After almost a year of anticipation and uncertainty, Dolby Vision 2 is finally launching, although you'll need one of the supported TVs to use it.
Dolby surprised home cinema fans with the announcement of Dolby Vision 2, the latest iteration of its dynamic HDR format, just before IFA 2025. With it came a buzz of excitement, but also many questions, most of which have been periodically answered throughout the year.
Now, Dolby has officially announced which TVs will be the first to access the new HDR format, and they all come from launch partner Hisense. We've also seen Dolby Vision 2 running on TVs from TCL and Philips at past press demos, although this launch is strictly Hisense for now.
Supported models include the UX, UR9 and UR8 RGB Mini LED TVs, and U7 Pro (also known as the U7 in the US) Mini LED TV. Interestingly, these models all support the higher-tier Dolby Vision 2 Max format.
The update is only coming to the Vidaa and Google TV versions of these models. Neither Hisense nor Dolby have confirmed if Dolby Vision 2 will come to older TVs yet.
At its core, Dolby Vision 2 brings three perks. First, "a powerful new image engine" which is set to enhance new and existing content.
Second, a new content recognition system that leverages metadata to deliver a more authentic image closer to the creator's intent.
Third, an intensity slider which allows you to "depth and richness of their Dolby Vision 2 experience" by compensating for contrast lost to viewing angles and reflections.
Dolby Vision 2 Max is reserved for TVs towards the premium end of the spectrum, and it adds an extra layer of picture enhancements aimed at home cinema enthusiasts.
These include the Authentic Motion feature, which aims for a "more cinematic feel while eliminating unwanted judder and soap opera effects", alongside Light Sense 2, which utilises your TV's ambient light sensor to optimise the picture settings based on your viewing conditions.
There is also a selection of pro settings which will allow experienced AV enthusiasts to dig deeper into the experience and customise as needed.
As for Dolby Vision 2 content, Dolby says that "Hisense TV owners will immediately notice a difference across all Dolby Vision content" for everything from TV and movies to gaming and sport. That said, the only current content partners that will support Dolby Vision 2 content specifically are Canal+, Peacock, and iQIYI.
These aren't household streaming names on the same level as Netflix, Disney+ or Apple TV, and two of the three services don't actually operate in the UK yet. That said, we presume that more services will support the new HDR format once it has found its footing.
Likewise, we expect more TV manufacturers to adopt Dolby Vision 2 over time. Sony and LG have yet to confirm whether their next batches of TVs will support the format, and Samsung has already developed its own answer to Dolby Vision 2 in the form of HDR10+ Advanced.
The software update to enable Dolby Vision 2 on the previously mentioned 2026 Hisense TVs is set to roll out in the coming weeks across Europe, America and Asia-Pacific.
We'll be testing out Dolby Vision 2 soon to see if it's the generational step up from the original Dolby Vision that we know and love.
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