HDR, short for high dynamic range, is now found in a vast majority of midsized and large sets. HDR increases the contrast between the brightest whites and the darkest blacks a TV can produce. To do a good job with HDR video, a TV needs to get bright enough to display brighter, more colorful images with greater contrast and a wider array of colors, much closer to what we see in real life.
To test HDR performance, we measure a TV’s peak brightness using a $40,000 Photo Research PR-740 spectroradiometer (also used for measurements of fine colors and deep black tones), and industry standard and proprietary test patterns. We then evaluate the TV’s HDR performance with very dark and very bright scenes, as well as with video clips that feature an extended range of colors.
For viewing angle, we evaluate picture quality for clarity, color accuracy, and contrast at various horizontal and vertical viewing angles. Motion-blur tests, done at various speeds, are an evaluation of how well a TV can produce a blur-free image during motion scenes.
Sound quality is evaluated using a TV’s built-in speakers with subjective testing by a trained listening panel, with support from audio test equipment. We listen for the overall quality of sound, the depth of bass, effective volume levels, and audible distortion during dialogue, music, and movie soundtracks. (Many TVs have disappointing sound in comparison with their image quality. You can address that by adding a soundbar.)
The versatility score is a measure of a TV’s useful features, including—but not limited to—access to streaming services, the ability to work with digital voice assistants, the number of HDMI and USB inputs, and support for various media.
Finally, in recent years, we’ve added data privacy and security scores for all the TVs we test. Now that TVs routinely connect to the internet, data privacy and security have become concerns for consumers.
Consumer Reports evaluates the various ways TV brands collect, use, and share consumer data, how well they protect it, and how transparent they are about their data practices. We encourage TV makers to ship their sets to consumers with the optimal privacy settings turned on by default. You can also adjust the settings yourself.
