Dolby Vision 2 vs Dolby Vision: specs and feature upgrades compared

Dolby Vision 2 was officially announced in September 2025 as the next evolution of Dolby’s flagship HDR technology. It has been more than 10 years since Dolby Vision launched, and display technology, content creation, and consumer expectations have advanced significantly, creating a need for more precise brightness, colour, and motion handling to fully utilise modern TVs and deliver a noticeably improved viewing experience. The company claims the new update is designed to unlock the full capabilities of modern TVs, while giving content creators more precise control over picture quality. The key enhancements include a redesigned image engine, AI-driven Content Intelligence, bi-directional tone mapping, and motion enhancements tailored for movies, live sports, and gaming. While the first TVs with Dolby Vision 2 are yet to arrive, this comparison looks at the on-paper upgrades and what they could mean for viewers and gamers.

Specifications and features compared

Feature	Dolby Vision 1	Dolby Vision 2
Launch year	2014	2025
Core HDR format	Dynamic metadata SMPTE 2084 (PQ), BT.1886 or Gamma 2.4 EOTF, BT 2020 colour gamut	Same foundation, but with a redesigned image engine for higher efficiency
Peak brightness support	Up to 10,000 nits	Enhanced tone mapping for brighter displays
Colour depth	Up to 12-bit	Improved colour reproduction with new metadata
Dynamic metadata	Scene-by-scene/frame-by-frame adjustments	Expanded multi-level metadata for more precise adjustments
Ambient light adaptation	Limited support	Light Sense for real-time adjustment based on room lighting
Motion handling	Standard motion handling	Authentic Motion for cinematic motion control
Tone mapping	Scene-by-scene / frame-by-frame tone mapping	Bi-directional tone mapping for enhanced brightness, contrast and colour
Content intelligence	Basic content analysis	Advanced Content Intelligence for optimised picture quality
Tiers	Standard Dolby Vision	Dolby Vision 2 and Dolby Vision 2 Max (premium tier)
Device compatibility	A Dolby Vision-capable display, streaming device, or source device with a compatible video decoder.	Exclusive to Dolby Vision 2-capable displays. On older HDR displays, Dolby Vision 2 content will work like regular Dolby Vision.

Dolby Vision 2’s impact on viewing: what changes to expect

• Movies: Films mastered in Dolby Vision 2 are expected to retain more nuanced shadows and preserve bright highlights more accurately. Panels capable of high peak brightness, like OLED or MiniLED, should avoid clipping bright areas while keeping dark scenes detailed.
• Gaming: Dolby Vision 2 could bring improvements in motion control and white-point adjustments, aiming to make fast action smoother and clearer, particularly in competitive or visually demanding games. While Dolby Vision 1 already delivers strong HDR performance, Dolby Vision 2 offers a noticeable enhancement in visual fidelity.
• Sports: Live broadcasts should benefit from improved motion handling and adaptive brightness. Dolby Vision 2 could reduce blur in panning shots and maintain distinct whites under bright lighting conditions.

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Dolby Vision 2 vs predecessor: value and positioning

Dolby has introduced two tiers: standard Dolby Vision 2 for mainstream adoption and Dolby Vision 2 Max for premium models. While the standard variant gets the core features, the Max variant offers additional features like Authentic Motion and pushes brightness, colour, and tone mapping.

TVs with Dolby Vision 2 are not yet available, though. Hisense is confirmed to support this tech in its flagship TVs, and other brands are also likely to adopt it before long.

So the true difference between the two Dolby Vision versions, and between Dolby Vision 2 and its predecessor, can only be assessed after testing. Based on available information, however, Dolby Vision 2 offers a more future-proof upgrade, even though supported content and platforms will initially be limited.

Against rivals like HDR10+ and HLG, which still have their place, Dolby Vision 2 stands out with AI-driven picture optimisation and motion enhancements that can deliver a better visual experience on modern bright, wide-colour displays.

Closing thoughts

Based on the details available, the standard version should improve brightness, colour, and motion handling, while Dolby Vision 2 Max is aimed at early adopters who want the most advanced HDR features. The two-tier approach may cause some confusion, but it gives users a choice depending on the level of picture quality they want. On paper, Dolby Vision 2 appears to be the next step in immersive HDR. Whether casual viewers and mid-range TV owners can continue with Dolby Vision 1 will be clearer once proper testing is done. We will share more impressions after hands-on experience.

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Also Read: Dolby Cinema debuts in India: Here’s what makes it different from a regular theatre