HDR10+ is an advanced high dynamic range (HDR) video technology standard that enhances the visual quality of content by offering improved contrast, brightness, and colour accuracy compared to standard dynamic range (SDR) and traditional HDR10. HDR10+ was developed by a consortium of companies, including Samsung and Panasonic, with the aim of providing a more dynamic and immersive viewing experience.

Key Features and Technologies

  1. Dynamic Metadata: The standout feature of HDR10+ is its use of dynamic metadata. Unlike HDR10, which applies static metadata for the entire video, HDR10+ adjusts brightness and contrast levels on a scene-by-scene or even frame-by-frame basis. This dynamic adjustment allows for more accurate rendering of bright and dark areas within the same scene, resulting in a more detailed and vibrant picture.
  2. Improved Brightness and Contrast: HDR10+ supports a higher maximum brightness level (up to 4,000 nits) compared to the 1,000 nits typically found in standard HDR10. This increased brightness capability enhances the viewing experience by delivering more vivid highlights and deeper shadows, providing a greater sense of realism.
  3. Wide Colour Gamut: HDR10+ supports a wide colour gamut, allowing for more accurate and richer colour reproduction. This feature is particularly beneficial for displaying content with a broad range of colours, such as nature documentaries and visually rich movies, providing a more immersive and lifelike experience.
  4. Compatibility and Standardisation: HDR10+ is backward compatible with HDR10, meaning that content created for HDR10+ can still be viewed on devices that only support HDR10, albeit without the benefits of dynamic metadata. The format is an open standard, which allows for broad adoption without licencing fees, encouraging content creators and manufacturers to support the technology.
  5. Certification and Compliance: The HDR10+ standard includes a certification program to ensure consistent quality and performance across different devices. Certified devices are tested for compliance with HDR10+ specifications, ensuring that consumers receive a consistent viewing experience regardless of the brand or model of their display.

Applications and Adoption

  1. Television and Home Entertainment: HDR10+ is widely used in modern televisions and home entertainment systems. Major TV manufacturers, including Samsung and Panasonic, support HDR10+ in their high-end models. The technology enhances the viewing experience for movies, TV shows, and video games by delivering superior image quality.
  2. Streaming Services: Major streaming platforms, such as Amazon Prime Video, have adopted HDR10+ for their HDR content. This adoption allows users with compatible devices to enjoy a more dynamic and immersive viewing experience. The presence of HDR10+ in streaming services helps popularise the format and provides a wider range of content for viewers.
  3. Physical Media and Content Creation: HDR10+ is also used in Blu-ray discs and other physical media formats, ensuring that viewers can enjoy high-quality HDR content even without streaming. Additionally, content creators and studios are increasingly mastering their content in HDR10+ to take advantage of its dynamic range and colour benefits.

Comparisons and Competitors

HDR10+ is often compared to Dolby Vision, another HDR standard that also uses dynamic metadata. While both formats offer significant improvements over standard HDR10, Dolby Vision supports higher maximum brightness levels (up to 10,000 nits) and a wider colour depth (up to 12-bit, compared to HDR10+’s 10-bit). However, Dolby Vision is a proprietary format, requiring licencing fees, which can limit its adoption compared to the open-standard HDR10+.

Conclusion

HDR10+ represents a significant advancement in HDR technology, providing a more dynamic and immersive viewing experience through the use of dynamic metadata, improved brightness and contrast, and a wide colour gamut. Its open-standard nature and broad industry support make it an accessible option for both consumers and content creators. As the demand for high-quality visual content continues to grow, HDR10+ is poised to play a crucial role in the future of home entertainment and media consumption.