Galaxy S9+ Black Crush and Gradient Banding Issues

[P c L A Y E R]

Has anyone tried if games have these same problems too or are these problems Limited to video playback only?

 

[new2tec]

I played with my Aunt's pixel 2xl and it's not an issue . I'm thinking of switching. Between this and front facing camera being too soft, I'm disappointed. But I wanted this phone for the headphone jack and expanded memory.

 

[Squarrow]

Pixel has a turd screen as well.

 

[new2tec]

Pixel has a turd screen as well.

Because of the blue tint?

 

[forSyn]

I've been told it's a software issue by Samsung staff via Chat on the Samsung Members app.

I had screenshots of the chat on the Samsung Community EU, I'll try link URL below. Initially I noticed that HDR playback wasn't working via the native video player and YouTube. But also later added on the black crush thing. I think the screenshot are on the 3rd page of the topic. Also have examples of HDR playback issue on the first page via a link.

https://eu.community.samsung.com/t5...ot-enabled-amp-Black-crush/td-p/441848/page/4


https://www.dropbox.com/sh/qv8kcho70ciu3dw/AAA5VfPd-hOsbqsXfEAYKdMHa?dl=0

Please the the link above for comparison photos, S8 on top and S9+ below.

Some are of the native video player showing Rise of the Tomb raider, Forza Horizon 3 4K HDR clips.

YouTube, both 1080p HDR with details in the photos of the different videos.

Not the first time I've heard this. You'll forgive me if I don't find private conversations with Samsung CS to be as trustworthy as them publicly acknoweldging the problem.

Has anyone tried if games have these same problems too or are these problems Limited to video playback only?

I have, indeed, seen this problem while playing Fire Emblem Heroes. When the background of some screens goes dark from a menu being overlayed, the color depth of near-black areas gets all smudgy and crappy at low brightness settings. I have never seen any such issue on my old HTC One m8 *or* on Samsung's own Galaxy Tab A 10.1".

 

[anon(5990673)]

After the Update which I received today, the Wallpaper gradient banding is no more but when watching HDR videos on youtube or watching Netflix black crush and gradient banding is still present.

I was waiting for the update to decide to return my S9 Plus for another S9 Plus but now I don't think its going to fix the problem unless Samsung acknowledges the issue.

 

[Toss3]

Some more pics (impossible with my current camera to get in on video):

So the S9 Plus actually shows more information in the darker scenes than the S7, yet the S7 looks much much better, because it isn't trying to do something it cannot and doesn't end up looking like a green mess.

 

[akira ambient]

So instead of fixing the coulour banding present everywhere, they change the home screen wallpaper. That's literally it in the patch notes.

 

[jhimmel]

So instead of fixing the couple banding present everywhere, they change the home screen wallpaper. That's literally it in the patch notes.

Maybe that was quick and easy to fix but the rest is taking more time? Hopefully they are working on it.

 

[Chris_c81]

I know some of you are sceptical about conversations held privately, but I assure you I am passing on legitimate communication I'm holding with Samsung tech support.

You may want to return your handsets...

Thank you for your email. Your customer reference number is #.
*
This is to acknowledge that we've received your email with regards to the display issue of your Samsung phone. I'm really sorry for the inconvenience that you are experiencing right now, please be advised that this issue is a hardware issue that can be fixed by our engineers. So if you would like to continue for a repair, our engineers will be happy to assist you.*Well, if*you want to proceed*with*a replacement, what we can highly*advise*is for you to get in touch with your retailer so that they can give you the replacement process.

If you require additional support, please contact us on 0330 726 7864 (UK) or 0818 717 100 (EIRE), or respond to this email and I will be more than happy to help.

Alternatively, you can visit our Support website where you will find FAQs, How-To-Videos and other useful information for Samsung products.

This was in response to me emailing them links to this topic where some have stated a replacement has fixed the problem.

I've now replied asking whether I can be confident that should I go through with a replacement, the new handset would not have the fault.

Sent from my SM-G965F using Tapatalk

 

[anon(5990673)]

To be honest, I think it is a software issue. Yesterday I got the new update G965FXXU1ARCC and then I played some videos on Netflix and Youtube at first black crush was horrible but then later in the evening I played the same videos on Netflix and Youtube funny enough no black crush. I even compared it with an S8 Plus.

Compared to a S8 Plus, the brightness is less in S9 Plus, which is the only problem I have with my device now.

Device S9 Plus Exynos


UPDATE
Black Crush is still present but barely noticeable !!!

 

[akira ambient]

I know some of you are sceptical about conversations held privately, but I assure you I am passing on legitimate communication I'm holding with Samsung tech support.

You may want to return your handsets...



This was in response to me emailing them links to this topic where some have stated a replacement has fixed the problem.

I've now replied asking whether I can be confident that should I go through with a replacement, the new handset would not have the fault.

Sent from my SM-G965F using Tapatalk

What about the colour banding? Has the replacement fixed the issue for you? For instance here on mine the red looks like 8bit colour

 

[Squarrow]

IMO, being told by Samsung that Samsung is not offering replacements for faulty S9+ devices ordered directly through them is horrendous business.

The "you can return and repurchase" suggestion coupled with "then request for any promotional discounts to be reapplied" is insane.

When I bought my iPhone 6S some years ago, it developed a cluster of dead pixels (like 3). I took it too the Apple Store and with zero push back was given a brand new device. Meanwhile, Samsung heaps inconvenience on top of the already poor customer experience. Not sure if I'll consider the products in the future.

 

[lockerup]

Same issue here. S9+ Exynos. Tried Screen balance but the colors look terrible. Anyone got updates from Samsung Support?

 

[forSyn]

Maybe that was quick and easy to fix but the rest is taking more time? Hopefully they are working on it.

What a joke. I returned mine and now I definitely don't regret it.

Fixing the wallpaper to make the problem less obvious while not actually fixing the problem is beyond unacceptable. They must think we're pretty stupid.

 

[Kristian Nikolov]

Before the wallpaper update when I long pressed the power button to show me the power off screen I could clearly see the gradient banding due to the blurry effect, it was disgusting. But now after the update this problem is gone, along with the wallpapers as well. I don't think that the wallpapers themselves have anything to do with the blurry effect of the icons and everything once the power button is pressed so I'm thinking that the whole problem is software based and hope they will fix the rest of it soon.

 

[Edison Zhai]

I found that if play HDR videos on youtube ,the black crush issue and all other problems has gone! plz check on you s9

AND...I found that the HDR display issue absolutely gone,every HDR videos can be display normally,a few days ago,some of HDR videos can't be display,the HDR modle can't turn on,but today it is work.(only on YouTube)

Hey guys check this out.I play HDR videos on YouTube, there is no black crush,that means in the HDR mode,the display is normal.but! when exit the HDR video,the black crush is back,(the first photo is in the YouTube play HDR,the second is the screen shot in the photo album which the HDR mode has turn off,and the black crush is back)
So I think the black crush is just a software problem,I hope they can fix black crush like the wallpaper issue.

check those two pictures https://twitter.com/Edisonzhai1/status/982643257187319809?s=09

 

[waveuk]

I never notices a big issue but as suggested above I have checked this dark HDR video and looks very good.

https://youtu.be/fndy5q2lHy4

 

[Chris_c81]

check those two pictures https://twitter.com/Edisonzhai1/status/982643257187319809?s=09

So when watching HDR content it looks fine, but screenshots show the crushing?

 

[Edison Zhai]

cause when playing HDR video,the phone is in HDR mode,you can find that the screen brightness is not adjustable,and the white looks like more yellow.But the screenshoot in the Gallery is not in HDR mode.