HDR10 vs HDR10+ Explained: Which Display Technology Is Better in Bangladesh?

Modern smartphone displays have improved significantly over the years. Higher resolution, better brightness, and richer colours are now common even in mid-range devices. One display feature that often appears in specifications is HDR, especially HDR10 and HDR10+. While these terms sound technical, their purpose is simple: to make visuals look more realistic and vibrant.

HDR stands for High Dynamic Range. It allows a screen to show a wider range of brightness levels, from very dark shadows to very bright highlights. Without HDR, details in dark areas may look dull, and bright areas can appear washed out. HDR technology helps preserve detail across the entire image.

HDR10 is the most common HDR standard found in smartphones. It uses static metadata, which means brightness and colour information is applied uniformly throughout a video. This already offers a noticeable improvement over non-HDR displays. Colours look deeper, contrast is improved, and scenes appear more lifelike.

HDR10+ builds on this foundation by using dynamic metadata. Instead of applying the same settings to an entire video, HDR10+ adjusts brightness and colour scene by scene or even frame by frame. This results in better balance, especially in scenes with mixed lighting, such as night shots with bright streetlights or indoor scenes with sunlight coming through windows.

For users in Bangladesh, the difference becomes noticeable when watching high-quality videos or movies on a compatible display. HDR10 content looks good, but HDR10+ can make dark scenes clearer without over-brightening lighter areas. This is useful for users who enjoy watching movies or dramas on their phones during travel or before bedtime.

However, HDR performance depends heavily on the screen itself. A phone must have sufficient brightness and colour capability to fully benefit from HDR10+. On budget phones, the difference between HDR10 and HDR10+ may be subtle. On mid-range and premium phones, HDR10+ tends to offer better visual consistency.

Another factor is content availability. While HDR10 content is widely supported, HDR10+ content is less common. Many videos are still mastered in standard HDR10. This means even if your phone supports HDR10+, it may often fall back to HDR10 depending on the video source.

Battery consumption is also worth considering. HDR playback, especially HDR10+, can use more power due to higher brightness and processing demands. For Bangladeshi users who rely on long battery life, this may slightly reduce screen-on time during extended video watching sessions.

Gaming performance is less affected by HDR standards on smartphones. Most mobile games do not fully utilise HDR10+ features. Therefore, gamers may not see a major difference between the two in everyday gameplay.

From a price perspective, phones with HDR10 support are available across many price ranges in Bangladesh. HDR10+ is more common in higher-priced models. Buyers should consider whether their usage justifies the extra cost. For casual video watching and social media, HDR10 is more than sufficient. For users who value premium visuals and regularly watch high-quality content, HDR10+ can offer a more refined experience.

In everyday use such as browsing, messaging, or watching short videos, the difference between HDR10 and HDR10+ is not always obvious. Display quality, brightness level, and colour tuning often matter more than the HDR label alone.

Conclusion
HDR10 already delivers a strong visual upgrade, while HDR10+ refines the experience with better scene-by-scene optimisation. For most users in Bangladesh, HDR10 is enough, but HDR10+ is a worthwhile bonus for those who prioritise premium video quality.