Disney+ finally has HDR10+ — at launch only on Samsung televisions!

After months of waiting, Disney+ is rolling out support for HDR10+, a format with dynamic metadata that allows for better contrast and more natural colours – scene by scene, just like in Dolby Vision.

To start, the new standard has been introduced to over 1000 titles from Hulu's library, and in the coming weeks it will also include content from the main Disney+ catalogue. This means that movies and series available on the service will now be offered in three HDR formats – classic HDR10, Dolby Vision, and the new HDR10+.

What does HDR10+ offer?

Unlike standard HDR10, which uses static brightness data, HDR10+ adjusts the image for each scene individually, resulting in more accurate colours and more natural contrast. This is particularly good news for owners of mid-range televisions, which cannot fully harness the potential of Dolby Vision.

For now only for Samsung

It's no surprise that at the launch HDR10+ will mainly benefit Samsung TV users. The technology was developed specifically by Samsung and Amazon, and the company has consistently avoided Dolby Vision for years. At launch, HDR10+ operates on LCD and OLED models from 2018, as well as on selected Smart Monitor displays with Tizen. Just update the Disney+ app to the latest version.

“We are excited to bring this technology to Disney+ and expand HDR10+ support across our products and the entire streaming ecosystem” – said Inbeom Kim, Vice President of the Display Division at Samsung Electronics.

HDR10+ also on Apple TV and Fire TV... but not just yet

Although the Disney+ app on Apple TV 4K already shows the "HDR10+" label, the format technically isn't working yet on Apple devices or Amazon Fire TV. Disney hasn't provided any specific timeline for when support will be expanded. For now, to watch "Avengers: Endgame," "The Bear," or "Prey" in HDR10+, you need a Samsung TV and a Disney+ Premium plan (which also includes 4K and Dolby Atmos).

What does this mean for the market?

Adding HDR10+ to Disney+ is a big step – not just for Samsung, which finally has a strong argument in the debate with Dolby Vision fans, but also for the entire streaming market. If HDR10+ gains popularity, we could see greater emphasis on open standards, and less on licensed formats like Dolby. For now, however – as is often the case in the tech world – users outside the Samsung ecosystem will have to wait.