The 4 Best HDR Monitors - Fall 2024

The best HDR monitor we've tested so far is the ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG32UCDM. It's a premium 4k, QD-OLED monitor that delivers remarkable picture quality. This is because it displays deep and inky blacks next to bright highlights in dark rooms, and there isn't any blooming around objects against dark backgrounds. Plus it gets bright enough to make small highlights pop, and colors are vivid for a life-like image.

Although there are other models that use the same panel, what makes this better for HDR is that it supports Dolby Vision, which is great to use with sources that support Dolby Vision, like an Xbox Series X|S or a Blu-ray. It even has more picture modes and customizable settings in HDR than competing models. However, this monitor tends to cost a lot, so if it's out of your budget, you can also consider the cheaper Dell Alienware AW3225QF. It also supports Dolby Vision, but it has a curved screen that may not be for everyone, so the ASUS is the best option for most people.

If you find the ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG32UCDM out of your price range and want something less expensive with fantastic HDR performance, check out the ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG27AQDMG. Like the PG32UCDM, it has an OLED panel that allows it to display deep and inky blacks without any blooming, but it's different in a few ways. Since the panel type is WOLED, colors are less vivid than the QD-OLED of the PG32UCDM, and while it doesn't deliver the absolute best HDR performance, it's still fantastic. It also has a lower resolution than the PG32UCDM, so images are less detailed, but that doesn't impact the pure HDR picture quality.

This monitor is better for HDR than other competing monitors because it gets very bright thanks to its MLA+ technology, so highlights really pop. It also has a glossy screen coating, which most other WOLED monitors don't have, making images appear clearer. There are glossy QD-OLEDs you can also consider, like the Gigabyte AORUS FO27Q3, which has more vivid colors, but it costs more, and the XG27AQDMG offers good value.

Although OLEDs like the ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG27AQDMG and the ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG32UCDM offer the best HDR performance, they're also costly, so if you want to save money, then check out the Acer Nitro XV275K P3biipruzx, which is worth getting when it's on sale. Instead of having an OLED panel with perfect blacks in dark rooms, it has an LCD panel with Mini LED backlighting that lets it get very bright, which is ideal for watching content in bright rooms, and it also makes highlights stand out in HDR.

One of the biggest downsides of using this monitor is that it has a low native contrast ratio, but the local dimming feature helps it improve the contrast. Even if it doesn't display the same deep blacks as the OLED ASUS monitors, it still looks good in dark rooms, and there's minimal blooming too. It even displays a wide range of colors well in HDR, and they look vivid. Its 4k resolution delivers more detailed images than the XG27AQDMG, making it great for watching the latest HDR movies in 4k.

While most budget monitors have limited HDR performance, there are a few with good picture quality in HDR, like the AOC Q27G3XMN. It uses Mini LED backlighting like the Acer Nitro XV275K P3biipruzx and has a better local dimming feature than most monitors. This helps it display deep blacks with bright highlights, making it a great choice for watching HDR content. Even if you don't want to use the local dimming feature, it has a high native contrast ratio and deep blacks.

There are a few differences with the Acer, though. It has a lower resolution, so images aren't as detailed, and it also has a narrower color gamut in HDR, but that's the trade-off for getting something cheaper. One thing to know is that it sometimes goes out of stock, so if you can't find it, the Acer Nitro XV275U P3biipx is a great alternative that delivers similar picture quality. However, it has more blur with fast-moving objects, which can be distracting while watching action movies.