Glossary / TV

HDR

HDR (High Dynamic Range) is a display capability that allows compatible content to use a wider range of brightness and contrast. An HDR flag confirms support, not a particular level of picture quality.

What is HDR?

HDR stands for High Dynamic Range. On a TV or other display, an HDR specification indicates that the product supports compatible HDR content.

Product pages may list HDR as supported or not supported, and may also identify technologies such as HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, or Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG).

Why does HDR matter when buying or comparing?

HDR matters if you plan to watch or play content produced in an HDR format. It can help a compatible display handle a broader range of brightness and contrast than standard dynamic range content.

When comparing products, HDR support can help you identify whether a TV is suitable for your sources and content. The specific HDR formats listed may also matter because support can vary between products and content sources.

When does HDR matter—and when does it not?

HDR matters when your streaming service, disc player, game console, broadcast source, or other device provides compatible HDR content. It is also relevant when you want to compare support for formats such as HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and HLG.

It matters less when you mainly watch standard dynamic range content, or when your sources and devices do not use HDR. The benefit also depends on the display and the content; an HDR flag alone does not establish how noticeable the result will be.

What does HDR not tell you?

HDR support is a capability flag, not a quality rating. “HDR: Yes” does not by itself tell you:

How bright the display gets
How well it handles highlights or dark scenes
Its contrast, black levels, colour accuracy, or screen uniformity
Which HDR formats are supported
Whether every input, app, game, or source supports HDR
How effectively the display processes HDR content

A product can support HDR while differing substantially from another HDR-supported product in other display characteristics. Any energy-efficiency class shown alongside HDR is a separate specification and should not be treated as an HDR-quality measure.

What should you check on a product page or spec sheet?

Check the following details where they are provided:

Whether HDR is listed as supported or not supported
The named HDR technologies, such as HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, or HLG
Whether the listed formats match your content sources and playback devices
Display specifications that help describe performance, such as brightness or contrast, without treating them as a complete quality verdict
Input, app, and device compatibility information
Whether the specification refers to the TV itself or to a connected source

If a product only says “HDR supported” without naming formats or providing further display details, those additional capabilities remain unknown.

Related terms worth understanding

HDR10: A commonly listed HDR format.
HDR10+: An HDR format that may be listed separately from HDR10.
Dolby Vision: An HDR format that some products list alongside other HDR technologies.
HLG: Hybrid Log-Gamma, an HDR format used in some broadcast and video contexts.
Contrast: A separate display characteristic that should not be inferred from an HDR flag.