Samsung TV benchmark brouhaha: Scandalous cheating, or tempest in a teapot?

Two Tv overview web-sites, flatpanelshd and HDTVTest, have accused Samsung of manipulating the functionality of its TVs in get to provide greater benchmark outcomes than they would if not be entitled. No 1 likes cheating, but the problem stays: Just how considerably does it make any difference in this scenario?

Particularly, Samsung stands accused of boosting brightness and colour to make HDR (higher dynamic range) material pop the the greater part of the time the Tv is in Filmmaker mode, and then decreasing individuals values back again to regular for specific checks that reviewers ordinarily use to evaluate colour and brightness. The entire function of Filmmaker manner, of study course, is to present visual material as properly and as near to the artist’s intent as the Tv set is able, so this type of tweaking indeed is not kosher.

All that mentioned, reviewers really don’t rely exclusively on benchmark figures or take a look at machines to evaluate a TV’s picture high-quality. We largely have confidence in our eyeballs and use on benchmark figures and products readings to corroborate what we see. We want our ordeals, the info we obtain, and the conclusions we make to jive with the activities that our visitors get when they count on our views to make purchasing conclusions.

In this circumstance, we pointed out the variation in color saturation and highlights among two of the latest OLED TVs in our Samsung S95B critique and our LG G2 Evo Gallery Edition overview. We desired the S95B over-all, even although the LG finished up being the additional exact of the two. So, Samsung is basically getting accused of delivering amazing picture via improvement, but underneath circumstances that really don’t simply call for it. Potentially they should have only labeled these settings Vivid Filmmaker method and identified as it a working day.

LG Electronics

A term from the defendant

At any rate, we achieved out to Samsung for remark on this concern, and this was their reply:

“Samsung Electronics does not use any algorithm for the intent of yielding distinct check success. When analyzed underneath industry specifications, results from our own tests, as effectively as by an unbiased 3rd-party organization, demonstrate that HDR articles is accurately exhibited on various window measurements, and not just at 10%.

“With Samsung’s industry-primary Quantum HDR technology, the peak brightness also continues to be at related ranges throughout window measurements of 10% or scaled-down, without harmful the panels. Samsung stays fully commited to providing the best image quality to our shoppers, and stands by our Television set products which include Neo QLED Tv set to supply ideal-in-class viewing encounters.”

Samsung

Remaining a skilled cynic, I ought to observe that Samsung takes advantage of the present–not past–tense in that assertion, and that it came soon after the maker rolled out a firmware update that promised to “fix the situation.” Remaining generous, I know Samsung is obsessed with brightness and element, so I can visualize scenarios where by something like this may happen by accident or out of pure enthusiasm, vs . an intent to deceive reviewers.

That explained, I’m not questioning the motives of either HDTVTest or flatpanelshd, possibly. They noticed what they saw, and I have a tough time not arriving at similar–if not the same–conclusions.

Bottom line: Ought to you treatment?

If you’re the variety of customer who likes to dig deep into Tv set technologies: calibration, extreme accuracy, creative intent and filmmaker manner, and the like, maybe you ought to treatment. In that scenario, search to see if flatpanelshd and HDTVTest revise their testimonials as soon as they’ve tested the Television following making use of Samsung’s firmware update.

If you are a extra typical shopper who’s just on the lookout for a fantastic Tv viewing experience, it is likely that none of this will in the long run subject. Except, that is, you feel acquiring the S95B would reward Samsung’s potentially undesirable behavior. And obtaining mentioned that, we still feel the Samsung S95B is a fantastic Tv set.