There is no shortage of confusing jargon when buying TVs and game consoles. That’s not to say the tech specs aren’t incredibly important - but you may find yourself scratching your head when it comes to deciphering what is important and what's not. HDR, or High Dynamic Range, is one such terminology you’ll often see plastered across Gaming TVs, monitors, PCs, and consoles.
If you find yourself shopping around for your next big tech purchase and don’t know where to start - never fear. We’re here to explain what HDR is and why it matters for TVs and gaming.
What is HDR Exactly?
HDR stands for High Dynamic Range and essentially describes the range between the darkest and lightest parts of scenes and images. This ‘high’ range subsequently results in better contrast, creating a more natural look that will appear more realistic to the human eye. For example, shadows on the screen can remain dark, whereas light streams in the same scene can appear brighter, allowing for those smaller details to achieve some extra clarity
HDR, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision
The traditional industry-standard technology for HDR is called HDR10, which came about in 2015. When shopping now, you’ll likely see HDR10 available on almost every HDR-enabled TV, gaming monitor and beyond. HDR10 is a static kind of HDR that relays uniform information across images you’re seeing. While this improves the picture beyond older SDR or Standard Dynamic Range configurations, newer HDR technologies have a more tailored approach that can make your images much more crisp.
More than just two kinds of specialized HDR are available, though the major kinds advertised are HDR10+ and Dolby Vision. While these HDR systems are all operating with similar goals, there are some key differences to know about when choosing the right kind for your hardware.
Before diving into Dolby Vision and HDR10+, it’s important to say that you’ll need an ecosystem of supporting hardware to take advantage of the technology regardless of your choice. For example, imagine Dolby Vision speaks a specific language to deliver the image quality. The external connecting parts all need to speak the same language to use it. This means your TV, streaming platform, content and HDMI cable all need to support Dolby Vision to take advantage. Hardware like the Xbox Series X/S and Apple TV have Dolby Vision support listed in their specifications so you will see the benefit. The same system applies to HDR10+, which will need its own complementary connections and content grading to be used.
Dolby Vision is an advanced HDR system that reads the content's dynamic metadata, tweaking the tone mapping and brightness per image. Unlike the uniformity of HDR10, Dolby Vision provides a more fluid approach that makes your movies and games appear clear and dynamic.
HDR10+ similarly harnesses the content’s metadata to create a more realistic image on the screen frame-by-frame. Designed by Samsung, HDR10+ is far and away an improvement on the standard HDR10, though you may find more content and hardware is supported by Dolby Vision overall.
The difference is personal preference and ultimately up to the user. While I prefer Dolby Vision for convenience, it’s worth spending time comparing HDR10+ and Dolby Vision devices to find your perfect match. Plus, there are even more niche options for alternate HDR configurations than the ones we’ve mentioned, so it’s worth doing some research if you have specific needs. The important takeaway is that whichever HDR technology you choose; you must ensure that your connected hardware and content are compatible to see the benefits.
Why HDR Is Important for Gaming and Streaming
High dynamic range allows for greater contrast in the image you’re watching, which can make a huge difference for games, allowing digital worlds to appear richer and more alive. For example, say you’re scaling a shadowy mountain edge in Jusant; the negative space in caves will have a more natural look due to the range between dark and light in the scene and the associated tone mapping. Other blockbuster games like Marvel’s Spiderman 2 and Death Stranding also offer varying levels of HDR support, allowing the sprawling vistas of The Big Apple and the caves and valleys of post-apocalyptic America to look even more breathtaking than they would on a standard setup. If you’re already in the market for HDR hardware and have an affinity for cinematic games, it might be worth considering HDR compatibility before making a financial commitment. You can always check on store pages to find out whether games and consoles have native HDR support as well as access to configurations like Dolby Vision. A good gaming TV or monitor can make all the difference for the right games.
When it comes to TVs and streaming, a similar system applies. You’ll need the right format-friendly streaming devices and content to take advantage of HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision or any other unique HDR technology you intend to invest in. With those ducks in a row, you’ll get a front-row seat for the increased clarity and brightness HDR can bring to your favorite movies and TV shows - allowing you to enjoy them in near-cinema quality in your home.
Sarah Thwaites is a freelance tech writer at IGN, with bylines at GameInformer, TrustedReviews, NME and more.
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