Dolby Vision vs HDR10: Which HDR Format Is Better?

Have you ever wondered why some videos look so much more vibrant and realistic than others? Those stunning effects often come down to the technology called High Dynamic Range (HDR). This innovation has changed how we experience visuals. It makes movies and home videos more immersive. 

In this article, we'll dive into the world of HDR. And compare two popular HDR formats: Dolby Vision VS HDR10. Finally, recommend a HDR software to easily upgrade videos from SDR to HDR.

Quick Comparison: Dolby Vision vs HDR10

At a Glance Comparison Table

Which One Should You Choose?

• Dolby Vision: Best if you want the highest picture quality and own compatible devices. It delivers richer colors, greater brightness range, and dynamic scene-by-scene optimization.
• HDR10: Best for wider compatibility. It works on almost every HDR device and is the standard format for most content.
• Bottom line: If your device supports Dolby Vision, use it for better visuals. If not, HDR10 still provides a great HDR experience.

What is HDR?

HDR (High Dynamic Range) is a video technology that enhances picture quality by expanding brightness, contrast, and color range beyond what Standard Dynamic Range (SDR) can deliver. With HDR, dark areas show more detail, bright areas look more realistic, and colors appear richer and more lifelike.

How HDR Improves Brightness and Contrast

• Extended Brightness Range: Considering how to brighten a video? HDR can reach up to 1,000 nits or more, while SDR usually peaks at around 100 nits.
• Higher Bit Depth: HDR typically uses 10-bit or higher, displaying over 1 billion colors compared to SDR’s 16.7 million.
• Wider Color Gamut: Supports broader color spectrums like DCI-P3 and Rec.2020, making images look more cinematic.

Different HDR Standards

Several HDR formats are widely used today:

• HDR 10: The most common open standard, with static metadata and 10-bit color.
• HDR 10+: An upgrade to HDR10, supports dynamic metadata for scene-by-scene adjustments.
• Dolby Vision: Premium format with dynamic metadata and up to 12-bit color depth.
• HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma): Designed for live broadcast, compatible with both HDR and SDR displays.

What is Dolby Vision?

Dolby Vision is a premium HDR format developed by Dolby. If you’ve ever searched “what is Dolby Vision”, the answer is simple: it’s an advanced HDR technology that adjusts picture quality dynamically for every scene or even every frame.

Dolby Vision Specifications and Features

• Dynamic Metadata: Optimizes brightness, contrast, and color frame by frame.
• 12-bit Color Depth: Displays up to 68 billion colors for smoother gradients and lifelike details.
• Peak Brightness: Supports up to 10,000 nits, though most TVs today reach around 1,000–4,000 nits.

Where Dolby Vision is Supported

Dolby Vision is widely used in:

• TVs & Devices: Premium brands like LG, Sony, TCL, Apple TV, and Xbox support it.
• Streaming Platforms: Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV+, and Amazon Prime Video offer Dolby Vision content.
• 4K Blu-ray: Many Ultra HD Blu-rays include Dolby Vision for enhanced picture quality.

In short: Dolby Vision provides a cinematic viewing experience with richer colors, higher brightness, and dynamic scene-by-scene optimization.

What is HDR10?

HDR10 is the most common and widely supported HDR format. When people search for “HDR10 specifications”, they’re usually looking for its key technical details and why it has become the default HDR standard.

HDR10 Specifications and Features

• Static Metadata: Applies one set of brightness and color settings for the entire video.
• 10-bit Color Depth: Displays over 1 billion colors, offering smoother gradients than SDR.
• Peak Brightness: Supports up to 1,000 nits, enough to provide clear highlights and strong contrast.
• Wider Color Gamut: Works with Rec.2020 color space, covering more vivid tones than SDR.

Why HDR10 is the Most Common HDR Format

• Open Standard: No licensing fees, making it accessible for TV makers, streaming platforms, and Blu-ray discs.
• Broad Compatibility: Supported by almost all HDR-capable devices, from budget TVs to gaming consoles.
• Content Availability: Nearly all HDR movies, shows, and games are released in HDR10, ensuring users can enjoy HDR without worrying about device support.

In short: HDR10 may not offer the dynamic adjustments of Dolby Vision, but it remains the most widely adopted HDR format thanks to its openness, compatibility, and strong visual improvements over SDR.

Dolby Vision vs. HDR10: Key Differences

When comparing Dolby Vision vs HDR10, the main differences come down to metadata, color depth, brightness, compatibility, and content availability.

1. Dynamic Metadata

• Dolby Vision: Uses dynamic metadata, which allows adjustments in brightness and contrast on a frame-by-frame or scene-by-scene basis. This allows for better control over how each scene looks, resulting in more consistent and improved picture quality.
• HDR10: Relies on static metadata, setting brightness and color levels for the entire video, which can sometimes result in less consistent image quality across various scenes, especially in high-contrast content.

2. Color Depth

• Dolby Vision: It supports up to 12-bit color depth, displaying a stunning 68 billion colors for smoother gradients and minimal banding, so transitions between colors look seamless and lifelike. This wider color range gives more life to scenes, especially in content with subtle color transitions.
• HDR10: It’s limited to 10-bit color depth, which still offers over a billion colors and decent gradients. However, it doesn't quite match the smoothness and richness that Dolby Vision provides.

3. Brightness

• Dolby Vision: Can support brightness up to 10,000 nits, though most consumer displays handle around 1,000-4,000 nits. This allows for high peak brightness with greater contrast in capable displays.
• HDR10: Designed for peak brightness up to 1,000 nits. While this still offers strong contrast and brightness over SDR, it may not reach the same highlights and depth as Dolby Vision.

4. Compatibility and Accessibility

• HDR10: Widely adopted and compatible with almost all HDR-capable TVs, Blu-ray players, and streaming devices. As an open standard, it doesn’t require licensing fees, making it accessible across a broad range of devices.
• Dolby Vision: Proprietary format requiring licensing and specific hardware support. Many premium TVs, streaming services, and 4K Blu-rays support it, but it’s not as universally compatible as HDR10.

5. Content Availability

• Dolby Vision: Increasingly popular on streaming platforms like Netflix, Disney+, and Apple TV+ and available in 4K UHD Blu-rays, but fewer titles are available in Dolby Vision than in HDR10.
• HDR10: Since HDR10 is the standard HDR format, almost all HDR content is available in this format, making it compatible with all HDR-capable displays.

Dolby Vision vs. HDR10: Which is Better for You?

• Dolby Vision provides a better picture, especially for high-end content and devices that can fully support it. It delivers more realistic colors, contrast, and depth through adjustments made for each scene.
• HDR10 is a better choice for wider compatibility and works well with most HDR content, especially on devices that don’t support Dolby Vision.

Each item is scored out of five points. The following is a bar chart comparing Dolby Vision VS. HDR10

For professionals, Dolby Vision's dynamic metadata and greater color accuracy are very helpful. If you want maximum compatibility across devices, HDR10 might be a more flexible standard. If possible, providing both formats offers the best of both worlds. Also, recommend you some methods to download HDR video, maybe you're interested in.

Convert Videos to HDR10 and Dolby Vision with AI

UniFab HDR Upconverter AI offers a user-friendly solution for upgrading your videos to HDR10 or Dolby Vision. Leveraging advanced AI technology, it enhances brightness, contrast, and color range to deliver vibrant visuals optimized for HDR-compatible displays. Effortlessly transform SDR videos into stunning HDR quality, ensuring a more immersive viewing experience with just a few clicks.

Key Features of UniFab HDR Upconverter AI

• Pioneering AI Conversion: Seamlessly convert SDR videos into HDR formats with exceptional precision and quality.
• HDR10 & Dolby Vision Support: Unlock top-tier HDR standards for stunningly lifelike visuals.
• Dual Color Space Compatibility: Supports both DCI-P3 and Rec.2020, catering to diverse cinematic and broadcast needs.
• Versatile Models: Export in Fast, Full HD, QHD, or Stunning 4K UHD.
• 200% Faster Processing: Optimized for modern hardware, ensuring faster video enhancement without compromising quality.

How to Convert SDR to HDR with UniFab

Conclusion

Dolby Vision offers superior picture quality with dynamic metadata and 12-bit color depth, while HDR10 is widely compatible and provides great visuals with static metadata and 10-bit color depth. For an easy way to upgrade your SDR videos to stunning HDR quality, UniFab HDR Upconverter AI is the ideal solution, enhancing your content to HDR10 or Dolby Vision with just a few clicks.

FAQs

Is Dolby Vision better than HDR10 for everyday viewing?

Yes, Dolby Vision generally looks better than HDR10 because it uses dynamic metadata and supports 12-bit color depth. This means brightness and contrast are optimized scene by scene, resulting in richer detail and more lifelike images. However, HDR10 is still excellent and works on almost every HDR-capable device, making it the safer universal choice.

Does Dolby Vision make a difference in gaming compared to HDR10?

For gaming, the difference depends on your console and TV. Xbox Series X/S supports Dolby Vision gaming, allowing more precise highlights and shadows. PlayStation 5 and most PC monitors only support HDR10, which ensures broader compatibility. If your setup supports Dolby Vision, you’ll see improvements, but HDR10 remains the standard for most gamers.

Do I need special hardware to enjoy Dolby Vision?

Yes. Dolby Vision requires a compatible TV, monitor, or device. Many premium TVs from LG, Sony, and TCL support it, along with devices like Apple TV, Chromecast Ultra, and Xbox. Without supported hardware, Dolby Vision content will automatically play in HDR10.

Which format has more content available, HDR10 or Dolby Vision?

HDR10 has more content available because it’s the default HDR format for Ultra HD Blu-rays, streaming platforms, and gaming consoles. Dolby Vision is growing quickly on services like Netflix, Disney+, and Apple TV+, but HDR10 remains more widely used across all types of media.