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Get better color accuracy on your TV with these simple steps
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Built with displays capable of recreating tens of millions of colors across multiple color gamuts like DCI-P3 and BT.2020, most, if not all, newer smart TVs have fairly decent color accuracy right out of the box. However, if you want to push your fancy new OLED or Micro RGB TV to the limit, or just want to squeeze the most out of your older QLED or Mini LED, there are a few ways you can make your picture look even better without having to resort to an expensive professional calibration.
Also: We tested 7 TVs for color accuracy and we found two winners
To help you get the best color accuracy possible without having to spend a dime, I've put together a list of simple settings adjustments you can make to fine-tune your preferences.
Color temperature
Color temperature refers to how "warm" or "cool" your picture looks, with "cool" leaning toward more blue and green hues, while "warm" is often more yellow and red. Many TVs from both well-known and smaller brands offer at least basic tools for selecting the color temperature that best suits your space (and is easiest on your eyes).
Also: How to disable ACR on your TV
The simplest way to choose a color temperature range is to cycle through the preset picture modes. Modes like Filmmaker, Cinema/Movie, and Eye Saver will favor warmer colors, which helps to make scenes look more lively and reduces eye strain. Others like Night mode and Sports will run cooler while Standard, Vivid, and Eco modes tend to be more neutral.
If you want more control over your TV's color temperature, you can check the settings menu to see how much you can tinker with.
Amazon Fire TV
Settings > Picture OR Display & Settings > Color Temperature > Choose: Normal, Cool, Warm 1, Warm 2
Hisense
Settings > Picture OR Device Preferences > Picture > Picture Mode Settings > Color Temperature > Choose: Cool, Standard, Warm 1, Warm 2
LG
Settings > Picture > Advanced settings > Color > Color temperature > Adjust the slider to your preferences
Roku TV
Settings > Picture > Expert settings > Color temperature > Choose: Warm, Normal, Cool
Samsung
Settings > Picture > Expert Settings > Color Tone OR Color Temperature > Choose: Standard, Cool, Warm 1, Warm 2 OR select Custom > The custom option lets you adjust individual red, green, and blue levels for more precise calibration
Sony
Settings > Display & Sound > Picture > Color > Color temperature > Choose: Expert 1, Expert 2, Warm, Neutral, or Cool
TCL
Settings > Display & Sound OR Picture > Advanced OR Expert settings > Color > Color temperature > Choose: Standard, Cool, Warm
Color Saturation
Color saturation helps boost how bright and bold your picture looks, but it's a fine line to walk. Too much saturation will make brighter colors like reds and yellows look blown out, while too little will make your movies, shows, and games look dull and lifeless. Once you've settled on a general picture mode you like and have adjusted the color temperature, you can also tweak the saturation levels to further refine your picture quality.
More: Should you leave your TV unplugged overnight?
Amazon Fire TV
Settings > Display & Sound > Display > Select picture mode > Adjust Color Saturation slider
Hisense
Settings > Picture > Picture Mode Settings > Color saturation > Adjust slider
LG
Settings > All Settings > Picture > Advanced settings > Color > Color depth >> Adjust slider > Color Gamut >> Auto detect > Fine Tune >> Adjust red, green, and blue levels individually
Roku TV
Settings > Picture settings > Select picture mode > Customize picture > Color >> Adjust slider > Tint >> Adjust slider
Samsung
Settings > All Settings > Picture > Expert settings > Color >> Adjust slider > Tint >> Adjust slider > Color Space >> Choose Auto
Sony
Settings > Display & Sound > Choose picture mode > Color >> Adjust slider
For more advanced options:
Settings > Display & Sound > Advanced Settings > Color >> Adjust slider > Live color >> Choose Low or Off > Per Color Adjustment >> Fine-tune individual red, green, and blue hues
TCL
Settings > Display & Sound > Picture > Advanced Settings > Color > Color Saturation >> Adjust slider > Dynamic Color/Dynamic Contrast >> Toggle off
Further color calibration
At our Louisville, KY lab, ZDNET uses a Klein K10-A colorimeter and the Calman display calibration software to get the most accurate readings for everything from screen brightness and contrast ratios to blue shift and RGB levels. However, since these are professional- and laboratory-grade tools, they are very expensive; the Klein K10-A alone will run you a cool $7,000, and if you want the Calman software, you'll have to shell out an additional $1,500 - $3,000 depending on how in-depth you want testing to be.
Thankfully, there are a few consumer-grade options available for checking color accuracy and peak brightness from other brands. While primarily meant for PC monitors, devices like the Calibrite Display 123 and Asus ProArt CaliContrO can give you a much more in-depth overview of what your TV is capable of - with a few caveats. Since these devices require a companion program to run calibration tests, you'll have to connect your TV to a laptop or PC and use it as a temporary monitor to get the best results from your fancy new tools.