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

[TomasTSH]

Tried the update, here`s what I found compared to before the update:

On PC:

1. Watching an HDR movie PC set at 4K 24Hz, screen dims after 6mins ONLY when the movie is paused, as soon as it is unpaused the screen brightness goes back to normal (SAME AS BEFORE)

2. Watching an HDR movie PC set at 1080p 120Hz, screen dims after 6mins even if the movie is not paused, to get the brightness back have to set Local dimming to Low and back to High or Standard (SAME AS BEFORE)

Consoles (PS4 Pro):

1. Local Dimming performance on game mode is the same, still blooming around logos in black screen and similar. But as people have mentioned before that is too be expected for low input lag. During 99.9% of the gameplay it`s not visible. (SAME AS BEFORE)

2. Faint scrolling lines on grey background with GMP off still there (SAME AS BEFORE)

3. HGIG is appreciated, make sure to calibrate HDR settings with HGIG on. People saying it makes image too dark don`t getthe point of HDR, the dark areas are supposed to be dark and the highlights are supposed to "pop".

Also people using contrast enhancer defeat the purpose of a good HDR screen as it makes everything bright (though its usage in a bright room is understandable). The highlights don`t "pop" as everything is pretty much at the same level of brightness with it on. If the flame is bright and everything around is darker that`s how it`s supposed to be, it doesn`t mean the screen is too dark, it`s how HDR is set for that specific scene and any highlights are supposed to be much brighter than the overall picture, it`s the benefit of the good HDR screen. Some people seem to miss the point of HDR. Using contrast enhancer is not much different than just disabling HDR and having an overall brighter but flatter picture.

To sum it up not sure what has changed in this update except for the addition of HGIG. Also a good thing that nothing extra seems to be broken after the update, just the usual stuff.

EDIT: Also tried and didn`t notice any dimming after 6 minutes in Game Mode with GMP off. So hopefully at least that was fixed, but let`s see what others say.

[RouDeR]

Game Mode is still completely BROKEN with HDMI 2.1 sources like RTX 3090
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrFPeg4qDlc&feature=youtu.be

[NickHwd]

I've been testing Atmos passthrough on my Q95T with the new UK firmware all afternoon. So far it's holding up so looking good.

I haven't experienced the local dimming bug in game mode on PS4 Pro with Game Motion Plus on or off.

I have, however, noticed new judder when watching Sky TV which broadcasts at 50Hz. Other people had mentioned this in the past but I'd never noticed it (don't watch much broadcast TV tbh). It may have always been there and I've only just spotted it.

[IamPeacock]

I ordered an OLED55CX today, will arrive tomorrow.

I'm done with this circus. If Samsung doesn't know how to service their fans and keeping them in the dark, so be it, but I won't be part of it anymore.

I took an additional warranty for 5 years which covers burn-in.

[RouDeR]

Guys please participate in this thread if you want to be able to use Game Mode with PS5, Xbox Series X and RTX 3000 GPUs
https://eu.community.samsung.com/t5/tv/samsung-update-1402-6-game-mode-still-broken-with-hdmi-2-1-gp...

[Iskandarkebab]

Zero. If you want blacks you have to deactivate that option. Otherwise they will look more greyish.

[Suriya]

Yes you're correct first games should compatible with HGIG reader to read the screen data in the system (ex:ps4 pro adjust HDR). HDTVtest clearly said on last of us 2 hdr review

[daparky]

So these TVs are still pretty useless for next gen console?

From what I can tell from the video, you turn game mode on and then turns itself off?

[jayh89]

They will not be useless. If there are issues, they’ll be fixed for sure. This myth that Samsung don’t listen is clearly untrue. They fixed the dimming bug after all... 

[Suriya]

Can you try turning off GMP motion plus and enable it?