Samsung shares new TV picture ‘test’ that reveals if you’re accidentally ruining picture quality and promises ‘easy’ fix

SAMSUNG users grappling with a blurry, lagging picture can resolve even the most frustrating issues in a few steps.

Poor picture quality is the quickest way to ruin movie night. This can range from inexplicable dots on the screen or video that keeps freezing.

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Samsung provides users with a slew of ways to diagnose the issue. To begin, open Settings on your Samsung TV and select Support.

Select Device Care followed by Self Diagnosis. This process may differ on certain models where you have to select Support, followed by Self Diagnosis.

Click Start Picture Test. You will be presented with series of checks and prompted to confirm whether the problem is visible.

If lines or dots appear during the picture test, this is a telltale sign of damage to the screen as opposed to a software issue.

Black lines, in particular, indicate a cracked screen. Samsung encourages users to reach out to request servicing.

A device free of lines, dots, or spots may have an issue with an external device.

If the picture isn’t displaying at all, this is a sign of a faulty HDMI cable connectivity.

Luckily, you can test the theory. Check that the TV’s source is still on the HDMI setting for the cable you want to test.

Select Settings and navigate to Self-Diagnosis, followed by Signal Information. Click HDMI Cable Test to begin.

If the device identifies an issue with the cable, service is not needed – the cable simply must be replaced.

One of the most aggravating flaws is a picture that constantly freezes or lags.

But Samsung proposes a simple solution: just update the firmware on the TV.

If your device is connected to the internet, press the Home button on your remote and navigate to Settings, represented by the gear icon.

Under Support, select Software Update and elect to kickstart the process. The TV will power down and restart after the update is installed.

If you’re having other issues – say, the picture isn’t fine-tuned to suit your preferences – you can fix this as well.

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Under the default settings, your screen may be too bright.

You can adjust brightness levels by pressing the Home button and navigating to Settings, then Picture.

Select Expert Settings, then Brightness to make changes.

Users also have the option to enable Intelligent Mode, which analyzes its surroundings and your usage patterns to automatically adjust contrast and other settings.

Select General under Settings, followed by Intelligent Mode Setting to turn it on.

You can also experiment with different picture modes, settings live under Picture.

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Standard mode is the default setting that works well in most viewing environments. It provides a balanced picture that is generally suitable for everyday use.

Dynamic mode enhances brightness and clarity, making it ideal for viewing in bright environments where you need a clearer picture.

Natural mode is designed to reduce eye strain, offering a more comfortable viewing experience, especially during extended periods of watching.

Movie mode is tailored for watching TV shows or movies in a dark room, optimizing the picture settings to deliver an immersive experience with richer colors and deeper contrasts.

Filmmaker Mode allows you to watch content, whether it’s a movie or TV show, without any alterations to the picture settings, preserving the director’s intended vision. It may look darker than other picture modes.

If you’re unsatisfied with your changes, you can easily undo them.

In the Settings menu, select All Settings, followed by Picture. Click Expert Settings and choose Reset Picture to restore your device to the factory default.

Samsung – a brief history

Here's what you need to know...

• Samsung is a major South Korean company made up of many businesses that operate globally
• It’s known locally as a “chaebol”, which means “business conglomerate”
• It was founded by Lee Byung-chul in 1938 as a trading company
• But over several decades, it branched out into food processing, insurance, textiles and retail
• It wasn’t until the late 1960s when Samsung entered the electronics industry – for which it’s best known in the West today
• It also launched businesses in construction and shipbuilding in the 1970s
• Today, Samsung’s most important sources of income are its smartphones and computer chips
• The firm accounts for around a fifth of South Korea’s total exports, and roughly 17% of the country’s GDP
• More than 270,000 staff are employed by Samsung globally
• And in 2023, Samsung Electronics turned over the equivalent of $194 billion in revenue