Glossary
HDR, nits, VRR, eARC: TV terms explained in plain language
Manufacturers' spec sheets read like a puzzle. We translate the most important terms and tell you which ones really matter when buying.
Anyone buying a TV today gets a spec sheet full of abbreviations. Most of them are marketing, a few decide the picture. Here are the terms we are asked about most often in consultations, in order of importance.
Panel: OLED, QD-OLED, Mini-LED, QLED
OLED lights each pixel itself and can switch every one off individually: perfect black, wide viewing angles. QD-OLED is a variant with quantum dots for richer colours and more brightness. Mini-LED is an LCD with thousands of tiny LEDs as backlight, dimmed in zones: very bright, ideal for bright rooms. QLED denotes an LCD with a quantum-dot colour filter; the word says nothing about the backlight.
HDR: HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, HLG
HDR (High Dynamic Range) means more contrast and finer colour gradations than conventional content. HDR10 is the basic format every TV handles. HDR10+ and Dolby Vision adjust the picture scene by scene; Dolby Vision is more widespread, Samsung backs HDR10+. HLG is the variant for broadcasters. Important: a TV that "supports" HDR does not automatically show it well. That takes brightness.
Nits
Nits are the unit of luminance. A TV with 300 nits shows HDR in name only. Good OLED sets exceed 1000 nits in small areas of the picture, Mini-LED sets go considerably higher. For dark living rooms 600 to 800 is enough; bright rooms can use more.
How can you tell if a TV has good HDR?
By its brightness and how it controls light, not by the logo on the box. Good HDR needs a peak brightness of around 600 nits or more, plus OLED or an LCD with local dimming across many zones, so that bright and dark parts of the picture can sit side by side. Without that, the TV shows HDR content flat or too dark.
Hertz, VRR, ALLM
Hertz states how many times per second the picture is refreshed. 60 Hz is enough for TV and films, 120 Hz makes sport and games smoother. VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) matches the refresh rate to the console and prevents stutter; ALLM automatically switches to game mode with low input lag. Both are part of HDMI 2.1.
What does VRR mean on a TV?
VRR stands for Variable Refresh Rate, meaning the refresh rate is not fixed. The TV continuously adjusts its refresh rate to the frames the console or PC delivers. If the frame rate fluctuates in a game, this prevents stutter and screen tearing. VRR matters for gaming on PS5, Xbox Series X or PC; for TV and films it makes no difference.
HDMI 2.1 and eARC
HDMI 2.1 carries 4K at 120 Hz and matters for consoles. Not every port on the TV supports it, often only two of four. eARC is the port that sends sound losslessly to the soundbar or amplifier; without eARC only compressed audio formats get through.
Local dimming and zones
On LCD sets the backlight is controlled in zones. More zones mean less blooming around bright objects. Manufacturers are reluctant to state the number; from a few hundred zones it gets good. OLED needs no zones.
Picture processor and upscaling
The processor upscales low-resolution content (HD television, older films) to 4K and smooths motion. This is where manufacturers differ more than in the panel: Sony and LG are considered particularly strong, Samsung is close behind.
Filmmaker Mode
A picture mode that switches off all enhancements and shows the film as it was approved in the studio. The best setting for film nights; for sport a brighter mode makes more sense.
What really counts
A panel type that suits the room, real brightness, a good processor and at least two HDMI 2.1 ports. Everything else is detail we are happy to put into perspective in a consultation, at your seat, in the light of your living room.
More on this: TV advice at home and TV setup and calibration.
In person
Philip Fiumi
Managing Director
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