Following the introduction of Dolby Vision 2, FlatpanelsHD gathered a list of questions from both our team and the community. Here is what Dolby had to say.
Dolby Vision 2 was announced about a month ago as the next evolution of Dolby's premium video format, expanding beyond HDR.
Powered by a new video engine and 'Content Intelligence', including motion compensation, Dolby Vision 2 is designed to further improve picture quality on displays at home, either as Dolby Vision 2 or Dolby Vision 2 Max.
Dolby's answers
For an introduction to Dolby Vision 2, see our original article. And without further ado, here are Dolby's answers to our questions:
What exactly are the differences between Dolby Vision 2 and Dolby Vision 2 Max in terms of features and display requirements?
Dolby: To meet the criteria for Dolby Vision 2 Max, TVs must feature an ambient light sensor, and feature Dolby-approved motion handling, which will typically require a panel refresh rate of at least 120Hz.
Which TV display technologies are Dolby Vision 2 Max intended for (OLED, QD-OLED, miniLED LCD, RGB LED LCD etc.)?
Dolby: Dolby Vision 2 has no specific display technology requirements apart from the Dolby-approved motion handling.
Are any of the fundamental parameters changed or upgraded, specifically PQ 10/12-bit, Rec.2020 color, up to 10,000 nits, and dynamic metadata handling?
Dolby: Dolby Vision 2 retains the core parameters of the Dolby Vision platform. The advancement with Dolby Vision 2 occurs both with powerful new tools for content creators to more precisely define their vision across a range of display capabilities, and a new Image Engine for TVs that drive a more authentic and captivating image.
Will Dolby Vision 2 be reserved for hardware support, or will content also be explicitly labeled as Dolby Vision 2?
Dolby: Canal+ announced their intention to support Dolby Vision 2 with movies, TV shows and live sports. Devices and services will communicate their support for the Dolby Vision 2 platform, but individual titles will continue to be labeled as supporting Dolby Vision.
When is the first Dolby Vision 2 content expected to be available for consumers?
Dolby: Today our focus is on unveiling the new Dolby Vision 2 platform and our first launch partners. Further news on availability will come from our partners.
For external players or game consoles, must both the player and the TV support Dolby Vision 2?
Dolby: All source devices with Dolby Vision will continue to provide excellent image quality to any TV with Dolby Vision and even better image quality on Dolby Vision 2 TVs. More information about what external devices will support the full delivery of Dolby Vision 2 metadata will be shared at a later date.
Will Dolby Vision 2 be supported on UHD Blu-ray?
Dolby: We have nothing to announce at this time. There is no underlying technical limitation of Dolby Vision 2 that would limit it to a specific distribution medium.
What exactly are the new 'Gaming Optimization' features? Are they supported in both Dolby Vision 2 and Dolby Vision 2 Max? Can future game consoles support Dolby Vision 2?
Dolby: Sports and Gaming Optimization allows the content originator to signal the TV to automatically set parameters such as white point and other TV settings to best match the specific genre, match or game on any TV with Dolby Vision 2. Specific services supporting this feature will be shared later.
With 'Authentic Motion' being available as a tool to filmmakers, is the motion interpolation embedded in the video file, or will metadata guide the TV/player on how to process it locally?
Dolby: Authentic Motion allows filmmakers to signal the precise motion quality in their content on a scene-by-scene basis. There are no new frames created by the filmmaker or by Dolby. Rather, the Authentic Motion metadata in the Dolby Vision 2 signal directs the TV what motion quality is required for each scene, this information is combined with the motion characteristics of that display as defined by Dolby, and the TV applies a pre-defined level of motion handling that matches the creative intention for that scene on that display.
What are the hardware requirements in TVs for Light Sense 2?
Dolby: Light Sense 2 requires a Dolby approved implementation of an ambient light sensor on the TV. The input of the light sensor drives the new Image Engine in Dolby Vision 2 to precisely adjust the image to deliver a perfectly authentic and captivating image in any room – day or night.
Will 'Sports Optimization' also incorporate motion smoothing or other frame-rate enhancements?
Dolby: The content originator can signal the TV to automatically set parameters such as white point, or motion processing to best match the specific sport or match.
With bi-directional tone-mapping, is the upward tone-mapping reserved for specific Dolby Vision picture modes on TVs?
Dolby: Dolby Vision 2 will retain a reference picture setting mode in which the default original reference is produced without tone mapping where possible. Additional picture mode options can be available, typically for brighter conditions, in which the content can be mapped to higher luminance levels than the grading suite reference, guided by new metadata that signals the content creator's instructions for mapping to higher-performance displays.
Will the new Dolby Vision 2 reference mode continue to use DV Filmmaker Mode, fully replacing the previous Dolby Vision Dark mode?
Dolby: Dolby Vision 2 will continue to support a Dolby tuned reference mode that presents the most accurate image for reference viewing conditions. TV manufacturers with Dolby Vision 2 can continue to provide additional picture mode options as they see fit.
FlatpanelsHD will be bringing you more news and details on Dolby Vision 2 during CES 2026 and later.
