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What is HDR and how does it work?

Anouk3 MAY 2026
A wall of screens displays diverse content. A hand holds a remote control in the foreground. The background is a dark, cloudy texture.

If a new TV is on your wishlist, you’ve probably already come across the term HDR. HDR stands for High Dynamic Range, an imaging technology that relates to a device’s screen quality. Other abbreviations you often see when searching for a TV are 4K, UHD and SDR. Below, we clarify what these terms actually mean and what you should look out for when buying a TV.

What are the benefits of High Dynamic Range for TVs?

A family sits on a couch watching TV. A black TV is on the left. Candles are on a window sill in the background.

High Dynamic Range, or HDR for short, is a technique that ensures your TV screen displays both very dark and very bright images in detail. HDR images are more colourful, brighter and more realistic than SDR images (which stands for Standard Dynamic Range). So, the benefits of HDR for your TV mainly come down to a wider contrast range and a broader colour gamut. In other words, you get image reproduction with richer colours, more subtle colour differences, more realism and more contrast. That way, you can see every small detail in a scene set in a dark cave, while also enjoying bright images on a sun-drenched beach.

Which types of HDR are there, and what are the differences?

A store display with multiple TVs mounted on a gray wall, shoppers with shopping bags in the foreground.

There are now several types of HDR, such as HDR10, HDR10+, HLG HDR and Dolby Vision. All these HDR types essentially build on the same foundation, but each has its own emphasis and extras. For example, HDR10+ offers even better picture quality than HDR10, and Dolby Vision is a slightly modified HDR alternative. The main thing to remember is that not every HDR format is supported by every source. So, it’s best to check that your HDR TV supports the same HDR format as your Blu-ray player or your favourite streaming service, for example. That way, you’ll always enjoy optimal picture quality.

What are the key differences between HDR, SDR and 4K?

A hand holds a remote control in front of a TV displaying a menu of movies. A table and lamp are visible in the background.

The difference between HDR vs. SDR is fairly straightforward: HDR (High Dynamic Range) is the successor to SDR (Standard Dynamic Range). This newer imaging technology reproduces colour contrast and nuance better in both light and dark images on your TV screen. If you compare HDR with 4K, you’ll see these aren’t competing terms at all. On the contrary – both technologies are important for good image quality. 4K indicates that your TV has an Ultra High Definition (UHD) resolution of no fewer than 8.3 million pixels. The combination of 4K and HDR therefore delivers a true-to-life image on your TV.

Which TVs support HDR?

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Nowadays, most TVs support HDR images, but HDR doesn’t look equally good on every set. For the best HDR experience, it’s best to buy a television with an OLED screen or a QLED display. These are generally well suited to displaying very bright images with lots of contrast in HDR format. Also pay close attention to the TV’s brightness – measured in nits – because the higher it is, the more nuance you’ll get between brightness and contrast. A TV’s colour range also makes a difference. For the best HDR experience, choose a TV with 10-bit colour depth (instead of 8-bit).

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