If you have bought a brand-new TV, your first question might be, “how do I know if my TV has HDR?”
High Dynamic Range or HDR TVs feature excellent contrast and brightness levels. These TVs provide a larger color scope, making the picture quality more realistic.
However, the real question is, how can you determine if your TV is an HDR one?
There are at least four different ways to know if you have an HDR TV. For instance, you can look for the “UHD Alliance’s Stamp” on the box or compare color and contrast with an old TV. Furthermore, you can also confirm it from the settings or play a demo video on your TV.
In this article, you’ll learn how you can determine whether your TV is an HDR or not. But first, let’s dive into why your TV should have HDR.
Why Your TV Should Have HDR
Compared to standard televisions, the HDR ones offer a more realistic cinematic experience, which is their unique feature.
If you have bought a 4K TV recently, you must ask, “Does my 4K TV has HDR?”
Here are some reasons why you should know if your TV has HDR or not:
1. Value for Money
The HDR TVs are more expensive than the normal ones. You should know if your TV has HDR to determine the exact price of your gadget.
2. Better Movie Experience
HDR TVs have better contrast and brightness levels. Plus, they offer increased color with a range of color gamut that guarantees a better and more realistic movie experience.
3. Higher Resolution Options
Besides 720p and 1080p, 4K HDR TVs also offer 2160p and 4096p. Higher-resolution options mean more pixel information and a high-quality, crisp image.
The cost of an HDR television differs from brand to brand. However, these gadgets are not that budget-friendly.
So, you must determine if you are getting a TV that has HDR, which is worth your money.
How Do I Know If My TV Has HDR – Methods
The features and durability of a gadget determine the actual price of an electronic product. Therefore, you must know everything about your gadget.
When it comes to TV, you should know its resolution, special features like wireless connection, Chromecast, and more.
How do I know if my TV has HDR+? Well, to answer this question, below, have compiled a list of methods that you can use to determine if your TV has an HDR or not:
Method #1 Look for the Logo
If you are not a techie, this method is perfect for you. This one is the easiest way to determine if your TV has an HDR or not.
For this method, all you have to do is look for a “UHD Alliance’s Stamp of Approval.”
This logo or stamp contains several producers and companies that offer HDR TV. Without proper instructions, most new users get confused.
So, to help those customers, companies are now using “UHD Alliance’s Stamp of Approval” to reduce confusion.
Here are some tips to look out for:
- Always buy your TV from trusted dealers.
- Confirm if the TV you’re buying has HDR at point of purchase.
- Ask for tests before taking it home.
- Buy your TV from known and reliable TV manufacturers.
Note: Before “UHD Alliance’s Stamp of Approval,” the producers put HDR stickers on all TV, even those who were not actually HDR.
So, if you have an old TV, skip this method and follow the next one.
Method #2 Check Formats
Whether you have an old TV or a new one, this method is effective for all. For this approach, you only need your remote control.
Follow these steps to learn if your TV has an HDR or not:
- Go to “Setting” or “Menu,” depending on your TV
- Click on “Preferences”
- Select “Picture”
- Choose “Picture Mode”
- Select the Highest Possible Resolutions
In general, 4K TVs come in three formats: Dolby Vision, SDR, and HDR. If your TV does not show HDR or Dolby Vision, it probably does not have HDR.
However, some TVs use resolutions, such as 1080p and 2160p. In that case, select 2160p resolution to enjoy HDR features.
Note: This method is different for all companies and producers.
While some have a more user-friendly interface, others might require a proper user manual to find “Format Options.”
Method #3 Compare Contrast and Color
In this approach, you’ll need to compare the contrast and brightness levels of your TV with another one.
A standard HDTV contains 100 nits of brightness. In comparison, an HDR TV offers a brightness output of 10,000 nits or more.
As you can see, an HDR TV has 100 times more brightness output than an HDTV. So, you can compare both devices to determine whether or not your TV has this feature.
Furthermore, HDR TV recreates astonishing visuals that cannot be obtained on HDTVs because of the more contrast options.
So, if the methods mentioned above are not effective for you, you can compare your TV with an HDTV to determine whether or not it is HDR.
Tip: HDTVs cannot play HDR videos smoothly. So, for this method, try to download the highest possible resolution that your HDTV supports and then compare both screens.
Method #4 Do a Demo
If you cannot find the “Format Options” on your TV, you can run a Demo video to check if your TV is HDR. HDR TVs generally have pretty vibrant colors.
Here’s how to do a Demo and know if your TV has HDR:
- Get a 4K HDR video.
- Play while keenly monitoring if there is any lag.
- Watch out for crispier and darker image with no altered color combination.
- Make not of the vibrant colors.
If your TV is HDR, it will play HDR video smoothly without any frame lag. Plus, it will provide a darker and crispier image without altering the color combination.
Furthermore, a TV that is not HDR won’t be able to represent the vibrant colors.
Tip: To test your TV, you can download numerous HDR videos from the internet. Just search “Demo UHD 3” on Google and pick a video that is HDR.
Still Unable to determine whether or not your TV has HDR?
It’s best to always read all the specs of your gadget before making a purchase.
It’ll save you some bucks as well as effort and energy. Have you tried all the steps mentioned earlier to determine whether or not your TV has HDR, but everything is in vain? What to do instead?
You can get help from other users. For instance, you can use your Facebook or Twitter profile to find other people’s opinions. If you are still not satisfied, we recommend contacting your TV manufacturer. If you have an LG TV, you can contact LG customer service and ask for their professional assistance.
Read Next: How to Fix Pressure Damage TV Screen?
Conclusion
HDR or High Dynamic Range TVs offer better and more realistic pictures. However, these TVs are quite expensive.
So, if you have an expensive TV, your first question should be, “How do I know if my TV has HDR?”
This guide should help you out in determining whether or not your TV has HDR.
However, it’s important to always read the TV features in the manual and make sure to read the specs before you buy a gadget!
Kevin has over five years of experience working in various Tech startups and providing Technical solutions. He has contributed to many Tech publications and websites.