iPad Pro HDR content on the M1 12.9 iPad Pro is far too bright

[Sanlitun]

Watched a number of HDR videos since getting my M1 Pro and I find that the HDR representation is far far too bright and contrasting. This is on videos I have purchased from Apple such as Alien Covenant or HDR shows such as Tehran. On Netflix shows such as Bright or other Dolby Vision content as well. The difference between watching these on the M1 iPad and on an HDR TV is huge.

The highlights are far too bright, and every LED, shop sign or car headlight is represented as blinding. I have watched a few of the HDR Tokyo Tour walk around videos on You Tube and they are impossible with even the white titles shown as being at a blinding dynamic.

Is anyone else seeing this? Is my unit defective? I'm not really a HDR expert.

 

[AutomaticApple]

Watched a number of HDR videos since getting my M1 Pro and I find that the HDR representation is far far too bright and contrasting. This is on videos I have purchased from Apple such as Alien Covenant or HDR shows such as Tehran. On Netflix shows such as Bright or other Dolby Vision content as well. The difference between watching these on the M1 iPad and on an HDR TV is huge.

The highlights are far too bright, and every LED, shop sign or car headlight is represented as blinding. I have watched a few of the HDR Tokyo Tour walk around videos on You Tube and they are impossible with even the white titles shown as being at a blinding dynamic.

Is anyone else seeing this? Is my unit defective? I'm not really a HDR expert.

Does that not have to do with HDR?

 

[Seanm87]

The brighter HDR is the better it is. It's an odd thing to complain about something being too "contrasty".

 

[Sanlitun]

I see what you are saying but it is not a realistic representation nor is it the same as watching HDR titles on other devices. Everything seems severly exaggerated.

It almost looks as if every light source or LED is an applied animation. The white intro titles on HDR videos are displayed as a blinding 100% #ffffff light source etc. When I watch many HDR shows on a good TV they are like looking through a window because of the dynamic realism.

Anyhoo I don't like it, but maybe this is what others expect.

 

[Frosties]

Nt

 

[Plx32]

The M1 12.9 iPad Pro is capable of 1600 nits HDR peak brightness under certain conditions.

If you think your picture is too bright, and prefer the typical OLED TV 700/800 nits HDR peak brightness, have you considered decreasing your brightness level ?

I tried on really bright HDR videos, and with the slider at about 30%, you get a more classical HDR brightness.

As for me, I prefer the very bright HDR representation and wish my OLED TV was capable of these HDR hightlights… To me the iPad Pro is far superior…

Last thing : in my experience Dolby Vision content is far less bright, even on the M1 12.9 iPad Pro, than Youtube HDR Videos.

 

[Sanlitun]

I agree that it’s largely a content issue. There are some iTunes Dolby Vision titles that are pretty good and then some that are far too hot in the whites. In those cases it would be nice to be able to disable HDR playback.

The HDR stuff on YouTube is absolutely eye stabbing for me.

One thing tho is that SDR content is absolutely better on the M1 12.9 than previous iPads.

 

[UBS28]

My 4K TV can get brigher than the M1 iPad Pro, as it can go over 2000 nits.

 

[ProfessionalFan]

One thing tho is that SDR content is absolutely better on the M1 12.9 than previous iPads

This is interesting because every review seems to say there’s no noticeable difference between SDR content and you really only see the improvements in HDR content.

 

[Bubble99]

This is interesting because every review seems to say there’s no noticeable difference between SDR content and you really only see the improvements in HDR content.

The OP may have some eye sensitivity to bright light. And SDR may be too bright and having too much contrast. If the eye too sensitive.

 

[aevan]

I see what you are saying but it is not a realistic representation nor is it the same as watching HDR titles on other devices. Everything seems severly exaggerated.

It almost looks as if every light source or LED is an applied animation. The white intro titles on HDR videos are displayed as a blinding 100% #ffffff light source etc. When I watch many HDR shows on a good TV they are like looking through a window because of the dynamic realism.

Anyhoo I don't like it, but maybe this is what others expect.

Real life is a lot brighter. A neon sign is probably something like 50 000 nits or more. So it is very much realistic, in fact. Ever tried staring at a light bulb?


The thing is, your eyes adapt because everything is brighter around you. Turn some lights on while watching movies and you won’t have issues. Or turn down the screen brightness.

One day we’ll have Micro LED screens and these will be even brighter. DV content is intended to go all the way up to 10 000 nits in highlights. So, no, your iPad is not defective it‘s awesome 1600 nits is amazing.