Netflix extends HDR support to Windows 10

Netflix has gone to great lengths when it comes to accessibility, with a myriad of supported devices and app integration to get us our streaming fix. For those of us who still prefer a PC, the company has finally introduced HDR support in their latest update, just in time for the upcoming wave of HDR capable monitors.

As with 4K content, Windows 10 users need to use the Microsoft Edge browser or the Netflix app to play the HDR10 encodes. Other requirements include supported hardware — at minimum, either a 7th Gen Intel CPU or an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 — and a premium Netflix plan.

“With HDR enabled, fans can immerse themselves in the delicious colors of Chef’s Table, the terrifying depths of the Upside Down in Stranger Things 2, and enjoy the upcoming Netflix film Bright starring Will Smith. And this is just the beginning!” reads the Netflix Tech Blog post.

To see the full catalogue, simply use the HDR search tag: https://www.netflix.com/search?q=hdr

The latest show buzzing on the horizon is Bright, an original film starring Will Smith, Joel Edgerton, and Noomi Rapace about two cops in an alternate present-day. It debuts tomorrow, 22 December, and will support both HDR and Dolby Atmos.

As for HDR on PC, VESA has recently announced the DisplayHDR open standard for laptops and desktop monitor displays, an attempt to get manufacturers and consumers all on the same page. The first version is for LCDs and will come in three performance levels — baseline (DisplayHDR 400), mid-range (DisplayHDR 600) and high-end (DisplayHDR 1000) — the details of which can be found on the announcement page.

Samsung’s 49-inch QLED curved gaming monitor, the CHG90, was the first to receive the DisplayHDR600 certification.