HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, HLG: the alphabet soup around HDR makes a simple upgrade sound like a chemistry exam. This guide focuses on one piece of it, HDR10+, an HDR format that improves on the basic HDR10 standard by letting the picture adjust from one scene to the next.
It appears on TVs, streaming services and a growing number of monitors, so it helps to know what it does and what it does not.
- HDR10+ is an open HDR format that adds dynamic metadata to HDR10, tuning the picture scene by scene.
- It was created by Samsung and Amazon Video and is royalty free for content makers.
- HDR10+ Gaming is a separate certification that calibrates HDR and works with variable refresh rate.
- Real gains depend on panel brightness and contrast, not the badge on the box.
Starting From HDR10
HDR10 is the baseline HDR format used by nearly every HDR display, game console and streaming service. It uses 10 bit color and describes the brightness of a whole movie or game with one set of numbers, known as static metadata.
That simplicity has a downside. A film with a dim cellar scene and a blazing outdoor scene has to live with the same brightness instructions for both, so the display’s tone mapping has to compromise.
What HDR10+ Adds
HDR10+ keeps the HDR10 foundation and layers dynamic metadata on top. The metadata can change every scene, or even every frame, and tells the display how to handle that moment.
- Brighter scenes keep highlight detail such as clouds and reflections because the display knows the actual peak of that scene.
- Darker scenes preserve shadow detail because the tone map is not designed around the brightest moment in the whole film.
- Backward compatibility means an HDR10+ file still plays as regular HDR10 on displays that do not know the extra data.
The format is described in detail on the HDR10+ Wikipedia page and on the HDR10+ Technologies site, which lists certified products and partners.
HDR10+ vs HDR10 vs Dolby Vision
| Trait | HDR10 | HDR10+ | Dolby Vision |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metadata | Static | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Bit depth | 10 bit | 10 bit | Up to 12 bit |
| Cost to manufacturers | Free | Royalty free, with a certification program | Licensing fee |
| Ecosystem | Universal | Samsung, Panasonic, Amazon and others | LG, Sony, Apple, many services |
In plain terms, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision share the same big idea. Dolby Vision has wider industry backing, while HDR10+ has a more open, cheaper structure. Both formats shine most on true black panels, which is one of the points in our explainer on why OLED monitors are good for gaming.
A Worked Example With Two Scenes
Take a film with two moments. In the first, a character walks through a dim warehouse with a small window of daylight. In the second, a helicopter climbs into a bright noon sky.
With static HDR10, the metadata describes the brightest point in the whole film, perhaps that noon sun at a very high nit value. A display that cannot hit that number has to compress everything according to that worst case, so the warehouse may end up darker and flatter than the director intended.
With HDR10+, the warehouse scene carries its own instructions. The display sees that its brightest pixel is modest, so it can spend its limited brightness on proper shadow separation instead of reserving room for a highlight that never appears. When the helicopter scene arrives, the tone map shifts again.
This is why the format matters most for mid range displays. A very bright panel needs less help, while a moderate one gets more benefit from being told what each scene needs.
HDR10+ Gaming: A Different Thing
Many people assume HDR10+ Gaming is just HDR10+ with a game controller sticker. It is more specific than that.
- It is a certification for gaming displays and hardware that focuses on automatic HDR calibration, so you do not have to fiddle with sliders in every game.
- It is designed to work with variable refresh rate, so HDR and tear free motion can be active together.
- It stores the display’s real brightness characteristics so the game can tone map for that panel.
Support is still narrower than plain HDR10, mainly on Samsung gaming monitors and selected TVs and games, so check the compatible products list before you buy.
Where You Can Use HDR10+
- Streaming: Amazon Prime Video and other services offer titles in HDR10+, and availability differs by region and app.
- TVs: Samsung, Panasonic, Philips and others include it.
- Blu-ray: select UHD discs carry HDR10+ metadata.
- Monitors: support is limited and mostly Samsung, though a few other brands are adding it.
- Games: only titles that integrate the format or the gaming certification benefit.
Does HDR10+ Really Look Better?
It can. A quality panel with high peak brightness and good contrast can show the difference between static HDR10 and HDR10+, especially in scenes that swing from dark to bright.
The catch is that the display has to be able to use the extra information. On a monitor that only reaches a few hundred nits and has no local dimming, the metadata has little room to help.
Note: A monitor can show an HDR10+ badge and still deliver a mediocre HDR image. Peak brightness, dimming zones and color range decide the picture, not the format label.
How to Check Whether Your Monitor Supports HDR10+
- Read the manufacturer specification page and look for HDR10+ or HDR10+ Gaming by name.
- Check the official certified product list on the HDR10+ Technologies site.
- Look for the logo in the monitor’s info menu when playing supported content.
- If you are unsure, assume it plays as HDR10, which is the safe fallback.
Bring the same care to ports and bandwidth, since HDR at high refresh rates uses more data. Our piece on how many Hz a gaming monitor should have helps you think through that balance.
What to Consider When Buying
- Do you watch Prime Video often? HDR10+ becomes more relevant.
- Do you own a Samsung display already? You may already have the feature.
- Do you mostly play PC games? HDR10 and VESA DisplayHDR tiers usually matter more.
- Do you need Dolby Vision as well? Some displays do both, but many choose one camp.
In my experience, panel quality outweighs format support every time. Given the choice between a bright, well dimmed display without HDR10+ and a dim display with the badge, the bright one wins easily. For an example of a monitor where HDR hardware is the focus, see our ASUS ROG Swift PG27UCWM review.
Common Confusions
- “HDR10+ is HDR10 with more nits.” No. It is about dynamic metadata, not simply brightness.
- “Dolby Vision and HDR10+ are compatible.” A display may support one, both or neither, and a file has to carry the right metadata.
- “Any HDR monitor plays HDR10+.” Many will play the HDR10 layer only.
FAQ
1. What is HDR10+?
HDR10+ is an HDR format with dynamic metadata. It adjusts brightness and contrast scene by scene on top of the HDR10 base.
2. Is HDR10+ better than HDR10?
On a capable display it can be, particularly for scenes that vary in brightness. On a weak display the difference is small.
3. Is HDR10+ better than Dolby Vision?
They are similar in concept. Dolby Vision has wider support and up to 12 bit color, while HDR10+ is royalty free and open.
4. Do I need HDR10+ for PC gaming?
No. Most PC games use HDR10, and HDR10+ Gaming is available only on selected monitors and titles.
Disclaimer: This article shares general information and personal experience, not professional advice, so verify format support with the display maker before you buy.
