Jacob Roach / Digital Trends
HDR is about to get a self-aggrandizing upgrade on PC . The Video Electronics Standards Association ( VESA ) , the nonprofit group behind standards like DisplayPort and Adaptive Sync , is unloose a novel specification for its DisplayHDR monetary standard . DisplayHDR 1.2 not only introduces several new tests for validation , but it also raises the baseline requirements for monitors to realise the coveted badge .
Nearly every aspect of the credentials has been tweaked , and several unexampled tests are now a part of the process . VESA assure me this change is mean to reflectwhere displays are in 2024 . DisplayHDR was first introduce seven years ago , and the cost of monitors with the badge has more than halved during that time . DisplayHDR 1.2 raises the cake .
Jacob Roach / Digital Trends
One of the most signficant changes is in peak brightness testing . antecedently , this trial was comport with a white patch run at full HDR cleverness on a black background to illustrate what the video display is equal to of . VESA says this is n’t a realistic situation , however . Now , the test will admit a star playing area pattern with blanched dots all around the background . This will engage most parts of the backlight , quantify the peak luminance under more realistic condition .
In addition to brightness , VESA is increase semblance requirements . Now , the lowest DisplayHDR 400 tier requires 99 % reportage of sRGB and 90 % of DCI - P3 — the same requirement that was previously reserved for DisplayHDR 1000 . Every other tier up is getting a bump up to 95 % of DCI - P3 as well .
Finally , VESA is flesh out the range in which it quiz the white point of the display . Previously it give-up the ghost from 5 nits up to 50 % of the tier grade ( i.e. , 200 nits for DisplayHDR 400 ) . Now , it goes from 1 nit up to 100 % of the tier point , which is a 10x increase .
In addition to the updated tests , VESA is adding five new tests to the enfranchisement unconscious process :
All of the tests here are pretty signficant . The static dividing line proportion test is n’t too tough for the DisplayHDR 400 tier , but above that , the exam ensures that the control board is usingsome local dip technologywhile overlay the aforementioned star force field pattern .
colour accuracy was antecedently an look of display execution that VESA disregard . Now , the DisplayHDR mental testing look at 96 colors across three different luminance levels in HDR . VESA evidence me this trial means displays at the 400 , 500 , and 600 level will likely want factory line standardization , while displays at 1,000 and above will need individual standardization .
The HDR versus SDR black-market stratum test is meant to speak issues that come up when using SDR apps whileHDR is enabled in Windows . In this scenario , blackened portions of the screen will often appear gray . With this new test , VESA is forcing display makers to adjust the backlight when HDR is enabled to keep black areas looking , well , disgraceful .
In a standardised vein , the shameful crush tryout is looking at dark detail . Some displays will crush the darkest area of the concealment , reducing insidious dark to the lowest ignominious level . This test looks at very low-pitched smartness levels to see to it there ’s still shadow particular being conserve .
Finally , the subtitle flicker run is purpose at address an proceeds VESA has seen on a small number of displays . When something bright like a subtitle comes over a very drear shot , the entire display ignite up . This is n’t a widespread issue , but the new glint test will weed out any display doing some trickery with the backlight and display this kind of behavior .
From update old tests to introducing new ones , VESA is significantly raising the bar for video display Lord that need a DisplayHDR certification for their product . That should mean new show packing the logotype add up with significantly better HDR execution than what we ’ve antecedently seen .
This new standard is n’t going into impression right away . Although VESA say some displays with the 1.2 spec are usable now , and vendors are presently free to licence their displays under the standard , the late 1.1 spec still applies . VESA will continue sustain presentation under 1.1 until May 2025 for monitor and ubtil May 2026 for laptops . VESA differentiate me it expects display makers to note if a Cartesian product is using the 1.2 spec .
