yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] DanteSSS333:
Why dont you just use screen adjuster fot the time being, until Samsung releases a software update? I also prefer sacrificing pure black in order to get rid of this. And thats also the way the S3 does, so its really nothing new at all...
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] chippyuk:
Oh FFS!

Unless someone with better knowledge can correct me, this is an inherent "issue" with this size/type of display! The only thing Samsung can do is to prevent the pixels turning off completely which is exactly what we can do with Screen Adjuster. Taking phones back to the store will not do anything, reporting the "issue" to Samsung countless times will not do anything. Believe me they know about it and in some cases will deny it until blue in the face.

However, again, from my understanding this is NOT and issue or fault. It is just the way the display works if the pixels are turned off.

I do not even use Screen Adjuster now, the only place I see the smearing is in the System Menu and it really is not a big deal.

[MENTION=5249567]cnever[/MENTION] It does not happen on every solid background, only with a black background where the pixels are actually in an off state. If you are seeing issues on every background you have a different issue. EDIT: Just re-read your post and see you mention just a black background...
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] voodoochild2008:
I think the point is this is not a step forward, yes true black is great, but if your tech then brings with it a fault...or call it a step back, then its not good enough.

For the cost and hype the product should live up to the company boast, if it does not then as a customer you have the right to question/complain why not, I mean where do you draw the line in what is ok or "oh its not that bad" I mean would you say the same thing if the new pacemaker you just had put in had a fault and you were told "what fault, its the way it should be" "oh its not that bad you will not notice it"

Samsung makes huge amount of money each year, the products should be new/fun/exciting/useful/an improvement on the model before/working correct and fault free (if hard to spot hire more staff with the billions they make to look for fault, my god it took XDA guys a few days)

The idea is, dont settle for "its ok" settle for perfect...after all its your money.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] cnever:
Everyone feel different about this and if I feel that if I am paying $942.72 (R8500), yes that is how much it is in my country then I have the right to do whatever to rectify the issue - even if it is just software related. The Samsung S3 was flawless to me (although it had a slight blur as well) I did not pick it up until now so who cares. But like everything it does not bother you chippyuk and lucky you, my smearing is so bad that my type almost completely disappears when it is night time and I always put my brightness on auto, so yes maybe mine is worse than others but this is not suppose to be like this. If the previous phone did not have it why now? I will probably take the phone either way, but might as well do my little pin prick kick back - why, because we don't want a second apple do we?

If you eat **** you will get **** - just a saying - and I know that some don't think this is ****, but I do, picked it up in a few hours. So all I am trying to do is get Samsung to react, not make them aware of this - I know they know about this.

And yes it only smears on completely black backgrounds when the pixels are in an off state.... Right that kinda stating the obvious :laugh: Can you tell me when and when not movies/games/websites/anything created uses a black with on pixels and a black with off pixels??? So you see the actual issue, if not the lucky you again :good:
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ramon.nmgn:
I dont have those issues on my s4.

Bought it yesterday in the netherlands
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] cnever:
Just curious - what OS build are you running and do you perhaps have a reddish tone on the screen, it seems to be either or type situation. But if you are 100% sure even on 10% brightness you don't get the purple ghost effect - then it shows it is perhaps a mass factory defect?

But many thought they did not have it and then after update got it or just realized it with lower brightness... just saying.

---------- Post added at 10:41 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:36 PM ----------

Dantesss333, I don't care to go on like it is untill a software update, but the technician and head of Samsung (Carrier) seem to think it is a OBF. So that is why I am playing along to see what comes from it. I just wonder if Samsung will indeed update this and if it is not a phone problem. That does have a fix but will be released with the next batch of s4's. Then we all deserve a refund if this is the case... So trying to get it sorted now before my refunds and things are gone.

But sending it back today and feeling slightly bumbed, owhell..
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] chippyuk:
Do not believe the S4 was ever marketed as having "True Blacks" though or I missed it! So we have not really been sold anything faulty. Samsung just need to tweak the updates to resolve it. This happens with pretty much every new phone released out there. Remember it has only been out 10 days guys.

My point still stands, you can easily fix this with Screen Adjuster until an official update does so really in my mind there is no real issue and really nothing to worry/complain about. After all when Samsung do patch it, it will only be in a similar way that we can do it ourselves right now.

So it is not a fault, it is just bad coding! It is just the way the screen works, we have a fix until an official update sorts it out.

I am certain they knew about the "issue" before the phone was released but any changes to the updates need testing and regression testing, I think this is where we get the issue between the smearing and pinkish blacks as they did not test it all properly, reckon someone got their balls kicked and they may be taking their time with the next update.

What I am trying to say is we have a fix, Samsung really do not give a sh*t about calls or threats to return the phones, they are going to sell them anyway irrespective. I just think people who are not happy with the smearing for the time being should just use Screen Adjuster and enjoy their phones. :)
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] voodoochild2008:
Thats the problem, I would love to sit back and enjoy the phone.....but.....I dont want to set it up how I like, install games and play through, basically get it how I want only to find that its not a software problem but a hardware issue.

I dont mind waiting for a fix if Samsung would just say if its SW or HW, stuck in limbo until we find that out 100%, and the problem is the longer it goes on the more I hear distant calls of HTC lol
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] yonoshiro:
Well.. when I was on the UBUAMDE.. I h a d the red tint issue..where my blacks had a red tinge..but no smearing issues at all..even on lowest brightness. .but since the UBUAMDK update, the red tint is fixed and I now have true blacks. .but I also have the smear now, which I much prefer to the tint...so I think it has to do with samaung tweaking the display settings to find the optimum one for this type of display

---------- Post added at 10:51 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:46 PM ----------

In the interim I am using Lux auto brightness with minimum brightness set to 15% and it works great
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] chippyuk:
I sort of understand what you are saying but to be honest the smearing is what you get with these displays when you turn the pixels off. From my limited knowledge there is no way around that if you turn the pixels off. We have already determined that you can get rid of the smearing by using Screen Adjuster which prevents the pixels turning off completely but still gives you very, very good blacks....

Lets face it even if there was a hardware issue, Samsung would never admit it and as I have said many times this behaviour is inherent to this type of display if the pixels are turned off and as the smearing goes away with Screen Adjuster I am pretty sure it is not a hardware issue. You will be waiting a long, long time for any admission from Samsung either way. Worst case scenario even if it is a hardware issue they will just fix it the same way we can right now with software and your mind would be put at rest with a software solution which you can use right now anyway.....hope this makes sense.

On top of that if it was a hardware issue it would be all over the news/forums etc... believe me, Apple for one would be all over it!
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] KP1877:
I am extremely ocd when it comes to phones. My s4 does NOT...I repeat does NOT have this issue. I am returning it friday and exchanging for a 32 gig and now im scared my 32 gig version will have this "smearing" issue

[MENTION=4652652]KP1877[/MENTION]
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Obagleyfreer:
Where you getting your 32gb from? I have looked all over!
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] superioor:
I can see the smearing and red/pink gradient when black/white background... Didn't pay enough attention when writing this. :/
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] KP1877:
They will be availble at AT&T 5/10 (this friday)

I am still in my return period as I just got my s4 friday. I will gladly pay the restock fee olus the extra $49 to get a 32 gig model :)

[MENTION=4652652]KP1877[/MENTION]
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] cnever:
Point taking and fully agree. I was willing to let the smudge thing fly when I was at the technician but they OBF'ed the phone which I kinda now just going with because it felt like my microphone on the phone was also making clipping sounds. I am sure the replacement model will also have the same thing happening and I will then probably live with it. But like [MENTION=2724312]voodoochild2008[/MENTION] said if it is hardware it becomes a big issue... That said samsung wont admit it purely cause it will be a lot of money to get back all the faulty phones. What does concern me though is the fact that there are people claiming that their phones don't have this issue? Again maybe the just don't notice the red tint?
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] DanteSSS333:
Every single person claiming not to have any issue turned out to be wrong. Besides that, the S1 and S3 also have the same issue, since they use a pentile matrix, I am sure every phone with a pentile AMOLED display out there, even when it isnt from Samsung, behaves this way if it displays true blacks. The only phone not having the issue was my S2, since it wasnt pentile. If Samsung would release a batch where they magically fixed this issue (which probably no company managed yet), then we can return it even after 6 months (thats at least the way it works in Austria). But I highly doubt they will ever manage to do this. On the other hand, its good that this general issue of pentile AMOLED displays becomes known to the public, so that Samsung will eventually stop relying on pentile displays and use a proper RGB matrix in their future Galaxy S phones.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] voodoochild2008:
Tried the contrast way and its no way as good as upping the rgb by 5, but thats just on my phone.

Although it gets rid of about 90% of the issue, though there are still some videos that show small signs of purple on grey, but as for now I just got to have my 2 week holiday and come back and see if there has been an update to fix it, if not then I will either refund or pick another phone.

Worst thing about this all is Samsung playing dumb "what issue, thats news to us" I know they worry about sales been hurt but I am not sure this is the best thing to do seeing as its got all over the net, people sick of the issue, returns, refunds, going over to Sony or HTC...or that fruit company, all of which might hit them on the S5 next year.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] eyecon82:
I just got a Sprint OTA update

This OTA update fixed my red hue during black backgrounds, so now it is pure black instead of a reddish glow

but it added the ribbon /smearing/shrinking/enlarging while scrolling through settings menu quickly, which I didn't have before

it's clearly a software issue
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] danzaywer:
Not White but gray.

Try to scroll a s-note Page with black background and some gray dot and see.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] grant7:
Samsung S4 AT&T Dark Red instead of Pure Black!

Returning mine!

Switched from LG Optimus G, and of course is nothing to compare brightness and clarity of IPS to AMOLED that compared on many paid blogs to iPhone 5 screen, very nice joke. Of course OMOLED is energy efficient, but how about color reproduction and brightness? Many people even not noticed this problem on their S4 since red glow of subpixels visible on blacks only and in total darkness. It's doesn't matter if it's video, picture or just background. I did some research and found that european version fixed after firmware update but in exchange they got this smearing problem now. Yesterday AT&T released firmware update, but unfortunately the problem still not fixed. I decided to visit AT&T store to be exact 2 stores to make sure that my unit is defective or something, and I was shocked to find out that demo units also unable to get pure black and it's dark red same as mine.

The ATT rep admitted the problem after test and said that if I don't like the device I can return it durring my 2 weeks period. Than I contacted Samsung, per their conversation it's unknown problem, and simply I see gorila glass reflection and it's totally normal :)

Easy test of red glowing in darkness:

Take a shot with the camera with no flash in dark place with lens completely closed by hand, than review in total darkness. Or just open any black theme website and review it in the total darkness.

I'm trying to figure out if this problem only on first bunch of devices, or it's hardware problem or if any of you can confirm the same on their devices.

Attaching image that shows the red glow, the picture taken on hi ISO so do not pay attention to noise just see the difference between black background and screen.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] cnever:
It is your choice now... either the red tint... Or smudging with an app that takes away most if not all smudging (depending how sharp your eye feels) - cause just doesn't seem that there will be a change in this in a while if at all? Cause seems most people content with "oh well it's a mass produces smart phone what do you expect?"
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] chippyuk:
Samsung will address this, it just takes time. The point people are making, including myself is that it is not a hardware fault (will always get the smearing if the pixels are turned off), it is just bad coding in the roms.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] cnever:
Thanks chippyuk, I guess we all can just hope right? My phone is sent back, waiting for the new one, hoping I will get it cuase it would suck if it gets taken apart and they say sorry nothings wrong after two people said there is something wrong (I know technically there isn't - but there is also technically) anyway then I will prob bite the bullet cause in my honest opinion - which is not a lot, cause I had one the first Samsung touch screen, was absolutely horrible then two nokias( completely qwerty) then S3 now the S4 - It still feels like one of the best if not the best phones out there :laugh: ... told you wasn't a lot.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] eyecon82:
Same happened with me on sprint. Had the red hue problem. But OTA fixed that and now I have a smearing problem
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] voodoochild2008:
Well guys, please keep the info going back to Samsung/shop you got the phone, its down to us all to question this.

Maybe there is a fix on the way, MAYBE??? but it is still a point that needs pressed, if you stop saying anything then in their eyes all is well....no one seems pi$£ed anymore no need to sort it anytime soon...if ever.

Dont settle for ok, settle for perfectly working phone that is as advertised and a step up in both tech, standards and quality, Sammy need to get people back on side, 2014 is going to be the big fight, HTC will learn from the One and might shock us all...ahem! micro sd/battery, and Orange...sorry Pear.....wait Apple, will be wanting its crown back, and Sony will be .....well making a 2013 phone.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] cnever:
Just thought I would share this, quite funny have to say... people get all serious - it's just the way it is :laugh: Cnet don't like this site I think hahaha

http://reviews.cnet.com/samsung-galaxy-s4/?hubRefSrc=email#lf_comment=72853862
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Mantis64:
New fix...

I'm using the "filter your screen" app,

and I think it does a great job at keeping my black levels

and at the same time reduce the smearing.

I use it on alpha 4, rgb all on 160.

The "screen adjuster" app was making my UI lag a bit,

this one is better for me.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] voodoochild2008:
Strange it just FC on me when I hit ok.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] simacca:
UK owners should contact Watchdog (bbc1 show) about this as they are doing a feature on the available user memory, and I believe if enough people complain about the screen problems they might include this in their story too.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] voodoochild2008:
Good call,.........done :)
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] AVF Jay:
Feel free to make those changes :)

I have to say when I started this thread I didn't expect the responses or amount of views.

I've even noticed other websites have used my thread as a reference and even used my crappy edited image with the arrows I did on paint. When I google "s4 screen smearing" I find sites that use my image and link to this thread, and my image also comes up in google images, I'm famous lol

My girlfriend thought I was nuts when I tried showing her my "issue", and just told me to stop complaining, turns out she was wrong lol.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] D.O.C:
lets do it

edit: done
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] abhinavsg:
I CONFIRM that I'v noticed the SMEAR ISSUE on S4 GT-I9500 Indian Version. In fact I'v noticed the issue on 6(checked out 6 Units, noticed the issue in all 6 units) Demo Units displayed in various Shops. This makes me assume that the problem is on 100% of the S4 Units out there till Samsung fixes the issue (if at all this issue is fixable)
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] daisun:
Thanks for the suggestion. Best fix I've seen so far, blacks still aren't off but very good.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Beefheart:
Was really obvious on my I9505 but, as suggested, install screen adjuster and move each RGB slider to +15. At normal brightness it completely eradicates the issue for me with no noticeable difference to blacks or colours which tells me it's an issue that can be easily fixed by Samsung, and will be.

Unfortunately, Screen Adjuster leads to noticeable lag in Touchwiz for me (very surprising given the spec of this beast) so I will live with the smudging until Samsung fix it. I barely notice it anyway.

EDIT -- will try the suggested 'Filter Your Screen' app instead.

And has anyone seen if the newly released CM 10.1 has this issue?
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Obagleyfreer:
Finally some confirmation from samsung!

Just had a phone call from Samsung NZ and they told me that Samsung HQ have confirmed this issue and are working on a fix for the next firmware maintenance release.

See below email from Samsung NZ :)

Hi Owen,

As discussed, Samsung HQ have responded to say that the purple bleeding on the screen when scrolling should be resolved with the next maintenance release.

If you have any further issues please call our contact center on 0800 726 786

Regards,

Sean M*****

Customer Care Representative

HHP Support

Samsung Customer Care Ltd

T: 0800 726 786

Web: www.samsung.co.nz <http://www.samsung.co.nz/>

Email: ****.*@partner.samsung.com
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Charlie Brown:
I returned my Tmo S4 and didn't bother to get another. Sticking with my liquidsmooth S3 for now. I also looked at about six maybe seven S4s and they all had smearing. It's easily evident with grey images on a black background. I viewed a grey and black artwork image in gallery and the screen went crazy when I zoomed in. It gave off random white and black lines in place of the image!

It's a shame because it's a good phone and all the features are great. But hundreds of dollars for a defective amoled?? No thanks.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] nawafbinshams:
I have tge same
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Beefheart:
It's no more defective than the S3. The difference is, by firmware, the pixels that look black on the S3 aren't 100% black as the pixels aren't deactivated which means they react to the colour change a lot faster and as a result you do not get the smear. It's for this reason why a slight change in the RGB levels with software like Screen Adjuster or Filter Your Screen stops this smear happening on the S4 with no noticeable difference in blacks. This tells me Samsung could get rid of the issue easily with a small software update.

Also, in answer to my question in an earlier post, I have read the newly released CM10.1 rom (http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2271595) doesn't have the issue.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Rmansh:
very good... no more problem...
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] cnever:
This is funny because the carrier I got it from actually swapped mine, now I am just waiting for stock. But I knew it was going to be on all the devices - just hoping the audio on calls don't do that clip on the new phone... What a journey, the one hand definitely does not know about the other hand.

crazy - at least we got feedback somewhere ;)
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] dr_m_shaltout:
GREAT NEWS............Back To the main problem of the exynos processor and the big little
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Charlie Brown:
The S3 did not experience this issue on such a scale. Not even close. But the S4 issue bugged me so much that I must have looked over 20 devices so far from my customers, friends, family, stores and they all have smearing. And we don't know 100% "officially" if it's software related or hardware.

Albeit I did use a display adjustment app to reduce the smearing effect but on some grey on black images when opened in gallery to view the screen turned white and black lines and dots.... Strange but try it. Download an image... I googled "grey on black" and DLed a few abstract art and patterns, opened them in gallery, zoomed in and moved them around; then the image went to white and black lines and dots.

PS *** just reporting my findings ***
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] eyecon82:
I disagree. When you make a black image full screen, the screen literally looks as if it is off, which technically,it is. Also, before the update, I saw a red hue. I then proceeded to turn the screen actually off and it made no difference since no pixels where even light up

I did this in a pitch black room with eyes adjusted
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] grant7:
Update

Was suffering from red tint blacks on my S4 AT&T model but no purple smearing, today headed to AT&T store to figure out what should I do, to return/refund or exchange mine. AT&T released 32GB version of S4 today and I though latest model so maybe the problem finally fixed. Now I don't have the red tint but ended up with purple smearing. I'm pretty sure the new AMOLED technology is messed up, and it's important for us "Buyers" to get response from Samsung on this, specially when all S4 devices affected if it's US or Europe. We want to know if it's hardware related or software problem. Of course 50% of users will not pay attention or even don't care. But if the screen is bad I want my money back!