Phones With Best HDR Displays Reviewed in 2025

High Dynamic Range (HDR) displays have become a cornerstone of premium smartphone experiences, delivering vibrant colors, deeper contrasts, and stunning visuals for everything from streaming movies to gaming. In 2025, manufacturers have pushed the boundaries of display technology, with several flagship phones standing out for their exceptional HDR performance. This blog post reviews the top smartphones of 2025 with the best HDR displays, based on their brightness, color accuracy, and HDR certification.

What Makes a Great HDR Display?

Before diving into the reviews, let’s clarify what sets an HDR display apart. HDR displays offer a wider range of brightness and color, allowing for more realistic visuals. Key factors include:

• Peak Brightness: Measured in nits, higher brightness ensures visibility in sunlight and enhances HDR effects.
• Color Accuracy: Support for wide color gamuts like DCI-P3 and accurate calibration.
• HDR Certifications: Standards like HDR10, HDR10+, or Dolby Vision ensure compatibility with HDR content.
• Refresh Rate: Smooth scrolling and animations, ideally 120Hz or higher.
• Contrast and Black Levels: Deeper blacks and higher contrast ratios for lifelike images.

With these criteria in mind, here are the top phones with the best HDR displays in 2025.

1. Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

Display: 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 1440 x 3200, 120Hz, HDR10+
Peak Brightness: 2,600 nits
Why It Stands Out: Samsung continues to dominate with its AMOLED panels, and the Galaxy S25 Ultra is no exception. Its display achieves a staggering 2,600 nits, making it one of the brightest on the market. The HDR10+ certification ensures rich, dynamic visuals when streaming content from platforms like Netflix or YouTube. The panel’s color accuracy is near-perfect, covering 100% of the DCI-P3 gamut, and the 120Hz refresh rate keeps animations buttery smooth. Whether you’re watching HDR movies or editing photos, the S25 Ultra’s display is a visual treat.

Pros:

• Unmatched brightness for outdoor visibility.
• Vibrant colors with excellent calibration.
• Smooth 120Hz refresh rate.

Cons:

• Premium price point.
• Slightly curved edges may cause accidental touches.

2. iPhone 17 Pro Max

Display: 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED, 1290 x 2796, 120Hz, Dolby Vision
Peak Brightness: 2,000 nits
Why It Stands Out: Apple’s Super Retina XDR display on the iPhone 17 Pro Max is a powerhouse for HDR content. With Dolby Vision support, it delivers cinematic visuals with exceptional contrast and deep blacks. The display’s ProMotion technology adapts the refresh rate up to 120Hz for fluid scrolling and gaming. At 2,000 nits, it’s slightly less bright than the Galaxy S25 Ultra but still performs admirably in bright sunlight. Apple’s color management ensures true-to-life visuals, making it ideal for creators and media enthusiasts.

Pros:

• Dolby Vision for cinematic HDR experiences.
• Adaptive 120Hz ProMotion for smooth performance.
• Excellent color accuracy and contrast.

Cons:

• No HDR10+ support, limiting compatibility with some content.
• Notch design still present, though minimized.

3. Google Pixel 10 Pro

Display: 6.8-inch OLED, 1344 x 2992, 120Hz, HDR10+
Peak Brightness: 2,400 nits
Why It Stands Out: Google’s Pixel 10 Pro brings a refined OLED display with HDR10+ support, offering vibrant colors and strong contrast. With a peak brightness of 2,400 nits, it handles HDR content with ease, whether you’re streaming videos or playing games. Google’s software optimization ensures the display is well-calibrated for accurate colors, and the 120Hz refresh rate keeps interactions smooth. The Pixel 10 Pro also benefits from Google’s clean software, which enhances the viewing experience with minimal bloatware.

Pros:

• Bright and vibrant HDR10+ display.
• Clean software enhances media consumption.
• Excellent color calibration.

Cons:

• Slightly lower resolution than competitors.
• Limited availability of Dolby Vision.

4. OnePlus 13

Display: 6.8-inch LTPO AMOLED, 1440 x 3168, 120Hz, HDR10+
Peak Brightness: 2,500 nits
Why It Stands Out: The OnePlus 13 features a cutting-edge LTPO AMOLED display that dynamically adjusts its refresh rate from 1Hz to 120Hz, optimizing both power efficiency and smoothness. With a peak brightness of 2,500 nits and HDR10+ support, it delivers stunning visuals for HDR content. The display’s color accuracy rivals top competitors, and its flat design minimizes accidental touches. OnePlus’s OxygenOS enhances the experience with customizable display settings, making it a favorite for power users.

Pros:

• High brightness and HDR10+ support.
• LTPO technology for efficiency and smoothness.
• Flat display reduces edge distortions.

Cons:

• No Dolby Vision support.
• Software updates may lag behind competitors.

5. Xiaomi 15 Pro

Display: 6.73-inch AMOLED, 1440 x 3200, 120Hz, HDR10+, Dolby Vision
Peak Brightness: 2,300 nits
Why It Stands Out: Xiaomi’s 15 Pro offers a versatile AMOLED display with both HDR10+ and Dolby Vision support, a rare combination that ensures compatibility with a wide range of HDR content. Its 2,300-nit peak brightness is impressive, and the 120Hz refresh rate keeps visuals smooth. The display’s color gamut is expansive, covering DCI-P3 fully, and Xiaomi’s software includes HDR-specific optimizations for streaming and gaming. This phone is a strong contender for those seeking a balance of performance and affordability.

Pros:

• Dual HDR10+ and Dolby Vision support.
• High brightness and vibrant colors.
• Competitive pricing for a flagship.

Cons:

• Software experience may feel less polished.
• Limited global availability.

In 2025, the smartphone market is brimming with exceptional HDR displays, each catering to different preferences. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra leads with its unmatched brightness and color accuracy, making it ideal for outdoor use and media consumption. The iPhone 17 Pro Max excels with Dolby Vision and Apple’s ecosystem integration, perfect for creators. The Google Pixel 10 Pro offers a clean, optimized experience, while the OnePlus 13 balances performance and efficiency. Finally, the Xiaomi 15 Pro provides a compelling mix of features at a competitive price.

When choosing the best HDR display, consider your priorities—whether it’s peak brightness, HDR certification, or software experience. Each of these phones delivers a stellar visual experience, making 2025 an exciting year for smartphone displays.