4K HDR Video

HDR (High Dynamic Range) video significantly boosts a display’s contrast ratio and allows for much finer detail in the shades in between. It comes alongside another feature, wide color gamut (WCG), which lets a TV produce more colors than most current sets are capable of. The result is a picture that is more vivid, and more importantly, noticeably more lifelike. Colors are less muted, and objects appear to have more depth. It’s not a gimmick so much as a straight improvement.

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High Dynamic Range Video Content

The big issue here is a familiar one for new TV technologies: content. There isn’t much of it. Streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video have at least started the process, but unless you’re into Ultra HD Blu-rays, you’ll have to wait a bit before HDR goes mainstream.

So, what should you take away from all this? First, 4K and HDR aren’t mutually exclusive — several 4K HDR TVs are already available, and the pair will come hand in hand going forward. Some sets do HDR much better than others, though. Second, to be clear: It’s not like you absolutely shouldn’t buy a non-HDR 4K TV today. If you’re in a bind, feel free. Again, HDR is a high-end feature, for now, it’ll be a while before HDR content is widely accessible.

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Still, between the two, High Dynamic Range video is the real step forward. If you can wait for the HDR market to mature before making that next big TV purchase — or if you have the cash to get something good today — do so. It’s the buzzword worth buying into.

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