Note that only Apple Silicon MacBook Airs support using HDR on external displays though.

Specifically, the following Macs support HDR in their built-in displays or when connected to an external monitor that supports HDR: Surprisingly the Apple Studio Display does not support HDR as it only goes up to a maximum of 600 nits (up to 1600 nits is needed for HDR) although the more expensive Apple Pro XDR display supports HDR, Dolby Vision and Hybrid Log Gamma (HLG).Īll Apple Silicon Macs like the M1 MacBook Pro and Mac Studio support HDR and Intel Macs introduced since 2018 support HDR too. So if you’ve got a 4K external monitor for your Mac, it doesn’t necessarily mean it supports Dolby Vision or HDR10 although many external displays such as the excellent LG UltraFine 34 inch do support HDR. HDR10 and Dolby Vision are different to 4K (also known as Ultra HD) which is a high density pixel resolution which provides much greater video detail.

Note that not all apps and services support HDR on a Mac such as VLC Player which supports HDR on Windows but not macOS yet. Mac based graphic designers, video editors and other creative design professionals also need HDR support for color accuracy and consistency. The main reason most Mac users want to know how to use HDR on a Mac is for watching streaming services such as Netflix and YouTube but it also means that you can watch video recorded on iPhones in HDR in its full glory. The result is brighter whites and darker blacks with much greater range in between. HDR10 and Dolby Vision are enhancements to color and dynamic range that make video look more realistic with ultravivid colors and sharper contrast. Nowadays, streaming services such as Netflix support High Dynamic Range (HDR) streaming in two main formats: Dolby Vision and HDR10. If you want to know how to watch video in HDR on a Mac, here we show you how to play HDR or Dolby Vision content on a Mac including the latest M1 and M2 Macs and MacBooks.

Vlc mac m1