How to Enable And Use HDR on A Gaming Monitor?

Best HDR Gaming Monitors to Buy in October 2025

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SAMSUNG 32" Odyssey G55C Series QHD 1000R Curved Gaming Monitor, 1ms(MPRT), HDR10, 165Hz, AMD Radeon FreeSync, Eye Care, Glare Free, Sharp Resolution LS32CG550ENXZA

• EXPERIENCE LIFELIKE QHD VISUALS WITH 1.7X PIXEL DENSITY BOOST!
• ENJOY LAG-FREE GAMING WITH A 165HZ REFRESH RATE AND 1MS RESPONSE TIME.
• IMMERSE YOURSELF WITH A 1000R CURVED DISPLAY FOR ULTIMATE ENGAGEMENT!

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$292.00 $329.99

Save 12%

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ASUS TUF Gaming 27” 1440P Curved HDR Gaming Monitor (VG27WQ3B) - QHD (2560 x 1440), 180Hz, 0.5ms, Extreme Low Motion Blur, FreeSync, 90% DCI-P3, DisplayWidget, 3 yr Warranty

• IMMERSIVE 1500R CURVE & ULTRA-FAST 180HZ FOR PRO GAMERS!
• 0.5MS RESPONSE TIME & ELMB TECHNOLOGY FOR SMOOTH VISUALS.
• FREESYNC FOR TEAR-FREE GAMEPLAY & BONUS 3-MONTH ADOBE ACCESS!

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$219.99 $239.00

Save 8%

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LG UltraGear QHD 27-Inch Gaming Monitor 27GL83A-B - IPS 1ms (GtG), with HDR 10 Compatibility, NVIDIA G-SYNC, and AMD FreeSync, 144Hz, Black

• VIVID COLORS & IPS DISPLAY: EXPERIENCE STUNNING, TRUE-TO-LIFE VISUALS.
• BLACK STABILIZER: GAIN A COMPETITIVE EDGE IN DARK GAMING SCENARIOS.
• G-SYNC & FREESYNC: ENJOY ULTRA-SMOOTH GAMEPLAY WITHOUT TEARING.

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$238.00 $299.99

Save 21%

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SANSUI 24 Inch Gaming Monitor 180Hz 1Ms FreeSync HDR 110% sRGB FHD 1080P Computer Monitor HDMI DP Ports Eye Care Frameless VESA Mount Cable Management (ES-G24F4L, HDMI Cable Included)

• FLUID 180HZ REFRESH RATE: ENJOY ULTRA-SMOOTH GAMEPLAY WITH NO MOTION BLUR.

• VIVID 110% SRGB & HDR: EXPERIENCE STUNNING COLORS AND DEEP CONTRASTS FOR VISUALS.

• VERSATILE CONNECTIVITY: CONNECT EASILY WITH HDMI/DP; MULTIPLE MODES OPTIMIZE USE.

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$99.99

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SAMSUNG 32-Inch Odyssey G50D Series QHD Fast IPS G-Sync Compatible Gaming Monitor, 1ms, VESA DisplayHDR 400, 180Hz, AMD FreeSync, Adjustable Stand, Eye Saver Mode, LS32DG502ENXZA, 2024

• STUNNING CLARITY: QHD RESOLUTION DELIVERS 1.7X MORE DETAIL THAN FULL HD.

• FLUID GAMEPLAY: 180HZ REFRESH RATE + 1MS RESPONSE TIME FOR ULTRA-SMOOTH ACTION.

• COMFORT & FOCUS: EYE SAVER MODE + ADJUSTABLE DESIGN FOR EXTENDED GAMING EASE.

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$385.00 $429.99

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ASUS ROG Strix 32” 4K HDR Gaming Monitor (XG32UCG) – 3840x2160, Dual Mode (4K 160Hz/FHD 320Hz), 0.3ms, Fast IPS, Extreme Low Motion Blur Sync, USB-C, G-SYNC Compatible, Tripod Socket, 3 yr Warranty

• EXPERIENCE 4K GAMING AT 160HZ OR FHD AT 320HZ FOR ULTIMATE PERFORMANCE.

• LIGHTNING-FAST 0.3MS RESPONSE TIME FOR SHARP, LAG-FREE VISUALS.

• ENJOY 3 MONTHS OF ADOBE CREATIVE CLOUD FREE WITH YOUR PURCHASE!

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$499.00 $599.00

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SANSUI 27 Inch Curved 240Hz Gaming Monitor FHD 1080P, 1500R Curve Computer Monitor, 130% sRGB, 4000:1 Contrast, HDR, FreeSync, MPRT 1Ms, Low Blue Light, HDMI DP Ports, Metal Stand, DP Cable Incl.

• UNMATCHED GAMING SPEED: 240HZ REFRESH & 1MS RESPONSE FOR EDGE IN GAMEPLAY.
• VIBRANT VISUALS: 130% SRGB & HDR FOR STUNNING COLOR ACCURACY AND CONTRAST.
• EASY SETUP: PLUG & PLAY WITH HDMI/DP, PLUS LIFETIME TECH SUPPORT INCLUDED.

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$135.99 $174.99

Save 22%

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ASUS TUF Gaming 27” 1440P HDR Monitor (VG27AQ3A) – QHD (2560 x 1440), 180Hz, 1ms, Fast IPS, 130% sRGB, Extreme Low Motion Blur Sync, Speakers, Freesync Premium, G-SYNC Compatible, HDMI, DisplayPort

• STUNNING QHD VISUALS WITH 180HZ REFRESH FOR PRO GAMERS' NEEDS.
• ELMB SYNC TECH ENSURES CRISP, TEAR-FREE GAMING WITH HIGH FRAME RATES.
• FREE 3-MONTH ADOBE CREATIVE CLOUD INCLUDED-BOOST YOUR CREATIVITY!

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$239.99

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ONE MORE?

To enable and use HDR (High Dynamic Range) on a gaming monitor, follow these steps:

1. Check monitor compatibility: Verify if your gaming monitor supports HDR. Look for HDR10 or Dolby Vision certification, as these are the two most common HDR formats.
2. Enable HDR on your computer: Open the display settings on your PC and ensure that HDR is enabled. On Windows, go to Settings > System > Display, and toggle on "Play HDR Games and Apps." On macOS, go to Apple menu > System Preferences > Displays, and check the "High Dynamic Range" box.
3. Adjust monitor HDR settings: Most HDR displays have their own settings. Navigate through the on-screen menu options and find the HDR mode. Set it to either HDR10 or Dolby Vision, depending on your monitor's capabilities.
4. Adjust in-game HDR settings: Launch a game that supports HDR and look for in-game HDR settings. Typically, there will be an option to enable HDR or adjust its brightness level within the game's graphics or display settings.
5. Calibrate HDR settings: To ensure optimal HDR performance, consider calibrating your monitor's HDR settings. Some monitors have an automatic calibration feature, while others require manual adjustment. It's advisable to reference your monitor's user manual or manufacturer's website for specific instructions.
6. Enjoy enhanced HDR visuals: Once everything is set up correctly, you can experience the benefits of HDR gaming. HDR enhances the contrast between bright and dark areas, providing a wider color range and more vibrant visuals, resulting in a more immersive gaming experience.
7. Troubleshooting: If you encounter issues, such as overly bright or washed-out colors, first check your monitor's settings to ensure HDR is properly enabled. You can also check for updated graphics card drivers, as they may include fixes or improvements for HDR functionality.

Remember, not all games or content are HDR compatible. Make sure the game you're playing supports HDR for the best results.

What is the difference between HDR and SDR gaming?

HDR (High Dynamic Range) and SDR (Standard Dynamic Range) are two different technologies used in gaming and content display.

1. Dynamic Range: Dynamic range refers to the difference between the brightest and darkest parts of an image. HDR offers a much higher dynamic range compared to SDR, resulting in more vibrant and lifelike visuals.
2. Color Depth: HDR allows for a wider color gamut, producing more vivid and accurate colors. It can display a wider range of colors, including deep blacks and bright whites, enhancing the overall visual experience.
3. Brightness and Contrast: HDR gaming supports higher peak brightness, allowing for brighter highlights and deeper black levels simultaneously. This creates more realistic lighting effects, sharper contrast, and better details in brighter and darker scenes.
4. Tone Mapping: HDR uses advanced tone mapping techniques to adjust the brightness and color mapping of content to suit the capabilities of the display. This ensures that HDR content appears correctly on a wide range of HDR displays.
5. Improved Visuals: HDR gaming brings out more details in shadows and highlights, providing a more immersive and realistic experience. Details that were previously lost in highlights or shadows can be seen in HDR, giving a greater sense of depth.
6. Display Requirement: To enjoy HDR gaming, you need a display that supports HDR technology. This can be in the form of an HDR-enabled TV or monitor.

Overall, HDR gaming offers visually superior and more realistic graphics compared to SDR gaming, with enhanced brightness, contrast, color depth, and overall image quality. However, it is important to note that both the gaming device (console or PC) and the display device need to support HDR for users to experience the benefits.

How to enable HDR on a specific brand/model of gaming monitor?

Enabling High Dynamic Range (HDR) on a specific brand/model of gaming monitor can vary depending on the manufacturer and specific model. However, here are some general steps you can follow:

1. Ensure compatibility: Before attempting to enable HDR, make sure that your gaming monitor supports HDR technology. Check the manufacturer's website or user manual to confirm this information.
2. Update drivers and firmware: Ensure that your graphics card drivers and gaming monitor's firmware are up to date. Visit the manufacturer's website to download and install the latest available updates.
3. Connect via HDMI: Use an HDMI cable to connect your gaming monitor to your graphics card. For HDR, it is recommended to use an HDMI 2.0 or higher cable to ensure sufficient bandwidth.
4. Enable HDR in Windows settings: Right-click on the desktop and select "Display settings" from the context menu. Scroll down to the "Windows HD Color settings" section and toggle the "Play HDR games and apps" option to On.
5. Adjust monitor settings: On your gaming monitor, access the OSD (On-Screen Display) menu by using the physical buttons on the monitor or through software, if available. Look for settings related to HDR, such as "HDR Mode" or "Brightness Peak." Turn on HDR mode and adjust other settings, if necessary.
6. Configure in-game HDR settings: Launch a game that supports HDR and navigate to its display settings. Look for an option to enable HDR. Depending on the game, it may also have additional HDR-specific settings like brightness or contrast adjustment.

Remember that specific brands and models may have unique steps or different names for HDR settings. Refer to the user manual or support documentation provided by the manufacturer for detailed instructions tailored to your specific gaming monitor.

How to enable HDR on a Freesync or G-sync compatible gaming monitor?

Enabling HDR on a Freesync or G-sync compatible gaming monitor involves a few steps. Here's a general guide:

1. Ensure your monitor and graphics card support HDR. Check the specifications of your monitor and graphics card to determine if they have HDR capability.
2. Connect your monitor to your computer using an appropriate cable. HDMI 2.0 or DisplayPort 1.4 are common cables that support HDR.
3. On your computer, open the graphics card control panel. This varies based on the brand of your graphics card. For NVIDIA, it's the NVIDIA Control Panel, and for AMD, it's usually the Radeon Settings.
4. In the control panel, navigate to the display settings or the settings specific to your graphics card.
5. Look for the HDR settings or options. This might be present under a specific monitor profile or graphics settings section. Enable HDR if it's not already enabled.
6. Adjust the color settings based on your preference. HDR can provide a wider color gamut range, so you may want to tweak the color saturation, brightness, and contrast to your liking.
7. Confirm that HDR is enabled on your monitor. Most monitors have an OSD (on-screen display) menu accessible through buttons on the monitor itself. Check the monitor's manual for instructions on navigating the OSD and verifying HDR is enabled.
8. Test HDR by launching HDR-enabled content or games. Ensure that the content is HDR-compatible, like HDR videos or games that support HDR.

Keep in mind that the specific steps might vary depending on your monitor, graphics card, and operating system. It's always a good idea to consult the user manual or support documentation for your specific hardware if you encounter any issues.