HDR10 returns in France

Disney+ has started restoring HDR10 support in France after several months of restrictions. This change benefits Premium subscribers, though not all devices are compatible with the new setup.

Patent dispute affects image quality

The restrictions on HDR10 and 4K content in France were linked to a patent dispute with InterDigital. In August, discussions focused on the gradual return of 4K, but HDR10 remained unavailable until recently.

Disney+ uses VP9 Profile 2

To bypass restrictions related to the HEVC codec, Disney+ has re-encoded its content using VP9 Profile 2. This variant supports 10-bit color depth, allowing HDR10 to be broadcast without using the disputed codec.

Some devices now support HDR10

HDR10 is now available on certain Android TV and Google TV devices, including models from Philips, Sony, and TCL. Amazon Fire TV, LG TVs with webOS since 2020, and Hisense models with VIDAA since 2019 also support the feature.

Other devices still lack HDR10

Apple TV 4K and Nvidia Shield remain without 4K and HDR support on Disney+. Samsung TVs with Tizen and Panasonic TVs with MyHomeScreen also do not benefit from the restoration. TiVo OS and Titan OS platforms, which power some Philips TVs, are also affected.

Apple’s restriction on VP9

Apple’s devices can decode VP9, but the company restricts access to Safari, which prevents Disney+ from using the format on Apple TV 4K. Samsung TVs were the first to support HDR10+ in 2025 but now lack 4K and HDR in affected countries.

Premium subscribers face quality differences

Two Premium subscribers paying the same price may now experience different image quality for the same content, depending on their devices. Those affected can request compensation from Disney+ through a process detailed in a previous article.

Dolby Vision and 3D remain unavailable

Dolby Vision and 3D content are still not available on Disney+. The dispute with InterDigital has also extended to VP9, with no court decision yet. In France, consumer group Que Choisir Ensemble has continued to push for a resolution.