VESA Releases Tool to Allow Users to Test DisplayHDR Specifications
The Video Electronics Standards Association has released a tool to allow users of monitors certified to a DisplayHDR standard to test whether their display actually meets VESA-confirmed specifications.
For example, the tool involves verifying specifications such as maximum brightness, color performance and maximum contrast value. These are aspects that are important for a good representation of high dynamic range; The DisplayHDR standard was created to classify the HDR quality of monitors.
The tool has a command prompt that is mainly intended for professional users. Any existing color meter used to calibrate screens can map brightness, color performance and contrast. It can then be checked whether the obtained values correspond to the values specified by VESA in the DisplayHDR specification of the specific screen.
The DisplayHDR standard revolves around three different levels, with the main concern being the maximum brightness. The DisplayHDR 400 label is awarded to monitors with a peak brightness of 400 cd/m², DisplayHDR 600 requires a peak brightness of 600 cd/m² and the DisplayHDR 1000 label only comes on displays that achieve a peak brightness of 1000 cd/m². In addition, with these three different levels, there are also increasing requirements about how many zones of the backlight can be dimmed, what the color space is, and whether it is an 8-bit or 10-bit screen.
VESA introduced the standard to provide clarity for consumers and prevent them from buying a screen that according to the manufacturer supports HDR, but in fact does not achieve the necessary maximum brightness for it. The new standard has been set up with AMD, Nvidia, Intel, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, LG, Samsung and Microsoft, among others. DisplayHDR only applies to LCD monitors.
There are not many monitors with DisplayHDR certification yet, but according to VESA, adoption is growing and about twelve screens have now been released. Recently, a DisplayHDR 1000 certified monitor was announced for the first time, the Philips 436M6VBPAB. The soon-to-be-released AOC Agon AG322QC4 is an example of a monitor that has DisplayHDR 400 certification.