No matter whether you are a designer, a university student or a gamer - we all need monitors! And choosing a good HDR monitor is not an easy task. The market is flooded with many different models, which makes it difficult for potential customers to decide.
Tell me the meaning of HDR?
HDR has already been discussed in some detail, but here's a quick refresher. When an HDR picture is displayed, it isn't as bright or detailed as SRT content appears. The reason for this is partly because of the nature of HDR images. While SDR monitors have a maximum brightness of about 300 Nit, HDR monitors produce brighter colors, resulting in a closer and larger dynamic field. A good way to check the light level is with an HDR display. But this alone will not be enough.
The first step is to determine the resolution of the monitor. The more pixels a monitor has, the greater its size and detail will be. There are three common resolutions: Full HD (FHD), WQHD, and UHD. Of course, you should go for the most detailed option if it's within your budget.
Since most HDR content can be streamed online or downloaded from 4K video sites such as Netflix, Amazon Video, and Youtube - it only makes sense that you need a good internet connection to enjoy high-quality HDR content on your monitor. We would recommend at least 20 Mbps for an optimum experience.
And finally - do not forget about the color! This is another important factor influencing HDR video quality and performance of modern displays, which is measured by the color space range. The greater the color range, the better your HDR performance will be.
So now you are faced with a tough decision - to choose an HDR monitor or not? If so, what are the best models out there? Well, now it's time for us to help you!
How do we decide on the best HDR monitors?
We evaluated performance/display ergonomics and portability when assessing the right HDR monitor. We're excited to announce the availability of HDR IPS displays with the widest color gamut possible. The larger the screen, the better. For simple office work, we generally want a RAMGB rating of 72%, but for more demanding tasks like photography and video editing that require greater precision in information transmission, a RAMGB rating of 72% is acceptable. With an HDR monitor, you can always tell if there are good ergonomic aspects.
The most important criteria in choosing the best HDR monitor for you is definitely its resolution and refresh rate (how often it can update the image per second). However, we should also take into account other things like brightness and color accuracy - these parameters are defining factors when choosing an HDR monitor. Having all of this in mind you will find here some helpful tips on how to choose the best HDR monitor model.
Naturally, 4K (4840x2160) monitors will generally be much more expensive than similarly specced monitors in 1440p (aka QHD). The bigger the resolution, the sharper your HDR picture quality. However, there are other considerations in the case of budgets. Game players should consider their graphics card capabilities when pushing frames over 1080p resolution on their gaming monitors.
When opting you should always consider the Dolby vision option and the availability of a VA panel. This technology justifies the other options in this list.
Tell me the best way to enjoy HDR?
When it comes to being an artist, you need HDR to be clear. Users, however, should double-check that their computers have HDR and the necessary tools. You must utilize HDR displays to view and listen to HDR films on a computer with HDR graphics capabilities. On PC platforms, HD videos may be played on PlayStation 4s and Xbox Ones as well.
Some streaming services, such as Netflix, provide HDR programming. It comes in a variety of forms, including HDR DVDs. You can connect HDR displays to HDR Blu-ray players, gaming consoles, and streaming consoles; or you may download it directly to PCs and tablets.
HDMI ports would surely be a good addition to the Best HDR monitor. Nowadays, HDMI 2.0 is an old standard that supports High Dynamic Range. The new HDMI 2.1 standard offers a much more efficient compression of information, therefore allowing for better picture quality and stability at higher resolutions and frame rates.
Everyone knows that for a really comfortable and pleasing usage the best HDR monitor will need to have low input lag, high native contrast ratio, high refresh rate, exceptional picture quality and a good local dimming system.
HDR vs 4K
Because the two technologies are so different, comparing them to one another might be as simple as comparing apples and oranges. The major features of HDR include higher brightness and color depth. 4000 is a resolution that lets you know how big the pixels in your display are. A 4K monitor has an LCD resolution of 3280 X 2600 pixels, which appears clearer on a 2K / 4K HD screen than it does on a 4K UHD TV.
This is due to light and color. The sharpness of a 4k monitor combined with HDR's capabilities is quite remarkable, and there will be many Blu-rays that include both HDR and 4K.
Thus, HDR TVs will display 4K HDR content in full capacity, while all other non-HDR TVs will not. The only caveat is that you need an HDMI 2.0 port on your TV to receive this information.
An HDR monitor can be a good choice if you have a very powerful PC and you want to play at 3840 x 2160. Even with the latest NVIDIA GTX 1080 Ti, which offers 11 GB of GDDR5X memory, 4K@60Hz is still a tough task to handle for the best HDR monitor since it has an uncompressed chroma signal.
The Best HDR Monitor should be able to scale properly from 1:1 to 2:1 pixel sampling ratio without any distortion or resolution reduction. This means that if your input signal is 1920x1080 then your Best HDR Monitor should be capable of operating in both Best HD and Best WUXGA (1920x1200) modes and vice versa.
Today, we take a look at the best HDR monitors, ranging from Best FHD to Best UHD.
HDR Backlight Dimming option
The backlight reducing technology, a method to change the brightness on your display, may have an impact on both the screen brightness and color quality of the picture you're viewing. We always list the backlight fading mechanism used in our reviews in the first line of the specifications listing.
In a typical LCD display, local dimming — such as FALD or edge-lighted (formerly known as EdgeArray) — should be used over global dimming to minimize light leakage. This screen works in individual controls and allows the display to show a wide range of brightnesses on several screen surfaces at once.
The local dimming is something different because the backlight dimming option for any HDR monitor should have a minimum number of light blockages when it is set to its darkest state. In Best HDR monitor reviews, we've seen an orange effect instead of a very dark black in some models, and a green glow in the upper corners in others.
The best HDR monitors for you!
Gigabyte AORUS FV43U
The Gigabyte AORUS V44U is the highest resolution gaming monitor in our tests. The enormous screen is more like television but provides a more immersive gaming experience due on to its increased screen area. It's made of hard plastic, but because it's huge and has two feet as a standing device, there are no ergonomic options for use while sitting.
Because HDR peak brightness is considerably greater than other HDR display models, highlights are very visible. An excellent level of HDR color gamut and accuracy are shown.
The image quality is extremely sharp and detailed, and Best FHD HDR monitor for you! Low input lag and a good color gamut are the features of this monitor model, which makes it one of the best gaming monitors.
Samsung LC32G75TQSNXZA
The Samsung LC32G75QSNXZA is the cheapest HDR gaming monitor available. Our testing model is a 32-inch screen with high frame rates without requiring much CPU power and immersive gameplay experiences. The Odyssey G7 features a VGA display that is very natively contrast-efficient in dark blacks, and even if edge-lit local dimming performs poorly, the monitor delivers an acceptable dark-room experience.
The local dimming of this monitor model is quite bad. However, Samsung offers screen tearing for most of their Best HDR monitor models with G-sync, which is why they are not Best FreeSync Monitors.
Finally, the screen space of this model is, Best WQHD HDR monitor for you! low input lag and a good color gamut are the features of this monitor model, which makes it one of the best gaming monitors.
Smaller Alternative: ASUS TUF Gaming VG34VQL1B
If you want something smaller, such as the ASUS VG34VQL1B, then check it out. The camera on this model lacks an LED-backlit mini and is not as bright in HDR as the Asus Xperia Y9's. It also has a VA panel that produces greater native contrast in blacks. Its maximum refresh rate of 165MHz ensures smoother gaming; at 60Hz, it's less efficient and you'll notice dark spots. Unfortunately, because to its restricted swing angle, it isn't nearly as practical when used as a gaming system companion.
As a gaming monitor ASUS TUF VG34VQL1B is the best WQHD for you! Its HDR display is very bright. The image quality is extremely sharp and detailed. The refresh rate of this HDR monitor is very high which makes it a good variant for users who are looking for a nice monitor with a high dynamic range.
Larger Alternative: LG OLED48C1
For larger displays, consider the LG OLED 48C1. It's one of the most widely tested monitors, and it has a different panel design than our new Gigabyte EORUS FV44U. The LED display on the Gigabyte features a near-infinite contrast ratio and excellent black contrast. As a result, it works well in dark settings and provides an acceptable HDr experience. Its resolution is 120Hz with HDMI2.1 bandwidth, but it lacks a Display port input. Because of its quick response time, motion handling delivers good results.
The image quality is extremely sharp and detailed. For the reason of a good contrast ratio and color gamut Best HDR monitor for you! Best FHD HDR monitor for you! Best WQHD for you!
The LCD of this FreeSync Best Monitors offers a lot of features, which make it one of the Best HDR monitors. The contrast ratio is high, and the colors are very accurate. It's a great option for a gaming monitor! With a wide color gamut and high dynamic range that makes images look more realistic, this model will give your media room a unique flair.
The peak brightness here achieves almost the highest rates.
Ultrawide HDR Gaming Monitor: Samsung Odyssey Neo G9
The Samsung Galaxy Odyssey Neo G9 is an amazing HDR gaming monitor that makes excellent use of Mini LED backlights and allows for greater local dimming control. The native contrast ratio versus external contrast ratios in the VA panel are fantastic, as is the Mini LED full-color dimming, which aids in enhancing the contrast and picture quality in darker settings. With local dimmers turned on, black homogeneity is excellent, and there are fewer brilliant colors to look at.
It has several USB ports, an HDMI port, and a nice pixel density. The screen space on this Samsung monitor offers many features that one can find useful. This model has an excellent contrast ratio and black level. Thanks to local dimming, the model excludes other colors. For this reason, Samsung Odyssey is best suited for dark rooms!
Best budget HDR gaming monitor: Gigabyte M27Q
The Gigabyte M27Q display has received the highest marks in our test for HDR gaming. If you're looking to save money, there aren't any comparable HDR displays available. The M27Q is comparable because it includes a variety of gaming features and is excellent for gaming, however its HDR performance isn't as good. Overall, this is a decent HDR gaming experience. The device offers a 170 Hz refresh rate and responds quickly regardless of the game's refresh rate.
The screen tearing on Gigabyte monitors with FreeSync Best Monitors was significantly reduced on this gaming monitor. At the same time, the image quality and the color gamut of the target images were improved.
Apple Pro Display XDR
An HDMI XDR monitor is an HD-R compatible display for macOS users. VESA says it's a good HD video / HD TV / hd video monitor that has been tested to minimize halo effects. It also includes FALD lighting, which this time around has 5876 zones. It offers a stunning 6K resolution (56016x3384) and comes in sizes ranging from small to enormous (naturally). HDR 10 and HD Vision are among the additional perks. The stand will set you back an extra $1,999.
Among other gaming monitors, this one has a refresh rate of 1900 Hz. It is the Best HDR monitor for XBOX Best Monitors! Moreover, the display stream compression of this model is quite high as for HDR monitors.
Finally, if you are eager to know whether Apple Pro Display supports Dolby Vision, you can always go for their official webpage and ensure about this option.
Is DisplayHDR 400, 500 or 600 worth it?
It's difficult to find a reason why anyone would buy an HDR-enabled television without a brightness above 1000. Many technical experts claim that if the screen lacks brightness greater than 1000, it is useless. A user's minimum requirement of 1,000 nits is quite impressive (even vital for video productions).
General consumers, on the other hand, are permitted to use a 500 or 600-inch DisplayHDR display, which is part of the specs. The DisplayHDR 500 and 1600 standards have been demonstrated to offer significant gains over previous SDR technologies, albeit less than the prior generation.
The issue is that the color gamut and pixel density of these monitors are quite high. If you compare them with the first option, their compatibility will be the Best HDR monitor for Mac. So, do you need to go for it? It depends on the platform and your viewing needs. For instance, if you're looking for Best Monitor for PS4 Pro Best Monitors, we recommend going with a different option.
So, if you are searching for the best HDR gaming monitor note, that such brands as Samsung and Gigabyte have also the Best Monitors for PS4 Pro Best HDR Gaming Monitor! So, you must know all the features of the best monitors to find a high-quality device.
Is HDR 400 better than HDR10?
It's compatible with both HDR1 and, what's more, it's the least demanding HDR illumination requirement. These two things are no longer equivalent.
If you are looking for an ultrawide monitor, these HDR 400 and HDR10 will be your choice. Still, we recommend choosing an OLED 4k HDR monitor with Dolby Vision that features good brightness intelligence and color gamut. OLED displays are always better than LED monitors because they have higher peak brightness and for most gaming monitors you can notice built-in speakers.
What about global dimming for HDR monitors?
Global dimmers are the most cost-effective and least impactful HDR backlit dimmers. There is only a dimmed region in the panel. This form of dimming seldom goes above 1000/1000, which is similar to some excellent SDR Monitors based on VESA standards.
Global and local dimming for HDR gaming monitors are one of those aspects that you will have to consider before choosing 4k HDR Gaming Monitors. In general, you must know that the more zones a TV have, the better it is for its price.
It's a good idea to check whether a Best HDR monitor supports local dimming or not because this feature considerably increases your gaming experience and makes images look much better.
Bottom line
There are a variety of HDR monitors on the market, and it can be difficult to decide which one is best for you. We've outlined some of the best HDR monitors available, based on different needs and budgets. Whether you're looking for a large alternative or an ultrawide gaming monitor, we've got you covered. Keep in mind that not all HDR displays are created equal; make sure to read reviews before making your final decision.
By using our HDR monitor buying guide you will never have a problem with the best HDR monitor for your needs. It will help you to find a monitor with a higher pixel density and a higher contrast ratio for designing purposes. Or you will be able to find a nice OLED monitor with high peak brightness for your grandparent to watch favorite movies. Finally, with this guide, you will understand why such features as color gamut, refresh rate, USB ports availability, and brightness levels are important.
Here we also discuss what HDR monitors have some useful additional features like a USB C port, 4K HDR support, on-screen timer, two HDMI ports, and a headphone jack.