Dolby Vision 2 is a next-generation HDR format that introduces several new features not found in the original. Here’s what it brings to the table—and what it means for your TV.
Dolby Vision has long been one of the most popular and visually impressive HDR (high dynamic range) video standards, widely adopted by nearly all major TV manufacturers and streaming services. Now, Dolby Laboratories is taking things a step further with the introduction of Dolby Vision 2. This next-gen HDR format brings new tools for studios and TV makers, unlocking even greater picture quality—especially on high-end displays. I’ve been covering TV technology since before HDR went mainstream, so I’m here to break down what Dolby Vision 2 offers and what it means for your viewing experience.What Is Dolby Vision 2?
Dolby Vision is a closed HDR standard created by Dolby Laboratories. It uses dynamic metadata to identify the Dolby Vision-compatible display it’s connected to and adjust the signal to best use what that specific screen can do. That dynamic metadata can also contain instructions that further tweak the signal range based on the scene, shot, or even frame to make the picture you get look as close to the director’s vision as possible.
Dolby Vision 2 takes all of the benefits of using dynamic metadata already present in Dolby Vision and builds on it with even more tricks to precisely adjust how the picture looks. It’s built around a new image engine, the system that processes video content based on information in its metadata. Dolby doesn’t specifically explain what the new engine does other than simply being more powerful, so let’s look at the features Dolby Vision adds instead.
The biggest changes in Dolby Vision 2 are built around Content Intelligence, a set of new and upgraded tools for studios, directors, and engineers to make content look how they want it to on home screens. Some of these tools help automate picture adjustments on the TV end, and some enable more granular tweaks on the creator end.
For automation, Content Intelligence enables Light Sense and Precision Black image correction, features that use a TV’s ambient light sensor to tweak the picture based on the viewing conditions. The Dolby Vision IQ format already makes on-the-fly adjustments based on ambient light, but Dolby Vision 2 does even more.
