Does PS5 support HDR?

PlayStation 5 logo
PlayStation 5 logo (Image credit: Sony Interactive Entertainment)

Best answer: Yes, the PlayStation 5 supports HDR10, the most common type of HDR. You just need a TV that supports it as well.

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What is HDR?

HDR stands for High Dynamic Range and is often used to describe something that can process a wider range of input or output than a standard device.

When it comes to displays on devices like a television, HDR delivers a better contrast ratio that allows screens to produce better color in a variety of fields, including brighter whites and darker blacks. This results in a sharper, more defined image on your screen that, when combined with a more accurate color palette, essentially makes things much better.

Are there different types of HDR?

You've likely heard of HDR or Dolby Vision, but there are some other types of HDR that are out now, and a bit more advanced. One of the most recent advancements, HDR10+, is an improvement upon HDR10, which is the minimum specification for current HDR-capable devices.

To put it simply, HDR10+ takes everything about HDR10 and bumps it up a bit. Increased brightness and contrast provide better images, but the biggest difference in HDR10+ is how it handles metadata. Instead of static metadata in HDR10, HDR10+ features dynamic metadata, allowing whatever HDR10+-capable device you own to tweak its display so that you consistently see the best colors possible.

Does PS5 support HDR?

After all of this explanation, does the PS5, in fact, support HDR? Yes, the PlayStation 5 supports 4K (and even 8K) resolutions, meaning that if you own a 4K-capable television, you're in for some excellent looking games. If you have a TV that can also support HDR10 then you're in for a visual treat.

When it comes to games, playing with HDR or 4K enabled will give you the most detailed look at a game that's possible. Whether it be a ton of environmental shots or characters popping up on the screen, you'll be able to tell a very noticeable difference in the way the best PS5 games look compared to a non-HDR enabled device.

Anthony J Nash

Anthony Nash has been writing about games and the gaming industry for nearly a decade. When he’s not writing about games, he’s usually playing them. You can find him on Twitter talking about games or sports at @_anthonynash.