What we discovered about Dolby Imaginative and prescient 2 at CES 2026

[ad_1]

On at this time’s episode of You Requested, what did we study Dolby Imaginative and prescient 2? Rather a lot. Sufficient, in reality, to dedicate a complete episode to it. We're speaking TV mannequin availability, together with fashions you could have already got, what we have been lifeless flawed about assuming earlier than, and a few side-by-side appears to be like on the authentic Dolby Imaginative and prescient versus the brand new format. You may be impressed. Additionally, sorry prematurely for what number of occasions 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 car, and a few very premium automobiles, I ought to say, and it was spectacular. Elton John’s Rocket Man and Pink Floyd’s Cash have been excellent examples of what immersive audio can do.

<img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="2560" height="1707" data-wp-class--hide="state.isContentHidden" data-wp-class--show="state.isContentVisible" data-wp-init="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async--click="actions.showLightbox" data-wp-on-async--load="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async-window--resize="callbacks.setButtonStyles" src="https://www.digitaltrends.com/tachyon/2026/01/dolby-atmos-auto-ces-2026-scaled.jpg?resize=2560%2C1707" alt="Machine, Spoke, Car" class="wp-image-5941806" srcset="https://www.digitaltrends.com/tachyon/2026/01/dolby-atmos-auto-ces-2026-scaled.jpg?w=2560 2560w, https://www.digitaltrends.com/tachyon/2026/01/dolby-atmos-auto-ces-2026-scaled.jpg?resize=325%2C217 325w, https://www.digitaltrends.com/tachyon/2026/01/dolby-atmos-auto-ces-2026-scaled.jpg?resize=720%2C480 720w, https://www.digitaltrends.com/tachyon/2026/01/dolby-atmos-auto-ces-2026-scaled.jpg?resize=220%2C147 220w, https://www.digitaltrends.com/tachyon/2026/01/dolby-atmos-auto-ces-2026-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024 1536w, https://www.digitaltrends.com/tachyon/2026/01/dolby-atmos-auto-ces-2026-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1365 2048w, https://www.digitaltrends.com/tachyon/2026/01/dolby-atmos-auto-ces-2026-scaled.jpg?resize=285%2C190 285w, https://www.digitaltrends.com/tachyon/2026/01/dolby-atmos-auto-ces-2026-scaled.jpg?resize=640%2C427 640w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px"/> Chris Hagan / Digital Developments

However what I, and plenty of others who bought an opportunity to satisfy with Dolby’s engineers and the good minds behind the expertise, have been actually interested by was Dolby Imaginative and prescient 2 and what else we might study because it will get able to roll out in 2026.

When it was introduced, we discovered somewhat, however naturally we needed to study 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 significantly better is Dolby Imaginative and prescient 2?

In a single phrase, considerably. Once we met with Dolby, we have been capable of 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.

<img decoding="async" data-wp-class--hide="state.isContentHidden" data-wp-class--show="state.isContentVisible" data-wp-init="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async--click="actions.showLightbox" data-wp-on-async--load="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async-window--resize="callbacks.setButtonStyles" src="https://www.digitaltrends.com/tachyon/2026/01/dolby-vision-2-ces-2026-5.png" alt="dolby vision 2" class="wp-image-5941859"/> Chris Hagan / Digital Developments

We have been then proven two an identical fashions that sit at about $700, putting 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 best performed the identical content material in Dolby Imaginative and prescient 2. In particular person, 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.

<img decoding="async" data-wp-class--hide="state.isContentHidden" data-wp-class--show="state.isContentVisible" data-wp-init="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async--click="actions.showLightbox" data-wp-on-async--load="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async-window--resize="callbacks.setButtonStyles" src="https://www.digitaltrends.com/tachyon/2026/01/dolby-vision-2-ces-2026-4.png" alt="dolby vision 2" class="wp-image-5941861"/> Chris Hagan / Digital Developments

Even gaming seemed 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 have been two- or three-hundred-dollar TVs that lack full-array native dimming and infrequently 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 inform you these have been price range TVs, I don't assume you'd have the ability to inform. Facet by aspect with a TV taking part in customary Dolby Imaginative and prescient content material, the distinction was hanging.

A lower-tier TV able to taking part in Dolby Imaginative and prescient 2 content material immediately turns into a way more viable possibility for anybody who desires 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 could be a large win for customers.

What Content material Intelligence truly means

The subsequent query is Content material Intelligence. What does that basically 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 flawed about. As a creator, once I see one thing that sounds prefer it may very well be AI, my radar goes off. I would like 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.

<img decoding="async" data-wp-class--hide="state.isContentHidden" data-wp-class--show="state.isContentVisible" data-wp-init="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async--click="actions.showLightbox" data-wp-on-async--load="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async-window--resize="callbacks.setButtonStyles" src="https://www.digitaltrends.com/tachyon/2026/01/dolby-vision-2-ces-2026-2.png" alt="dolby vision 2" class="wp-image-5941860"/> Chris Hagan / Digital Developments

Dolby Imaginative and prescient 2 permits far more metadata for use with content material. I want to take a look at this as a greater means 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 will be interpreted and translated primarily based on the precise TV and panel. The creator packages how the movie ought to look, and the TV can higher unpack it and preserve that look intact.

Movement, judder, and creator intent

The identical concept 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 have 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 may nonetheless make changes, however there's a trade-off. You may regulate 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 adjustments 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 finest.

TV assist and availability

So which TVs will assist Dolby Imaginative and prescient 2, and might 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 accessible earlier than they have been able to announce Dolby Imaginative and prescient 2, which means sure fashions can obtain over-the-air updates.

<img decoding="async" data-wp-class--hide="state.isContentHidden" data-wp-class--show="state.isContentVisible" data-wp-init="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async--click="actions.showLightbox" data-wp-on-async--load="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async-window--resize="callbacks.setButtonStyles" src="https://www.digitaltrends.com/tachyon/2026/01/dolby-vision-2-ces-2026-3-scaled.png" alt="dolby vision 2" class="wp-image-5941863"/> Chris Hagan / Digital Developments

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 Sequence also needs to assist it by means of updates. TP Imaginative and prescient’s Philips 2026 OLED TVs are additionally planning assist.

Dolby Imaginative and prescient 2 and stay sports activities

One other standout was Dolby’s work with NBC’s Peacock and stay sports activities. With elevated Dolby Imaginative and prescient and Dolby Atmos availability for stay occasions, sports activities can now profit from the identical premium presentation as films and TV reveals.

Dolby AC-4 additionally provides a characteristic that lets viewers regulate the stability between stadium sound and commentators. If you wish to really feel extra like you might be on the sport, you'll be able to flip down the commentary and enhance the group. This shall be accessible throughout stay broadcasts in actual time.

Ultimate ideas

That's every little thing I've for now, although I'm in all probability forgetting one thing. I used to be legitimately impressed by Dolby Imaginative and prescient 2, as have been many veterans within the TV and audio house. The enhancements are actual, and in some circumstances, genuinely shocking.