Netflix adds HDR10+ streaming alongside Dolby Vision

In addition to HDR10 and Dolby Vision, Netflix now also streams content in HDR10+ format, encoded in AV1, on compatible devices.

Almost a decade after launching HDR streaming with season one of Marco Polo, Netflix is expanding support to the third HDR format: HDR10+.

HDR10+ uses dynamic metadata to better optimize picture quality based on a device’s capabilities, similar to Dolby Vision. While HDR effects cannot be accurately displayed on standard monitors, Netflix provided this comparison between HDR10 and HDR10+.


 Left: HDR10 on Netflix. Right: HDR10+ on Netflix
Good news for Samsung TV owners
This is particularly good news for Samsung TV owners, as Samsung continues to shun Dolby Vision. Brands such as Hisense, Panasonic, Philips and TCL support both HDR10+ and Dolby Vision.

- "We are excited to announce that we are now streaming HDR10+ content on our service for AV1-enabled devices, enhancing the viewing experience for certified HDR10+ devices, which previously only received HDR10 content. The dynamic metadata included in our HDR10+ content improves the quality and accuracy of the picture when viewed on these devices," announced Netflix.


HDR10+ on Netflix
Netflix shared new data, revealing that HDR streaming has grown by over 300% in the past five years, with more than 11,000 hours of HDR content now available. The number of HDR-capable devices connecting to Netflix has more than doubled in the same period.

HDR10+ content is encoded in AV1-HDR10+, meaning that your TV or device must support the AV1 video codec. Most newer mid-range and high-end TVs support AV1, but if your TV also supports Dolby Vision, Netflix will default to Dolby Vision. Netflix previously used AV1 exclusively for SDR.

- "AV1 is one of the most efficient codecs available today. We previously enabled AV1 encoding for SDR content, and saw tremendous value for our members, including higher and more consistent visual quality, lower play delay and increased streaming at the highest resolution. AV1-SDR is already the second most streamed codec at Netflix, behind H.264/AVC, which has been around for over 20 years! With the addition of HDR10+ streams to AV1, we expect the day is not far when AV1 will be the most streamed codec at Netflix," said Netflix.


Full catalog by late 2025
As of now, Netflix has added HDR10+ to both new and existing titles, including movies and series, covering roughly 50% of the most-watched content. Netflix plans to continue expanding HDR10+ support, aiming to make HDR10+ available across its entire HDR catalog by the end of 2025.

The company said that it will continue to accept only Dolby Vision masters from studios, downconverting them to HDR10+, HDR10, and SDR.

Amazon Prime Video was an early adopter of HDR10+ but later added Dolby Vision support. Apple added HDR10+ in October 2022 and Disney has announced plans to introduce HDR10+ later in 2025.

How to watch HDR10+ on Netflix
In Netflix' own words:

At the time of launch, these requirements must be satisfied to receive HDR10+:

1. Member must have a Netflix Premium plan subscription

2. Title must be available in HDR10+ format

3. Member device must support AV1 & HDR10+. Here are some examples of compatible devices: 
- SmartTVs, mobile phones, and tablets that meet Netflix certification for HDR10+
- Source device (such as set-top boxes, streaming devices, MVPDs, etc.) that meets Netflix certification for HDR10+, connected to an HDR10+ compliant display via HDMI

4. For TV or streaming devices, ensure that the HDR toggle is enabled in our Netflix application settings: https://help.netflix.com/en/node/100220
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