Audio Video News

Shipments of high dynamic range (HDR)-enabled 4K/Ultra HD TVs will reach more than 4 million units in 2016 and growth to more than 30 million units by 2020, according to new research from IHS Markit solutions.

Interestingly, while all of the 112 million 4K TVs expected to ship worldwide by 2020 will be compatible with HDR, only 30 percent will have “true HDR performance capabilities.” In other words, the market for “HDR-compatible TVs,” defined as sets compatible with basic HDR formats but utilizing standard dynamic range displays, will be some four times larger.

The scenario has raised concern among some pundits.

“In the case of HDR, only some sets have enhanced display performance that can allow the consumer to see the benefit, while the rest will have little discernable difference to consumers, who may become confused about the value of HDR as a result,” said Paul Gagnon, director of TV sets research for IHS Technology.

IHS also reported that worldwide demand for 4K TVs continues to grow even though total TV shipments are projected to decline slightly in 2016. Meanwhile, standard dynamic range, or SDR, TVs will shrink rapidly as a segment within the 4K TV market but remain the only choice for HD and 1080p resolution TVs as HDR benefits are featured primarily with 4K content.

The 4K TV market is forecast to grow quickly from 55 million units in 2016 to more than 100 million units by 2019, when it will reach 100 percent share of 50-inch and larger TV shipments.