What Is HDR TVs And Why Should You Care?

What Is HDR TV?

You might be a bit familiar with the HDR concept in smartphones and cameras. It is the clever processing of images that combines multiple shots to present you with a better image with clear and in detail, dark and bright parts. In TV, HDR (High Dynamic Range) serves the same purpose.

It has various standards or formats that make the images displayed on TV look realistic with vivid colors. Each hue, dark shadows, bright parts are heightened, making the visuals lifelike on your screen. It is a lot different from 3D or curved screen gimmicks because it genuinely transforms your viewing experience if you pick the TV with the right HDR format.

What Is Special About HDR?

You might have a tad-bit idea of HDR in pictures, but it is a whole lot different in video form. HDR manages to create a wider dynamic range between darkest and brightest colors, and prominent differences intone. 4K is excellent as it shows a more precise picture but adding HDR to the setting makes the experience much much better.

With HDR, you experience not only a bright screen but more detailed and enhanced videos. It makes the visual pop by highlighting details and color vibrancy. However, it significantly depends on the quality of your TV too, because if you have a high-resolution TV, HDR format will work much better on it as compared to low-res.

HDR Formats And Their Difference

HDR comes in five different formats: HDR10, HDR10+, HLG, Dolby Vision, and Technicolor, and these are used by different TV manufacturers. These formats function basically the same: enhancing and improving color contrast and depth in dark and bright scenes. Their differences lie in the usage of metadata, players and studio support, and their difficulty of broadcasting.

Metadata: The major difference between different formats of HDR lies in the usage or static or dynamic metadata. Metadata is the digital information that is needed when it comes to converting video into HDR file format.

Dynamic metadata adjusts the HDR on the video file, scene-by-scene depending on the current brightness level and content displayed.

Static metadata does not work like this as it has the same process for every content and does not adjust to TV settings. It means more details get lost in dark and bright scenes during conversion.

• HDR10+ and Dolby Vision use dynamic metadata.
• HDR10 uses static metadata.
• Technicolor can use both, and HLG doesn’t use either.

1. HDR10

HDR10 is the current ongoing standard, and it is compatible with every HDR supported TV. Many streaming sites, film studios, and game consoles such as Netflix, Amazon Videos, Sony, Universal, Water Bros, Xbox One X, PS4, Xbox One S are compatible with HDR10 format because they put their content with HDR10 ultra-HD Blu-rays setting.

2. HDR10+

It is an updated version of HDR10 that uses dynamic metadata, and supported by Samsung, Panasonic, 20th century Fox and Amazon Video. HDR10+ improves its performance and removes the main drawback of the previous version. It is a great alternative for Dolby Vision as you have to pay no fees and manufacturers can easily use it.

3. HLG

HLG is developed by BBC and NHK, a Japanese broadcaster. It is made to solve the problems manufacturers face in broadcasting HDR content. It is already in use in Japan, but BBC has not yet launched an HDR channel or show. They are still doing trials and tests but have released a Blue Planet II in 4K and HDR on iPlayer.

In a recent development, they did the 4K HDR streams of the World cup and Wimbledon matches. Although it is still not fully in use, TV companies like Samsung, Panasonic, Sony, and LG still support the technology.

4. Dolby Vision

Dolby Vision is not free to use unlike HDR10 as you have to pay the fee to use it, and many leading TV manufacturers are making Dolby Vision compatible TVs. It uses Dynamic metadata instead of other options and solves many issues that HDR faces in broadcasting.

Instead of HDR10, it works with old versions of HDMI and transmitted at the same as SDR (standard dynamic range) content that also helps in easy broadcasting. Dolby Vision HDR hits 4000 nits on brightness level, the highest mark compared to any other format. LG, Panasonic, and Sony TVs are compatible with this format

5. Technicolor

Technicolor was developed in conjunction with Philips, a famous electronics company. It has a unique technology; it can upscale SDR into HDR. It means HDR content can be available on a non-HDR supporting TV. It might not be completely great but far from pointless too.

Technicolor can convert one HDR signal to another and thus could solve the HDR’s compatibility issue. In simpler words, if Technicolor HDR content broadcasts on Dolby Vision supported TV, then Technicolor could convert the signals and make the TV display the content.

HDR TV Worth A Purchase?

In my opinion, yes, HDR TV is definitely worth buying due to its mind-blowing technology. If you have a 4K TV, then it is time to upgrade and buy the one that supports HDR. An HDR TV will transform your whole viewing experience and make you realize what you are missing out on. Although, there isn’t much HDR content available right now but will be in the future. Therefore, HDR TV also makes a good investment choice for you.