What HDR peak brightness should I set in games?

Match the maximum / peak brightness slider to your display’s measured peak nits — that’s the number this tool gives you for your model. If the game shows a calibration symbol, raise it until the symbol just disappears.

Why does my HDR look washed out?

Usually a weak panel (low brightness, no local dimming) or a game with a broken HDR mode. Pick your display and game for the specific fix — or the recommendation to switch to SDR instead.

Is HDR always better than SDR for gaming?

No. On many budget TVs and “HDR400” monitors, HDR looks dimmer and flatter than a good SDR Game mode. This tool grades your panel honestly and tells you which to use.

Does this work for PC, PS5 and Xbox?

Yes. It gives platform-specific calibration steps for Windows (HDR Calibration app), the PlayStation 5 (Adjust HDR), and Xbox Series X|S (Calibrate HDR for games).

Can it help with movies, not just games?

Yes — switch to Movies mode for the most accurate film settings: the right picture mode (Filmmaker/Cinema or Dolby Vision Dark), tone mapping, and per-source setup for Apple TV, Android/Google TV, your TV’s built-in apps, or a PC/console used as a player (Match Content, Dolby Vision, 24Hz).

What is the most accurate picture mode for movies?

Filmmaker Mode (or Cinema/Movie) for HDR10, and Dolby Vision Dark for Dolby Vision titles in a dim room. These disable motion smoothing and use an accurate, warm white point out of the box.

HDRTune

The perfect HDR settings for your exact display — for gaming and movies — or when you’re better off in SDR.

1 · What are you calibrating for?

2 · Platform

3 · Display

Your TV or monitor

4 · Game

Game (optional)

5 · Room lighting

Perfect HDR for games and movies

HDR (high dynamic range) only looks good when your TV or monitor can actually produce bright highlights and deep blacks. HDRTune checks your exact display, then gives you the precise picture-menu settings plus the per-source setup — for gaming on PC, PS5 and Xbox, or for movies on Apple TV, Android/Google TV and your TV’s built-in apps. When a panel can’t really do HDR, it tells you to use a properly tuned SDR mode instead.

For gaming it includes game-specific HDR settings and known issues for recent titles such as Forza Horizon 6, 007 First Light, Cyberpunk 2077 and DOOM: The Dark Ages. For movies it covers Dolby Vision, Filmmaker Mode, Match Content and tone mapping.

FAQ

What HDR peak brightness should I set in games?: Match the maximum / peak brightness slider to your display’s measured peak nits — that’s the number this tool gives you for your model. If the game shows a calibration symbol, raise it until the symbol just disappears.
Why does my HDR look washed out?: Usually a weak panel (low brightness, no local dimming) or a game with a broken HDR mode. Pick your display and game for the specific fix — or the recommendation to switch to SDR instead.
Is HDR always better than SDR for gaming?: No. On many budget TVs and “HDR400” monitors, HDR looks dimmer and flatter than a good SDR Game mode. This tool grades your panel honestly and tells you which to use.
Does this work for PC, PS5 and Xbox?: Yes. It gives platform-specific calibration steps for Windows (HDR Calibration app), the PlayStation 5 (Adjust HDR), and Xbox Series X|S (Calibrate HDR for games).
Can it help with movies, not just games?: Yes — switch to Movies mode for the most accurate film settings: the right picture mode (Filmmaker/Cinema or Dolby Vision Dark), tone mapping, and per-source setup for Apple TV, Android/Google TV, your TV’s built-in apps, or a PC/console used as a player (Match Content, Dolby Vision, 24Hz).
What is the most accurate picture mode for movies?: Filmmaker Mode (or Cinema/Movie) for HDR10, and Dolby Vision Dark for Dolby Vision titles in a dim room. These disable motion smoothing and use an accurate, warm white point out of the box.