It is increasingly common to see how manufacturers highlight the HDR capabilities of their products. It does not matter if it is a simple player, a monitor or a television. They all name it because they are aware of the interest it arouses among users. So we're going to talk about what is actually HDR and what is not. So you don't have doubts when you go to buy your next Smart TV or monitor.
What is HDR
Let's start with the basics: what is HDR. The term HDR come from High Dynamic Range and means images with high dynamic range. In other words, they are contents that are generated and that include more information regarding the luminance range of the image itself and color.
The problem is that not always everything that is advertised as HDR compatible actually is. Because as we have said, it is an improvement in both brightness and color that is broader and would allow wider color spaces (GAMUT) to be covered than the traditional REC.709. So if one or the other feature is not met, they are not giving you a real HDR.
Then there is the issue of formats or standards, there are several and each one with its particularities, but we will see that later. Now what you have to know is that HDR content allows you to offer a much richer image by being able to expand the amount of light and colors capable of being displayed.
This better management of light and also having the possibility of representing a greater color spectrum is what makes images with high dynamic range capable of making us wow! Especially if you have the opportunity to place the same signal next to it, but in SDR format.
The importance of HDR and why it is not only more brightness
Well, as we said before, the importance of HDR it is in the capacity that it offers when it comes to improving the quality of the image. By having a greater dynamic range in color themes and being able to manage the different levels of brightness much better, the contrast also increases. Thus, in all types of content, it is easier to retrieve and display more information, regardless of whether it is very dark, very bright, or even with light areas and others that are not.
Of course, for the latter it also depends a lot on the backlight technology of the screen. Because an OLED panel where each pixel has the ability to illuminate itself is not the same as an LED panel that can have a backlight system only on the edges or Full Array that occupies the entire back.
Logically Full Array is ideal and the more areas the better, but then you can be surprised between models, because the drivers, LED quality, etc., also have an influence. But basically this is what you must be very clear about, that HDR improves the experience and not only because of a higher level of brightness but also because of better management of it and more colour. So important is the improvement that even has more impact than the increase in resolution. If you were given a choice between 1080p HDR or 4K SRD content, you would choose the former right out of the box.
Current HDR standards
Currently when we talk about HDR we refer to a technology that then has different standards and each one with its own characteristics, advantages and disadvantages. These are the ones you should know so that when you buy a compatible player or screen you don't get any nasty surprises if you're looking for compatibility with one in particular.
HDR10
HDR10 is an open standard and with a series of less demanding technical requirements than the rest of the proposals. For these two reasons it is normal that most players and screens are compatible, because it could be said that the only thing required is the ability to manage an image with a 10-bit color depth and a peak brightness of 1.000 nits.
Although the use of HDR10 already represents an improvement, it must also be said that it is not as efficient as a high dynamic range standard can be today. That is why the rest of the proposals were born.
HDR10 +
As you can imagine, HDR10+ is an extension of the previous standard. Their demands are the same, 10-bit color depth and 1.000-nit brightness peaks. However, as it is an improvement of the same, it solves the previous problem of not being able to manage metadata in the contents dynamically.
Thanks to this HDR10+ feature, the performance is much better, close to what is offered by proposals as popular as Dolby Vision, and that is why there are many manufacturers that support it. Also because it is still open, so you don't have to pay extra to use it.
Dolby Vision
There is no doubt that Dolby Vision is the HDR standard that everyone wants to have, but it is also quite demanding, so not all devices are ready for its use. Also, Dolby is a company that charges manufacturers who want to make use of its technology, so not everyone is willing to pay.
Even so, what they do know that they are going to have a series of important improvements because Dolby Vision is based on content with a 12-bit color depth and a brightness capacity that can reach up to 10.000 nits. That is, it can manage brightness levels as high as that maximum value plus their respective gradations.
It is a standard with a great future, because logically there is still no screen capable of exceeding those values ​​on which it has been designed. It also includes everything related to dynamic metadata management, etc.
HLG
Finally we have HLG, although it would not be strictly an HDR standard but a kind of complement or solution designed for broadcasting. The BBC in the United Kingdom and the Japanese NHK television are two of the main players that have decided to bet on this format, which is logically capable of managing images with a greater dynamic range, but it is more of an addition than a signature proposal. At least for the moment.
However, having HLG is interesting because if a compatible video signal is reproduced, the television or player will know how to interpret it and the image quality will improve. If not, then it will simply show the normal image and that's it.
HDR Supported Platforms
Buying movies or series in physical form is no longer normal, only those lovers of the highest quality and with a collector spirit continue to do so. The rest use streaming platforms and accept that no matter how much they say otherwise, the final quality will never be the same. But what does it matter, they may not have even considered it because the comforts they offer are many.
So, if you are wondering which streaming platforms offer HDR content right now, we will tell you that all of them. Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Disney+, HBO, etc., offer HDR content that is typically compatible with Dolby Vision or HDR10+. So you shouldn't have many problems accessing that content that will allow you to enjoy it to the fullest. What's more, even on YouTube there is HDR content.
HDR in the world of video games
In video games, the issue of HDR content is also beginning to move a lot, so having a team capable of displaying it is also interesting. Especially since in video games it is usually more common to have darker images where being able to see certain elements while maintaining an adequate level of contrast is very gratifying.
However, the use of HDR is starting to take off here, so not all games are compatible and not all platforms. Although the latest generation does offer support.
What is not HDR
Well, we come to the most controversial point, because many manufacturers tell you that their, for example, screens are compatible with HDR content just by reaching a certain brightness level. That like more or less is not HDR.
And it's not because you can't have HDR on a screen with a color space that only reaches 8 bits. It is true that you could have some control in the brightest areas and see it better, but you are not going to enjoy it like when you are really playing HDR content on a real HDR screen.
So be very careful and do not get carried away by advertising. If you want to make sure that a product supports HDR, you have to keep in mind at least the HDR10 requirements: 10 bits of color depth and peaks of 1.000 nits.