Dolby Vision 2 goes beyond HDR with more AI and ‘authentic motion’ smoothing

More than 10 years after the launch of Dolby Vision, the next generation of the HDR format is here, and it aims to do more than just optimize tone and brightness level for different scenes. The new version, called Dolby Vision 2, has new “Content Intelligence” tools that use AI to automatically optimize your TV based on what you’re watching, where you’re watching it, and what device you’re on, expanding on the existing Dolby Vision IQ features.

That includes a Precision Black that’s supposed to improve clarity in darker scenes without straying too far from a filmmaker’s intent, as well as an updated Light Sense feature to adjust picture quality using ambient light detection combined with reference lighting data from the source material. It also supports bi-directional tone mapping capabilities that Dolby says will allow high-performance TVs to deliver higher brightness, sharper contrast, and more deeply saturated colors by letting the people who create the content have more control over how to use the display’s capabilities.

Dolby Vision 2 is also doing more about motion smoothing, the setting that’s a bane of filmmakers, creating the “soap opera” effect that celebrities like Tom Cruise have called out. With “Authentic Motion,” the company says it is the first “creative driven motion control tool,” allowing control of the feature’s use on a shot-by-shot basis to reduce unwanted judder while also keeping an authentically cinematic look. That’s a heavy claim, and one that we will need to see in action ourselves to judge. 

Hisense will become the first brand to launch TVs with Dolby Vision 2 on board, powered by a MediaTek Pentonic 800 chip. Nearly 350 TVs from LG, TCL, Sony, Vizio, and Roku have adopted the current Dolby Vision format, and it seems likely we’ll hear about others adding this version soon.

In an emailed response to questions from The Verge, Dolby spokesperson Cairon Armstrong said Dolby Vision content will still work with TVs that support either spec, but only Dolby Vision 2 capable displays will recognize and use the additional metadata if it’s present.

Compared to the original Dolby Vision spec, this one will make it easier to identify which TVs come with all of its capabilities by splitting things into two tiers. Dolby Vision 2 Max has additional premium features on the “highest performing TVs,” while the standard Dolby Vision 2 label is for “mainstream TVs” that should still have improved picture quality.