How to know if your TV is HDR capable
This can be done as follows:

Depending on the manufacturer, different designations may be used: HDR Premium, High Dynamic Range, UHD Color, etc. To watch HDR video, it is enough to turn on the appropriate content on the TV screen. The show should start in auto mode, without any additional actions from the user.
How can you enable HDR on a TV from Samsung, LG or other brands, if this has not happened, and the equipment exactly supports the specified mode? Go to the settings and see in the image parameters if the HDR format is active. If necessary, click “on” or “on”. Reboot device.
What is HDR on TV
Such a decoding as an extended dynamic range is unlikely to tell something to a simple user without a technical background. Rather, users will be interested in the practical side of the question: what will it give for viewing and is HDR support needed on the TV? This video format is not just created to increase the number of pixels in the picture, it makes the content “alive”.
The technology aims to expand the range of color and contrast of the image. As a result, the viewer gets a super-colorful picture, the best rendering of shades, the opportunity to see the smallest details in the darkest and lightest scenes. Studio-quality content is now available when watching movie hits at home.
HDR in photos and TV: differences
The task of this technology in smartphones, cameras and TV is the same. to achieve maximum color and super contrast, only the approaches are different:
A guide in 5 points of what is HDR on a TV: 2 types, setting, how to turn it on
Almost all major brands have taken on the issue of TV with HDR support: Samsung, LG, Sony, etc. over, this technique is far from the budget category. So is the technology worth buying the more expensive HDR models? Find out in more detail what it is, where else is it used and what content can be watched on similar TV. in the article.
HDR types
This video format is classified into two main types:
- HDR10. Provides 10 bit color depth. The whole video is being processed. Supported by all TV panels with this technology (for example, KD43XG7096BR), Blu-ray players, game consoles, services such as Netflix.
New: There is also HDR10, which differs in that the brightness can change during the video, and in HDR10 the parameters are set once, at the very beginning.
- Dolby Vision. capable of supporting 12-bit color range. Each scene undergoes personal processing, the picture looks three-dimensional, as close to reality as possible. Essentially, this is the premium High Dynamic Range format. Used in a limited number of vehicles from the more expensive segment.
These views require the TV to support 4K resolution, wide color gamut, at least 10-bit shade depth.
What you can watch in HDR
Beginning in 2015, major film studios began releasing most of the films in High Dynamic Range. This means that there is content with realistic contrast and color, and it is becoming more and more.
Where and what you can see:
- Cinemas online. The same “Netflix”, “Megogo”, Ivi and other services contain a collection of new films adapted for the HDR mode on the TV.
- Gaming consoles from Sony. Consoles such as PlayStation 4 Pro can be connected to an HDR TV and run gameplay in improved quality. Not all, but, for example, shooters from the Gears of War series or other gaming content from major developers. you can.
- Blu-ray players. Blockbusters released on Ultra HD discs will be shown on suitable TV, amaze viewers with realism of colors and jewelry elaboration of details.
Important: HDR content cannot be viewed on regular TV. The maximum that the viewer will see is a standard image, without an increased range of shades and contrast.
Reproduction requirements
What does TV need to please viewers with hits in HDR format:
- resolution. min 4K (3840 x 2160 pixels);
- brightness margin. 1000-1500 nits;
- color depth. at least 10 bit;
- color palette. Rec. 2020.
In addition, special technologies are used, such as quantum dot illumination. Of course, in addition to a suitable TV, such as the KD43XF7596BR, you will also need content released in a suitable format.
So what does HDR TV do? Super color and stunning contrast in movies or gameplay. There is no need to “twist” the saturation of the tone or make the image temperature higher / lower. The quality of the video content is automatically the best. How to check the presence of HDR on a TV. the reader already knows and can do this to find out if the picture “comes to life” here.
How can you tell that You are Watching 4K HDR 10 on YouTube TV App
How to set up 4K on LG TV
4K Ultra HD TVs have four times the pixel count of previous generation Full HD TVs, while OLED and Quantum Dot technologies make the picture even clearer and more detailed. Also, 4K is supported by modern game consoles, for example PlayStation 4, Xbox One S, which makes the gaming experience even more realistic.
You can watch 4K content on your LG TV from several sources. These can be movies recorded on Blu-Ray discs that can be watched from a Blu-Ray HD player connected to a TV, or movies, broadcasts from streaming services that transmit content in appropriate quality (for example, Netflix, Apple TV.).
When buying a TV, you need a few important nuances from Honor.
- Resolution. Should be 3840×2160 pixels. If the resolution is lower, then you will not be able to watch HDR content.
- Support Capability HDR.
- Availability of technologies WCG (WideColorGamut) / QuantunDot. expanding the gamut of colors.
- The presence of a modern HDMI-connector. It is needed in order to watch 4K content from external media (Blu-ray player, set-top box, etc.).
- Modern AV receiver. Multichannel amplifier with digital audio decoders, tuner and A / V switcher supporting 4K.
The main feature of HDR is that it increases the maximum contrast of the image and the color range, making it deeper, brighter and more detailed. WCG technology also expands the color gamut, thanks to it you can see more shades of red, blue, yellow and other colors on the screen. Another key plus of technology. the colors on the TV screen look natural, and the image is close to what the human eye perceives it.
Buying a modern TV doesn’t always mean you can watch 4K movies out of the box. Fortunately, setting up your LG TV to watch 4K movies is easy.
Certain LG TVs running on WebOs require HDR support.
- Go to the Picture menu.
- Select “Additional Settings”.
- In the Ultra HD Deep Color section, enable HDR content for all HDMIs.
On TVs manufactured after 2018, you must also enable Dynamic Tone Mapping, which optimally distributes the load of brightness in HDR video.
After you turn on the HDR function on your TV, you need to connect a Blu-ray player (set-top box, game console.) This can be done using the HDMI connector. After that, you need to make sure that the connection is correct. Most often, the aspect ratio is automatically adjusted thanks to the Edid function. But if this did not happen, you can do it manually.
- Find the picture settings of the player (or your other device) and determine the parameters of the outgoing signal. The quality must be no lower than 2160p (which corresponds to 4K).
On some budget LG TVs, not all HDMI ports support 4K. Therefore, if the resolution is not Ultra-HD when connecting a Blu-ray player, you need to connect via the adjacent HDMI connector.
After setting up 4K, you can calibrate the image based on your preference. To do this, you need to go to the image settings (cross-link: How to adjust the image on an LG TV), run a movie or any other content on the TV in HDR quality and set the brightness, contrast, color, white balance, etc.
Owners of OLED TVs should pay special attention to the TruMotion setting. It’s in the Picture Options section. Activate this function, otherwise there is a possibility that the image will start to flicker. This is due to the fact that, due to the refresh rate of 120 Hz, they do not always display films with a frequency of 24 frames per second well. TruMotion interpolates frames to make the image smoother. In this case, the rest of the parameters should be set to 0.
The LG OLED 2018, 2019 and 2020 models feature TruMotion Pro, aka Black Frame Insertion. It underestimates the TV’s artificial refresh rate to 60Hz.
If something goes wrong while setting up 4K on your TV, you can always reset all manual settings to automatic and try again (or contact a specialist).
Problems that may arise when setting up 4K on tv Lg
- Low internet speed. If the average speed of your home Internet allows you to watch content in 4K without any problems, and the problem arises from time to time, then you can reduce the quality of the movie in the settings manually to 1080p. If the problem occurs constantly, then you will need to change the provider or tariff plan.
- Problems with HDMI cable. You will need a modern cable model at least HDMI 2.0.
- Problems viewing video from a flash drive or disks. LG TVs support H.265 or H.264 4K. LG’s hardware player is limited not only by codecs, but also by certain extensions. In addition, LG 4K TV also restricts audio codec: AC3 (Dolby Digital), HE-AAC, EAC3, MP2, AAC. In this case, you can watch video by additionally connecting a media player or a computer with a special video card with an output of at least HDMI 1.4 to the 4K TV.
Sending via HDMI cable
Streaming video from your phone to your TV via HDMI is easy, but somewhat more difficult than via USB. This is due to the presence of HDMI-mini input not in all smartphone models. And if it is not there, you will have to purchase an additional adapter.
The advantage is good broadcast quality. Newer versions of HDMI 2.0 and above cables are capable of transmitting 4K and Full HD video. But only if the TV supports these formats and when transferring data, additional adapters are not used that affect the quality and resolution of the video.
- First, the phone is connected. Then, the TV.
- In the TV menu, go to the signal source and select HDMI 1 or 2. Depends on the connector where the device is connected.
- Open the desired file, among the options that appear on the screen.
Navigation is performed using the remote control. Channel switching arrows. move from one file to another. OK key. open the desired folder, video.
Important! Before choosing this method of broadcasting from phone to TV, make sure that these connectors are present on the devices. Check what types and resolutions your TV supports. And only then connect the equipment. Also remember that this method will quickly drain the device. Therefore, immediately put it on recharging from the mains.
How to watch video from your phone on TV
Advantages and disadvantages of cable video transmission
You can output a movie from your phone to your TV via a cable if it is stored in the device’s memory. Online viewing is not available. And this is the main disadvantage of cable pairing devices.
- Good quality of data transfer taking into account the selected connection method and video format. The broadcast is not affected by the reliability of the Wi-Fi connection.
- Fast and easy settings. Any smartphone user can connect cables in series.
- The ability to simultaneously recharge the phone when choosing a USB adapter.
If you want to transfer movies online, you need to choose a wireless connection method or use special applications. All these options are only available for Smart TV.
Wired streaming methods
There are three ways to connect a mobile device via a cable: via USB, HDMI and Tulips. In all cases, only the file system of the phone will be played. That is, you can open a recorded video or photo. And then only if the TV supports the required format.
Wi-Fi connection
The Wi-Fi Direct synchronization technology is one of the most widespread to broadcast from the phone to the TV. Modern devices are already equipped with this option, so no additional programs are required. An important condition is connection in the same local network.
- Go to smartphone settings. Select the section with wireless networks.
- Activate the Wi-Fi Direct option.
- Open TV settings and enable the function too.
- Select the desired device in the synchronization window that opens on the screen.
- Confirm Action.
- Open the file you want on your smartphone.
After that, the images from the device will be broadcast to the big screen of the TV.
Important! The quality and availability of such a connection depends on the TV brand. For example, the built-in feature in Samsung AllShare TV only works with a number of smartphones from the same manufacturer.
Miracast connectivity technology
This feature is based on Wi-Fi Direct. But the developers have made a number of additions to make it easier to stream video from your phone to your TV. For example, support for sending 3D files has been implemented. And the transfer of high volume content is allowed.
Important! If your TV does not support Miracast technology, you need to purchase a Wi-Fi adapter with this option. It is easy to check the availability of functions through the TV passport or the manufacturer’s official website.
The device is synchronized in the same way as in Wi-Fi Direct.
Tulips are an alternative to other cable options
This option is suitable for CRT and classic TVs, where there are connectors for “Tulips”. An adapter is required to connect them to the phone. An exception is when the headphone jack in a mobile device is a standard jack for this type of cable.
- Connect the phone directly or through an adapter.
- Insert the Tulip connectors into the color-matched inputs on the TV.
- Select signal source. AV.
- Open the required file.
There are many disadvantages to this method. The main thing is the limitation on the quality and resolution of the video being played. Tulips are not intended for broadcasting a large file, so Full HD is not for them.
Often, with this method of broadcasting video from the phone to the TV, sound is lost or image interference is obtained. This is difficult to fix. The problem may be in the cable, in the connectors on the TV, or in the type of video file being transmitted.
Is it possible to watch 4K video on a Full HD TV
Can HDMI handle 4K video?
Yes, it is possible, but to take full advantage of some of the Ultra HD capabilities, your HDMI connections must be the correct version. The HDMI standard used in many older devices is HDMI 1.4, and this standard can handle Ultra HD content at up to 30fps. But in order to make better use of the Ultra HD capabilities with higher frame rates, color and color depth, HDMI 2.0 is required. After all, for all HDMI 2.0 and higher inputs (including the current HDMI standard 2.0b) will also require HDCP 2.2 (High Definition Copy Protection) compliance.
With the release of newer versions of HDMI, it is fair to ask if you need new HDMI cables. With the older HDMI 1.4 standard, the answer was no. But now that HDMI 2.0b carries a lot more information, you may need to upgrade cables. a few years, you will probably be fine, but if you bought your HDMI cables a few years ago, there is a good chance that you will have to buy new cables. We experienced signal dropouts and complete cable failure in our own test labs with cables that we purchased only four years ago.
What about HDR? What is it, and do all Ultra HD TVs support it??
Wide dynamic range. commonly referred to as HDR. in televisions refers to several formats that produce brighter whites and darker blacks, resulting in increased volume and shading of colors and better contrast than standard displays. Many people (us included) say that HDR is a more visible upgrade than 4K resolution and if you’re looking for a new reason to buy a TV this is a great opportunity.
Not all Ultra HD TVs support HDR, just like 4K, this is becoming more and more common. There are also several different flavors of HDR, including HDR10 (and its latest iteration, HDR10) and Dolby Vision, the two most commonly used today. Not all TVs support all types of HDR, and not all HDR applications are the same quality. The technology is still moving forward, so you need to know what you are buying.
Can I Watch 4K Videos on Sony Full HD TV?
A: Yes, you can easily watch 4K Full HD video on HDTV. Just connect a 4K Handycam® or 4K Action Cam to a compatible Full HDTV to automatically convert 4K video with 4x conversion to exceptionally detailed Full HD video. Related questions
Can a 4K Ultra HD TV display standard or HD content? If so, what does it look like??
Yes, but like HDR and other features, not all TVs are created equal in this regard.
For an Ultra HD TV to display SD (Standard Definition) or HD (High Definition) content, that content must first be upscaled. Ultra HD kits must convert SD or HD content to Ultra HD before it can be displayed. it must fill all these extra pixels are really?
Note, however, that while most brand-name Ultra HD TVs do a good job of upscaling, some budget brands don’t. This is much less of a problem than it was a few years ago when this article was first published, but it’s worth it. Note: Ultra HD 4K content is less scarce than it used to be, but the sheer amount of HD content makes the TV upscaling process a decisive factor. If the TV does not scale well, lower resolution content will look significantly less impressive than on a TV with 1080p resolution that processes HD content naturally.
However, if your TV’s upscaling isn’t ideal, many mid-range and higher A / V receivers also have 4K upscaling built in, just like 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray players. So if your TV’s upscaling chip isn’t the top shelf. you can go to the settings of your A / V receiver (if it supports 4K Ultra HD upscaling) or 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player and upscale. In that sense, if you get a 4K Ultra HD TV, a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player (or even an Ultra HD Blu-ray compatible Xbox One X) is a good option to download.
What is 4K
In various contexts, 4K refers to resolutions that have a horizontal dimension of about 4000 pixels. It can be 4096×3072, 4096×1716, and 3996×2160 pixels. However, in relation to television and television content, the format is usually 3840×2160 pixels (16: 9), approved by CES in 2012. This format received the marketing name Ultra HD (that is, in fact, UHD and 4K are not the same thing).
Strictly speaking, Ultra High Definition (Ultra HD, or UHD) does not define panel parameters unambiguously. To use this designation, the characteristics of a TV panel or other device must be no worse than a certain “mandatory minimum” prescribed by CES: in addition to the minimum resolution and aspect ratio, it indicates the ability to scale HD content to a higher resolution, the presence of at least one HDMI input that supports transmission video with a frame rate of 60 fps, and also describes the features of working with color. So in perspective, 8K panels can also be marked with the UHD logo.
In order not to create confusion, further in the article we will mean both 4K and UltraHD TV-format 3840 × 2160 pixels (16: 9) with corresponding color support (HDR). At one time, Toshiba predicted that 4K would become the main resolution in the television industry. From the point of view of sales of such models, this is probably true. But from the point of view of content, everything is not at all so great so far.
Ultra HD Blu-ray
Media capable of storing ultra-high-definition films have appeared on the market. In 2016, the Ultra HD Blu-ray specification was finally approved. Discs released from this point on with the appropriate markings, in theory, should comply with the standard. Interestingly, the standard itself is still being finalized (in particular, they recently added support for HDR10 and SL-HDR2 from Philips / Technicolor), so if you need such details, you should pay attention to them.
Streaming video from online services
This is perhaps the most affordable way to watch professional content in the new resolution. But the rights to 4K are quite expensive, and monetization from the point of view of the services themselves is still questionable, so many of them, like cable operators, treat this area of work as an image one and are not eager to broadcast everything that has ever been released in ultra high definition. Yes, and with HDR here is pretty tight.
The situation is a little easier with videos from non-professionals (some video bloggers have already switched to 4K, ahead of the entire industry). 4K videos have been supported by YouTube since 2013 (4K uploads were available earlier. since 2010), a couple of years later Vimeo joined it. By the way, here you can find not only bloggers. Some quite professional studios present their products here. for example, there are a lot of children’s cartoons on YouTube.
Inexpensive Android set-top boxes are capable of playing UHD videos and movies from external media, but not all models have enough power to stream video over Wi-Fi.
Upgrade Your Stream Services For 4K HDR Content
It is not necessary to have a separate PC for the TV to watch videos from the listed sources. The built-in Smart TV, depending on the manufacturer, may have applications for the corresponding services. An alternative way is an additional set-top box (game or television) that connects to the Network and opens access to content.
NVIDIA Shield TV Console. Combining Game Console and Powerful 4K Player
Such devices are already available not only from large manufacturers (Apple, NVidia, Microsoft), but also from companies from China (Xiaomi, etc.) for quite reasonable money. The NVidia Shield TV game console running Android TV, which perfectly copes with the broadcast of 4K, has become widespread.
OTT services
There are already several legal services in Russia that support 4K. First is Netflix. Although initially skeptical about the monetization of cinematic resolution, the service now offers a separate premium subscription option that offers 4K content. One problem. it’s mostly in English.
Okko service is much better with localization. Here, at the time of this writing, about 60 4K films could be watched. In addition, 4K supports IVI and other cinemas. Already, more than a dozen such resources are being recruited, and new ones appear regularly.
Etheric experiments
Few people know, but theoretically Muscovites and residents of the nearest Moscow region can watch the 4K channel directly from the air. Although there was no place even for HD content in digital multiplexes. A year and a half ago, RTRS company included test broadcasting of the channel in the Ultra HD format (resolution 3840 × 2160 pixels and multichannel audio) in the DVB-T2 standard. The topic was actively discussed immediately after the launch of the TV channel. it was even presented at the profile XX International Congress of NAT in 2016.
However, so far the project has not received any development. Accordingly, the status of the test broadcast is not clear (it is known that at the end of 2017, enthusiasts were still receiving the signal).
Just in case, here we provide the data necessary for its reception. You may be able to test it yourself. The experiment is running on TV channel 58 (frequency 770 MHz). For reception, you need a TV that supports both DVB-T2, HEVC (i.e. H.265) and UHD.
Where to get 4K content?
Our studies of the Internet have shown that 4K content, especially in Russian, is still a little.
Do you need 4K if you have HD?
The need for 4K resolution is not a matter of taste or fashion. It is primarily determined by geometry. A high resolution is needed where the panel dimensions or viewing distance are such that Full HD is not enough. in this case, the viewer in a beautiful picture distinguishes individual pixels in its composition.
The graph below illustrates how to determine the viewing distance from which you can see all the details of the image, but not the pixels themselves. You can also assess whether looking towards Ultra HD is worth looking at for your typical viewing distance and budget. For example, we only have enough funds for 50 inches, and the distance to the sofa is three meters. Using the graph, we find that 4K has no advantages and Full HD will be enough.
Optimal TV viewing distance for various solutions
Based on these considerations, until recently it was believed that buying 4K panels with a diagonal of less than 50 inches was pointless. But it all depends on the details. If the interior allows you to move the sofa (chairs) closer, then why not switch to a picture of a new quality. Such graphs are built for people with average vision. This should be taken into account by those who wear glasses or, conversely, have unique eyes (in the latter case, the distance from which the difference is really visible will be higher).
The second reason for buying a 4K TV is HDR, or wide dynamic range, which is more coverage of the Spectra color. The picture on such a TV will look richer. Going back to identification accuracy, HDR is not a must-have 4K application, but is included in Ultra HD.