Google is finally rolling out HDR10+ support for every compatible Samsung TV via Google Play Movies, SamMobile reports. The change, now noted as effectively going live everywhere, is available in at least 117 countries. That means that users of Samsung TVs should already have noticed an update to the Google Play Movies app. Or that the update should arrive sooner than later, otherwise.
What does HDR10+ bring to the table?
Media lovers around the globe can tell you about the advantages of an HDR10-compatible screen or television. But HDR10+ is something different entirely, even before it arrived in Google Play Movies for any compatible Samsung TV pretty much anywhere. Developed by Samsung, Panasonic, and 20th Century Fox, it’s open-source like its predecessor. It’s also entirely free from licensing, unlike some competing platforms such as Dolby Vision.
In effect, it’s a different way to encode and decode HDR10 content but it works somewhat differently too. HDR10+ content sends dynamic metadata to TVs. That metadata allows the television to adjust color, brightness, and more on a more pixel-by-pixel, frame-by-frame basis. The result, in conjunction with up to 4000 nits maximum brightness over HDR10’s 1000 nits, is a more realistic image.
That is, of course, driven by a better contrast between light and dark areas, as well as clearer visibility across the spectrum.
Now, Google Play Movies users can take advantage of that too on Samsung televisions that support HDR10+.
HDR10+ support for Google Play Movies on Samsung TVs definitely took long enough
Now, Google initially promised support for HDR10+ in Google Play Movies back in January. That was followed by a promise to support Dolby Vision a few months later. But this is really arriving late no matter how it’s viewed.
For instance, Amazon and Samsung partnered to ensure around 100 television shows and movies would work with HDR10+ a long time ago. Nearly three years, as a matter of fact, after announcing the bid in early 2017. And the library on that service and others has only grown since that announcement was made.
By comparison, Google didn’t announce HDR10+ streaming for Play Movies until earlier this year.