Dolby Vision 2 goes 'beyond HDR' with better colors and AI

A decade after Dolby Vision made HDR mainstream, a successor is on the horizon with new features to make the content you're viewing feel even more authentic.

Dolby Vision 2 graphic — *Image via Dolby*

Dolby Vision is a set of technologies that has become synonymous with high dynamic range (HDR) on TVs for over a decade at this point. In the past few years, we have talked about numerous products that support this technology, and now, Dolby Laboratories has announced its next major upgrade, in the form of Dolby Vision 2.

Dolby Vision 2 builds upon HDR tech, and even goes beyond it, according to Dolby Laboratories. It features a revamped image engine which will make multimedia content that utilizes it on compatible displays look even better. Dolby has decided to throw its hat in the AI ring too, through a feature called Content Intelligence which contains various modes that dynamically fine-tune your viewing experience based on the content and your environment.

Precision Black will improve the clarity of images that are too dark, Light Sense will control quality through ambient light detection and "new reference lighting data", while Sport and Gaming Optimization sport white point adjustment and motion control. Dolby Vision 2 also takes advantage of bi-directional tone mapping which enables content creators to take advantage of higher brightness, sharper contrast, and deeply saturated colors.

Dolby Vision 2 introduces Authentic Motion too, which empowers creators to leverage motion control tools that make their content appear more authentic. John Couling, Senior Vice President, Entertainment at Dolby Laboratories, noted that:

We've reached an inflection point where TV technology has dramatically changed while artists continue to demand even more innovative toolsDolby Vision 2 redefines how we think of Dolby Vision to unleash the full capabilities of modern TVs while giving artists unprecedented opportunities to push their creative boundaries further than ever before.

The new tech will be available in two variants: Dolby Vision 2 and Dolby Vision 2 Max. The standard version will be available for mainstream TVs and include Content Intelligence and the new image engine, while the "Max" variant will power high-end TV displays with "additional premium features" that have not been disclosed yet.

Hisense will be the first brand to integrate Dolby Vision 2 into their premium RGB-MiniLED TVs, with French media group CANAL+ being a content partner. However, details about timing and availability of this hardware are currently unknown.