After months of waiting and deliberating, I’m finally ready to buy a new TV. The two TVs that have caught my attention are the 65-inch models from Samsung and Sony.

I’ve heard that Sony TVs are great at picture processing. And since I’m more of a movie person than a gamer, that’s a quality I value more. 

At the same time though, I’m getting the Samsung Quantum-dot OLED TV for just a few more bucks. It has a much superior color vibrancy, brightness, and viewing angles. It is the perfect choice for me in that price range.

But, the only thing holding me back is the confusion of whether it comes with Dolby Vision or not. 

As a movie person, I think having a TV with Dolby Vision will improve my viewing experience since a majority of movies these days use Dolby Vision.

So, I set out to research Samsung TVs with Dolby Vision. And unfortunately, I couldn’t find any. When I asked Samsung support for the same, they confirmed my findings.

Samsung TVs do not have Dolby Vision. Instead, all Samsung TVs launched since 2016 come with in-built HDR10+ technology which is an alternative to Dolby Vision. Your Samsung TV automatically detects video with HDR10+ and applies the format. 

Why Do Samsung TVs Don’t Have Dolby Vision?

Dolby Vision is an HDR format developed by Dolby Laboratories. It uses dynamic metadata to set the picture settings on a scene-by-scene basis. 

While Dolby Vision is supported by many streaming services and studios, it requires a license fee to be paid by manufacturers who want to implement it in their TVs.

So, rather than Dolby Vision, Samsung has opted to support its own HDR format, HDR10+. 

HDR10+ is an open standard that Samsung has developed in partnership with Panasonic and 20th Century Fox. It also uses dynamic metadata to adjust the picture settings on a scene-by-scene basis, providing an accurate and vibrant HDR viewing experience.

Dolby Vision vs HDR10+: Which is Better?

Both Dolby Vision and HDR10+ are advanced high dynamic range (HDR) formats that offer a superior viewing experience compared to standard dynamic range (SDR) content.

Both technologies use dynamic metadata to adjust the picture settings on a scene-by-scene basis. This enables them to deliver a wider color gamut, greater contrast, and more accurate highlights and shadows.

Here are some key comparison points between Dolby Vision and HDR10+.

While Dolby Vision has a slight edge in terms of color depth, brightness, and content availability, HDR10+ is a more accessible format that is available to all manufacturers and has the potential to become more widely adopted in the future.

Which Samsung TVs Have HDR10+?

All Samsung Qled TVs like the Terrace, Sero, and Frame series are equipped with HDR10+. 

Additionally, all Samsung UHD TVs manufactured since 2016 are also capable of displaying HDR10+ content. Overall, hundreds of Samsung TVs support HDR10+.

Some of the Samsung TV series which have capabilities of HDR10+ are:

• Samsung MLED TV
• Samsung OLED TV
• Samsung QLED TV
• Samsung QLED 4K TV
• Samsung QLED 8K TV
• Samsung Hotel TV
• Samsung LifeStyle TV – Terrace / Sero / Frame / Serif
• Samsung The Wall

How to Turn On HDR Settings in Samsung TV

If your Samsung TV is equipped with HDR10+, it will automatically detect the HDR10+ content and apply the format. You do not need to enable it separately on your Samsung TV. 

However, for some Samsung UHD TVs, you may need to manually turn on the HDR settings while streaming video from a Blu-ray player or your computer.

To turn on HDR on a Samsung TV:

1. Click the Menu button on your Samsung TV remote.
2. Navigate to Picture settings.
3. Go to Expert Settings.
4. Turn on the HDR10+ option. 

Note: For some Samsung TV models, this option may be labeled as HDMI UHD Color, HDMI Color Format, or HDR+ Mode.

Once you turn on the HDR mode on your Samsung TV, it will start displaying content in HDR format. 

That said, you need to be using the HDR10+ supported Blu-ray player and UHD-capable HDMI cables to successfully stream HDR10+ content. In case you are using an unsupported UHD Blu-ray player, the content will play in standard HDR10 format. 

Should You Buy a Samsung TV Even If There Is No Dolby Vision?

Even if Samsung TVs do not have Dolby Vision, they are still capable of displaying HDR content via the HDR10+ format. 

Ideally, you shouldn’t worry too much about which format your TV supports.

If you are specifically looking for Dolby Vision, you should consider other TV brands such as LG or Sony. But if you prioritize other factors such as price or picture quality, Samsung TVs can be a good choice for you. 

Ultimately, the decision to buy a Samsung TV or not depends on your personal preference, budget, and the type of content you are looking to watch. 

If you are more into Prime Video and YouTube, Samsung TVs with HDR10+ are a good choice for you. On the other hand, if you stream a lot of Netflix, Apple TV, and Disney Plus, a TV with Dolby Vision would serve you better. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is dynamic metadata?

Dynamic metadata is a feature that allows for scene-by-scene adjustments to the picture settings. This means that the color grading and brightness levels can be optimized for each scene, rather than using a single set of settings for the entire movie or TV show.

Do I need a Dolby Vision-compatible TV to watch Dolby Vision content?

Yes, you need a TV that supports Dolby Vision to watch content in that format. If your TV does not support Dolby Vision, the content will still play, but it will not be optimized for Dolby Vision.

What is the difference between Samsung’s QLED and OLED TVs?

Samsung’s QLED TVs use a quantum dot filter to enhance the color and brightness of the TV, while OLED TVs use organic light-emitting diodes to produce a higher contrast ratio and deeper blacks. 

What is the difference between HDR10 and HDR10+?

HDR10+ is an enhanced version of HDR10 that uses dynamic metadata to adjust the picture settings scene-by-scene, similar to Dolby Vision. HDR10+ is only supported by select TV brands and streaming services.