Dolby Vision 2 Adds AI and Authentic Motion

Dolby Vision 2 brings AI-driven picture tuning and cinematic motion control

Dolby has unveiled Dolby Vision 2, the next-generation HDR spec that leans on AI to automatically optimize picture settings based on what you’re watching, the device you’re using, and the room’s lighting.

Key upgrades include Content Intelligence, a Precision Black mode to preserve detail in dark scenes, and an enhanced Light Sense that combines ambient detection with reference lighting metadata from content creators.

Dolby says the spec adds bi-directional tone mapping so creators can better leverage high-performance displays for greater brightness, contrast, and color saturation without losing artistic intent.

Perhaps the most talked-about feature is Authentic Motion, which attempts to tame motion smoothing by making it a creative-driven, shot-by-shot control. That promises to reduce judder while preserving a cinematic feel — a claim that will invite hands-on testing.

Dolby Vision 2 is backwards compatible: existing Dolby Vision content still plays on older TVs, but only 2-capable displays will read and use the new metadata. The format is split into two tiers — Dolby Vision 2 and Dolby Vision 2 Max — to make it easier to identify high-end displays that support the premium features.

Hisense plans to be first out of the gate with Dolby Vision 2 hardware, powered by MediaTek’s Pentonic 800. Given that hundreds of TVs already support the original Dolby Vision, wider adoption of the new spec seems likely across LG, Sony, TCL, Vizio, Roku, and others.

What this means for makers, streamers, and creators

Adopting Dolby Vision 2 will involve metadata workflows, display calibration strategies, and quality assurance to ensure Creative Intent survives device and room variation. For streamers, it’s a new axis of differentiation that can improve perceived picture quality for subscribers.

• TV makers: validate Authentic Motion and Max-tier features across panels and chipsets.
• Content creators: embed reference-lighting metadata and test tone-mapping behavior on target displays.
• Streaming platforms: update delivery pipelines and player engines to surface new metadata and controls to viewers.
• Test labs and QA: create shot-based test suites to measure motion smoothing, HDR clipping, and ambient-light response.

Dolby Vision 2 is promising on paper: AI that adapts to the room, shot-aware motion control, and clearer dark-scene rendering are tangible upgrades. But the real test will be cross-vendor interoperability and whether the new controls actually preserve directors’ intent in everyday living rooms.

Organizations facing integration, testing, or monetization questions around Dolby Vision 2 can benefit from a data-driven approach: simulate viewer environments, benchmark tone mapping across models, and instrument post-deployment analytics to measure quality uplift and churn impact.

QuarkyByte helps teams translate these technical changes into measurable product outcomes by combining interoperability testing, simulation, and creative-preservation audits so industry stakeholders can ship with confidence.