DisplayHDR CTS 1.1 vs CTS 1.2: what changed in 2024
By TechCompare · Updated · How we check
CTS 1.2 raised the color minimums, measures peak on an 8% patch instead of 10%, and lists tests like static contrast and subtitle flicker that the CTS 1.1 summary doesn't. It also adds True Black 1000 and 1400. CTS 1.1 certifications still stand.
Calculator
| Test | DisplayHDR 400 | DisplayHDR 600 |
|---|---|---|
| Peak brightness (10% patch)The brightness a small highlight has to reach. It's the number in the tier's name. | 400 nits | 600 nits (differs) |
| Full screen, flashHow bright the whole screen has to get for a moment, like an explosion in a game. | 400 nits | 600 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 nits | 350 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 nits | 0.1 nits (differs) |
| BT.709 coverageHow much of the normal SDR color range the screen has to cover. | 95% | 99% (differs) |
| DCI-P3 coverageHow much of the wider DCI-P3 color range, the one HDR movies and games use, the screen has to cover. | Not tested | 90% (differs) |
| 10-bit input signalThe screen has to accept a 10-bit signal, which HDR10 needs. | Required | Required |
| Rise time, black to peakHow many frames the screen can take to go from black to full brightness. Fewer is faster. | 8 frames | 8 frames |
Values in white differ between the two tiers. Minimums from VESA DisplayHDR performance criteria, CTS 1.1.
Two monitors with the same DisplayHDR logo may have passed different tests. VESA released CTS 1.2 on May 7, 2024, and its FAQ says a certification doesn't expire, so a monitor tested under CTS 1.1 from 2019 still carries its logo. The table shows the CTS 1.1 rules for DisplayHDR 400 and 600.
How this is calculated
Color changed the most. Under CTS 1.1, DisplayHDR 400 needed 95% of BT.709 and had no DCI-P3 minimum. Under CTS 1.2 it needs 99% of BT.709 and 90% of DCI-P3. DisplayHDR 500, 600 and 1000 went from 90% of DCI-P3 to 95%, and so did True Black 400, 500 and 600. DisplayHDR 400 also needs 2 bits of dithering on top of an 8-bit panel now, like every other tier.
The way brightness is measured changed too. CTS 1.1 tested peak on a 10% patch. CTS 1.2 uses an 8% patch with a dim background. Its brightness accuracy checks start lower, at 1 and 5 nits, and allow less error from 50 nits up.
VESA's CTS 1.2 summary lists tests the CTS 1.1 summary doesn't. Static contrast asks for 1,300:1 at DisplayHDR 400 up to 50,000:1 at 1400, with a note on how much local dimming that takes. There's also an average color error test, an HDR vs SDR black level check, a black crush check and a subtitle flicker limit.
The tier list grew as well. CTS 1.1 stopped at True Black 600. CTS 1.2 adds True Black 1000 and 1400.
Verdict
When you can't tell which version a monitor passed, judge it by the CTS 1.1 minimums, which are the looser set. The gap matters most for DisplayHDR 400, where CTS 1.1 had no wide color rule at all. Check a review's DCI-P3 number and black level before you trust the logo.
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Frequently asked questions
Do monitors certified under CTS 1.1 lose their logo?
How do I find out which version a monitor passed?
Did CTS 1.2 change the tier names?
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