Forward-looking: HDR is evolving to address one of the most polarizing aspects of modern televisions: motion smoothing. Traditionally, this feature – formally known as motion interpolation – aims to eliminate judder in films and TV shows shot at 24 or 25 frames per second when viewed on 60Hz or 120Hz panels. But motion smoothing has earned a negative reputation for producing the so-called "soap opera effect" and introducing visual distortions. In response, two emerging HDR formats – HDR10+ Advanced and Dolby Vision 2 – are introducing new systems that attempt to make motion interpolation more precise and artist-aligned.
These standards are pitching a radical shift: rather than leaving motion processing solely in the hands of the TV's algorithms, content creators may be given explicit control over how and when motion smoothing is applied, tailoring the effect scene by scene.
Samsung has recently outlined the technical ambitions behind HDR10+ Advanced. It includes six new features, most notably "Intelligent FRC," or frame rate conversion. The principle behind FRC remains consistent: a TV examines incoming frames and estimates the appearance of frames at a higher refresh rate, then inserts synthetic frames to bridge the gap between the source and panel refresh rates.
For instance, a 24p film shown on a 60Hz TV would, with motion smoothing, have interpolated frames added to play more fluidly at 60p. This approach is divisive – some viewers perceive the result as more lifelike, but critics highlight the artificial sheen it adds to cinema.
What distinguishes HDR10+ Advanced's Intelligent FRC from conventional approaches is a built-in framework that allows filmmakers or mastering engineers to control when and how much smoothing occurs granularly. Reports indicate the system can dynamically adjust interpolation strength not only based on creative direction but also on ambient room lighting.
Dolby, the developer behind the rival Dolby Vision standard, is implementing a parallel concept. Dolby Vision 2 introduces "Authentic Motion," described as a scene-by-scene motion management system driven by creative input rather than automated TV settings alone.
Demonstrations of Authentic Motion have shown that it supports up to 10 levels of smoothing in real time, shifting between them within a single sequence. In a test using Amazon Prime Video's series "Paris Has Fallen," the system was observed ramping up the smoothing effect for fast pans and quickly dialing it back for static moments.
Despite these advances, it remains unclear whether either standard can fundamentally resolve core objections to motion smoothing. The technology's critics – who include high-profile filmmakers – argue that even when selectively applied, interpolation may not fully overcome the inherent uncanny visual quality, nor the visual artifacts such as halos or ghosting that can occur when a TV miscalculates the transition between two very different frames.
Neither HDR10+ Advanced nor Dolby Vision 2 has published metrics or demonstrated real-world results that directly address artifact suppression, and current previews are mainly limited to controlled simulations rather than consumer-ready products.
Adoption rates and industry support present additional hurdles. HDR10+ was introduced in 2017 and is now supported by hundreds of films and several major streaming platforms, while Dolby Vision, active since 2014, is available across nearly 1,000 movie titles.
However, the workload for content producers to master footage with per-scene motion metadata for these new features is unknown and could be significantly greater than in current HDR pipelines.
Samsung expects to launch HDR10+ Advanced on its 2026 models, with Prime Video set to offer support. Dolby Vision 2, meanwhile, is not yet scheduled for release.
Image credit: PC Magazine
HDR10+ Advanced and Dolby Vision 2 could redefine motion smoothing for TVs
