How to Enable And Use HDR on A Gaming Monitor?

Best HDR Gaming Monitors to Buy in December 2025

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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 27 QHD DISPLAY WITH 180HZ FOR PRO-LEVEL GAMING.
• ELMB SYNC TECH ELIMINATES GHOSTING FOR ULTRA-SMOOTH VISUALS.
• FREESYNC PREMIUM & HDR SUPPORT FOR IMMERSIVE GAMING EXPERIENCES.

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$179.00 $249.00

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acer Nitro 27 Inch QHD 2560 x 1440 IPS Gaming Monitor | AMD FreeSync | Up to 180Hz Refresh | Up to 0.5ms | DCI-P3 95% | HDR 10 Support | One Display Port 1.2 & Two HDMI 2.0 | KG271U N3bmiipx

• STUNNING 27 QHD VISUALS WITH ZERO-FRAME DESIGN MAXIMIZE SCREEN SPACE.
• ENJOY SMOOTH GAMEPLAY WITH AMD FREESYNC AND RAPID 180HZ REFRESH RATE.
• INCREDIBLE COLOR ACCURACY (DCI-P3 95%) AND HDR SUPPORT FOR VIBRANT VISUALS.

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$149.99 $179.99

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LG 32GS60QC-B Ultragear 32-inch Curved Gaming Monitor QHD (2560x1440) 180Hz 1ms 1000R AMD FreeSync HDR10 HDMIx2 DisplayPort Borderless Design Black Stabilizer DAS Crosshair FPS Counter - Black

• ULTRAFAST 180HZ & 1MS GTG FOR UNBEATABLE, SMOOTH GAMEPLAY.
• 1000R CURVED SCREEN IMMERSES YOU IN THE ACTION LIKE NEVER BEFORE.
• AMD FREESYNC ENSURES FLUID, TEAR-FREE GAMING AT PEAK PERFORMANCE.

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$186.99 $299.99

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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

• STUNNING QHD VISUALS WITH 1.7X THE PIXEL DENSITY FOR ULTRA-REALISM.

• ENJOY LAG-FREE GAMING WITH A 165HZ REFRESH RATE AND 1MS RESPONSE TIME.

• IMMERSE IN ACTION WITH A 1000R CURVED DISPLAY AND VIBRANT HDR10 GRAPHICS.

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$199.99 $329.99

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SANSUI 32 Inch Curved 240Hz Gaming Monitor High Refresh Rate, FHD 1080P Gaming PC Monitor HDMI DP1.4, Curved 1500R, 1Ms MPRT, HDR,Metal Stand,VESA Compatible(DP Cable Incl.)

• EXPERIENCE ULTRA-SMOOTH GAMEPLAY WITH 240HZ HIGH REFRESH RATE!
• IMMERSE YOURSELF IN VIBRANT VISUALS WITH 125% SRGB COLOR GAMUT!
• ENHANCE COMFORT WITH A 1500R CURVE AND ERGONOMIC TILT OPTIONS!

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$169.99 $259.99

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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.

• EXPERIENCE ULTRA-SMOOTH GAMEPLAY WITH 240HZ REFRESH RATE & 1MS RESPONSE.
• STUNNING COLORS & CONTRAST WITH 130% SRGB AND HDR SUPPORT.
• HASSLE-FREE SETUP WITH VERSATILE CONNECTIVITY & STURDY METAL STAND.

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$135.99 $174.99

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ASUS TUF Gaming 32" 1440P HDR Curved Monitor (VG32VQ1B) - QHD (2560 x 1440), 165Hz (Supports 144Hz), 1ms, Extreme Low Motion Blur, Speaker, FreeSync Premium, VESA Mountable, DisplayPort, HDMI,BLACK

• STUNNING 31.5 WQHD DISPLAY WITH ULTRA-FAST 165HZ REFRESH RATE.
• ELMB TECH & 1MS RESPONSE TIME FOR FLAWLESS, TEAR-FREE GAMING.
• FREESYNC PREMIUM & HDR-10 FOR AN IMMERSIVE, LIFELIKE EXPERIENCE.

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$199.00 $269.00

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SANSUI 24 Inch Gaming Monitor 200Hz 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)

• ULTRA-SMOOTH 200HZ REFRESH RATE & 1MS RESPONSE FOR SEAMLESS ACTION.
• STUNNING 110% SRGB COLORS & HDR FOR LIFELIKE VISUALS & CLARITY.
• VERSATILE CONNECTIVITY & MODES OPTIMIZE PERFORMANCE FOR ANY TASK.

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$89.99 $105.99

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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.