MediaCodec: HDR video displayed in SDR (with proper tone mapping) in Samsung Galaxy Tab S4. Instead of in HDR
Using a stock Samsung video player, HDR video switches the display mode to HDR and properly displays HDR videos. So the sky will look way brighter, etc. proper HDR. While with VLC, it displays HDR in SDR with proper tone mapping.
Description
Playing a HDR video in VLC will displays the video in SDR with proper tone mapping. So it doesn't looks washed out. But because it displays in SDR, the brightness becomes "flat". So a neon sign looks to have similar brightness with the wall that just reflects its light. If you open the recent menu, it will have no wonky colors. Because the display didn't switch from HDR to SDR. It's in SDR all along.
On the other hand, playing an HDR video in a stock Samsung video player will display the video in HDR. So it looks nice, complete with the infamous "brightness" gap between bright and dark places. So a neon sign looks brighter than the wall that just reflects its light. If you open the recent menu, for about 1 second it will show that the recent menu has incorrect color/gamma before the display switch back to SDR mode.
Expected behavior
VLC displays HDR video in HDR
Actual behavior
VLC displays HDR video in properly tone-mapped SDR.
Steps to reproduce
- Open HDR video with VLC
- Set brightness to maximum.
- Notice that the brightness is "flat", like SDR video.
- Open the recent menu and see that the recent menu will open normally, with no wonky color/gamma for a sec.
Screenshot / video
Test video file I used where HDR is easiest to see (especially on neon signs and on photos with bright skies on top half and buildings on the lower half): https://yadi.sk/d/RPrX2C7l3HEjPq/09.%20Test%20Footage/02.%20HDR%20photo (HDR 1000 nits)
Context
App version
Revision vlc-android@9aba2c3d VLC: vlc-android@62cbb5b1 (2020-11-23)
Android version
Android 10
Device model
Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 (SM-T835)
App mode
Smartphone