What is HDR Technology, and Why Should We Care?

HDR Technology is not a new one. Back in the year 2017, HDR makes a huge impact on the ‘Tech-world.’ It was all over the place; be it the HDR formats or the HDR devices, you came across the term quite often. As the Television industry is forever evolving, the transition to newer technology is a norm. We have witnessed the shift of trends from CRT to slim TV, the rise and fall of the ‘great Plasma,’ then came along the HD, Full HD, Ultra HD, the 3D, and it goes on. Meanwhile, the HDR technology is the ‘new kid on the block,’ and we can’t wait to check out what it has to offer

HDR TECHNOLOGY

High Dynamic Range or the HDR is a term commonly used in the field of Photography. You might have come across the term in Cameras and Smartphones, especially the iPhone. Likewise, the HDR has recently made a huge impact on our television as well.
HDR is all about being able to balance out the dark and the light parts and the wide range of colours. In the case of TV viewing, one will be able to ‘watch all things great.’ Aspects like contrast, the lights, and dark, Colour or the range of colours in a ‘transcending scene like that of a Sunset’ will be a visual treat. The HDR is better than SDR as it manages to better preserve the gradation from dark to light. This way, you will be able to view the ’a dark scene with a pop of brightness with as much originality as possible.
Another exciting aspect of HDR is the ‘Original Storyteller.’ This is a new term that intends to explain the fact that you are very much ‘into the director’s vision’ when viewing via HDR. Now, that sounds a lot like Hi-Res Music, where you ‘bring the artist to your ears.’ It generally implies that you will be treated to as much realism as possible when viewing through the HDR. The latest reviews show that the HDR is has surpassed the Blu-Ray in its results.

Also Read: Best LED TV

What Do the Specs Say?

The HDR technology is mainly about brightness and illumination because it delivers a wider colour range and contrast. So, to ‘view’ the HDR content, you will require a compatible display with the technology. This ‘display’ could be laptops, TV, phones, tablets, and more. Therefore, when speaking about the HDR-capable sets, it is nothing but a supped-up television. In this sense, the HDR sets comprise backlight systems that have an output of 1000 nits peak brightness or above. This is a huge leap in comparison to the 100 nits that is specific to the Blu-ray and standard TV. If you are wondering, the ‘nits’ refers to the brightness in general terms when speaking about HDR. This way, those visuals can be recreated via HDR that are not previously observed. 

The colour standards of a regular HD TV offer an 8-bit video specification, also known as ‘Rec. 709’ or BT .709. As for the HDR TV, the game levels up to 10 or 12 bit Rec.2020 or simply BT.2020. In layman’s terms, this is almost 60 times more colour combinations and smoother gradations. So, now you know what the TV manufacturers are talking about when it comes to HDR TV sets. 

Is HDR Better than 4K?

‘4K’ or the Ultra High Definition TV implies the horizontal screen resolution of 4000 pixels. This way, the 4K tv has four times the pixels as compared to the standard 1080p full HD tv. For the common man (or woman) to understand better, more high pixels imply better image clarity. However, Pixels are nothing but the ‘coloured dots’ that combine to create the image we see on the screen. 

When it comes to HDR vs 4K, one needs to understand that they are two different ‘aspects’ altogether. 4K or UHD implies the large number of Pixels that enhance the overall image formation on the screen. As for the High Dynamic Range or the HDR, the technology is all about the colour depths and the image quality. But, when it comes to the user’s preference, one might understand that the HDR is excellent to look at. 

On the brighter side, the choice is not all that confusing at all. This is mainly because ‘HDR’ is also available in the 4K TVs. Now that is a relief. After all, if you need ‘the best of both worlds, why not simply opt for the 4K HDR TV. Yes, such a thing exists, and you can very much go for it. This way, HDR will enhance the colour reproduction, and the 4K will offer the added ‘definition.’ Finally, if you are ready to take a plunge into technology, it is best to go for a reputed brand. This way, you will know that ‘you have a trusted deal.’ 

What is HDR10 all about?

When it comes to HDR, you will come across various terms that can get a bit confusing. Likewise, so is HDR10, which is the ‘generic’ HDR. To be more specific, HDR10 refers to a ‘10-bit video stream and 1 billion colours. So, any HDR-compatible device will be able to support HDR10. One of the best aspects about the HDR 10 is the fact that it ‘tells’ the display if the content is being viewed as to how bright the images should be.

What is Dolby Vision?

Dolby Vision refers to the HDR end-to-end process that captures every detail from processing to production. This way, the main idea is to ‘preserve’ the information and ‘pass it on as required. This is done by utilizing the metadata, which Is read by the Dolby Vision decoder located in the TV you are using. The result is the ability to stay as close to the ‘original idea’ by offering more information by the application of dynamic metadata.
Dolby Vision is different from the HDR10 by ensuring that not just a single ‘value’ for brightness control is offered, but a specific value for all frames. To be more precise, the Dolby vision can deliver 12-bit colour depth, which equates to 68 billion colours, and also support backlight systems up to four times that of HDR10.

The Conclusion

HDR Technology is the ‘next big thing’ when it comes to the way you view your television. However, as a smart buyer, you must do your research before you plunge on the latest. So, if you are a person who enjoys ‘the larger than life visuals, the HDR TV is your thing.

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