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DisplayHDR 400 vs 600: what the next tier really adds

By TechCompare · Updated · How we check

DisplayHDR 600 asks for a black level of 0.1 nits, 95% of DCI-P3 and a static contrast of 8,000:1, which VESA's note says takes 1D local dimming or better. DisplayHDR 400 allows 0.4 nits, 90% of DCI-P3 and 1,300:1.

Calculator

TestDisplayHDR 400DisplayHDR 600
Peak brightness (8% patch)The brightness a small highlight has to reach. It's the number in the tier's name.400 nits600 nits (differs)
Full screen, flashHow bright the whole screen has to get for a moment, like an explosion in a game.400 nits600 nits (differs)
Full screen, longHow bright the whole screen has to stay for a long time, like a bright sky or a white page.320 nits350 nits (differs)
Black level, highest allowedHow dark the middle of the screen has to stay while two corners show full white. Lower is better.0.4 nits0.1 nits (differs)
BT.709 coverageHow much of the normal SDR color range the screen has to cover.99%99%
DCI-P3 coverageHow much of the wider DCI-P3 color range, the one HDR movies and games use, the screen has to cover.90%95% (differs)
10-bit input signalThe screen has to accept a 10-bit signal, which HDR10 needs.RequiredRequired
Rise time, black to peakHow many frames the screen can take to go from black to full brightness. Fewer is faster.8 frames8 frames
Static contrast, one imageThe contrast within one image, black and white on screen at the same time. True Black tiers don't have this test, and their black level limit is far lower.1,300:18,000:1 (differs)
What it takes for contrastVESA's own summary of what the contrast test asks of an LCD.High native contrast or 1D local dimming1D local dimming or better (differs)

Values in white differ between the two tiers. Minimums from VESA DisplayHDR performance criteria, CTS 1.2.

Compare any two DisplayHDR tiers in the HDR Label Decoder. See every test VESA lists, switch between CTS 1.2 and CTS 1.1, or check a review's numbers.
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DisplayHDR 400 and 600 sit next to each other on VESA's list, but they're far apart in what they ask for. The jump is less about the number in the name and more about black level and contrast. The table puts the key CTS 1.2 minimums of both tiers side by side.

Topic
DisplayHDR 400 vs 600
Tier upgrade
Tiers
DisplayHDR 400 and DisplayHDR 600
CTS 1.2

How this is calculated

Start with brightness. DisplayHDR 600 asks for 600 nits on a small patch and on a full screen flash, where DisplayHDR 400 asks for 400. On a full screen held for a long time the two are close: 350 nits for 600 and 320 for 400.

The bigger change is contrast. DisplayHDR 600 has to keep black at 0.1 nits or less with white in two corners, and its static contrast minimum is 8,000:1. VESA's note says that takes 1D local dimming or better. DisplayHDR 400 can pass with high native contrast instead. 1D local dimming splits the backlight into zones along one direction, like strips from an edge lit backlight. It's coarse, but it lets dark parts of the frame dim while a bright part stays lit.

Color moves up a step too. Both need 99% of BT.709, and DisplayHDR 600 needs 95% of DCI-P3 where 400 needs 90%. Speed and bit depth don't change: both take a 10-bit signal and reach peak within 8 frames.

Under CTS 1.1 the gap looked different. DisplayHDR 400 had no DCI-P3 minimum, and DisplayHDR 600 needed 90%. Switch the version in the HDR Label Decoder to compare.

Verdict

DisplayHDR 600 is the first tier where VESA's contrast test needs local dimming, so HDR can look different from SDR in dark scenes. 1D zones are large, so bright objects on dark backgrounds can bloom. Check a review for how the dimming behaves before you pay extra for the 600 logo.

More HDR Label Decoder scenarios

Is DisplayHDR 400 real HDR?
DisplayHDR 400 takes HDR and gets brighter than most SDR, but its contrast rules are loose. Here's what it asks for.
View details
DisplayHDR 600 vs 1000
DisplayHDR 1000 asks for brighter full screens, a black level of 0.05 nits and 2D local dimming.
View details
DisplayHDR True Black
True Black tiers cap black at 0.0005 nits and ask for fast rise times. Here's how they differ from the classic tiers.
View details

Related guides

IPS vs VA
Native contrast before any dimming.
View guide
OLED vs Mini LED
Where finer dimming takes you.
View guide

Frequently asked questions

Is DisplayHDR 600 worth it over 400?
If you play or watch HDR, usually yes. The local dimming and lower black level are what let dark and bright parts of a frame differ. For SDR work and games, the two can look much the same.
What is 1D local dimming?
The backlight is split into zones along one direction, usually strips from an edge lit backlight. Each strip can dim on its own. It's much coarser than 2D dimming, which uses a grid of zones behind the panel.
Do all DisplayHDR 600 monitors have local dimming?
Under CTS 1.2, VESA's note says the 600 contrast test takes 1D local dimming or better. A monitor certified under CTS 1.1 went through a different set of tests, so check a review for how it dims.

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