Looking for a new monitor for gaming and wondering whether you should get one that supports HDR (High Dynamic Range) while you’re at it?
HDR has been getting a lot of attention lately. We’ve seen many HDR monitors released over the last couple of years and we expect even more coming up.
Does this mean HDR is the next major thing and a must-have element for your next display? Well, it depends.
What Does HDR Do?
HDR monitors accept the HDR signal of compatible content and improve the picture quality by extending the contrast ratio, color gamut, and peak brightness thus bringing the image closer to how its creator intended.
There are various HDR formats, but when it comes to PC gaming, the most essential one is HDR10 as it’s open standard and primarily used by video game developers and monitor manufacturers.
Not all HDR10 monitors will give you the same viewing experience. Some offer a significantly better image quality, while others provide you with a barely visible upgrade.
HDR Certificates
Due to the lack of proper certification for HDR capability of monitors by their manufacturers, it’s not enough for a display to simply be ‘HDR-compatible.’
When buying an HDR monitor, pay attention to the display’s specifications, specifically the peak brightness, color gamut, contrast ratio and most importantly, local dimming (unless it’s an OLED monitor).
VESA’s (Video Electronics Standards Association) DisplayHDR certification is one way to know what the HDR on the monitor means, more or less.
The more dimming zones, the better, and for the ‘true’ HDR picture quality on an LED-backlit monitor, a full-array local dimming solution is a must!
So, instead of relying on various HDR certifications, look for the number of dimming zones and other specifications. We have a list of all HDR monitors where you can filter them by zone count and other specs or features!
A more expensive HDR display is also not necessarily better. The AOC Q27G3XMN, for instance, has 336 dimming zones and a 1200-nit peak brightness, and it goes for ~$250. The LG 32GQ950 “HDR” monitor, in comparison, goes for ~$1,000 yet it only has 32 edge-lit dimming zones.
So, even though it is more expensive and offers a larger screen with an IPS panel, the HDR image will look better on the cheaper AOC Q27G3XMN.
OLED monitors, on the other hand, are self-emissive and don’t need a backlight or local dimming as each pixel produces its own light, resulting in true blacks and an infinite contrast ratio. This means you’ll get amazing HDR image quality, but OLED displays can’t get quite as bright as LED or mini LED LCDs.
“Fake” HDR
You’ve likely heard the term “fake HDR” or “pseudo-HDR” used for certain HDR monitors.
These displays can accept and process the HDR signal but their hardware cannot improve the picture quality enough for a proper HDR viewing experience.
In this case, you’re better off spending that money on a higher resolution or a higher refresh rate as it’d give you a better experience overall than an HDR monitor with fake HDR support.
Conclusion
Overall, if you’re looking for a monitor with excellent HDR image quality, you’ll need to look for either an OLED display or a mini LED screen with a full-array local dimming solution.
Whether it’s worth it depends on the monitor itself, its price, your budget and what type of content you’re watching. If your favorite games support HDR and have a good implementation of it, then a good HDR display is definitely worth considering.
In case you mostly play older games without HDR support, competitive eSports games or titles with poor HDR implementation, then HDR is not necessary and you can focus on other features, such as screen size, resolution and refresh rate.
Check out our best HDR monitors buyer’s guide for the best option and more information.
