Modern televisions increasingly support high dynamic range content, which enhances color and contrast in shows, movies and games. The primary HDR formats include HDR10, Dolby Vision, HLG and HDR10+, each with distinct features affecting image quality and compatibility. Understanding these differences helps consumers choose suitable displays and content.
High dynamic range (HDR) technology allows televisions to display content with greater brightness, contrast and color compared to standard dynamic range (SDR). Nearly all modern TVs can decode HDR, though performance varies. HDR content is available in multiple formats, but not every TV supports all of them.
HDR10 serves as the baseline open format, supported by every HDR-capable TV due to no licensing fees. It uses static metadata, meaning brightness levels are set for the entire show or movie. This format is widely available in HDR shows, movies and some games.
Dolby Vision offers potential advantages in image quality through dynamic metadata, which adjusts brightness scene by scene for finer filmmaker control. TV manufacturers pay a fee for compatibility, and Dolby ensures optimal performance across the production chain. It supports up to 12-bit color depth, compared to HDR10's 10-bit, though differences depend on content and display. An upcoming Dolby Vision 2 aims to further improve quality.
HDR10+, developed by Samsung, Panasonic and 20th Century Fox (now Disney), provides dynamic metadata without royalties. It matches Dolby Vision in many streaming scenarios but has less content and fewer supporting devices. Creators have slightly less control with HDR10+ on physical media like 4K Blu-ray discs.
Hybrid log gamma (HLG), co-developed by the BBC and NHK, prioritizes backwards compatibility. It displays as HDR on compatible TVs and normally on SDR sets, making it ideal for broadcast television. However, HLG lacks the dynamic range of other formats.
Content availability favors HDR10, with popular movies and shows often including Dolby Vision or HDR10+. HLG content remains limited. There is no ongoing format war; most TVs handle HDR10 reliably, and advanced formats enhance but do not define quality. Even without dynamic metadata support, HDR10 outperforms SDR significantly.
