HDR400 or HDR1000? What DisplayHDR monitor tiers really mean
Browsing gaming monitors, you see HDR400, HDR600, HDR1000 and True Black 400, and wonder: what is the difference? Does every monitor that says HDR give you the same experience? No. These numbers come from VESA's DisplayHDR certification, and each tier has clear requirements. In this guide we explain what they mean so you can choose your monitor with confidence.
What is DisplayHDR?
DisplayHDR is a VESA standard that tests how well a monitor handles HDR content. A monitor has to pass specific tests for brightness, contrast, color and bit depth to earn a tier. The number in the tier name is the minimum peak brightness the monitor must reach, measured in cd/m² (nits).
The tiers by the numbers
According to VESA's CTS 1.2 criteria:
- DisplayHDR 400: at least 400 nits peak brightness and 90% DCI-P3 color coverage.
- DisplayHDR 500 and 600: 500 and 600 nits peak brightness, with at least 1D local dimming and 95% DCI-P3 coverage.
- DisplayHDR 1000 and 1400: 1,000 and 1,400 nits peak brightness, with at least 2D local dimming and 95% DCI-P3 coverage.
Every tier requires a 10-bit per channel video signal and 99% BT.709 color coverage. So certification is not just a brightness number, but a set of tests for color, contrast and bit depth together, which is what separates it from a general "supports HDR" label.
So what is True Black?
DisplayHDR True Black tiers (400, 500 and 600) are for monitors that can show very deep blacks, such as OLED displays. The brightness numbers are the same (400, 500 or 600 nits), but the key advantage is true black and high contrast, because each OLED pixel turns off on its own with no backlight.
Why it matters for gamers
Real HDR depends on the gap between the brightest and darkest parts of the image. A monitor with limited brightness and no local dimming can display HDR, but the difference is small. A brighter monitor with strong local dimming, or an OLED with true blacks, makes explosions, sunlight and dark details stand out far more in games that support HDR.
Which tier suits you?
- DisplayHDR 400: an acceptable start if HDR is not your priority and you care most about high frame rates.
- DisplayHDR 600 and up: if you want clearer HDR in story and open-world games.
- True Black: if you want true blacks and high contrast, especially in dark games and dim rooms.
Our pick at GamerZone
- PHILIPS EVNIA 27-inch QD-OLED monitor: QHD, 240Hz and HDR support, with deep blacks from QD-OLED.
Check the current price on the product page. Installments are available through Tamara and Tabby.
Tips before you buy
- Tell "HDR support" apart from a DisplayHDR certification at a specific tier. Certification means the monitor passed VESA's tests.
- Check the certified product list on the DisplayHDR website if you want to confirm a specific monitor's tier.
- Turn HDR on in Windows and in the game itself, and make sure your cable and port support the resolution and refresh rate you want.
Bottom line
The number after HDR is the minimum peak brightness the monitor guarantees, and higher tiers add stricter brightness, dimming and color requirements. True Black is the world of OLED and real blacks. Need help choosing a monitor? Message us on WhatsApp at +966 56 412 1558 or visit our Olaya or Aqiq branch in Riyadh. Installments are available through Tamara and Tabby.