Talk of 4K TV has become pervasive, and if the hardware on display at CES 2015 was any indication, a plethora of companies are lined up to ride the momentum.
Several other home entertainment innovations became ubiquitous at the trade show, such as LG's Quantum Dot LED TVs, or Samsung's line of premium SUHD TVs that will supposedly upgrade the already-existing Ultra-HD standards.
But in the shadow of these improvements, conversations stir of another development – it's called high dynamic range, or HDR, and it could spark the next shift in TV hardware.

What is HDR?

High dynamic range isn't completely new, at least outside of TV hardware. High-end cameras and recent smartphone apps utilize HDR for higher quality photos. By combining several photos taken during a single burst, HDR leaves less room for error, and in most lighting conditions, garners striking results.
Separate photos are taken at different exposures during the process. These are called stops, and the amount of light is doubled from one to the next. So while the first stop produces an extremely dark image, the last result is exceptionally bright, lending better luminosity to the final portmanteau photo.
HDR video, though, is shot with an expanded range – it captures darker shadows and brighter whites during the shooting process. It doesn't really combine the lights and darks, but separates them even further, creating a wider array of possible colors – HDR TVs are the only foreseeable option for doing the image justice on the screen.
HIgh Dynamic Range
HDR creates a wider gamut of colors, allowing for a more vivid image
Different cameras have varying numbers of stops when using HDR imaging, but all in all, the process allows for images that regular digital photography wouldn't be able to capture. HDR is bringing media closer to what the human eye sees, and by doing so, is creating more realistic images, from scenes bleached with sunlight, to nighttime shots on city streets.

How will HDR affect the viewing experience?

4K is the biggest trend in viewing hardware today, and for good reason – it delivers four times the normal amount of pixels than 1080p, presenting finer detail and better textures. Companies such as Sony, Samsung, Panasonic and LG are busy moving their 4K TVs onto store shelves this year, and improvements in hardware will allow more viewers to see content with the increased resolution.
High Dynamic Range
4K TVs show images with four times the resolution of the current standard
But HDR is markedly different because of how it actually changes the picture. Colors are more vibrant, blacks are deeper, objects more pronounced. Hues are also more exaggerated, alternating between cool and warm in the same image.
The key here is brightness: the majority of TVs today have a typical brightness of 400 nits (the unit for luminance), while some made the leap to about 750 in 2014. HDR TVs, though, have a maximum nit count of about 1,000. That increase means the difference between normal outdoor scenes and more realistic ones.
So in movies shot with HDR-compatible cameras, desert scenes will be much clearer, with colors and brightness more akin to actual sunlight. Winter shots will present a higher disparity between buildings and surrounding snow. While 4K increases the resolution quality of the picture being shown, HDR increases the colors, contrast and all around realism.
Once HDR becomes a household viewing standard, more and more film and TV crews will likely begin shooting with HDR-compatible cameras.