Last night, Apple released the tvOS 16 update to the Apple TV. The update brings some new features to the table. However, the most noteworthy feature, at least for Samsung TV owners, is the support for HDR10+.
While most TVs nowadays support HDR10+ and Dolby Vision for HDR videos, Samsung TVs only support HDR10+. The Apple TV, however, was limited to HDR10 and Dolby Vision. That means you couldn’t watch advanced HDR content on your Samsung TV if you use it along with an Apple TV streaming box.
The tvOS 16 update adds HDR10+ support to all compatible Apple TV streaming boxes, including Apple TV HD, Apple TV 4K, and the new-generation Apple TV 4K. The new firmware allows you to stream HDR content on your Samsung TV.
Announced in 2017, the HDR10+ standard has been co-developed by Samsung and Amazon. Unlike Dolby Vision, it is an open standard, so it is free from royalty. Samsung has already stated that it would not support Dolby Vision due to added manufacturing costs and additional licensing fees.
Since HDR10+ is a more widely adopted standard, the omission of Dolby Vision in Samsung TVs isn’t a big concern. However, considering that even the entry-level TVs nowadays feature Dolby Vision, it would be a good time for Samsung to reconsider its earlier decision.
