2020 QLED T models (Q80T, Q90T, Q800T, Q900T) HDR game mode brightness / local dimming bug

[Rauttis]

I bought a Q80T a couple of days ago and have noticed a really annoying issue when using the tv with the combination of HDR and game mode.

I'm fairly certain this is a software bug in the TV since I can reproduce this issue with 100% accuracy, and it happens on the dot at the same moment every time. It's basically on a timer.

Basically when the game is displaying a HDR signal and game mode is enabled, exactly after 6 minutes the brightness of the TV suddenly drops by around 20 (50 -> 30). The value of brightness setting doesn't actually change however. Messing with the brightness setting does not restore the brightness to it's original state, but changing the local dimming setting from standard to low and then back to standard does. Switching game mode off and then back on also fixes the issue, but then it happens again EXACTLY after 6 minutes (I've timed this with a stopwatch).

Has anyone else experienced this issue? Or can someone maybe test this on their TV to see if you can reproduce it?

Exact repro steps on how I can reproduce this 100% of the time on the PS4 Pro:

1. Set brightness to max (50)
2. Set local dimming to standard (bug happens on high as well)
3. Enable game mode
4. Turn off game motion plus
5. Turn off intelligent mode and all the brightness related settings in eco settings, as these can influence the brightness level of the tv.
6. Launch a game that runs in HDR
7. Start your stopwatch
8. Do whatever you want in the game or you can also go back to PS4 menus, find a bright scene where you can notice a brightness drop easily
9. When the stopwatch hits 6 minutes, you should see the TVs brightness suddenly drop by a large amount. By eye the brightness drop seems about equal to dropping the brightness from 50 -> 30 by hand.
10. Go to picture settings and set local dimming to low (brightness does not change)
11. Set local dimming back to standard (brightness suddenly jumps to the original level. Brightness can be restored by switching input away and back as well, or by disabling and re-enabling game mode)
12. And again after EXACTLY 6 minutes the bug again repeats and the brightness drops down again

Some other notes: The PS4 has a screensaver that basically dims the screen if it is idle for a while. This is not the cause of this, this happens even when the console is in active use and the brightness can be restored temporarily by changing the local dimming setting like described above. I have not managed to reproduce this issue with game mode off, so it seems to be related to game mode.

Software version: 1304

[Alekkk]

You shouldn't use Black Equaliser and Contrast Enhancer settings if you want your picture to look anything like content creators' intend and use of these features isn't going to stop the dimming, just wash out or artificially boost the contrast of your picture.

If 'influencers' on social media kick up a fuss, then Samsung might show some interest out of concern for 'the brand'. They aren't going to care about this thread. They would care if people stopped buying their televisions, or started returning them in large numbers. But this is unlikely to happen because many people seem not to notice these problems and appear quite happy to utterly butcher their display settings with all sorts of default 'enhancements'. Reviews don't get updated, so sites like RTINGS still recommend the Q80T as the best 4k HDR TV for gaming. I bet the 2020 T series is still selling very well and, like a supposedly ex-Samsung employee said in this thread, the engineering team is now working on 2021 televisions. If this same problem was never fixed for 2019's R series, why expect them to fix it for the T series? Can only hope that people buying these expensive new televisions for their shiny new PS5s or XSXs notice it and complain themselves into a fury, forcing Samsung to do something.

[LCDeez]

That's exactly what will happen.

[SeeNoWeevil]

Hi all, I've created a thread to bring some more awareness to this issue as it spans multiple sets of Samsung FALD. I'd be super grateful if you could contribute there also to get some attention to these problems.

https://eu.community.samsung.com/t5/tv/poor-buggy-local-dimming-performance-in-game-mode-across-2018...

Thanks

[Members_lT3GjDY]

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[Tv52]

I would see the main problem in all those fantastic reviews Samsung's TV got from respected portals. In many cases it was acclaimed as best TV for gaming or best non OLED TV for gaming, which is far from reality (low input lag is not everything). If we gather and start emailing them about the issues they could change their scores and this should trigger Samsung.

Here are some examples of portals claiming Samsung TVs (this and last year models) are best for gaming. Will you help me emailing them? The volume should help. 

https://www.rtings.com/tv/reviews/best/by-usage/video-gaming

https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-best-4k-tvs-for-hdr-gaming-7009

https://www.t3.com/reviews/samsung-q80t-review-4k-qled-tv

https://www.tomsguide.com/us/best-4k-gaming-tv,review-4837.html

https://www.gamesradar.com/best-gaming-tvs/

https://www.techradar.com/news/best-gaming-tv

[Suriya]

Really a good idea

[Suriya]

Just now emailed rtings I'm going to email all the reviewing websites about this.

Pls all do email to the review websites

[Suriya]

In q95t HDR dimming bug is happening even

GAME-MOTIONPLUS ON. But it is hard to notice because already brightness will go down when turning ON GAME MOTION. Keep bright static image for 6min you'll see that clearly

[FrankieSomeone]

I started noticing this same brightness drop problem on my Q90R with SDR content both in the TV's youtube app and with PC input.

Firmware 1361

[RiotRMD]

This seems like this could be the answer. I have not tried yet with on my Q95. https://youtu.be/ov9niiau5x4