Dolby Vision has established itself as a leading standard for High Dynamic Range (HDR) on televisions for over a decade. At the highly anticipated IFA 2025 event, Dolby Laboratories unveiled Dolby Vision 2, which they describe as a groundbreaking evolution of their already impressive picture quality innovation. The latest iteration is designed to align with the advancements in modern TV technology and the growing array of tools available to artists.
Dolby Vision 2 features a more powerful image engine and enhanced optimization tailored for your television, boasting innovative features that extend beyond traditional HDR. At the heart of this new system is a component known as Content Intelligence. Dolby asserts that these advanced tools establish a superior connection between creative professionals and viewers at home by leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to automatically adjust your TV settings based on what you're watching and the environment in which you're viewing.
Content Intelligence incorporates several advanced tools designed to enhance your viewing experience. One such tool is Precision Black, which ensures that darker scenes remain visible, enhancing the depth and detail of shadowy visuals. Another notable feature is Light Sense, which detects the ambient light in your room to optimize the picture quality according to the lighting conditions.
Additionally, Dolby Vision 2 introduces Sports and Gaming Optimization, a feature crafted specifically to meet the demands of live sports and gaming. This includes enhancements to white point adjustments and motion control, ensuring that fast-paced action remains smooth and clear. Furthermore, the introduction of bi-directional tone mapping allows premium televisions to deliver higher brightness levels, sharper contrast, and richly saturated colors while preserving the artist's original intent.
Beyond HDR, Dolby Vision 2 includes a revolutionary feature called Authentic Motion. This tool is touted by Dolby as the world’s first creative-driven motion control technology, designed to make cinematic scenes feel more genuine and immersive for viewers. Such advancements in motion control promise to elevate the overall viewing experience.
Dolby Vision 2 will be launched in two distinct versions. The first, Dolby Vision 2 Max, will be available on premium televisions, harnessing their full processing capabilities to deliver unique and enhanced features. In contrast, the standard Dolby Vision 2 will be integrated into mainstream TVs, utilizing the new image engine and Content Intelligence tools.
As is often the case with new standards, it may take some time for these innovations to become widely available in consumer products. However, Dolby has announced that Hisense will be the first brand to bring Dolby Vision 2 to market, with support for the new standard featured on its premium television models, including those equipped with RGB-MiniLED technology. Additionally, the French streaming service Canal+ is on board, planning to utilize the new technology for movies, TV shows, and live sports broadcasts.
Mark your calendars for our upcoming coverage at CES in January, where Dolby Vision 2 is expected to be a hot topic among companies unveiling their latest TVs in Las Vegas. We anticipate exciting demonstrations showcasing the capabilities of this next-generation technology, offering a glimpse into the future of home entertainment.
