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HDR technology has been around on our TVs for several years now. High Dynamic Range or HDR provides superior contrasts, which make the viewing experience more natural and pleasing to the eye. The cinematic feel of HDR playback has begun making its way into the gaming world lately. Game developers and hardware manufacturers strive to generate that immersive feeling of cinematic content with the interactive elements of video games.
Yet HDR gaming monitors have not quite gone mainstream. Most manufacturers have taken baby steps into the area and are experimenting with the technology, but the reviews and gamer feedback have been a mixed bag. Few monitors fulfill the requirements for smooth gaming and HDR content playback. Many try to, but ultimately deliver an underwhelming experience.
Still, the trend is that game developers are pushing more and more titles that support HDR technology, so we expect the HDR gaming monitors to take off in popularity over the next few years. For now, the market is focused on those that want to experience something more cinematic and have pockets deep enough to afford the monitors and gaming systems to support high resolutions and HDR technology.
After reviewing dozens of monitors, we compiled our list of seven best HDR gaming monitors on the market in 2020. This guide contains the reviews of each of the seven models we have chosen, their key features, and the pros and cons. If you are looking to upgrade your monitor and you think HDR is the way to go, we believe that you will find this guide useful.
1) Best Overall: Asus ROG Swift PG27UQ
Our top choice is an entry from the famous ASUS ROG line of gaming monitors. We believe that the best overall HDR gaming monitor must deliver fantastic gaming performance at high resolutions while utilizing HDR technology for more immersive gameplay. We found that no other monitor managed to meet all of these requirements and distinguish itself apart from the rest quite like ASUS ROG Swift PG27UQ.
PG27UQ goes all out, coming with a super 27-inch, 16:9 aspect ratio IPS panel, which supports 4K resolutions (3840×2160) and is HDR 1000 certified. The panel is beautiful to look at and has one of the best image qualities we have ever seen. The colors are amazingly accurate, with 97% DCI-P3 coverage of the color gamut.
The image is exceptionally bright, with a peak brightness of 1,000 nits and average brightness of 600 nits. The gaming performance of the panel does not suffer, as ASUS outfitted the panel with 144Hz refresh rates, which should satisfy all but the most demanding professional gamers. HDR panels struggle to match the response times of the best SDR gaming monitors, and PG27UQ is no different. It pushes response times up to 4ms gray-to-gray, compared to the SDR gaming standard of 1ms. This, however, does not affect the gaming performance of the monitor, as we saw minimal ghosting.
PG27UQ supports Nvidia’s G-Sync technology that prevents screen tearing, along with ASUS EyeCare technology, which minimizes eye strain by using the blue light filter and flicker-less backlight technology. We expected nothing less from a ROG gaming product from ASUS. Coupled with an ergonomic stand with full height/tilt/swivel/pan adjustments and smart cable management, PG27UQ is an engineering and design marvel.
Indeed, we managed to find only two flaws on the PG27UQ. When pushing HDR content at peak brightness, the monitor gets quite hot, activating the cooling system, which tends to be quite noisy. It’s not even the noise level itself that bothered us, but the unpleasant pitch of the noise. The second issue is the price, but we expected that. You can hardly expect all the top-notch hardware and features to come on a budget.
We had a blast using PG27UQ and came away impressed. There is no doubt in our minds that this is the best overall HDR monitor for gaming on the market.
- Superb image quality with HDR 1000 certification at 4K
- Excellent gaming performance at 144Hz and 4ms gray-to-gray response time
- Amazing color accuracy
- Pricey
- The fan noise is quite annoying
2) Best Value: Gigabyte FI27Q-P
Gigabyte is not a name we closely associate with gaming peripherals, so it was a surprise for us that one of their products made our list, while showing tremendous value in the process. A manufacturer known for its motherboards and graphic cards managed to put together a competitive gaming HDR monitor at an affordable price, and we have to salute that.
Gigabyte FI27Q-P is a 27-inch monitor that comes with a 16:9 aspect ratio IPS panel, which supports resolutions up to 2560×1440 (QHD). The monitor has VESA DisplayHD 400 certification, which is the lowest-supported level of accreditation for HDR content. Since this unit focuses on value for the money, we believe that this is good enough.
When it comes to gaming, the IPS panel pushes 165Hz at 1440p resolution, which should satisfy even the most demanding gamers. Gigabyte lists the response time at 1ms MPRT, which in reality is closer to 5ms or 6ms. Not amazing, but perfectly OK for most of the gamers out there. Colors are vivid and accurate, with 95% DCI-P3 coverage. AMD’s FreeSync technology prevents screen tearing while gaming for a buttery-smooth experience.
FI27Q-P sports a futuristic design with excellent cable management features and an ergonomic stand with full height/tilt/swivel/pan adjustments. Most of the features are remarkably impressive, but there is at least one flaw we must note: the IPS glow, which is visible even at low brightness level.
Still, this unit offers tremendous value at an affordable price. For almost half of the cost of our top choice, you get a 165Hz monitor with HDR 400 support and plenty more. This makes Gigabyte FI27Q-P our best value choice.
The most trouble we had in this guide is selecting the best budget HDR monitor in 2020. Gaming in HDR on a budget seems counterintuitive, knowing the price tag that most HDR monitors come with nowadays. Yet, we managed to comb through some budget devices that are capable of HDR gaming and selected what we believe is the best choice for gaming on a budget in HDR. The device that we kept coming back to was the Dell UltraSharp U2518D. It is important to note that budget devices always come with some compromises, and the same holds for this Dell monitor. The difference, in our opinion, is what the device does well and how it relates to what gamers are looking for. In that sense, U2518D is a clear winner. U2518D is a 25-inch, 16:9 aspect ratio monitor which comes with an IPS panel that supports resolutions up to 1440p. The panel is bright and has vivid colors, along with the peak brightness of around 500 nits (HDR 500 certification). We found the colors to be accurate, especially at this price point. Where U2518D has to make compromises are the refresh rate and response times. While a 5ms gray-to-gray refresh rate is solid enough for the majority of games, a maximum refresh rate of 60Hz is a significant drawback, especially for the FPS gamers. Still, U2518D is not a gaming monitor in the first place, but rather a solid all-around monitor for productivity, entry-level creatives, and casual gamers. We found that other devices had much more significant compromises, and very few managed to deliver the image quality or HDR performance of Dell U2518D, making it our choice for the best budget HDR gaming monitor. The first of our alternative picks is a massive console gaming monitor from Philips. It’s quite challenging to categorize Philips’ Momentum 436M6VBPAB as a monitor in the first place, since using it as a daily driver on a computer desk is out of the question due to its size. It’s more of a central display in the entertainment center, used for console gaming, streaming content, and some casual PC use. Putting that aside, Philips outfitted this monitor with some impressive hardware and specs. The monitor comes with a huge 43-inch VA panel with a 16:9 aspect ratio, which supports 4K resolution and boasts an incredible 50 million to 1 contrast ratio. The VA panel shines in HDR with more than 1,000 nits of peak brightness and an HDR 1000 certification. Philips also included AMD’s FreeSync technology to eliminate screen tearing while gaming, along with 4ms gray-to-gray response times for minimal ghosting. Unfortunately, the VA panel pushes HDR content in 4K only at 60Hz, making it perfectly OK for console gaming but somewhat limited for more competitive gaming on PC. Momentum 436M6VBPAB is quite a specimen with impressive specs. It stands out in the room and is an excellent centerpiece of an entertainment/console gaming system. Yet, we found it challenging to use as a daily driver for gaming on PC. That and the price make it a quirky choice and not an ideal fit for everyone. Our second alternative pick is a unit from Samsung. It seems like Samsung is trying to claw back into the good graces of gamers, after years of failing to deliver products that get gamers excited. We felt that this entry-level monitor with HDR capability is a step in the right direction. Samsung C27HG70 is a 27-inch monitor sporting a VA panel with a 16:9 aspect ratio. C27HG70 supports a maximum resolution of 1440p or QHD, along with an impressive 600 nits of peak brightness and HDR 600 certification. The colors were awe-inspiring and a joy to look at. If you are looking for flaws on this device, image quality is not one of them. In terms of gaming performance, the VA panel delivers a 144Hz refresh rate at 1440p. The first issue that we ran into was the declared 1ms response time. Our review sample showed quite a bit of ghosting, and we believe that the response time of 1ms is inaccurate. This should not affect the gaming experience for most casual gamers, though. The second issue was the fact that when HDR is enabled, the response times drop significantly, and ghosting gets even worse. Still, it is a welcome addition for those that use the monitor for other tasks, such as watching movies or other non-gaming tasks. AMD FreeSync ensures gameplay without screen tearing. Overall, C27HG70 is a solid entry on this list that offers reliable HDR 600 performance along with a gaming experience that will satisfy most casual gamers. The unit struggles when it comes to demanding tasks however, and ghosting seems to be an issue that some might find irritating. The Predator line of Acer monitors targets gaming enthusiasts and professional gamers alike, and their latest entry X27 Pbmiphzx is one of the best HDR gaming monitors we had a chance to review. X27 made this list in the alternative picks, only because we believe that Asus ROG Swift PG27UQ is a better overall device by a tiny margin. This is Acer’s flagship HDR gaming monitor, and they did not cut corners on performance and features, with a hefty price tag to match. X27 has a 27-inch, 16:9 aspect ratio monitor that sports a fantastic IPS panel with support for 4K resolution. The monitor has excellent color accuracy and image quality. The first thing we noticed is how bright the panel was with VESA HDR 1000 certification and a peak brightness of 1,000 nits. When it comes to gaming performance, X27 comes with a 120Hz refresh rate out of the box at 4K resolution but can be overclocked to 144Hz, matching the PG27UQ from ASUS. Additionally, the panel has 4ms gray-to-gray response times and Nvidia G-Sync technology to prevent screen tearing. The downside of the device is the hefty price tag that eclipses even the PG27UQ and all of the devices we reviewed previously. Additionally, the monitor reaches 144Hz only at some color profiles, while it has to downgrade to 98Hz for others. The final entry on the list is another unit from Acer, although this one is a bit of a novelty. Acer Predator X35 bmiphzx is a 35-inch curved-panel monitor from Acer that sports an ultra-wide 21:9 aspect ratio. It comes with a VA panel that supports QHD resolution (3440 x 1440) and has a VESA HDR 1000 certification. The image quality is excellent, especially for a 1440p monitor, and the contrast ratio of the VA panel really does wonders on the shadows and blacks. Gaming performance is impressive as well, with support for 200Hz gaming at 1440p resolution, as long as your graphic card supports it. Response times are solid as well, at 2ms gray-to-gray with little to no visible ghosting, and screen tearing is not an issue due to Nvidia G-Sync technology. This is an expensive monitor, and Acer made sure to include only the best components and features in it. While the price is a major obstacle for most, we believe that this is a unit for true enthusiasts that have the budget for it. Our main issues with the device were the fan noise, which is excessive when pushing HDR content at high refresh rates, and the blooming/halo effect around the cursor on the black backgrounds. HDR technology is still a mystery to most casual gamers and users, who find it difficult to understand the advantages of the technology and how HDR monitors can meet their needs. The main benefits of HDR technology are the superior contrast levels that make the colors pop on-screen, providing brighter highlights and deeper shadows. As such, the HDR picture seems more natural and aesthetically pleasing to the human eye. Still, how does the HDR fit into the gaming ecosystem of 2020? Are these monitors meant only for creative professionals, or do they offer a pleasant gaming experience? We have put together a list of factors you should consider when choosing an HDR monitor. The simple definition of an HDR monitor is a monitor that supports the playback of high dynamic range (HDR) content. HDR content offers a more realistic representation of how we see colors, nuances and shadows in nature. It therefore feels more realistic and aesthetically pleasing to the human eye. HDR technology is hardly a new fad. TVs have used the technology for years, to provide that cinematic feel and a more immersive visual experience at home. Have you noticed how TVs in electronic stores always have a brighter and more appealing image compared to your SDR monitor? That is due to HDR technology. HDR technology crossed over to monitors and now is making inroads in gaming as well. For a monitor to qualify for VESA HDR certification, it needs to meet several requirements such as brightness levels, contrast ratio, color accuracy, etc. For example, the level of certification of DisplayHDR 500 provides a minimum of 500 nits of peak brightness across the panel along with the 95% coverage of BT.709 color space. Most gaming HDR monitors should strive to have at least DisplayHDR 600 certification with a minimum of 600 nits of peak brightness, 99% coverage of BT.709 color space, and 90% coverage of DCI-P3 color space. 4K technology is the latest buzz when it comes to monitors and TVs. Everyone wants the ultra-high definition (UHD) that 4K resolution provides, with incredible detail and smooth image quality. In reality, the jump between the perceived quality of Full HD (1080p) image quality and UHD (4K) image quality is not that high. Many people still have a hard time noticing the difference in image quality right away. On the other hand, the introduction of HDR technology created a much more significant jump in the perceived image quality by the viewers. It is extremely easy to notice a TV or monitor that has HDR technology next to a one that does not. The image is much brighter and more vivid, the shadows are more pronounced, and the colors seem more natural. In that sense, HDR technology is more important for image quality to the eyes of a casual viewer. Ideally, you would want both technologies to work in unison and provide the HDR experience at 4K resolutions. This is the challenge that monitor manufacturers are currently facing, trying to blend the two technologies without affecting the gaming performance of the monitor. It has been a thrill putting together this guide. HDR gaming monitors are still a novelty in the gaming world, but the technology is making significant strides, as more and more gaming titles push towards HDR support in the future. We hope that our reviews were useful to you and brought you closer to the world of HDR gaming monitors.
3) Best Budget: Dell UltraSharp U2518D
4) Alternative Pick #1: Philips Momentum 436M6VBPAB
5) Alternative Pick #2: Samsung C27HG70
6) Alternative Pick #3: Acer Predator X27 Pbmiphzx
7) Alternative Pick #4: Acer Predator X35 bmiphzx
How to Choose an HDR Gaming Monitor
What is an HDR Monitor?
HDR vs. 4K?
Conclusion
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