iPhone XS Max The Max made me finally appreciate HDR

[unobtainium]

I have an Apple TV 4K and a TCL TV with HDR. I always thought HDR was overrated and nothing to write home about.

But *HDR movies on the Max look absolutely incredible* despite being 1080p. I guess it’s the OLED screen. It’s too bad the screen is too small to really enjoy watching an entire movie on.

 

[archer75]

How do you know you're actually getting HDR? On my TV, LG OLED, a badge pops up on the TV when a show with HDR/Dolby Vision first starts. I know a lot of people think they're getting HDR but are really not.
My experience with HDR on my TV is that it's an absolute game changer. I'd take HDR over 4k any day.

 

[unobtainium]

I get a little badge that pops up saying HDR on my TCL, but it’s not OLED so maybe that’s the difference.

HDR movies on the Max look incredibly vivid. It makes me think my next TV should be OLED..

 

[archer75]

I get a little badge that pops up saying HDR on my TCL, but it’s not OLED so maybe that’s the difference.

HDR movies on the Max look incredibly vivid. It makes me think my next TV should be OLED..

But how do you know you're getting HDR on the max? Does it have a pop up of some sort?

 

[btrach144]

But how do you know you're getting HDR on the max? Does it have a pop up of some sort?

Assuming he’s watching netflix, the have a Dolby vision icon next to their content.

 

[archer75]

Assuming he’s watching netflix, the have a Dolby vision icon next to their content.

well yes, on their site/app. But how do you know the phone is receiving it?

I've had it happen on my TV with the ATV4k where netflix showed dolby vision but when I started the show it wasn't and I never got the badge. A bug in the ATV4k. Restarted it and got the badge.
I'm just curious how one knows the phone is actually getting HDR/Dolby Vision?

 

[btrach144]

well yes, on their site/app. But how do you know the phone is receiving it?

I've had it happen on my TV with the ATV4k where netflix showed dolby vision but when I started the show it wasn't and I never got the badge. A bug in the ATV4k. Restarted it and got the badge.
I'm just curious how one knows the phone is actually getting HDR/Dolby Vision?

Because there’s nothing you can configure or screw up? If the OP says the content is beautiful and dynamic, then why continue to doubt them?

 

[unobtainium]

But how do you know you're getting HDR on the max? Does it have a pop up of some sort?

I’m watching movies purchased from iTunes. They indicate when they’re HDR.

Edit: actually, never mind. I assumed it was HDR because it looked so fantastic (compared to the colors on my TV). I know I own the 4K HDR through iTunes, but in fact there’s nothing on the Max to indicate it’s playing in HDR.

Wouldn’t it be kind of weird though for Apple to make a big deal out of adding HDR to its displays and then not have its own iTunes downloads work in HDR?

 

[archer75]

Because there’s nothing you can configure or screw up? If the OP says the content is beautiful and dynamic, then why continue to doubt them?

Being beautiful and being a nice screen doesn't mean it's actually HDR. I just want to know if the screen is showing a pop up like a TV does. If I were at home on wifi i'd test myself.
Just because netflix or itunes says HDR when you're searching the site/app doesn't necessarily mean anything.

 

[unobtainium]

Being beautiful and being a nice screen doesn't mean it's actually HDR. I just want to know if the screen is showing a pop up like a TV does. If I were at home on wifi i'd test myself.
Just because netflix or itunes says HDR when you're searching the site/app doesn't necessarily mean anything.

I can confirm there’s no pop-up on the Max.

If it’s not going to play eligible iTunes movies in HDR though, why did Apple advertise it as a feature?

 

[UKapple73]

I’m with the OP in this. I have a Sony lcd HDR tv that’s very good, however the Xs max looks incredible in the highlights, just another level. However the stuttering is annoying hopefully 12.0.1 will solve it

 

[archer75]

I can confirm there’s no pop-up on the Max.

If it’s not going to play eligible iTunes movies in HDR though, why did Apple advertise it as a feature?

I don't know. That's why i'm asking. There has been times when apple listed a movie as being HDR but it wasn't actually being streamed in HDR. They just listed everything they had that was available as HDR as HDR even if you're TV didn't support it.
Netflix tends to determine what your TV supports and only shows the badge for that. However it has bugged out too before.
At least with our TV's we both get popups indicating HDR. I'm just curious how it works on a phone.

I did sacrifice some data just to see for myself and I can't tell. Some scenes don't seem to have HDR on while others may have it on. Hard to tell. Certainly not as good as my TV. And it could just be the contrast improvements of viewing on an OLED display vs LCD that makes content look better. I just wish they had a pop up letting you know when the content starts.

 

[btrach144]

I can confirm there’s no pop-up on the Max.

If it’s not going to play eligible iTunes movies in HDR though, why did Apple advertise it as a feature?

Does a pop up mean anything either? Can't a software bug make the pop up appear when HDR is not being properly processed? With that logic, can you really trust anything?

 

[archer75]

Does a pop up mean anything either? Can't a software bug make the pop up appear when HDR is not being properly processed? With that logic, can you really trust anything?

Thus far the pop up or lack thereof has been 100% accurate. Could a bug in an update cause an issue with that? Sure. But i've also used my tv enough so I can identify every time if the content is in HDR or not without the popup.
I'm not familiar with HDR on the phone which is why I want to know.

 

[btrach144]

Thus far the pop up or lack thereof has been 100% accurate. Could a bug in an update cause an issue with that? Sure. But i've also used my tv enough so I can identify every time if the content is in HDR or not without the popup.
I'm not familiar with HDR on the phone which is why I want to know.

100% accurate? How are you sure about that? You can't test it with your eyes. I know a lot of people think they're getting HDR but are really not.

 

[Nik73]

I have a Sony A1 OLED TV and hdr content looks incredible, really pops.
I’ve been disappointed with hdr on the max so far. Don’t get me wrong, the picture quality is stunning on everything and the best I’ve seen on a phone. It’s just the hdr content doesn’t stand out like it does on my tv. You can easily tell when something is in hdr on the tv, not so much on the phone.

I suspect it’s maybe a screen brightness thing, maybe it needs to be turned high to really get the pop. On my tv I think contrast and brightness are maxed for Dolby vision and nearly maxed for hdr 10.

There’s definitely no pop up playing hdr content on the phone, but you can notice a change in the picture as it flicks to hdr a second after it plays and then back again when you stop it.

 

[archer75]

100% accurate? How are you sure about that? You can't test it with your eyes. I know a lot of people think they're getting HDR but are really not.

Because on my TV I know what HDR does and does not look like as i've used it so much. I also have two devices I can test with. So if I have doubts about what one streaming device is displaying I can go to another. I can also A/B test it.

 

[cornerexit]

I couldn’t care less if HDR is on a phone screen. I’d never want to watch a film on a phone.

 

[btrach144]

Because on my TV I know what HDR does and does not look like as i've used it so much. I also have two devices I can test with. So if I have doubts about what one streaming device is displaying I can go to another. I can also A/B test it.

Being beautiful and being a nice screen doesn't mean it's actually HDR.

 

[archer75]

Being beautiful and being a nice screen doesn't mean it's actually HDR.

Exactly. I'm sure you heard that from a very wise man.
But being very familiar with HDR on a particular device/TV as I am does let you know. I am not familiar with HDR on a phone. Thus the questions so I can better understand.

 

[Ryand123]

I have an Apple TV 4K and a TCL TV with HDR. I always thought HDR was overrated and nothing to write home about.

But *HDR movies on the Max look absolutely incredible* despite being 1080p. I guess it’s the OLED screen. It’s too bad the screen is too small to really enjoy watching an entire movie on.

[doublepost=1537905771][/doublepost]Do you know if your TCL has a VA or an IPS panel? HDR won't look that great with IPS because it can't show true black. OLED excels at that and VA is close behind.

 

[unobtainium]

[doublepost=1537905771][/doublepost]Do you know if your TCL has a VA or an IPS panel? HDR won't look that great with IPS because it can't show true black. OLED excels at that and VA is close behind.

Looks like it's a VA panel. Also HDR10 only. Must be why I always thought HDR was boring.