadVR renderer.
The situation is similar with viewing streaming video. On YouTube and Netflix, HDR mode starts without any additional settings. And to watch content on online cinema services, in most cases you will have to buy and install the HEVC Video Extensions codec from Microsoft for 0.99$.
With games, the situation is simpler. If the application supports HDR, then after activating it in the settings, you can enjoy the extended dynamic range. But if the game does not have such an option, it is impossible to add it.
However, even for games with HDR support, it does not always work correctly. For example, when using multiple monitors in any of the games in the Resident Evil series, you will not be able to launch a new mode.
How do I enable HDR on Windows 10? nine0021
To start HDR, perform simple manipulations according to the following plan:
- Update your operating system to the latest current version.
- Open «Windows Settings» using the «Start» menu or a combination of «Win and I».
- Locate the «System» section and go to the «Display» menu.
- In the right part of the window, find the «Windows HD Color» section and go to the settings.
- A window will appear on the screen showing the HDR capabilities of the display regarding streaming video and game content. Here, at the very bottom of the switch, you can activate the HDR mode. nine0004
If HDR cannot be activated, it may not be enabled in the monitor settings, therefore it is not available to the system.
After activating the mode, you can evaluate the changes using a special test video:
- All posts
- KVM equipment (equipment)
- Powerline adapters
- security
-
Wireless adapters
nine0004 - Power supplies
- Video cards (videocard)
- Video surveillance (CCTV)
- HDDs and Solid State SSDs
- Disk shelves (JBOD)
- Sound cards
- Instruments
- Uninterruptible power supplies (UPS, UPS)
- Cables and patch cords
-
Switches
nine0004 - Computer peripherals (computer peripherals)
- Computers (PC)
- Controllers (RAID, HBA, Expander)
- PC Cases
- PC Motherboards
- Multifunction devices (MFPs)
- Memory modules for PCs, laptops and servers
- Monitors
- Monoblocks (All-in-one PC)
-
Desktop storage systems (NAS)
nine0004 - Notebooks (notebook, laptop)
- General help
- Cooling
- Tablets
- Plotters
- Printers
- Software
- Software for corporate consumer
- Projectors
-
Processors for PCs and servers
nine0004 - Workstations (workstation)
- Power Distribution Unit (PDU)
- Consumables for office equipment
- Wi-Fi extenders (repeaters, repeaters)
- Routers (routers)
- Servers and server hardware
- Network cards
- Network filters (surge protector)
- Scanners
- Telephony (phone)
- Thin Clients
- Transceivers
- Smart watch
nine0003
Telecommunication cabinets and racks
What is an HDR monitor and do I need one for my computer
In this article, I’ll cover everything you need to know about HDR monitors to help you make an informed decision.
Let’s dive into this.
What is an HDR monitor
First, let’s answer the most important question: What is an HDR monitor?
HDR Monitor (High Dynamic Range) is a monitor that supports current generation HDR display technologies.
Compared to non-HDR displays, HDR monitors can dim and brighten the screen for every part, delivering much greater contrast . Or, as children say, «bright is brighter — dark is darker.»
There are several different HDR certifications, but the main ones to be aware of are:
- HDR10 is the de facto open HDR standard. Supports 10-bit color depth and brightness up to 1000 nits.
- HDR10+ is an upgraded version of HDR10 that also supports 10-bit color depth but increases maximum brightness to 10,000 nits, covering a much wider gamut of HDR-enabled displays.
- Dolby Vision is Dolby’s own HDR solution. It also supports 10-bit color depth with a maximum brightness of up to 10,000 nits.
Prior to the release of HDR10+, this was the best solution for HDR. nine0004
- HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma) is an HDR implementation for broadcast television in Japan that sends HDR metadata along with the SDR signal. For non-HDR TVs, only the SDR signal is displayed. Time will tell if this will be implemented in other countries.
- DisplayHDR is the de facto HDR quality standard, straight from VESA. DisplayHDR 1000, for example, indicates an HDR display that is properly certified to operate at up to 1000 nits of peak brightness. True Black Standard further enhances DisplayHDR by applying per-pixel dimming on all certified displays to improve HDR performance in dark scenes. nine0004
What makes an HDR monitor different from an HDR TV
How do HDR monitors differ from HDR TVs? In fact, there are not so many differences. They are created using the same underlying technologies for their HDR implementations and often have even more in common than one would expect.
However, not all implementations of HDR are the same , and this is where we run into a major problem with most HDR monitors compared to HDR TVs. nine0013
Many HDR monitors are simply not very good. The reason for this is twofold: typically limited monitor brightness is one problem, but the bigger problem is the lack of dimming zones .
An HDR TV does a much better job of implementing HDR because it has enough space to install additional HDR equipment to dim and brighten areas. With some TVs like OLED you can use this for every pixel. nine0013
This is much more difficult to do on a monitor, especially on the small monitor. Because of this, many implementations of HDR on PC monitors have very limited blackout zones, resulting in a less authentic HDR experience.
Fortunately, DisplayHDR grading can help you narrow down your choices in this regard, as the base standard and its numeric schemes easily show better HDR monitors (e.
g. DisplayHDR 1000 certified or True Black) versus non-existing implementations (DisplayHDR 400 or unclassified monitors). ). nineWhat makes Display HDR different from Photo HDR?
There is another HDR in the photo, which also means High Dynamic Range, but does not refer to a bunch of specific display technologies .
A camera’s good HDR means you can capture images with deep contrasts between light and shadow. nine0218 Photo HDR is created by repeatedly taking the same photo at different exposures and then using software to produce the final image.
This is a common process that occurs on both professional and smartphone cameras, although it is handled differently on smartphones and is more user-friendly.
While HDR photography with a camera requires the user to actually take multiple photos, for a smartphone, you can complete the entire HDR setup with a few taps on the app (of course, this software takes multiple photos in real time, even if they are not saved).
nine0013
What types of display panels are suitable for HDR
The best display types for HDR are OLED , IPS and to a lesser extent VA.
Let me explain.
First, is the best — it’s OLED . OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) panels allow pixel-by-pixel dimming without further adjustment, making them a natural companion for HDR.
In addition to excellent pixel dimming, a proper OLED screen also boasts with excellent color accuracy and viewing angles . However, OLED is also the most expensive technology by a significant margin.
After OLED we move on to IPS . IPS (In-Plane Switching) is not suitable for dim HDR content, since the Achilles heel of IPS is the lack of per-pixel dimming (and, as a result, backlight blur ).
However, IPS panels are excellent for wide color gamuts and color fidelity, which when used in conjunction with high-end HDR implementations results in superb images.
nine0013
IPS monitors are the most popular among professionals for their wide viewing angles and excellent color reproduction.
Finally, there is VA . VA (Vertical Alignment) panels do not have OLED or IPS color reproduction, viewing angles or color accuracy. However, it is still relatively good at these things and is much better than IPS in dark scenes and deep contrast, as it supports pixel-by-pixel dimming.
For gamers and consumers alike, VA displays offer a cheaper alternative to OLED and IPS. If you’re a professional or looking for the highest possible picture quality, go for IPS or OLED. Otherwise, consider a VA TV or VA monitor for decent HDR at a lower price. nine0013
Larger screen size is better for HDR
Generally speaking, yes. This is because strong HDR is tied to larger TVs, which can implement the technology more easily than smaller monitors.
Screen size doesn’t tell the whole story, especially with monitors: you need to take a closer look at any monitor you’re considering buying in terms of specific HDR implementation.
How DisplayHDR and True Black 9 certification works0216
Let’s talk about VESA DisplayHDR certifications. There is the main DisplayHDR series, and there is DisplayHDR True Black.
Let’s start with the main series.
The main series starts with DisplayHDR 400 and ends with DisplayHDR 1400 .
The number at the end refers not only to peak brightness in nits, but also to another level of capability. For example, the 400 doesn’t even have local dimming — that wasn’t introduced until DisplayHDR 500, which also requires 10-bit processing. nine0013
With regular DisplayHDR, you need to look for displays that offer DisplayHDR 1000 certification or higher . These displays will support over 1000 nits of brightness for vibrant HDR imaging.
DisplayHDR True Black certification is slightly different from . At the time of writing, there are only three grades — 400, 500 and 600.
These numbers still represent peak brightness, so what makes True Black a worthy contender?
Essentially , all DisplayHDR True Black certified displays are OLED displays that require and use per-pixel dimming as their baseline.
This means that while they may not be as bright as DisplayHDR 1000 displays, they can still achieve much higher dimming levels thanks to their pixel-by-pixel dimming.
This allows to achieve high contrast and colors with the much lower native brightness of , so lower values of 400, 500 and 600 are still considered competitive with DisplayHDR 1000! nine0013
Is HDR for Productivity and Creativity
With all this talk of specs, how useful is HDR for productivity and creativity? Well, the answer is a bit complicated, but in short, it depends if you are working with HDR video content or not.
Unless you’re working with HDR video content (or developing games), your HDR photos will look great on a non-HDR monitor if you take care of its actual color accuracy and color balance.
nine0013
Some high-definition professional monitors will support HDR and some won’t, but that in itself doesn’t matter unless you intend to create HDR video content or develop HDR video games.
I’ll add that the high fidelity monitor that also supports high DisplayHDR is well worth your time. However, if you’re buying a monitor for work, focus on gamut and accuracy instead of ‘s HDR support.
Do I need HDR for games
In addition to HDR video content, it turns out that there is another area where HDR display technology is being used widely, and that is gaming!
The best HDR support in games is on current generation consoles (gaming devices made specifically for TVs), but HDR support on PC is also getting better every year .
Windows 11 even added an Auto HDR feature to work with HDR support in games that didn’t have it before, and the results are generally considered satisfactory. nine0013
Generally speaking, the best results you’ll get from HDR games on PC will come when HDR is integrated into the game engine itself and allows you to calibrate and adjust when you launch the game.
Auto HDR is good, but real HDR is even better than . Console HDR tends to work with minimal effort as well.
Frequently asked questions about HDR on monitors
What distinguishes display types from each other?
In this article I have a lot of talked about IPS, OLED, and VA, but didn’t go into details other than how their respective qualities affect HDR viewing experience.
If you’re interested in learning more about these and other types of display panels, head over to my Display Panel Comparison where I take a detailed look at each dominant technology and how it compares to others.
Overall, I would focus your attention on the OLED if HDR is your top priority .
Does Curved or Flat Screen Matter?
The answer to this question depends on many factors.
Whether you’re using an IPS or OLED panel, the answer is personal preference, as IPS and OLED are great for any viewing angle.