On right this moment’s episode of You Requested, what did we find out about Dolby Imaginative and prescient 2? Rather a lot. Sufficient, in truth, to dedicate a complete episode to it. We’re speaking TV mannequin availability, together with fashions you might have already got, what we had been lifeless unsuitable about assuming earlier than, and a few side-by-side seems to be on the unique Dolby Imaginative and prescient versus the brand new format. You’ll be impressed. Additionally, sorry upfront for what number of instances you’re going to hear me say the phrases Dolby Imaginative and prescient.
Dolby at CES 2026
The expertise with Dolby at CES 2026 was superior. It was my first time attending to expertise Dolby Atmos in a automobile, and a few very premium autos, I ought to say, and it was spectacular. Elton John’s Rocket Man and Pink Floyd’s Cash had been good examples of what immersive audio can do.
However what I, and lots of others who acquired an opportunity to fulfill with Dolby’s engineers and the good minds behind the know-how, had been actually interested by was Dolby Imaginative and prescient 2 and what else we may be taught because it will get able to roll out in 2026.
When it was introduced, we realized a bit, however naturally we wished to be taught extra, particularly about the way it was going to work and the way it was going to be higher than an already excellent HDR format.
How a lot better is Dolby Imaginative and prescient 2?
In a single phrase, considerably. Once we met with Dolby, we had been in a position to see this throughout totally different ranges of TV high quality. We weren’t advised the precise fashions, however the first was a 100-inch premium TV with round 5,000 dimming zones and, I imagine, 5,000 nits of brightness. It was a stunner, so it was no shock to see Dolby Imaginative and prescient 2 look nice.
We had been then proven two similar fashions that sit at about $700, inserting them within the mid to excessive tier vary of TVs. The show on the left performed Dolby Imaginative and prescient, and the one on the precise performed the identical content material in Dolby Imaginative and prescient 2. In individual, it was straightforward to see the distinction. There was extra punch and depth to the colour. I don’t like utilizing the time period saturation as a result of I consider that as over-processing, and this was not that. It was merely extra lifelike and actual, particularly when viewing sports activities. Greens and pores and skin tones particularly stood out.
Even gaming regarded considerably higher.
The shock on price range TVs
What actually impressed me was the distinction between Dolby Imaginative and prescient and Dolby Imaginative and prescient 2 on price range TVs. These had been two- or three-hundred-dollar TVs that lack full-array native dimming and sometimes get neglected as a result of they don’t stack as much as Mini LED TVs on paper or in efficiency.
With Dolby Imaginative and prescient 2, if I didn’t let you know these had been price range TVs, I don’t suppose you’ll be capable to inform. Facet by aspect with a TV taking part in normal Dolby Imaginative and prescient content material, the distinction was placing.
A lower-tier TV able to taking part in Dolby Imaginative and prescient 2 content material out of the blue turns into a way more viable choice for anybody who needs nice image high quality on a price range. You continue to want entry to Dolby Imaginative and prescient 2, which can imply paying for sure streaming companies or premium tiers, however the result’s that great-looking HDR content material turns into extra attainable. That may be a huge win for customers.
What Content material Intelligence really means
The subsequent query is Content material Intelligence. What does that actually imply, and is it a type of AI?
Straight up, no. If something, it’s the reverse of synthetic intelligence, and this was one thing I used to be fully unsuitable about. As a creator, once I see one thing that sounds prefer it may very well be AI, my radar goes off. I want to relax.
Content material Intelligence feels extra like a partnership with the creator. Dolby calls what they do an ecosystem, not simply output codecs for audio and video. They work with studios, filmmakers, editors, and creators throughout movie, TV, and music.
Dolby Imaginative and prescient 2 permits way more metadata for use with content material. I desire to take a look at this as a greater manner for the director, cinematographer, and editor to speak their intent. The creator is aware of how the ultimate grade ought to look, however the viewer could also be watching on any variety of totally different TV fashions.
Dolby Imaginative and prescient 2 permits creators to ship extra data, similar to spotlight and shadow element, with the content material. On the TV aspect, that information could be interpreted and translated based mostly on the particular TV and panel. The creator packages how the movie ought to look, and the TV can higher unpack it and maintain that look intact.
Movement, judder, and creator intent
The identical thought applies to movement smoothing and judder discount, which Dolby calls Genuine Movement. Scenes are analyzed for what may trigger undesirable judder, and the quantity of correction can change in actual time. From what we had been proven, this avoids the cleaning soap opera impact and pointless smoothing, making use of correction solely when wanted.
This naturally results in a query. If Dolby Imaginative and prescient 2 and the creator are making all these choices, what management does the viewer have?
You possibly can nonetheless make changes, however there’s a trade-off. You possibly can modify brightness, movement readability, distinction, and different settings, however doing so disables the advantages of Dolby Imaginative and prescient 2. It’s one or the opposite.
There’s, nonetheless, an depth slider that modifications how a lot of the Dolby Imaginative and prescient 2 look you might be getting. Adjusting it impacts brightness, distinction, and the general Dolby Imaginative and prescient presentation without delay. Some folks might not like that, however creator intent is a core precept for Dolby, and there are a lot of professionals concerned in making content material look its greatest.
TV help and availability
So which TVs will help Dolby Imaginative and prescient 2, and may some already-released fashions deal with it?
Sure, there are already TVs able to supporting the brand new format. Dolby defined that some system-on-chip {hardware} was obtainable earlier than they had been able to announce Dolby Imaginative and prescient 2, that means sure fashions can obtain over-the-air updates.
Hisense plans to characteristic Dolby Imaginative and prescient 2 on its 2026 RGB Mini LED TVs and convey it to extra Mini LED fashions through updates. TCL’s 2026 X QD-Mini LED TVs and C Collection must also help it by updates. TP Imaginative and prescient’s Philips 2026 OLED TVs are additionally planning help.
Dolby Imaginative and prescient 2 and reside sports activities
One other standout was Dolby’s work with NBC’s Peacock and reside sports activities. With elevated Dolby Imaginative and prescient and Dolby Atmos availability for reside occasions, sports activities can now profit from the identical premium presentation as films and TV exhibits.
Dolby AC-4 additionally provides a characteristic that lets viewers modify the stability between stadium sound and commentators. If you wish to really feel extra like you might be on the sport, you may flip down the commentary and increase the group. This will likely be obtainable throughout reside broadcasts in actual time.
Last ideas
That’s the whole lot I’ve for now, although I’m most likely forgetting one thing. I used to be legitimately impressed by Dolby Imaginative and prescient 2, as had been many veterans within the TV and audio house. The enhancements are actual, and in some circumstances, genuinely shocking.
