HDR10 vs Dolby Vision vs HDR10+: What's the Real Difference?

HDR — high dynamic range — is one of the biggest picture-quality upgrades of the past decade. But it comes in several flavours, and TV boxes are covered in logos: HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, HLG.

Here’s HDR10 vs Dolby Vision (and HDR10+) in practical terms: what’s actually different, which devices support what, and how much it matters when you’re choosing a TV or streaming device. For the full list of what 4K HDR streaming needs, see our 4K streaming requirements guide.

What HDR does

Standard dynamic range (SDR) video was designed for older, dimmer TVs. HDR allows:

• Brighter highlights — sun glints, headlights, neon.
• Deeper shadows with more visible detail.
• Wider colour — more saturated reds, greens and blues.
• Smoother gradients thanks to 10-bit (or higher) colour depth.

The result looks closer to what your eyes see in real life. On a good TV, HDR is often a bigger visible improvement than the jump from Full HD to 4K.

The key difference: static vs dynamic metadata

All HDR formats include metadata — instructions that tell your TV how bright and colourful the content is supposed to be.

• Static metadata (HDR10): one set of instructions for the whole film.
• Dynamic metadata (Dolby Vision, HDR10+): instructions that change scene by scene, or even frame by frame.

Why that matters

TVs can’t all reach the brightness the content was mastered for. They must tone-map — squeeze the brightness range into what the screen can show.

With static metadata, the TV uses the same compromise for a dark cave scene and a bright desert scene. With dynamic metadata, it gets guidance for each scene, so dark scenes stay detailed and bright scenes don’t look washed out.

The formats compared

	HDR10	HDR10+	Dolby Vision	HLG
Metadata	Static	Dynamic	Dynamic	None (broadcast)
Colour depth	10-bit	10-bit	Up to 12-bit	10-bit
Licensing	Open, free	Royalty-free	Licensed	Open, free
Main use	Baseline for all HDR	Streaming, discs	Streaming, discs, cinema	Live broadcast
Supported by all HDR TVs	Yes	No	No	Most

HDR10

The universal baseline. Every HDR TV and HDR streaming device supports it. If a service offers HDR, HDR10 is always the fallback.

HDR10+

An open, royalty-free format with dynamic metadata, backed by Samsung and others. It aims to deliver Dolby Vision-style scene optimisation without licensing fees.

Dolby Vision

Dolby’s licensed format with dynamic metadata and support for up to 12-bit colour. It’s widely used by major streaming services and on Ultra HD Blu-ray. Many TVs also offer Dolby Vision IQ, which adjusts the picture for the room’s lighting.

HLG

Designed for live broadcasts, HLG works on both SDR and HDR TVs from a single signal. You’ll mostly see it on live sport and broadcaster apps.

Which TVs support which formats?

Support varies by brand and model year, so always check the exact model’s specifications. Broad patterns:

• Samsung TVs support HDR10 and HDR10+, but not Dolby Vision.
• LG TVs support HDR10 and Dolby Vision; most models don’t support HDR10+.
• Several other brands (for example Sony, Panasonic, Philips, TCL and Hisense, depending on model) support Dolby Vision, and some support both Dolby Vision and HDR10+.

If you watch a lot of content from a service that uses Dolby Vision, a TV that supports it is a sensible choice. If you’re buying a TV that only supports one dynamic format, remember HDR10 is always there as a fallback.

Streaming devices and HDR

Your streaming device must support the format too. Most current 4K streaming devices from the major platforms support HDR10 and Dolby Vision, and many also support HDR10+ — but check the model, especially older or budget ones. Our guide to choosing a streaming device covers this.

Note: The device usually outputs whichever HDR format the TV reports it supports. If both are available, many devices let you choose or match the content automatically.

How much difference will you see?

This depends far more on the TV’s capability than on the logo:

TV type	What to expect
Bright premium TV (OLED or high-end LED)	Excellent HDR; dynamic metadata adds polish
Mid-range TV	HDR helps; dynamic metadata can noticeably improve tone mapping
Budget “HDR” TV with low brightness	Limited HDR effect regardless of format

A bright, high-contrast TV with “only” HDR10 will often look better than a dim TV with every HDR logo on the box. Peak brightness, local dimming and contrast matter more than format support.

Getting HDR right at home

1. Enable enhanced HDMI mode on the TV input you’re using.
2. Use a certified HDMI cable for 4K HDR.
3. Set the streaming device to output 4K with dynamic range matching (if available).
4. Use the TV’s Filmmaker, Cinema or Dolby Vision picture mode for films.
5. Turn off energy-saving modes that cap brightness.

Our guide to the best TV picture settings for streaming goes through each setting.

HDR buying checklist

When comparing TVs or devices, check:

• Peak brightness (from reviews) suits your room
• Local dimming or OLED for strong contrast
• Dolby Vision if you watch services that use it heavily
• HDR10+ if you want dynamic metadata on TVs without Dolby Vision
• Streaming device supports the same formats as the TV
• HDMI ports with HDCP 2.2 and enhanced mode

Common HDR problems

• Picture looks dark: normal for some HDR films mastered for dark rooms — try a brighter picture mode or Dolby Vision IQ in bright rooms.
• Colours look washed out: the TV may be receiving HDR but in compatibility mode; enable enhanced HDMI.
• Screen goes black when HDR starts: usually a cable or HDCP issue.
• HDR on everything, including menus: set the device to “match dynamic range” instead of always outputting HDR.

The bottom line

• HDR10 is the universal baseline — every HDR TV has it.
• Dolby Vision and HDR10+ add dynamic metadata for better scene-by-scene tone mapping.
• The TV’s brightness and contrast matter more than which logos it carries.
• When buying, prefer a TV that supports the dynamic format your favourite services use — but prioritise overall picture performance. Our smart TV buying guide puts it all together.