Katarzyna Petru
A month after the official announcement, Dolby shared responses to questions gathered by the editorial team and the community of FlatpanelsHD. Dolby Vision 2 is meant to be more than just another version of HDR – it’s an entirely new image engine with “Content Intelligence,” new metadata, and a dedicated mode for games and sports.
But what does this actually mean in practice? Below you will find all the answers from Dolby – divided into specific questions, along with our commentary and context.
What is the difference between Dolby Vision 2 and Dolby Vision 2 Max?
Dolby Vision 2 Max is the "premium" version and... more demanding. For a TV to meet the Max requirements, it must have:
Ambient light sensor,
Panel with at least 120 Hz refresh rate,
Motion support approved by Dolby (so-called Authentic Motion).
If it doesn't have these – it will be just regular Dolby Vision 2.
Does Dolby Vision 2 Max require a specific display technology?
No. Dolby emphasizes that it does not favor any type of panels – OLED, QD-OLED, MiniLED, LCD with RGB LED – each of them can support Dolby Vision 2 if they meet the requirements for motion processing and light sensor.
Will the content be marked as Dolby Vision 2?
No. Movies and series will still be simply marked as Dolby Vision, but platforms and devices will indicate support for the new version (e.g., "supports Dolby Vision 2"). Canal+ has already announced support for DV2 in movies, series, and sports broadcasts.
When can we expect the first content in Dolby Vision 2?
Dolby is currently focused on announcements of platforms and hardware partners. Specific content releases will be announced by partners (such as Canal+, Netflix, Disney+?).
Does Dolby Vision 2 require support on both the player and the TV?
Not entirely. Any device with DV will work well with a DV2 TV – and vice versa. However, the full capabilities of Dolby Vision 2 (e.g., new metadata) will depend on compatibility on both sides. For now, there are no details regarding consoles or UHD players.
And what about Blu-ray 4K?
Dolby does not rule out support, but there are also no indications for it. Technically, there are no limitations, so theoretically possible – but rather not in the first round.
What is "Gaming Optimization"?
It is a new set of metadata that allows game creators (or platforms like Xbox/PlayStation) to "tell" the TV what picture settings will be optimal for a given game – e.g., white balance, contrast, tone-mapping. Support will be available for every TV with DV2, not just Max.
What is "Authentic Motion" and how does it work?
This is not classic motion interpolation. No new frames are created. Instead, the creator adds metadata that tells the TV, what smooth motion should look like in a given scene. And the TV – knowing its own capabilities – applies the appropriate processing to achieve this.
What about Light Sense 2?
This is an enhanced adaptation to room lighting – it requires a dedicated light sensor and a new image engine. Dolby states clearly: only televisions with the Light Sense 2 certification can use this feature.
Is "Sports Optimization" also about motion smoothing?
Yes, but not only that. In addition to motion smoothing, you can also adjust white balance, brightness, and other image parameters to match specific sports broadcasts.
How does tone mapping work in Dolby Vision 2?
The new system supports "bidirectional" mapping. In reference mode (e.g., DV Filmmaker Mode), the image is not mapped – if it doesn't need to be. But the creator can also add metadata that allows the TV to increase brightness and adjust the image to external conditions (e.g., a bright living room).
Will Dolby Vision 2 Replace Dolby Vision Dark?
The new reference system will still be available – but not as "Dark Mode," only as Dolby Reference Mode. TV manufacturers will be able to offer additional presets, e.g., for sports, bright rooms, or gaming – based on this reference version.
What’s next?
Dolby hasn’t revealed everything yet – complete information is expected at CES 2026. We can expect specific premieres of TV models with Dolby Vision 2 Max (LG OLEDs? TCL MiniLEDs? Maybe a new Samsung?), as well as new features in consoles or VOD services.
Dolby Vision 2 may not change the "physics" of HDR, but it does something that was missing – it pulls in context (light, genre, motion, type of content) into the metadata. It’s a more "intelligent HDR" that finally does more than just map brightness. There are high expectations for support in games and sports broadcasts – but it all depends on who goes all-in first.
Source: flatpanelshd
