One major criticism of OLED monitors, despite their exceptional gaming performance, is their relatively low brightness. While brightness has been improving, the next generation of OLED gaming monitors is set to make significant strides in HDR performance. Ahead of CES 2025, VESA has introduced a new tier in its DisplayHDR standard that focuses on OLED brightness.
The new certification, DisplayHDR True Black 1,000, is an upgrade over the current DisplayHDR True Black 400 certification found in most OLED monitors like the MSI MPG 321URX or Alienware 27 QD-OLED. The True Black 400 standard is for OLED or high-end mini-LED displays that achieve nearly perfect black levels, requiring a display to reach 0.0005 nits with a checkboard pattern. VESA’s latest focus is on pushing brightness to new heights while maintaining those deep black levels.
The DisplayHDR True Black 1,000 certification ensures monitors can hit 1,000 nits of peak brightness, but with more rigorous rules. To qualify, a monitor must achieve at least 1,000 nits with 2% of the screen lit, and 500 nits across the entire screen, both in brief flashes and during long-duration stress tests. In comparison, True Black 400 monitors only need to reach about 250 nits for the full screen.
Currently, no monitors meet the DisplayHDR True Black 1,000 standard, but this is likely to change at CES 2025. In addition to this new certification, VESA also introduced ClearMR 21000, which measures motion clarity in monitors. LG has already announced that its new UltraGear OLED 27GX790A is the first monitor to achieve this certification, and we expect to see it alongside LG’s new 5K2K OLED display at CES.
