HDR wars, AVR comeback and OLED's hold — 2026 outlook
- Key Takeaways:
- Dolby Vision 2's quiet launch sets the stage for an HDR format battle in 2026.
- AV receivers (AVRs) and Dolby Atmos setups look set for a renewed focus from manufacturers.
- OLED remains dominant, but RGB Mini LED and LED milestones could challenge it.
- Expect surprise product entries (e.g., KEF XIO soundbar) and brighter 4K projectors at CES.
What reviewers expect from 2026
Home cinema reviewers say 2026 will be busy: new HDR formats, refreshed TV backlights and an AV hardware comeback are all on the cards.
Momentum from 2025 — including cutting-edge OLED launches and unexpected wins such as KEF’s XIO Dolby Atmos soundbar — means manufacturers are not pausing.
HDR: Dolby Vision 2 sparks a format fight
Dolby’s surprising blog-post reveal of Dolby Vision 2 in 2025 caught the industry off guard and created questions around adoption.
Reviewers expect competing HDR standards and manufacturer responses to accelerate in 2026, as brands decide which formats to support and how to market higher dynamic range performance.
AVRs and Atmos: a resurgence
After years of consolidation around soundbars, attention is turning back to traditional AV receivers and full Atmos-capable systems.
Manufacturers are likely to refresh AVR lines and promote features such as Dolby Atmos, immersive audio room calibration and expanded connectivity to match new TV capabilities.
OLED still leads, but RGB Mini LED is closing in
OLED continues to dominate picture-quality conversations thanks to true blacks and pixel-level control.
However, Sony, LG and others are pushing RGB Mini LED and Micro LED developments that promise higher peak brightness and improved color volume, posing a credible challenge to OLED in bright-room performance.
What this means for buyers
If you favor deep contrast and cinematic blacks, OLED remains the safe choice.
If you need extreme brightness for HDR highlights in well-lit rooms, look closely at the new RGB Mini LED and LED flagship models launching in 2026.
Projectors, soundbars and surprise entries
Expect brighter 4K laser projectors from brands such as Hisense and incremental advances in home projection.
Soundbar makers will continue innovating, and legacy hi‑fi brands are stepping into home cinema — the KEF XIO soundbar is an example of this trend.
Final note
2026 looks set to be a transitional year rather than a single-technology revolution: HDR format competition, renewed AVR focus and evolving backlight tech will give enthusiasts more choices — and more to evaluate — when upgrading their home cinemas.
