S9 Plus Mobile HDR not enabled & Black crush

[Riyaz]

I've purchased the S9+ and received it on Friday (09/10/2018) as I've pre-ordered. I've noticed that HDR videos that I have on either the Micro SD card or copied to internal storage DO NOT playback the videos in HDR via the native video player. I have the S8 too and it is able to do so.

Obviously 3rd party apps like Youtube may need to release an update before HDR works there so that's understandable, but for the S9+ not to have this out of the box for the native video player is disappointing.

 
These clips are short 30 seconds recording on the Xbox One X and are full 4K HDR (Tomb Raider, Horizon 3 or Destinty 2 clips), and they play as they should on the S8 with 'HDR' showing when playing. However, on the S9+ it shows 'HDR' in bold near the title when the video plays, without the actual HDR enabled.

I've contacted Samsung, they've taken my details, serial number and IMEI number. They said they'll get back to me this week.

Just a heads up to everyone. I have the UK version, Exynos.

Riyaz

[Edit: 27/03/2018 - I do have colour grading issues, I was watching a HDR video at 1440p by Digital Foundry on YouTube and I can definitely see a sort of grainy presentation of dark and black areas of the screen. Black Crush is definitely present. Plenty of stuff on reddit and android central]

[Edit: I have chased Samsung and they called me back today (14/03/2018). They have escalated to their Product Support team as their Chat Team was unable to help and their other frontline support. They mentioned that they don't know when that team will get back to me as it's the first time anyone has raised it. I guess many people can't tell the difference and think HDR is working or it's actually working for them out of the box.]

[Alexeev89]

Same for me mate! Give a shoit when have a solution please !

[Riyaz]

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@Alexeev89wrote:
Same for me mate! Give a shoit when have a solution please !

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I certainly will do. I'll keep you posted when Samsung get back to me. Bear in mind, it was a verbal promise from them over the phone. If they don't get back to me this week, I'll raise it again and mention that I'm waiting on them.

A few other things to note with the S9+, when playing a 4K HDR video via the YouTube app. The videos kept on flickering when set to 1440p HDR with no HDR effect visual. Whereas on the S8, the same video set to 1080p HDR, it wasn't flickering and was displayed in HDR. I had them side by side.

After the March update on the S9+, the same YouTube video no longer was flickering but couldn't distinguish if HDR was working. I'll test and compare with the S8 again today.

On XDA Forum there's a thread with similar issues and seems to affect the exynos version. I don't /can't see the difference with Amazon video or Netflix. Will test those out today as well.

[Alexeev89]

My friend, i just played some 1080p60 HDR video quality on youtube ♡♡♡♡amazing .I will try tomorow for some 4k HDR video clip i will download and play it with the Video app player provided by Samsung. I HOPE IT WILL WORK .c.ya

[Riyaz]

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@Alexeev89wrote:
My friend, i just played some 1080p60 HDR video quality on youtube ♡♡♡♡amazing .I will try tomorow for some 4k HDR video clip i will download and play it with the Video app player provided by Samsung. I HOPE IT WILL WORK .c.ya

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Cheers mate,

I've tested against the S8 Vs S9+ (both exynos, UK versions) and both at either playing 1080p HDR or 1080p HDR S8 Vs 1440p HDR S9+ on YouTube. Also just the native player,  S9+ certainly seems washed out compared to the S8. 

I will add some photos if possible once I can borrow someone else's phones to take the comparison shots of the devices in action.

[Alexeev89]

Now i understand you're point mate .i hope its not that bad like i imagine.all the best!!

[Riyaz]

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/qv8kcho70ciu3dw/AAA5VfPd-hOsbqsXfEAYKdMHa?dl=0

Please the the link above for comparison photos, S8 on top and S9+ below.

Some are of the native video player showing Rise of the Tomb raider, Forza Horizon 3 4K HDR clips.

YouTube, both 1080p HDR with details in the photos of the different videos.

[Alexeev89]

I sow youre pics.thanks my friend there is clearly a deference .well ... maybe soon with updates will solve the clarity and color temperature... at the moment i am convinced it's the best screen and will have some updates for sure!!

[HarryAli]

Hi pal just looked at your pictures...it looks like even the white on the two screens is different...I've got a feeling this is down to your display settings being different and not the video or the player...try going to settings>display>screen mode...make sure both phones are set the same see if that helps at all?

[Riyaz]

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@HarryAliwrote:

Hi pal just looked at your pictures...it looks like even the white on the two screens is different...I've got a feeling this is down to your display settings being different and not the video or the player...try going to settings>display>screen mode...make sure both phones are set the same see if that helps at all?

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Hi HarryAli,

Thanks for the suggestion. The phones' settings and display settings are identical.  When HDR is in effect, regardless of which display settings it set on the phone (Adaptive Display, QHD+ in this case), aside from brightness, playing a HDR video actually overrides the settings for the optimal HDR effect. 

E.g. when playing a HDR video on the S8/S9+, pulling down the notification panel and adjusting brightness outside the video player has no effect on the screen. Which leads me to believe it automatically changes to a HDR preset when it detects a HDR video being played.

I'll add those clips I used in the example to the Dropbox link, so you can have a go if you have the S8/S9 series.