HDR is a display signal format that enhances the picture quality in content compared to SDR mainly because it uses a wider range of colors and higher brightness levels. While most monitors support HDR, it doesn't guarantee good performance, as you need the monitor to display deep blacks, get bright enough to make highlights pop, and make colors look vivid. We found that through our extensive testing, QD-OLED displays generally offer the best HDR picture quality. That said, many budget monitors are limited in HDR performance, so you may need to spend a lot for the best quality.
Although monitors are behind TVs when it comes to HDR as most lack processors and most don't support advanced formats like Dolby Vision or HDR10+, they're catching up with more OLED and Mini LED models coming out. The advantage of choosing a monitor over a TV is that they're smaller and more versatile for other tasks like gaming or productivity. High-end monitors often include gaming features, like high refresh rates, making them good choices for HDR gaming.
We've bought and tested more than 340 monitors, and below, you'll find our recommendations for the best monitors for HDR, including the best 4k HDR monitors. Check out our recommendations for the best HDR gaming monitors, the best OLED monitors, the best Mini LED monitors, and the best multimedia monitors. However, if you don't think a monitor is right for you, check out the best TVs for movies instead.
The best HDR monitor we've tested is the ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG32UCDM. It's a premium 4k, QD-OLED monitor that delivers remarkable picture quality. This is because it displays deep and inky blacks next to bright highlights in dark rooms, and there isn't any blooming around objects against dark backgrounds. Plus it gets bright enough to make small highlights pop, and colors are vivid for a life-like image.
Although other models use the same panel, this is better for HDR because it supports Dolby Vision, which is great to use with sources that support Dolby Vision, like an Xbox Series X|S or a Blu-ray. It even has more picture modes and customizable settings in HDR than competing models. However, this monitor costs a lot, so if it's out of your budget, you can consider the cheaper Dell Alienware AW3225QF. It also supports Dolby Vision, but it has a curved screen that may not be for everyone, so the ASUS is the best option for most people.
If you don't need a high-end model like the ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG32UCDM, you can save some money while still getting premium picture quality with a model like the Gigabyte AORUS FO27Q3. It's a QD-OLED like the ASUS, so its picture quality is very similar, with deep blacks, no blooming, bright highlights, and vivid colors. However, the ASUS has some differences as it's smaller, doesn't support Dolby Vision, and has a lower resolution, so images aren't as detailed.
Besides those small differences with the ASUS, the Gigabyte also has an advantage if you also want something for gaming, as it has a higher 360Hz refresh rate. This provides a smoother feel, although it has the same near-instant response time as the ASUS. That said, there are other 1440p, 360Hz QD-OLEDs you can get that perform similarly, so they're something to consider if you can find them for less than the Gigabyte. One of those options is the ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG27ACDNG, but it has slightly dimmer highlights in HDR.
If you find QD-OLEDs like the ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG32UCDM and the Gigabyte AORUS FO27Q3 too expensive, a mid-range option like the ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG27AQDMG is a good alternative that you can get for less. Like the Gigabyte, it has an OLED panel that allows it to display deep and inky blacks without any blooming, but it's different in a few ways. Since the panel type is WOLED, colors are less vivid than the QD-OLED of the Gigabyte, so while it doesn't deliver the absolute best HDR performance, it's still fantastic.
This monitor is better for HDR than other competing monitors because it gets very bright thanks to its MLA+ technology, so highlights really pop. Plus, it has fantastic PQ EOTF tracking, so it displays most content at the brightness that the creator intended. It also has a glossy screen coating, which most other WOLED monitors don't have, making images appear clearer than a monitor with a matte or semi-gloss coating.
While most budget monitors have limited HDR performance, there are a few with good HDR picture quality, like the AOC Q27G3XMN. Unlike the ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG27AQDMG, it doesn't have an OLED panel and instead uses Mini LED backlighting. So, while it doesn't display the same perfect blacks as an OLED and has a bit more blooming, it still has good local dimming that helps it display deep blacks against bright highlights.
Plus, it gets very bright in HDR, so highlights really pop, and it's a good choice if your viewing environment isn't completely black. Like the ASUS, its 1440p resolution delivers good enough image clarity, and your favorite content looks sharp.
You can often find the Acer Nitro XV275U P3biipx for less than the AOC Q27G3XMN if you need something simple and cheap. The two are very similar regarding HDR picture quality, as the Acer is another 27-inch, 1440p entry-level monitor with Mini LED backlighting. Although its local dimming feature performs worse than that on the AOC, with more black crush and blooming, it's still a good inclusion for such a cheap display.
On the plus side, it gets even brighter than the AOC, so highlights really pop in HDR, and it's a great choice to use in a bright room. It even displays a wider range of more vivid colors compared to the AOC. One downside is that this monitor has noticeable smearing with fast-moving objects, which is disappointing for playing fast-paced games or watching action content.
The MSI MPG 271QRX QD-OLED is a 1440p, 360Hz QD-OLED like the Gigabyte AORUS FO27Q3. It performs similarly for HDR but has slightly worse PQ EOTF tracking, so some content is dimmer than intended.
See our reviewThe Acer Nitro XV275K P3biipruzx is a 4k monitor in the same price range as the ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG27AQDMG; it sometimes costs less. It's something to consider if you want a brighter monitor, as it uses Mini LED backlighting. However, it doesn't display the same deep blacks as the ASUS.
See our reviewThe MSI MPG 321URX QD-OLED is a 4k QD-OLED that competes with the ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG32UCDM. It's something to consider if you want something cheaper, but it doesn't support Dolby Vision.
See our reviewFeb 19, 2025: We removed the Acer Nitro XV275K P3biipruzx and renamed the ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG27AQDMG as the 'Best Mid-Range Monitor' because it has better picture quality. We also added the Gigabyte AORUS FO27Q3 as the 'Best Upper Mid-Range Monitor' and the Acer Nitro XV275U P3biipx as the 'Best Cheap' for consistency with other articles. We replaced the Samsung Odyssey OLED G8/G80SD S32DG80, Dell Alienware AW2725DF, and the MSI MPG 341CQPX QD-OLED with the Acer XV275K, MSI MPG 271QRX QD-OLED, and MSI MPG 321URX QD-OLED in the Notable Mentions to reflect changes and the current market. Lastly, we introduced a new format to the article.
Nov 20, 2024: We replaced the Samsung Odyssey OLED G8/G80SD S32DG80 with the ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG32UCDM because the ASUS has extra features for HDR, including Dolby Vision support. In the Notable Mentions, we replaced the Samsung Odyssey Neo G7 S32BG75 with the MSI MPG 341CQPX QD-OLED as the Samsung is harder to find, and we also added the G80SD.
Aug 29, 2024: We changed the title to 'Best HDR Monitors' from 'Best 4k HDR Monitors' to give a wider scope of monitors we can recommend as it better reflects the current market. Because of this, we replaced the Samsung Odyssey Neo G7 S32BG75 and the Dell S3221QS with the ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG27AQDMG and the AOC Q27G3XMN, respectively, because they have better picture quality. We also replaced the Dell Alienware AW3225QF with the Samsung Odyssey OLED G8/G80SD S32DG80 for consistency with other recommendations. We updated the Notable Mentions based on these changes.
Jun 06, 2024: Replaced the Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 S32BG85 with the cheaper Samsung Odyssey Neo G7 S32BG75 to better represent the monitor market. Moved the Samsung Smart Monitor M7/M70C S32CM70 to the Notable Mentions as it went up in price. Replaced the ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG27AQDM and the Cooler Master Tempest GP27U with the AOC Q27G3XMN and the INNOCN 27M2V in the Notable Mentions for consistency with other recommendations.
Apr 19, 2024: Ensured our selections are accurate and up-to-date.
Our recommendations are based on what we think are the best monitors for HDR available, including the best 4k HDR monitors. They're adapted to be valid for most people. Our rating is based on our review, factoring in price, and feedback from our visitors.
If you would prefer to make your own decision, here's a list of all the reviews of monitors that support HDR. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. Most monitors are good enough to please most people, and the things we fault monitors on are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.
What do you think of our picks? Let us know below.
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We’ve just released a new video that mentions the Acer Nitro XV275K P3biipruzx and AOC Q27G3XMN here.