What is Dolby Vision? HDR formats explained
HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision and HLG: what the formats do and which to care about.
By Let’s Compare · 1 min read · Updated September 24, 2026
Browse any TV listing or streaming app and you'll see a stack of HDR badges: HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, HLG. All of them aim to show a wider range of brightness and colour. They aren't equal, though.
HDR formats compared
| Format | Metadata | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| HDR10 | Static | Universal baseline, royalty-free |
| HDR10+ | Dynamic (scene-by-scene) | Royalty-free, less content |
| Dolby Vision | Dynamic (scene / frame) | Widest content support |
| HLG | Broadcast HDR | For live TV channels |
HDR and the HDR10 baseline
HDR (high dynamic range) widens the gap between the darkest and brightest parts of a picture and expands colour, so highlights sparkle and shadows keep detail. HDR10 is the open, royalty-free baseline that every HDR TV and most content supports. It uses static metadata: one brightness setting applied to the whole film.
Dynamic metadata: Dolby Vision and HDR10+
The step up is dynamic metadata, which adjusts the picture for each scene, sometimes each frame, so dark and bright scenes are each optimised. Dolby Vision has the widest support across streaming and disc, so it's the one to look for. HDR10+ is a royalty-free rival with similar aims but less content. Reading the format isn't enough on its own. The TV still needs the brightness and local dimming to show it.
HLG, and what to prioritise
HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma) is an HDR format built for live broadcast, so it matters mainly for HDR TV channels. When buying, treat HDR10 as a given and prioritise Dolby Vision support if you stream regularly. A long row of format badges means little if the panel lacks the brightness and contrast to deliver HDR in the first place.
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Sources & further reading
The facts and figures in this article come from the references below (some of them not in English), so you can check them yourself.
- Dolby Vision — Wikipedia
- HDR10 — Wikipedia