SPECIFICATION GLOSSARY: MONITORS

Peak brightness - what does it mean?

Peak brightness in nits is the highest luminance the display can reach, often under specific conditions or on a limited screen area.

IN PLAIN LANGUAGE

How to understand Peak brightness?

Peak brightness matters for HDR highlights, but it is not the same as sustained full-screen brightness. Contrast, black level, colour performance and tone mapping are also important.

WHEN COMPARING PRODUCTS

More is usually better

A higher value is usually beneficial, but it should not be the only buying criterion.

WHY IT MATTERS

Higher luminance can improve HDR highlights and bright-room visibility.

BUYING TIP

Read brightness together with panel technology and HDR performance.

COMMON MISTAKE

Peak brightness is not the same as sustained full-screen brightness.

COMPARE TOGETHER WITH

related display specifications
product class
price and availability

RELATED TERMS

Other specifications worth knowing

Aspect ratioAspect ratio, such as 16:9 or 21:9, is the relationship between screen width and height and affects workspace and content presentation.CurvatureMonitor curvature is usually expressed as a radius such as 1500R. A smaller number means a stronger curve.HDRHDR describes support for a wider range of brightness and colour. HDR compatibility or a certification name alone does not guarantee a…Panel typePanel type describes display technology such as IPS, VA, OLED, QD-OLED or WOLED and affects contrast, colour, viewing angles and motion behaviour.Pixel densityPPI is the number of pixels per inch. Higher pixel density usually means a finer pixel structure and sharper image at the…Refresh rateRefresh rate in Hz is how often the monitor can update the image each second. Higher values can improve motion fluidity and…