This week, forward of IFA 2025, Dolby introduced Dolby Imaginative and prescient 2, the next-gen model of its superior HDR format. It is available in two flavors: Dolby Imaginative and prescient 2, and Dolby Imaginative and prescient 2 Max, which provides much more picture-quality enhancement, and can solely be supported on TVs that meet sure efficiency benchmarks as licensed by Dolby.
Clearly, the large query is which TVs will assist it, and whether or not present TVs is perhaps up to date with it, in the event that they’re have the suitable specs.
So we approached the makers of the finest TVs for official remark, and spoke to individuals within the business to get the behind the scenes view. For probably the most half, the TV makers are being cagey about it, however we have now some concrete responses, and a few extra unofficial data from these within the know.
Which TV makers will assist Dolby Imaginative and prescient?
Hisense
LG
I will come again to that remark about upgrading current TVs later, as a result of it would not seem like correct (as you may perhaps guess from Hisense’s plans).
Samsung
TCL
My understanding is that if Dolby Imaginative and prescient 2 picks up assist among the many key streamers, we should always count on it to reach on TCL’s future TVs with out a lot delay.
Sony
Extra to return…
A number of different TV makers did not reply by the point of writing, and I wasn’t capable of get any hints from across the business about their plans.
What about updating current TVs?
I’ve tried to dig into LG’s assertion about upgrading not being doable, and it appears that evidently maybe there’s some confusion. Dolby declined to answer this declare formally, however my understanding from discussions with individuals within the business is that it must be theoretically doable to improve some current TVs, but it surely’s a small listing, and it is nonetheless not 100% simple.
LG’s assertion that Dolby Imaginative and prescient 2 requires a {hardware} improve seems to be true, however the {hardware} in query is constructed into MediaTek’s Pentonic 800 processor for TVs, which is already utilized in a number of TVs that can be purchased at this time (together with from Hisense, unsurprisingly). As you’ve got simply learn above, Hisense has plans so as to add assist to at the least one current TV that makes use of that MediaTek chip.
However it additionally appears doable that even when a TV makes use of that chip, there might be another a part of its specification or efficiency that will block Dolby Imaginative and prescient 2 certification, so having the chip would not assure something. And the chip is just in a restricted variety of TVs, all launched inside the final six months.
Nonetheless, even past whether or not it is technically doable to improve current TVs, there’s additionally the query of motivation. One TV business insider I spoke to stated that even when TV’s will be upgraded, we usually should not count on TV makers to place within the time, cash and energy when there is not any Dolby Imaginative and prescient 2 content material accessible, and we do not when that content material will arrive.
Studying between the strains, I am additionally guessing that there is a monetary component – TV makers would favor so that you can purchase a brand new set to get Dolby Imaginative and prescient 2, I count on.
Which is a little bit of a disgrace, as a result of it could be nice to have Dolby Imaginative and prescient 2 on cheaper TVs particularly, because it’s a powerful improve on price range screens.
