Most high-end gaming monitors these days come with HDR built-in. The HDR technology allows for brighter colors, a better contrast ratio, and a more vivid look to the image. Thus, getting a monitor with HDR technology makes absolute sense.
However, if you search for gaming monitors with HDR built-in, you will notice that while some monitors are rated for HDR 10, some others come with HDR 400. What is the difference between these two hDR specifications? Although the higher number on HDR 400 might suggest that it is the superior technology, it is not. Let us find out the differences between these two technologies.
What is better: HDR 10 or HDR 400?
HDR 10 is an open-source and royalty-free technology that can be used to implement high dynamic-range quality in gaming monitors. Many companies like Sony, LG, Samsung, and MSI use this tech in their display panels.
The number ’10’ in the name signifies that the monitor is capable of displaying HD content with a wide color gamut and can handle 10-bit color instead of the older 8-bit standard.
HDR 10 has currently been replaced by a superior technology named HDR 10+. This newer iteration allows users to change the brightness level from frame to frame.
HDR 400 (properly called DisplayHDR 400) is a budget version of HDR 10. It was created so that budget monitors can have some form of HDR integration. Also, some manufacturers in the budget space were rebranding the dynamic contrast capabilities of a panel as ‘HDR’. Thus, this standard was created by VESA (Video Electronics Standards Association) to standardize the technology’s requirements.
The number ‘400’ in DisplayHDR 400 signifies that the panel can do a maximum peak brightness of 400 cd/m², which is pretty weak considering HDR’s requirements. HDR 400, thus, is a very weak form of HDR.
Other DisplayHDR standards, like DisplayHDR 600 and 1000 allow for much higher peak brightness levels. DisplayHDR 1000 is much more capable than DisplayHDR 400.
Thus, while comparing between HDR 10 and HDR 400, the former is the clear winner.