“It’s no longer just dark telly. It’s dark telly wi’ dynamic range.”
Welcome to the Age of Gritty Pixel Porn
Right, so Netflix has decided to turn the visual knob up to eleven—again. The streamin’ giant now supports HDR10+, the fancier, shinier, more per-pixel-breathing version of HDR that makes your average prestige drama look like it was dipped in cinematic gravy.
And before ye start greetin’ about compression and buffering, here’s the twist: they’re bundling it with AV1, a codec that makes 4K video stream smoother than a fresh baggie in a nightclub toilet.
You’ve already got HDR10 and Dolby Vision on yer telly? Good for you. But if your screen only does HDR10+, now you can finally watch The Crown without feeling like you’re peering into the abyss of your own soul just to see Prince Philip’s eyebrows.
HDR10+: What the F*** Is It and Why Should You Care?
Most of us have just come to terms with HDR, and now here comes its fancier sibling, HDR10+, swanning in like it’s God’s gift to grayscale.
Here’s the lowdown in plain Scots:
- HDR stands for High Dynamic Range—makes the light bits lighter, the dark bits darker, and everything in between look like an art film made on a ketamine bender.
- HDR10+ adds dynamic metadata, which basically means the TV gets instructions for each frame, not just the whole show. So instead of being told once what looks good, it’s constantly adjusting. Like yer maw yelling fashion advice every time you walk through the room.
If you’ve ever tried watching Ozark or Mindhunter without HDR and thought, “Why’s this scene look like it was shot inside a cave during a power cut?”—this is why.
What You Need to Join the Party
So you wanna see your next binge-watch in all its high-contrast glory? Here’s the checklist:
- Netflix Premium Subscription – the posh one, obviously.
- A device that supports both AV1 and HDR10+ – that means most modern phones, tablets, and tellies that cost more than a second-hand Ford Fiesta.
- Something worth watching – Netflix is rolling out HDR10+ on “select titles” for now, but aims to expand. Start with something moody. Or just stare at Stranger Things until your eyeballs melt.
You can read more about the AV1 codec and how it helps reduce data usage while improving picture quality from the Alliance for Open Media. And if you’re into nerding out further, Samsung’s HDR10+ page is a goldmine of spec-speak and industry jargon: Samsung HDR10+.
From Marco Polo to Murky Palettes: Netflix’s Long HDR Trip
Netflix started its HDR journey back in 2016 with the gloriously forgettable Marco Polo. Since then, they’ve made support for Dolby Vision and plain ol’ HDR10 the default for their major releases. Think of it as the streaming version of a band upgrading from a garage to a stadium.
But here’s the kicker: most TVs don’t support all the formats. Some support Dolby Vision. Others, HDR10+. A lot of folk didn’t even know there were different formats—like learning your pint comes in 17 variations and one of them explodes if you hold it wrong.
Now that Netflix’s added HDR10+ into the rotation, if your telly only supports that format, your eyeballs are finally in for a treat. And if you’re still watching on some Tesco discount LED screen from 2012? Well, get ready to squint like a pensioner at a rave.
The Final Frame
Look, this isn’t just about “better visuals.” It’s about immersive, gobsmacking telly that makes you feel like you’re in the room with the serial killer. Or trapped in the spaceship. Or watching a horse get shot in hyper-real slow-mo. All without blowing your data cap to hell.
So next time you’re ten hours deep into some moody drama and thinking, “Why does this scene look like God’s light is fighting Satan’s shadows in my living room?” — know that HDR10+ is probably responsible.
And it’s only going to get darker. And better. Now go rewatch Breaking Bad. Again. Properly this time.
