A TV picture that looks dim, overly smooth or unnaturally vivid may be affected by its settings rather than a failing screen or poor streaming quality. Three adjustments can help: disable energy-saving modes, turn off motion smoothing and switch to a Cinema or Filmmaker picture preset.
Energy-saving and Eco modes can limit a TV’s backlight or use an ambient light sensor to dim the screen. Turning these options off in the general or picture settings can let the display reach its full brightness, making highlights and HDR content more noticeable.
Motion smoothing, sometimes listed as TruMotion, Picture Clarity or Motionflow, creates artificial frames between the original ones to make movement appear smoother. While that effect can suit live sports, it may make films and dramas look less cinematic. Switching it off restores the original motion presentation.
Many TVs use Standard or Vivid picture modes by default, which can produce harsh whites and exaggerated colors. Cinema or Filmmaker Mode reduces processing such as edge sharpening and artificial contrast boosts, while using a warmer color balance. The image may initially look yellowish, but skin tones, shadows and fine details should appear more natural.
Sources: Tom's Guide.