The battle against the dreaded 'soap opera effect' is heating up! New HDR10+ Advanced and Dolby Vision 2 standards are stepping into the ring, promising to tackle the controversial motion smoothing issue that has plagued modern TVs.
The Problem: Motion smoothing, a feature on most modern TVs, aims to eliminate judder in films and shows shot at 24p or 25p and displayed on 60Hz or 120Hz screens. However, it often results in the soap opera effect, making movies look like they were shot on cheap video cameras instead of film. This has been a thorn in the side of many cinephiles, home theater enthusiasts, and even Hollywood bigwigs.
The Solution? HDR10+ Advanced introduces Intelligent FRC (Frame Rate Conversion), allowing content creators to control the level of motion smoothing in each scene. It adapts the smoothing intensity based on ambient lighting, ensuring a more nuanced approach. Dolby Vision 2's Authentic Motion feature follows a similar path, offering 10 levels of motion smoothing and aiming for a more cinematic experience without unwanted judder. But here's where it gets controversial—will these new standards actually fix the issue?
The Jury is Out: While these technologies sound promising, it's unclear if they will improve the viewing experience for those who already dislike motion smoothing. The standards might prevent the soap opera effect in certain scenes, but they haven't proven natural-looking motion at various scales. Additionally, neither addresses common visual artifacts like halos, which occur when TVs struggle with interpolating between contrasting frames.
The Proof is in the Pudding: Samsung has demonstrated simulations of HDR10+ Advanced's Intelligent FRC, but real-time performance on supported TVs remains to be seen. Adoption is another concern, as content creators will need to master HDR10+ Advanced and Dolby Vision 2 for their benefits to reach viewers. HDR10+ Advanced is set to debut on Samsung's 2026 TVs with Prime Video support, while Dolby Vision 2's release date is still a mystery.
The Bottom Line: With motion smoothing being a default setting on many TVs, improvements could significantly impact the viewing experience. However, both standards have a long road ahead to convince viewers and industry giants alike that they've conquered the soap opera effect. Will these new standards win over the skeptics, or will the debate rage on? Share your thoughts below!
