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Would you rather watch your videos in Ultra HD resolution or play your games with the exceptional picture quality and graphics?
While there has been an upsurge of 4K TVs to support HDR, monitors are still lagging. An HDR monitor helps to make highlights brighter and shadows brighter. So, they may as well be the right and affordable monitors for your photo editing needs. In addition, you can find the High DynamicRange feature in screens for video editing, too. More and more monitors for stunning graphic designs also come with HDR feature.
The challenge is, the market is saturated with fake or pseudo-HDR monitors. How do you ensure you get the best HDR monitors? Allow us to enlighten you.
3 Top HDR Monitors
1. [Best HDR Monitor Overall]
4.9/5
If you were looking for the best high-resolution HDR gaming monitor, BenQ EW3270U is a perfect pick. With the 4K resolution, the monitor offers you sharp images, whether you are enjoying a fast action game or a movie.
The HDR support enhances the dynamic range between the dark and bright areas, which results in incredible clarity and display of even the finest details.
2. [Best For The Money] BenQ EL2870U 28 inch 4K Gaming Monitor
4.8/5
If it is a gaming monitor you are looking for, BenQ EL2870U makes an excellent screen choice. It features an AMD Free Sync technology that ensures you enjoy a smooth gameplay by eliminating broken frames and tearing. The 60Hz refresh rate also allows you to play fast cation games without a hitch.
3. [Best For The Sound Quality] Acer Predator XB271HK bmiprz
4.7/5
The gaming monitor comes with jaw-dropping features that take your gaming experience to the next level.
For instance, it comes with the NVIDIA G-SYNC technology that helps secure your gaming victory by preventing display tearing.
Getting an HDR Monitor? Make Your Upgrade Worth It
If you want a monitor to use while managing spreadsheets, writing emails, or working, perhaps you may not require to upgrade your screen. But if you are a gaming enthusiast, HDR is a worthy investment. The same applies if you enjoy your TV shows and movies on your screen, which we discussed in this article. In addition, you can consider getting 4K 40 inch monitors we reviewed, too. And if you are looking for the best monitor for graphic design, you should consider nothing but the best.
But, how does HDR work, and how do you ensure your upgrade is worthwhile?
As you look to upgrade your screen, note that some manufacturers put the HDR label on almost everything. As you look for an HDR screen, ensure you are taking home the right thing.
What do you look out for to ensure it is real?
Even if you are not knowledgeable in screen matters, identifying an HDR monitor is straightforward. HDR offers higher refresh rates and better resolution. You can identify it as it provides more excellent brightness and better visual quality and images.
Best HDR Monitor In Depth Reviews
[Best HDR Monitor Overall]
4.9/5
If you were looking for the best high-resolution 4k HDR gaming monitor, BenQ EW3270U is a perfect pick. With the 4K resolution, the screen offers you sharp images, whether you are enjoying a fast action game or a movie.
The HDR support enhances the dynamic range between the dark and bright areas, which results in incredible clarity and display of even the finest details.
Features:
- HDR compatibility for the most realistic images
- Fast refresh rate for a superb gaming experience
- Deep color depth offers the most natural color
- Brightness intelligence plus technology offers life-like images
- A range of connection options
- Eye care technology to prevent your eyes from discomfort
You can see the brightest blue and red and all the colors in between. Thus, you enjoy the most realistic images. Therefore, HDR is worth gaming and worth watching your movies with.
When looking for a monitor, especially for gaming, you should consider its refresh rate. With BenQ EW3270U, you get a fast refresh rate such that you will have a gaming experience like no other. The AMD FreeSync support and the technology helps to prevent display tearing and broken frames.
What’s more? - The monitor comes with a BenQ exclusive Brightness Intelligence Plus Technology. The technology helps adjust the color temperature and brightness based on the screen’s content and light conditions. With that, you get the most realistic colors resulting in lifelike images
The technology also helps to do away with eye strain, headaches, and fatigue even with prolonged viewing.
Do you watch a movie series or play a fast action game for an extended period? The extended exposure to the screen light may cause problems to your eyes. Monitors which are gentle on your eyes would certainly help with this.
Well, not to worry. This monitor comes with an eye care technology featuring flicker-free technology and low blue light. Thus, your eyes are free from irritation and discomfort, irrespective of how long you watch.
Plus, the monitor is a true definition of versatility as it comes with a range of connection options. These include two HDMI ports (2.0) , DP1.4, and USB-C for video. The USB-C cable comes in handy as it carries videos, audio, and data at high speed on a single reversible data.
Finally, the 31.5 inches screen offers a wide range of viewing angles so that you enjoy quality images irrespective of your angle.
BenQ EW3270U 32 inch 4K Gaming Monitor Pros
BenQ EW3270U 32 inch 4K Gaming Monitor Cons
[Best For The Money]
4.8/5
Are you in need of an HDR Displays PC monitor?
How about you try out the BenQ EL2870U?
The monitor features a 3840 x 2160 res, ensuring you enjoy the best clarity for your images.
If it is a gaming monitor you are looking for, BenQ EL2870U makes an excellent choice. It features an AMD Free Sync technology that ensures you enjoy a smooth gameplay by eliminating broken frames and tearing. The 60 Hz refresh rate also allows you to play fast cation games without a hitch.
Features:
- VESA mount for security
- Supports HDR technology to achieve life-like images
- Eye care technology to prevent discomfort and fatigue
- Built-in speaker for quality sound
- AMD Free Sync for a smooth gaming experience
With the 28 inches display, you have a wide view of the screen no matter the angle you are viewing from.
Plus, it comes with an eye care technology that ensures that the screen images are easy on your eyes. The adaptive technology adapts the screen’s brightness and color temperature to allow you to enjoy a comfortable view.
Additionally, HDR technology offers great high peak brightness and high contrast levels. As such, you enjoy the most vivid images for a lifelike watching or gaming experience.
The monitor also adds some flavor into the gaming and watching experience such that apart from the quality images, you again hear what is happening. It comes with two built-in speaker to help you hear the action. Alternatively, you can fix your headphones through the headphone jack.
It offers a VESA wall mount option, which ensures it is secure. With the integrated cable management system, the monitor hides the cables inside the stand, making it neat. You can also adjust the monitor stand to achieve the most comfortable view.
In terms of connectivity, the monitor comes with an HDMI port and a DisplayPort 1.4 for connecting multiple devices.
BenQ EL2870U 28 inch 4K Monitor Pros
BenQ EL2870U 28 inch 4K Monitor Cons
[Best For The Sound Quality]
4.7/5
If you search for the best types of HDR gaming monitors, your search ends when you get AcerPredator XB271HK.
The gaming monitor comes with jaw-dropping features that take your gaming experience to the next level.
For instance, it comes with the NVIDIA G-SYNC technology that helps secure your gaming victory by preventing screen tearing. The sync technology synchronizes your monitor’s refresh rate and the powerful GPU or graphics card to minimize screen stutter. The 4ms refresh rate ensures you never take a break from your fast action game.
Features:
- Ergonomic monitor stand tilts to achieve a comfortable viewing angle
- VESA compatibility for saving space and safety
- 60 Hz refresh rate for an involving gaming experience
- UHD resolution allows you to get even the finest details
- Various connection options
Can you imagine gaming or watching your favorite movie with some mediocre sound? Can you enjoy your game without the sound of the revving engine, bullets, or explosions? Don’t fret. The monitor comes with two built-in speakers that offer quality sound to ensure you enjoy watching or gaming to the fullest.
If you want to watch your movie or play your game for an extended period, this is the monitor for you. With its eye care technology, it ensures that your eyes are safe. The flicker-free technology and low blue light, you can spend extended hours in front of the screen without any discomfort in your eyes.
And the monitor also takes care of your neck. It comes with an adjustable ergonomic stand whose height you can adjust to your comfort. Additionally, you can tilt the screen from 50 – 350 to achieve the most comfortable view.
If you thought connecting with the monitor would be an issue, then you are wrong. It offers you a variety of high-bandwidth connection options, including DisplayPorts and HDMI. With the four 3.0 USB ports, you can connect your mobile, mouse, keyboard, or gaming set.
Its VESA compatibility not only ensures its security, but it also helps to save space. The ErgoStand allows you to tilt the monitor until you can achieve the most comfortable viewing angle.
Additionally, it gives you a total immersion into the game that you may not get anywhere else. The 27 inches screen size with UHD resolution ensures that you get all the fine details to enjoy the action.
Although a 144Hz HDR monitor would offer the best performance for fast action games, the 60Hz offered by the screen still helps you enjoy the game and prevent screen tearing.
Acer Predator XB271HK bmiprz Pros
Acer Predator XB271HK bmiprz Cons
4.6/5
Before you can settle on a particular monitor, ask yourself, “Is my monitor HDR?”
The answer to the question is vital as some monitors are only HDR by name. Some manufacturers stick the HDR label to market the product.
How do you know if a monitor is HDR?
You can check the brightness levels of the computer. An HDR monitor will offer a wide range of brightness and color depth such that you can get the brightest blue, red, etc.
Features:
- Wall-mount capability saves you space
- Several connection options
- 100% serge color gamut for the life-like images
- High display resolution for the best gaming experience
- 60 Hz refresh rate prevents screen tearing
If you go for the Acer LED ET322Qk, you are sure the product is high-quality and will offer you a watching and gaming experience like no other.
First, the monitor offers you a 3840 x 2160 4K UHD resolution. Thus, you can enjoy every detail in the game so that you can have a better strategy for attacking your enemy or maneuvering a tricky corner. Additionally, the 31.5 inches display gives you a variety of view angles such that you get quality images from all angles.
Plus, it comes with an ergonomic stand that has an elegant and stylish look. Therefore, it is a worthy addition to your office or home as it adds a touch of class to your setup. You can also adjust the screen to a comfortable setup to prevent your neck and eyes from straining as you try to access the monitor.
Your gaming experience is nothing if you have to wait for the monitor to refresh or worse, if you get a screen tear. Well, not to worry if you go for the Acer LED ET322QK monitor. With its 4ms refresh rate, you will enjoy a smooth gaming experience even for fast action games.
The mad free sync technology prevents stuttering and tearing.
With the 100% serge color gamut, you can expect to get the most vivid images that will make you immerse yourself fully in the game. With the deep color depth, you can get everything from the brightest pink, etc.
Therefore, you can enjoy the brightest whites to the darkest blacks for the most real watching and gaming.
In terms of connectivity, Acer LED ET322QK doesn’t disappoint at all. It offers various fast connectivity options, including a DisplayPort, audio in and out, and HDMI 2.0 x 2.
It also supports picture-in-picture and picture-by-picture features. Thus, you can have one program on the main display and other programs inset. You’ll get the sound from the program on the main display.
If you wish, you can mount the monitor on the wall. It reduces the chances of the monitor falling off, and it also saves you a lot of space.
Acer LED ET322QK wmiipx Pros
Acer LED ET322QK wmiipx Cons
Are you wondering which one is better between an HDR Vs. normal monitor?
The difference between the two depends on what you are looking for. For instance, if you want a monitor to reply to emails, you don’t need to go for an HDR.
Features:
- Acer VisionCare technology that protects your eyes
- Curved windscreen for a wide range of view angles
- Built-in speakers for sound quality
- 100% sRGB wide color gamut for color accuracy
- NVIDIA G-SYNC for smooth gaming
On the other hand, if you are a gaming or movie streaming enthusiast, HDR is the best option.
If you were in the market looking for a gaming monitor, search no more. AcerPredator comes with jaw-dropping features that will make you regret not having it earlier.
For example, it comes with a 1800R curved widescreen VA display that gives you the best view irrespective of your viewing angle. Talking of refresh rate, the monitor has the best you can find. At 144Hz and NVIDIA G-SYNC Technology, you can immerse yourself fully in the game for the best gaming experience.
Of course, Acer Predator Z321QU doesn’t disappoint in the connection aspect. It features four HDMI 1.4, and a DisplayPort 1.2. it also comes with USB 3.0 ports.
To make the gaming experience better, the monitor also comes with two speakers, 7 watts each. Thus, you can hear all the details of the game, including the gunshots, the revving engines, explosions, and so on.
Additionally, it features Acer VisionCare Technologies that keep your eyes safe even with extended watching or gaming.
Also, it offers a 100% sRGB wide color gamut that guarantees high color accuracy for the most life-like images.
Acer Predator Gaming Z321QU Monitor Pros
Acer Predator Gaming Z321QU Monitor Cons
The Phillips monitor offers an excellent HDR display that you cannot get anywhere else.
The 43 inches display offers 1780 of viewing angle. Additionally, the 3840 x 2160 res ensures you get even the finest details in the game or video.
Features:
- 7-watt speakers for quality sound
- Multiple connection ports
- 43 inches screen offers a wide viewing view
- High display resolution for quality images
- Deep color depth for accurate colors
Additionally, the HDR feature ensures the best brightness and contrast to achieve the most realistic images. It also offers a wide color ranges of over 1.07 billion colors, ensuring you get the most accurate colors.
The monitor comes with a mini display port, HDMI 2.0, display port, headphones out, audio in, and USB-C port. The USB-C port is ideal for the fast sharing of data, video, and audio.
If you are looking for the best sound in a monitor, Phillips Momentum is what you need. It comes with 7-watt speakers for the best quality sound as you watch.
Philips Momentum 436M6VBPAB 43" Console Gaming Monitor Pros
Philips Momentum 436M6VBPAB 43" Console Gaming Monitor Cons
4.4/5
If you are looking for an HDR computer monitor, the LG 32UD99-W IPS Panel monitor is an excellent choice.
Can you imagine gaming on a 32 inches display and a 4K resolution? That is what you get with this monitor such that you immerse yourself fully in the game.
Features:
- Flexible stand for a comfortable set up
- Ultra-thin bezel creates more space
- The elegant design makes your room or office beautiful
- Wide range of viewing angles
- 4K resolution
Additionally, you get a wide range of viewing angles to have the same quality of images, whether watching from the top, bottom, right, or left. The HDR10 offers a wide range of brightness and contrast, so you get images that look real.
The ultra-thin bezel makes the monitor sleek and elegant. It, therefore, makes your room or office look beautiful. Additionally, the thin design saves up space on your desk.
If you want more space on your desk, you don’t have to worry. The monitor is VESA 100 x 100 millimeter compatible so that you can mount it on the wall.
In terms of flexibility, the LG 32UD99-W IPS monitor also performs well. It comes with a pivot and height-adjustable stand so that you can have it at your comfortable height and angle.
Plus, it comes with a USB-C port, which allows for quick sharing of data, audio, and video.
LG 32UD99-W IPS Monitor Pros
LG 32UD99-W IPS Monitor Cons
What Does HDR Actually Mean?
What is HDR monitor?
Have you ever thought of getting the difference between the clouds’ color when you look directly at the sky and when you see the image on a monitor?
When you look directly, you can distinguish the different layers and brightness levels of the clouds. On the other hand, when you use a monitor, the colors look flat.
The comparison can be attributed to HDR. HDR stands for High Dynamic Range, which refers to a photography technique used to heighten a picture’s dynamic range. The dynamic range is the variance of the brightest whites and the darkest blacks of an image.
The higher the dynamic range, the more the image becomes real.
What Do I Need to Enjoy HDR?
Now that you have your HDR monitor, what do you need to enjoy it?
What you require is content that has been mastered using HDR and a display that can reproduce it. Luckily for you, there is an upsurge of HDR content in the market today. Movies and TV shows have evolved to HDR to offer the best experience.
Additionally, most streaming services, such as Netflix and Amazon, also produce HDR content.
What happens when you compare HDR Vs. non HDR content?
If you try to display non-HDR content with the monitor at standard dynamic range (SDR), you may not enjoy improved image quality.
Probably you are wondering, is HDR worth it for gaming?
If you are a gaming enthusiast, getting gaming in HDR will be the best decision you ever made. It helps you immerse yourself in the fast cation game by making it real.
Additionally, it is supported by a wide variety of games, and it offers the best refresh rates.
HDR Monitor Brightness
If you wish to enjoy the best image results, you require more brightness. Brightness levels work together with HDR to achieve the best quality images.
For proper HDR performance, you require at least 300 nits of brightness. However, HDR shines better with 600 nits or higher.
HDR Backlight Dimming
HDR monitors backlight local dimming feature helps to improve the overall watching and gaming experience. The feature helps make the blacks appear darker and deeper by dimming the backlight behind the screen’s dark areas.
HDR Color
Is HDR worth it?
First, HDR expands the color range significantly. It helps make the bright parts of the image more radiant, and the blacks look darker and more in-depth.
The expanded color range allows the display to offer brighter greens, blues, reds, and anything in between.
With the Wide Color Gamut (WCG), the monitors offer even more colors such that the images look almost the same as they look in real life.
Resolution
HDR enhances the color, contrast, brightness, and details of the display independently from the resolution.
For instance, 4K is the resolution of a monitor that is about 4,000 pixels, affecting the sharpness of the image. On the other hand, HDR refers to the luminance variance between the brightest part of the image and the darkest.
It puts more details in the bright and dark scenes, which results in more realistic images.
Conclusion
If you were looking for the best HDR monitors, now you have a detailed list to choose from. The preview also includes the difference between HDR and 4K to help you do away with the confusion.
FAQs
1. What is the best HDR monitor?
Here are Top 3 HDR Monitors that we can recommend.
1. BenQ EW3270U 32 inch 4K Monitor - If you were looking for the best high-resolution HDR gaming monitor, BenQ EW3270U is a perfect pick. With the 4K resolution, the monitor offers you sharp images, whether you are enjoying a fast action game or a movie.
The HDR support enhances the dynamic range between the dark and bright areas, which results in incredible clarity and display of even the finest details.
2. BenQ EL2870U 28 inch 4K Monitor - If it is a gaming monitor you are looking for, BenQ EL2870U makes an excellent choice. It features an AMD Free Sync technology that ensures you enjoy a smooth gameplay by eliminating broken frames and tearing. The 60 Hz refresh rate also allows you to play fast cation games without a hitch.
3. Acer Predator XB271HK bmiprz - The gaming monitor comes with jaw-dropping features that take your gaming experience to the next level.
For instance, it comes with the NVIDIA G-SYNC technology that helps secure your gaming victory by preventing screen tearing.
2. Is HDR10 better than HDR 400?
HDR10 is a more advanced HDR format that offers a wider range of brightness and color than HDR400. However, not all devices support HDR10, so HDR400 may be a better option for some users.
3. Is HDR better than 4K?
HDR televisions are becoming more and more popular. They offer a wider range of colors and brightness than standard 4K televisions. Some people believe that HDR is better than 4K, but others feel that the two technologies are comparable.
There are pros and cons to both HDR and 4K. HDR offers brighter whites and darker blacks, as well as a wider color range. This makes for a more realistic picture. However, HDR can also be more demanding on your hardware, and not all content is available in HDR.
4K televisions offer sharper images than HDTVs, and they can display more pixels on the screen at once. This makes for a clearer image, especially when watching videos or playing games. However, not all content is available in 4K yet, and the technology can be more expensive than other options.
4. Can you get HDR on 1080p?
Yes, you can get HDR on 1080p. However, the quality of the HDR will not be as good as on a higher resolution.
5. Is a HDR monitor worth it?
Yes, HDR monitors are worth it. HDR support can significantly enhance the PC screen experience if you have the appropriate content and purchase a display with the appropriate specs and features that result in a noticeable improvement in image quality over an SDR screen. That is how you justify your investment in HDR. HDR monitors are suitable for picture editing, video editing and for online gaming.
