HDR10
HDR10 is an open, royalty-free HDR video format that uses 10-bit color, the Rec. 2020 color space and the PQ brightness curve. HDR10 carries static metadata, meaning one set of brightness information applies to the whole video. HDR10 is the most widely supported HDR format and serves as the baseline that HDR TVs and many streaming devices handle.
Why it matters
HDR10 is the lowest-cost way to offer HDR, since it is royalty-free and supported by nearly every HDR TV. Its single set of brightness settings for the whole video means some scenes look less ideal than with dynamic formats, which is why premium services often add Dolby Vision or HDR10+.
How it works
- Video is mastered and encoded at 10-bit using Rec. 2020 colors.
- Brightness is stored with the PQ curve, which maps values to absolute light levels.
- Static metadata records the mastering display and the brightest and average light levels.
- The TV reads that metadata once and tone maps the whole video to fit its own brightness.
HDR10 vs HDR10+: what is the difference?
HDR10+ adds dynamic metadata to HDR10. HDR10 uses one set of brightness settings for the whole video, while HDR10+ can adjust them scene by scene, which helps on TVs with limited brightness. HDR10+ content plays as regular HDR10 on screens that do not support it.
Is HDR10 good enough?
Yes, for most services HDR10 is good enough and is the place to start. It gives a clear upgrade over SDR on HDR screens and works almost everywhere. Dynamic formats mainly help on mid-range TVs, where scene-by-scene tone mapping avoids dull or clipped highlights.
Where it's used
Nearly every HDR TV supports HDR10 without licensing fees, so OTT services and video platforms use it as their default HDR version. Short video apps meet it in phone recordings.
By the numbers
- HDR10 was announced on August 27, 2015 by the Consumer Electronics Association, now the Consumer Technology Association. (Wikipedia: HDR10)
- HDR10 uses 10 bits per channel, the SMPTE ST 2084 (PQ) transfer function and static metadata only. (Wikipedia: HDR10)
