How to Tell If Samsung TV Is Playing HDR

In recent years, HDR (high-dynamic-range imaging) has revolutionized the TV viewing experience. You can now watch every scene burst from the screen in bright, vivid detail. But finding out whether this feature has been enabled isn’t as straightforward as you’d think.

In this article, we’ll not only show you how to tell whether your Samsung TV is playing in HDR, but show you how to enable it if it’s not. Keep reading to find out.

How to Check Whether Your TV Uses HDR?

The best way to do this is by trying to use a source or an app that works only in HDR. For the purposes of this article, we’ve used the Apple TV app. Yes, you can use Apple TV on your Samsung. In fact, the feature was introduced back in 2018. All you have to do is download it from the app store.

Apple TV always outputs in 4K HDR, and that’s why it’s perfect for this experiment. Here’s what you have to do:

Turn on your Apple TV on Samsung.
Press the Info button on your remote control.
You’ll see all details about the source.
Take a look at the bottom right corner, and you should see the HDR sign.
It means that your Samsung TV is using HDR.

On the other hand, if you don’t see the HDR sign, it can mean two things. Maybe you have an older generation of Samsung TV that can’t play HDR. However, that’s unlikely to be the case as most Samsung Smart TVs have HDR. You probably just have to enable it on your TV, and we’ll show you how to do it.

How to Enable HDR on Samsung TV?

Before you start, check whether your Samsung TV supports HDR. Like we said, most do. If you’re not sure, check the box that came with your TV. If you don’t have it anymore, you can find information about your model online.

When you’re ready, turn on your TV and follow these instructions:

Open the Settings on your Samsung TV.
Tap on the General Settings.
Open External Device Manager.
Select HDMI UHD Color.
Enable HDR for the HDMI you want to use.

There you have it! Now, your Samsung TV should be able to play HDR, and the quality should improve.

We assume you wanted to enable HDR because of your Xbox or any similar device you want to connect with your Samsung TV. After you’ve allowed HDR, go ahead and reset your Xbox. When you turn it on again, you should see the HDR sign, and you’ll immediately be able to use it.

Why Is HDR so Important?

Most gamers understand the importance of HDR. Nowadays, it’s often a prerequisite for some games, and they can’t be played in different formats. That’s why HDR is a must-have for every gamer.

Although most streaming apps don’t require HDR yet, it could happen in the future. In fact, major services such as Netflix, are starting to produce more and more HDR movies and TV shows. It looks like HDR could become a standard pretty soon. But what makes it so special?

Better contrast – If you compared two similar models of TV, where one used HDR and the other didn’t, you’d be surprised by the difference in contrast. The HDR mode is so much better, making objects on TV seem more natural, as if in real life.
Brighter highlights – Devices that use HDR mode are able to display brighter highlights, which allows you to see some tones you wouldn’t be able to see otherwise. Also, the lighting in your room won’t affect the quality of the picture on the screen.
Deeper colors – This feature stands out when you watch nature scenes on your HDR TV. The colors appear deeper, richer, making you forget you’re watching them on the screen.

It’s challenging to describe HDR in words. One has to see it in order to notice the difference. However, people who have tried HDR once are unlikely to want to give it up.

Wrap Up

If you’re buying a new device, don’t forget to check whether it has HDR. Even if you don’t use it all the time, it can be useful in certain situations. For example, when you’re playing games on your TV or watching a visually stunning nature documentary. Most Samsung TVs have HDR, you just need to know where to look for it.

We hope this article was useful, and you managed to enable your HDR. What kind of content do you usually watch in HDR mode? Let us know in the comments section below.