Early adopters of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra have encountered a bothersome display issue that is tarnishing their experience with the flagship smartphone. Despite receiving positive reviews from experts, some customers have voiced their disappointment regarding the display quality.
Numerous complaints on Reddit have highlighted the inferior color representation on the Galaxy S24 Ultra in comparison to its predecessor, the Galaxy S23 Ultra. Users have reported a lackluster notification area and subpar color accuracy on the home screen and app drawer. Noted Samsung insider, Ice Universe, compiled a comprehensive list of grievances, with users expressing their preference for the better display quality on the Galaxy S23 Ultra.
Initial speculation blamed the new anti-reflective Corning Gorilla Glass Armor screen coating for this reduction in picture quality. This potential issue caused concern for Samsung as it would be impossible to rectify for existing smartphones. However, sharp-eyed observers have determined that the problem stems from a software bug, which can be easily resolved.
Interestingly, the bug is triggered when selecting the smartphone’s Vivid display color mode. Vivid mode is designed to provide vibrant, saturated colors at the expense of color accuracy. Despite this sacrifice, many users prefer Vivid mode over the more natural-looking Natural mode. However, for some Galaxy S24 Ultra users, Vivid mode fails to deliver its intended color enhancements and instead leaves them stuck with muted colors.
The good news is that Samsung is already aware of this issue and diligently working on a fix. Screenshots from Samsung’s Chat Support reveal that the company’s developer team is actively addressing the problem and a software update is on the horizon to rectify the situation. Although no official timeline has been provided, it is safe to assume that the fix will be rolled out in the near future.
It is worth noting that media playback remains unaffected by the software bug. Users can still enjoy videos and games, utilizing the full color capabilities of Samsung’s latest display while waiting for the software fix. Rest assured, the phone’s hardware is not faulty.
In a recent development, the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s display received the highest score in benchmark tests conducted by Dxomark. The flagship smartphone outperformed its competitors, earning an impressive 155 points and claiming the top spot. Dxomark praised the Galaxy S24 Ultra's high peak brightness and commended the display's new anti-reflective glass for enhancing contrast and vividness.
Interestingly, Dxomark's evaluation of color reproduction favored the Galaxy S24 Ultra, deeming it superior to its predecessor, the Galaxy S23 Ultra. The report even showcased example images that demonstrated the Galaxy S24 Ultra outperforming the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max and Google Pixel 8 Pro in terms of contrast in various lighting conditions. However, Dxomark did note that the Pixel 8 Pro excels in overall color fidelity.
While Dxomark's results are promising, it does not dismiss the concerns of Vivid mode users. Much of Dxomark's overall display score is based on factors unrelated to the software bug, such as touch response, motion reproduction, and video quality. Interestingly, the video quality was never in question, even for users experiencing the Vivid mode issue.
It is important to consider that Dxomark's tests prioritize color accuracy over eye-catching but technically inaccurate vividness. Hence, the Galaxy S24 Ultra may perform subjectively worse for users who prefer boosted colors on their home screens. Moreover, Dxomark conducted its tests in Vivid mode, which is in line with the smartphone's default setting. It remains unclear whether the Vivid mode bug affects color accuracy during Dxomark benchmark tests.
Nonetheless, Samsung must address the matter to meet users' expectations. Vivid mode on the Galaxy S24 Ultra should provide the colors that users desire, particularly considering the excellent display capabilities showcased on the Galaxy S23 Ultra.
For now, Samsung owners can take solace in the fact that the problem will soon be resolved through a software update. With the hardware intact and the promise of improved color reproduction, the Galaxy S24 Ultra has the potential to deliver an outstanding user experience once the display issues are fixed.
