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

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

To start, the new standard has been rolled out to over 1000 titles from the Hulu library, and in the coming weeks, it will also include content from the main catalog of Disney+. This means that movies and series available on the platform 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 colors and a more natural contrast. This is particularly good news for owners of mid-range televisions that cannot fully utilize the potential of Dolby Vision.

For now, only for Samsung

It is no surprise that the HDR10+ launch will primarily benefit Samsung TV users. The technology was developed by Samsung and Amazon, and the company has consistently avoided Dolby Vision for years. At launch, HDR10+ works on LCD and OLED models from 2018, as well as on selected Smart Monitor displays with Tizen. All you need to do is 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 yet

Although the Disney+ app on Apple TV 4K already shows the label "HDR10+", the format technically is not yet working on Apple devices or Amazon Fire TV. Disney has not 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 only for Samsung, which finally has a strong argument in the discussion with Dolby Vision fans, but also for the entire streaming market. If HDR10+ gains popularity, we may see a greater emphasis on open standards, and less on licensed formats like Dolby. For now, however – as is often the case in the technology world – users outside of the Samsung ecosystem have to wait.