Samsung has announced that its CHG90 and CHG70 PC monitors are the first to achieve certification for VESA’s ‘DisplayHDR 600’ specification. But it is not actually HDR.

Not High Dynamic Range
There are several HDR specifications for TVs but the monitor market has been lagging behind. VESA is hoping to change that so it recently announced that it has developed a DisplayHDR specification aimed for PC monitors and laptops.

Samsung’s existing CHG90 and CHG70 gaming LCD monitors – branded as “QLED” monitors – are the first to become certified for DisplayHDR. More specifically, the monitors have achieved ‘DisplayHDR 600’ certification. VESA has three levels: DisplayHDR 400, 600, and 1000.

Unfortunately, DisplayHDR 600 does not guarantee proper High Dynamic Range picture quality. We outlined the reasons as to why this is the case in a previous article. The short answer is that DisplayHDR 600 is designed around the limitations of edge-lit LCD monitors, which are incapable of reproducing HDR pictures, based on our testing.



- “When granting DisplayHDR 600 certification to the CHG90, VESA cited the monitor’s use of HDR to elevate contrast ratio (3,000:1), color accuracy and overall presentation vibrancy as an industry standard-setter,” said Samsung.

3000:1 contrast ratio is nowhere near HDR territory.

  Also read: VESA defines new DisplayHDR specification for PC monitors

You will be seeing these DisplayHDR logos a lot more in the coming years, but if you are planning on setting up a HDR capable gaming system you should be wary. HDR places very high requirements on the hardware. Currently, only full array local dimming LCD displays as well as OLED displays can reproduce HDR pictures. You should aim for the latter.