Six Samsung TV settings to change for better picture and performance

ZDNET author Adam Breeden outlines six settings Samsung TV owners can change to improve picture quality and system responsiveness. First, Breeden advises disabling Eco Mode, which reduces brightness and contrast to save power; a recent study found Eco Mode can save as little as $7 a year.

To turn it off: All Settings > General and Privacy > Power and Energy Saving > Energy Saving Solution, then toggle it off. He also recommends disabling Brightness Optimization, the ambient-light sensor feature, because it can produce inconsistent results in changing light. For picture accuracy, the guide suggests using Movie, Cinema, or Filmmaker modes instead of Standard or Dynamic/Vivid (retailer-style) and avoiding Sports mode for most viewing.

To adjust brightness for SDR, go to All Settings > Picture > Expert Settings > Brightness (or Picture Setup on some models); for HDR, use HDR content such as labeled YouTube TV videos to set HDR brightness. Breeden also recommends experimenting with Local Dimming under All Settings > Picture > Expert Settings > Local Dimming (Low, Standard, High) and says his preference on Samsung sets is High.

Finally, he recommends turning off Motion Smoothing (called Picture Clarity or Auto Motion Plus on Samsung) for a more cinematic 24 fps look; find it at All Settings > Picture > Expert Settings > Picture Clarity Settings and either turn it off or use Custom settings for Blur and Judder Reduction when watching sports or gaming.

Key Topics

Tech, Samsung Tv, Eco Mode, Brightness Optimization, Filmmaker Mode, Local Dimming