Dolby Vision vs HDR10: Nine Must-Know Facts
- Both Dolby Vision and HDR10 are HDR technologies.
- Dolby Vision uses dynamic metadata, while HDR10 uses static metadata.
- Dolby Vision bit depth has 12 bit and 68.7 billion colors, while HDR10 has 10 bit and 1.07 billion colors.
- No television can support Dolby Vision’s 12-bit color today.
- The peak brightness of Dolby Vision ranges from 4000 to 10000 cd/ m2, while HDR10 ranges from 1000 to 4000 cd/m2.
- HDR10 is an open format, while the Dolby company licenses Dolby Vision.
- All PlayStation games only support HDR10, while Dolby Vision has only been introduced to new Xbox games.
- The Asus ProArt PA 32UCX, Asus ProArt PQ22UC portable monitor, and Apple Pro DisplayXDR are the only monitors that can support Dolby Vision today.
- every tv that supports Dolby Vision has basic support for HDR10
Although there is always a comparison between Dolby Vision and HDR10 video and gaming display, both are powerful HDR formats. Today, almost every TV brand is working hard to ensure their product can support HDR display. So, when choosing between Dolby Vision and HDR10, a lot is to be considered.
For instance, HDR10 supports static metadata while Dolby Vision is built on dynamic metadata. Your preferred metadata significantly impacts the level of color and brightness displayed on your screen. Additionally, the metadata will determine the tone mapping applied to the videos.
Also, it would be best if you considered the purpose before purchasing either Dolby Vision or HDR10. Each has its pros and cons depending on its use. Therefore, it would be best to have an in-depth understanding of both Dolby Vision and HDR10. Here is all you should know.
Dolby Vision vs HDR10: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Dolby Vision | HDR10 | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | One of the HDR formats designed with 12 bit and 68.7 billion colors | One of the HDR formats designed with 10 bit and 1.07 billion colors |
| Primary Use | To display high-quality images that are designed with the right contrast, brightness, and color level. | To show realistic image and high video quality on television and while streaming content |
| Name | Dolby Vision | High-dynamic-range |
| Conceived | 2014 | 27 August 2015 |
| Type of metadata | Dynamic | Static |
| Influential Developers | Dolby Laboratories | Consumer Technology Association |
| Open Standard | NO | YES |
| Bit Depth | 12 bit, 68.7 billion colors | 10 bit, 1.07 billion colors |
| Peek Brightness | Mastered from 4,000 cd/m2 to 10,000 cd/m2 | Mastered from1000 to 4000 cd/m2 |
| Technologies Influenced | TVs, Monitors, Games, mobile phones | TVs, Monitors, Games, mobile phones |
Summary of Dolby Vision vs HDR10
Dolby Vision: The Complete History
Dolby Laboratories developed Dolby Vision in 2014. It is the first HDR format to be produced, and electronic manufacturers need to pay for the Dolby Vision license. Dolby Vision was developed to help content developers create, distribute, and playback their videos.
It can support the highest peak brightness than any other HDR format, up to 10,000 cd/m2. Unfortunately, no available device can support Dolby Vision peak brightness. Only a few televisions can support over 1000cd/m2 peak brightness. Nonetheless, Dolby Vision is not useless; it is supported with tone mapping on television with low brightness levels.
Dolby Vision can create a highlight of a high peak brightness video to fit your television standard. For example, if a film is developed to display a 4000 cd/m2 and your television can support a maximum brightness of 1000 cd/m2. Then Dolby Vision will use tone mapping to reduce the film from 4000 cd/m2 to 1000 cd/m2 brightness level in order to display the video on your television.
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Another essential aspect of HDR technology is the color gamut. Dolby Vision has a color gamut up to Rec. 2020, making images look more realistic than the old-age television. This color gamut range is too high for most television; therefore, Dolby Vision regulates the color volume to fit your television standard. Dolby Vision requires a color gamut of at least 99% of P3 and a contrast ratio of 200,000:1.
Dolby Vision also creates the proper brightness and color through dynamic metadata. The type of metadata used between Dolby Vision and HDR10 is one of their significant differences. Unlike static metadata that produces tone mapping to the entire content, dynamic metadata used in Dolby Vision is prominent because it applies the right level of color and brightness on every scene.
Dolby Vision IQ creates clear and natural images because it produces them according to the ambient light. So, when watching any video, it would display more realistic images.
Dolby Vision is dominant in the market today because of its exceptional properties. However, since the release of HDR10+, the market dominance has been weakened because most of its unique features are provided in HDR10+.
HDR10: Used in much more than video quality
Among the few similarities between HDR10 and Dolby Vision is that both are used as HDR formats. However, HDR10 is widely used in most television brands compared to Dolby Vision. Maybe for the fact that HDR is a free format while Dolby Vision is licensed. But there is more to HDR10 than only providing quality.
First, HDR10 Peak Brightness is mastered from 1000 to 4000 cd/m2, which is a good standard for most devices supporting HDR. A lot of content produced for streaming services supports HDR10. Only a few options are available for Dolby Vision.
Therefore, HDR10 has a broader scope that allows users to enjoy more content online on HDR. Since HDR can’t be connected to an external player while using a phone, HDR10 has provided much content for mobile streamers.
Also, HDR10 uses the PQ transfer function to accomplish tone mapping on images and videos produced effectively. Many monitors that are made can only support HDR10, unlike Dolby Vision, in which only
The Asus ProArt PA 32UCX, Asus ProArt PQ22UC portable monitor, and Apple Pro DisplayXDR monitors are supported. For this reason, HDR10 has extended its qualities beyond TVs, therefore, improving the popularity of HDR technologies. Although it uses static metadata, the image and video qualities are still extraordinary when displayed on the monitors.
Although Dolby Vision supports a few games, you can play nearly all of them on HDR10. Many game developers prefer HDR10 because it’s free and doesn’t require expensive installation. Therefore, people get the chance to enjoy the HDR experience on gaming.
Popular games supported by HDR10 include PlayStation 4, PlayStation 4 Pro, PlayStation 5, and Xbox One. HDR10 has 10 bit and 1.07 billion colors suitable for producing quality images in games.
Dolby Vision vs HDR10: Which One Is Better? Which One Should You Use?
Dolby Vision
| Pros! | Cons! |
|---|---|
| Uses dynamic metadata, which is more effective than static metadata. | It is not supported by most TV brands. |
| It delivers high-quality images. | Requires license before using it |
| It has the highest Peak Brightness of up to 10,000 cd/m2 | Only a few games support Dolby Vision. |
| It has a fantastic bit depth of 12 bits and 68.7 billion colors. | It has a few streaming contents. |
| It supports the Xbox one game. | Only supported by three monitors. |
| It has the best color gamut element. |
HDR10
| Pros! | Cons! |
|---|---|
| It is supported in almost every TV | Uses static metadata |
| Many games support HDR10 | |
| Good image and video quality | |
| It has many stream content | |
| It is a free HDR format | |
| Its automatically supported by TVs that support Dolby Vision and HDR10+ | |
| it has the standard peak brightness of up to 4000 cd/m2 | |
| Many monitors support it |
