SINGAPORE - Sony Singapore is rolling out a new series of smart TVs with HDR or high dynamic range technology that promises a richer range of colours, together with realistic highlights and improved contrast.
Unlike HDR technology used in photography, HDR in television technology refers to the ability to retain details in the darkest and brightest areas of an image, to recreate true-to-life colours as seen by the human eye.
Unlike 4K content, which might not be easily perceived on smaller sized television sets, content filmed in HDR offer better colours on HDR TV sets, and are more noticeable.
That said, HDR content is currently limited in its availability, although streaming content services such as Netflix and Amazon Instant Video have endorsed the technology and are beginning to offer HDR content.
Sony's 4K HDR TVs are available from 55-inch to 75-inch sizes. They will be available in the first quarter of the year, although no prices have been announced.
The Japanese company is not the only TV maker pushing HDR technology on TV sets this year. At January's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, rivals such as Samsung and LG also touted HDR as their main focus for TVs this year.
Sony's smart TV will continue to be powered by Google's Android TV operating system, and the voice search function, which eliminates the need to scroll through a virtual keyboard when searching for online content via the TV, will be incorporated into the television's remote controller.
