Sony has recently unveiled the PlayStation 5 Pro console, bringing numerous enhancements for gamers. However, there’s one area where Microsoft’s Xbox Series X|S still holds an advantage: Dolby Vision support, though neither console supports HDR10+.

The PlayStation 5 Pro offers various innovations, including increased graphical performance and faster load times. However, it still doesn’t support either Dolby Vision or HDR10+. Instead, it relies on HDR10, a standard that uses static metadata. The Xbox Series X|S consoles also rely on HDR10 but offer Dolby Vision support, which provides significant advantages on compatible displays. HDR10+ is unsupported by both Xbox and PlayStation consoles.

HDR10+ is an enhanced version of HDR10, incorporating dynamic metadata to adjust brightness and contrast for each scene, much like Dolby Vision. Unlike HDR10’s static metadata, HDR10+ optimizes the HDR experience scene-by-scene, although Dolby Vision goes further with a wider color gamut and supports up to 12-bit color depth.

Dolby Vision generally provides a better quality experience than HDR10 or HDR10+, with several advantages:

• Wider Color and Dynamic Range: Dolby Vision supports up to 12-bit color depth, compared to HDR10 and HDR10+’s 10-bit. This results in richer, more vibrant colors and finer shading.
• Dynamic Metadata: Dolby Vision uses dynamic metadata to optimize brightness and contrast for each scene. HDR10 relies on static metadata, whereas HDR10+ and Dolby Vision’s dynamic solutions offer a more precise HDR experience, tailored to each scene.
• Brightness and Contrast: Dolby Vision typically delivers higher peak brightness and deeper blacks, producing striking differences, especially in dark and bright scenes.

Sony’s decision not to include support for Dolby Vision or HDR10+ in the PlayStation 5 Pro is surprising, especially as the console is focused on image quality improvements. Dolby Vision support would benefit not only games but also streaming services, as more content becomes available in this format.

It’s worth noting that Dolby Vision technology is no longer exclusive to premium devices. For instance, the Hisense E7K Pro television supports Dolby Vision and is available at an affordable price. Test here. Additionally, the Hisense C1 Laser Mini Projector also features Dolby Vision support, providing excellent image quality for users. Test here.

In summary, while the PlayStation 5 Pro brings several improvements, the lack of Dolby Vision and HDR10+ support remains a disadvantage compared to the Xbox Series X|S, as Dolby Vision is currently only available on Xbox among the two competitors. For gamers and movie enthusiasts, Dolby Vision offers significant benefits, and Sony’s decision not to integrate it into their latest console raises questions about the company’s strategy.