Netflix made a significant streaming service update in the guise of HDR10+ support, a dynamic HDR standard that enhances picture quality by providing scene-specific metadata. This is particularly welcome news for Samsung TV owners, as Samsung has been an HDR10+ supporter for a long time over Dolby Vision, which most other streaming services utilize.
Up to now, Netflix has only released HDR material in HDR10 and Dolby Vision streams. HDR10+, on the other hand, shares the same functionality as Dolby Vision but is an open, royalty-free standard that can be accessed by a wider range of hardware. Samsung, one of the largest HDR10+ developers, has ensured that nearly all its HDR TVs are compatible with the format but aren’t compatible with Dolby Vision.
The availability of HDR10+ on Netflix is made possible by the AV1 codec, which was first used to reduce data consumption in 4K streaming. The same codec is now employed to deliver HDR10+ content, meaning devices must be capable of supporting both AV1 and HDR10+ for taking advantage of this high-end viewing experience. All the latest smartphones, tablets, and smart TVs from a few years ago, especially those from Samsung, all support these specifications.
Initially, Netflix will offer HDR10+ on select of its most highly viewed titles, including new releases and existing movies and series. It is planning to expand HDR10+ support to all HDR material by the end of 2025, provided that the device playing back can handle it. This will give Netflix Premium members with compatible devices a richer, more detailed HDR experience.
This trend is seen as a major victory for Samsung since it vindicates the company’s struggle to market HDR10+ in the face of the prevalent monopoly of Dolby Vision. It also brings to an end a long ordeal for Samsung TV viewers, who previously had no means of accessing Netflix content in Dolby Vision.
The introduction of HDR10+ to the services of Netflix follows the increased need for HDR content. In the last five years, HDR streaming has increased by over 300%, and there have been over 11,000 hours of HDR content available on Netflix. HDR-capable devices, which link to Netflix, have increased in number by more than double in the same five years, reflecting the rising significance of quality visual content in streaming.
From a technical perspective, HDR10+ uses dynamic metadata to optimize picture quality frame for frame, similar to Dolby Vision. This provides more accurate and detailed imagery for a total better viewing experience. Using the AV1 codec ensures data-efficient transmission, high-quality streaming that does not exceed too much data usage.
In general, Netflix’s support for HDR10+ is a major step towards improving picture quality for tens of millions of subscribers globally, especially those with Samsung devices. It represents a move toward more inclusive and universal HDR formats, which can potentially reshape the home entertainment landscape.
