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Almost all New TVs and Projectors They have the ability to decrypt Human development reportOr high dynamic range video. In most cases, HDR content looks better than non-HDR material, although an individual monitor’s ability to handle the additional data can vary widely. There are many HDR formats, including Dolby Vision, Dolby Vision 2And HDR10 and HDR10 Plus and HLG. Most displays can only decode one or two of these. Likewise, streaming services and 4K Blu-ray discs usually only offer one or two.
Fortunately, all HDR displays can play HDR content – but not always in the best format available. Here’s what to consider when shopping for a new TV or deciding which streaming service to use for a movie or show.
The basics
These images attempt to show, on a standard dynamic range display, what HDR can do on HDR displays. The top left shows how the image will appear on an SDR screen, adjusted so that shadows are visible. Notice how the highlights in the clouds are “blown out,” meaning they lack detail. The top right shows the HDR version with details saved in the clouds. The bottom left shows the same image edited to preserve the highlights, making the shadows disappear. HDR displays that display HDR content have a wider dynamic range — which is the difference between the brightest and darkest parts of an image.
in CNET TV and projector reviews, We’ve found that the capabilities of the TV itself and the way HDR is used in the movie or TV show have a greater impact on picture quality than the specific HDR format. In other words, just because a monitor supports the “better” HDR format doesn’t mean it will look better than one that doesn’t. Here’s a tour of today’s HDR scene.
- Everything supports HDR10, but many TVs and sources will also have at least one of the other formats.
- Dolby Vision and HDR10 Plus can look better in certain ways compared to HDR10. Everything will look better than standard non-HDR dynamic range content.
- One format may seem “better” than another on paper, but in the real world, picture quality depends more on the overall performance of the TV and how the content is created.
Most new TVs can display HDR content, which preserves more detail in both bright and dark areas of the picture, creating greater “dynamic range” than non-HDR content (i.e., almost everything you’ve ever watched). This older format is now called SDR, or Standard Dynamic Range. On an HDR TV, HDR content can look more punchy and vibrant than traditional video.
Read more: How does HDR work?
The dynamic range of what the camera captures (left) and what’s possible on SDR and HDR displays.
Just having an HDR TV is not enough; You also need HDR content. Without it, your TV wouldn’t have much to work with. It may still look good and can artificially expand SDR content for a slight improvement, but to get the most out of HDR, you need content designed for it. Fortunately, there are now many available, including movies, TV shows, and even video games. Chances are, your favorite new shows already support HDR.
HDR10
- Supported by everything.
- Better image quality potential than SDR, but perhaps not as good as HDR10 Plus or Dolby Vision.
- Static metadata.
HDR10 is close to our global standard. Since it is free to use by manufacturers, it is supported almost everywhere. Every HDR TV can decode it and every HDR streaming device supports it. Almost all HDR content includes HDR10, sometimes alongside more advanced formats like Dolby Vision, which we’ll discuss shortly.
The main limitation of HDR10 is its “static” metadata, meaning that a single HDR “look” is applied to an entire movie or show. This is still better than SDR, but it doesn’t allow scenes that are too bright or too dark to look their absolute best in the same movie. This one-size-fits-all approach works, but it prevents both content and TV from reaching their full potential. Dynamic metadata, used by most other HDR formats, addresses this limitation.
Fixed metadata is like forcing an entire football team to wear the same jersey size. It may fit the quarterback and look good on the big linebacker and the little player, but everyone will look better in shirts that fit them properly.
HDR10 is not backwards compatible with SDR TVs, so it’s not suitable for streaming. You’ll find it available with streaming content and on 4K Blu-ray.
HDR 10 Plus
- Sponsored by Samsung.
- Dynamic metadata.
- Image potential is better than vanilla HDR10.
As you might have guessed from the name, HDR10 Plus is similar to HDR10, but with a little extra. The “plus sign” in this case is dynamic metadata, which improves on the static version of HDR10. This means that on a per-scene – or even per-picture – basis, the content can provide your TV with all the information it needs to look its best.
Although there are certain fees on manufacturers for using HDR10 Plus, they are much lower than what Dolby charges for Dolby Vision. Since it’s from Samsung, it’s unlikely that there will be an LG TV with HDR10 Plus. Sony is another holdout, likely for similar reasons. However, Epson, TCL, Hisense, Roku, and others offer HDR10 Plus compatibility.
It’s a bit hard to see in this graphic, but notice how the frames on the right show different levels of brightness in the sky. This example uses the Standard Dynamic Range image on the Standard Dynamic Range screen. HDR10 Plus dynamic metadata allows filmmakers to optimize how each shot or scene is presented. By contrast, HDR10 uses static metadata — one setting that should be a compromise between darker and brighter scenes.
On the content side, there’s Amazon, Apple TV, Disney Plus, Paramount Plus, Netflix, and more. Keep in mind that just because a company or streaming service supports HDR10 Plus doesn’t mean every product or show/movie is compatible with or contains HDR10 Plus data.
Read more: What is HDR10 Plus?
Dolby Vision and Dolby Vision 2
- Potentially the best image quality of all formats.
- Below HDR10 content is available.
- The actual “step-up” HDR format.
Dolby Vision, like HDR10 Plus, can contain dynamic metadata. Streaming services including NetflixIt’s supported by Amazon, Vudu, and Apple TV, and you can find it on some 4K Blu-ray discs. Some Dolby Vision features — including dynamic metadata and color processing — are optional in the HDR format Next generation televisionalthough over-the-air HDR content remains rare.
This is an approximation, using two SDR images, of what you would see if you placed an SDR and HDR TV side by side.
The downside to Dolby Vision is that manufacturers have to pay Dolby to use it. In return, Dolby helps them optimize their TVs to look their best with digital video content. For some companies, this is an easy way to improve image quality. Big manufacturers – like a certain Korean brand that starts with the letter S – prefer to invest in their own HDR formats instead, thank you very much.
After HDR10, this is the most popular HDR format, but that doesn’t mean it’s universal. Samsung is the biggest holdout for the reasons mentioned above. Generally, if a company doesn’t support Dolby Vision, it probably supports HDR10 Plus, although some companies support both. There’s less Dolby Vision content than vanilla HDR10, but big-budget movies and TV shows almost always include it.
Advertise on Consumer Electronics Show 2026Dolby Vision 2 technology offers many new features. The most controversial, in my opinion, is optional Smoothing the movementwhich would allow directors or showrunners to soften up scenes they consider too cheesy, like stir fry. The format also includes Content Intelligence features that adjust the TV’s performance based on ambient light and displayed content. Mid- and low-end TVs will support the basic version of Dolby Vision 2, while higher-end models will offer Dolby Vision 2 Max, which includes a motion smoothing feature. We’ll have to see how it plays out once TVs and compatible content arrive, perhaps later this year.
The good news is that DV2 is compatible with all current Dolby Vision TVs. Older DV TVs won’t have access to the new features, of course, but HDR and dynamic metadata will still work.
HLG
- From BBC and NHK.
- Free to use.
- Streaming friendly.
Hybrid Log Gamma was created by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and Japan’s National Broadcasting Corporation (NHK). Unlike the formats we’ve discussed so far, they’re actually compatible with SDR TVs. One signal that works on both old and new TVs is huge Deal for broadcasters. As you can imagine, it’s not without its drawbacks – especially when it comes to image quality. Like HDR10, HLG is likely better than SDR, but it may not match the image quality of some other HDR formats. It is the format used for over-the-air HDR broadcasts.
Graphical representation of SDR and HLG signal. The vertical axis is the signal, from broadcast, cable or satellite, for example. “0” black, “1” bright white. The horizontal axis is the physical brightness coming out of your TV. An SDR TV would see the HLG signal and think it was “normal,” displaying an image that might have better detail. An HLG compatible HDR TV will understand what to do with the HLG signal and display that brighter information as an actual brighter part of the image (i.e. how HDR typically works).
There is already extensive TV support. However, the content is still in the early stages. If you can get the BBC iPlayer (whether you’re in the UK or… Using a VPN), this service is supported by HLG. DirecTV and YouTube also support HLG, but there’s not a lot of content yet. It’s free and has an important niche, but it’s been years since it was introduced and it hasn’t been widely adopted. Some phones can record HDR via HLG, which you can play back on HLG-compatible displays.
For more information, and why it’s different from other methods, see our website Explanation on the hybrid gamma log.
Technicolor Advanced HDR (SL-HDR1, 2, 3)
- Not widely supported.
- Each “flavor” has its own special place.
- We are unlikely to see widespread adoption
Technicolor’s advanced HDR comes in several flavors: SL-HDR1 is similar to HLG in that it’s fully compatible with SDR TVs, allowing one signal to rule them all; SL-HDR2 has dynamic metadata like HDR10 Plus and Dolby Vision; The SL-HDR3 uses HLG as the base, but adds dynamic metadata.
Path to SDR and HDR in a single SL-HDR1 signal. The top is creating the content, the bottom is what the TV will do with it. SDR content is automatically generated from an HDR signal.
Content is limited to Some NextGenTV broadcasts. It is unlikely to gain wide acceptance among streaming companies.
Read more: What is Technicolor Advanced HDR?
There can only be one. Or three. Or maybe five
Here’s the tl;dr: HDR10 is the main HDR format. Dolby Vision and HDR10 Plus are step-up options that offer better picture quality. All HDR content should look better than older SDR content (or the non-HDR version of recent content). NextGenTV continues its slow rollout. Free over-the-air HDR capabilities still exist, but at this point it’s up to individual channels and channel owners as to how much HDR they want to broadcast.
In general, it’s worth making sure any new TV you’re considering supports either Dolby Vision or HDR10 Plus since dynamic metadata can make a noticeable difference, especially on screen. The best TVs. The good news is that the majority of new shows, movies, and even many games, all support HDR in one way or another. Most TVs and projectors work just as well, though some are better than others, of course.
Note: This story was first published in 2018 but is updated regularly to reflect new HDR formats and information.
In addition to covering audio and display technology, Jeff makes the photo tours From museums and amazing sites around the world, including Nuclear submarines, Aircraft carriers, Medieval castles,epic A 10,000 mile road trip And more.
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