Why is HDR the Next Big Trend to Watch for in 2018?

High Definition has been a buzzword for quite a few years now. It seems that ever year, the term is assuming new dimensions with rapid technology evolution. In 2018, High Definition has a new successor – HDR. What is it? Why is it touted as a new trend in TV technology? Stay tuned to know more.

An Introduction to HDR

Over the years, terms like LCD, Full HD, LED, Super UHD, and OLED has gained popularity, in terms of TV technology. HDR is the new player in the league. HDR is an abbreviation of High Dynamic Range.

People have already heard about HDR in photography, and many advanced smartphones. In photography, HDR cameras utilize multiple exposures to produce an image, which is vivid and bright. In short, it adds great detailing to an image.

The HDR technology produces a high level of contrast between light and dark images on the screen, and delivers a realistic touch to images. Many technology experts consider HDR a big leap over the Ultra High Definitions (UHD)’s highest resolution.

HDR:Analyzing it at a Closer Angle

As suggested earlier, HDR technology concentrates on contrast. What is it? Well, it is the difference between the darkest blacks and brightest whites in any image. This improved contrast can lend huge impact to any picture. For example, a viewer can explore details of the dark side. The contrast is measured at candelas per square meter (Cd/m2), and expressed in units of Nits.

HDR in 2017

All HDR screens will be 4K, however, the same is not true vice-versa. HDR TV’s should have a screen that’s compatible with 4K HDR. This allows viewers to feel the difference between the blackest blacks, and whitest whites on their screen.

In 2016, the UHD Alliance – an industry group comprising companies like LG, Samsung, Panasonic, Sony, and Dolby – announced certification for UHD Blu-Ray Players. This certification has set certain rules for HDR. A TV can be certified HDR only if it can display up to 1000 nits of brightness, and feature a 10-bit color depth (minimum). Currently, Dolby Vision and HDR10 meet this standard.

Today, there are lots of platforms from Netflix to PlayStation 4Pro that support HDR. Most of the 4K TVs that were launched in 2017 support HDR. The key players in the competition are pushing their limits to involve a dynamic range of 0-10,000 nits, which would allow their viewers to feel things as if they were real. For example, a sky on a sunny day produces 30,000 nits of brightness to the naked eye. Most of the modern premium 4K Ultra HD TV’s deliver us images of the same sky in 0.05 to 1100 nits.

Things You Can Watch in HDR

There are plenty of things that you can watch in HDR.

• Many Amazon Instant Video Originals and Netflix can be streamed in HDR.
• Plenty of YouTube videos support the HDR format, but they are not widely available.
• There are a variety of 4K Blu-ray players available that allow a viewer to watch flicks like Suicide Squad, The Relevant, and Deadpool realistically.
• The games like Gears of War 4 and Forza Horizon 3 are a great hit on every PlayStation 4. These games support HDR format.

By now, you might have realized that HDR is a lot more complex, and interesting, and promises a visual brilliance that was never heard of. Is it worth investing? Yes, it is definitely worth investment. No doubt, this trend will be a key player in 2018 and beyond.