All iPhones with OLED screens can render images and videos with high dynamic range (HDR), resulting in many more colors than regular LCD screens. And with the latest models, you can for the first time not only shoot true 10-bit HDR video with Dolby Vision but also edit, share and play it back. But does your device support these features? Here’s a handy list of all Apple devices that support 10-bit HDR video capture, as well as playback and edit in Photos.
What is 10-bit HDR video?
As defined by the international video standards, high dynamic range video (HDR video) is video with a dynamic range far greater than that of standard dynamic range video, which is often referred to as SDR video. True HDR video allows for a far higher maximum luminance and color range because it uses at least a 10-bit color depth per each color channel.
Using ten instead of eight bits per color channel helps maintain precision across this extended range while boosting the number of possible colors that can be encoded from 16.7 million (8-bit SDR) to more than 700 million (10-bit HDR) for much more lifelike content. That’s a 60x increase in the number of possible colors that can be captured, encoded and displayed.
The world’s first mobile Dolby Vision camera
All iPhone 12 models from Apple can shoot 10-bit HDR video in the Dolby Vision standard, which is a sophisticated proprietary HDR format developed by Dolby Laboratories that’s typically used by film studios. Dolby Vision on the latest iPhones takes advantage of Apple’s Super Retina XDR display for great contrast during both capture and video playback.
According to Apple, the iPhone 12 family is the first smartphone device in the world to enable an end-to-end Dolby Vision experience letting the user capture, edit and share cinema-grade videos natively on the device. “Dolby Vision grading is processed live while recording, and sustained during editing, whether in the Photos app or iMovie,” says Apple.
System requirements: Dolby Vision HDR video
Here’s everything you need to capture, play, edit and share 10-bit HDR video in Dolby Vision in terms of device support, operating system support and app support.
10-bit Dolby Vision HDR capture
Here are all the Apple devices that support capturing 10-bit HDR video in Dolby Vision:
- iPhone 12 mini: 10-bit HDR Dolby Vision video capture in thirty frames per second
- iPhone 12: 10-bit HDR Dolby Vision video capture in thirty frames per second
- iPhone 12 Pro: 10-bit HDR Dolby Vision video capture in sixty frames per second
- iPhone 12 Pro Max: 10-bit HDR Dolby Vision video capture in sixty frames per second
Continue reading for the list of devices that support Dolby Vision editing, sharing and playback.
Although you need the latest iPhone models to capture video in 10-bit HDR Dolby Vision, you can play, edit and share this content on certain older iOS device models as well.
Supported iPhone models
These iPhones let you play, edit and share 10-bit HDR Dolby Vision video in supported apps:
- iPhone 12 Pro Max
- iPhone 12 Pro
- iPhone 12
- iPhone 12 mini
- iPhone SE (2nd generation)
- iPhone 11 Pro Max
- iPhone 11 Pro
- iPhone 11
- iPhone XS Max
- iPhone XS
- iPhone XR
- iPhone X
- iPhone 8 Plus
- iPhone 8
Supported iPad models
The following iPads let you play and edit 10-bit HDR Dolby Vision video in supported apps:
- iPad Pro 12.9‑inch (2nd generation) and later
- iPad Pro 11‑inch
- iPad Pro 10.5-inch
- iPad Air (3rd generation) and later
- iPad mini (5th generation)
Supported iOS and iPadOS versions
The following versions of Apple’s mobile operating system, or higher, are required to play, edit and share 10-bit HDR Dolby Vision video in supported apps on supported devices:
- iOS 14.1 software on a compatible iPhone smartphone
- iPadOS 14.1 software on a compatible iPad tablet
Aside from device and OS support, you’ll also need a compatible app..
Supported apps
If you have a supported iPhone or iPad model running the supported operating system version or higher, you can use these apps to edit, share and play your 10-bit HDR Dolby Vision footage:
- Apple Photos
- Apple iMovie for iOS version 2.3 or higher
- Apple Clips for iOS version 3.0 or higher
4K Dolby Vision playback is also supported on the Apple TV 4K or any AirPlay-enabled TV.