Where Samsung, LG, Sony, TCL and Hisense Put the HDMI Setting for 4K HDR and 120Hz

Samsung, LG, Sony and Hisense TVs use four different names for their per-port HDMI settings, and their descriptions don't all say the same thing. TCL's gaming guide mentions an enhanced HDMI setting but gives no exact name or menu path.

Engadget explains what that kind of setting does. You flip an HDMI input to Enhanced, or a variation of that name, and it describes the result as "unlocking the full bandwidth of each port." Engadget says you need it for Dolby Vision and for refresh rates above 60Hz. Its examples are Sony and Hisense TVs that run Google TV.

TCL's guide adds one check for consoles. If no 120Hz option appears, make sure the enhanced HDMI setting is on and use a certified HDMI 2.1 cable.

Where each brand puts it

Samsung's support page calls its setting Input Signal Plus and says it "enhances the input signal range for HDMI connections." It's under Settings > General > External Device Manager, where you pick the port. On 2018 and older models it was called HDMI UHD Color.

For LG, Engadget gives the path Settings > General > External Devices > HDMI settings > HDMI Deep Color. Engadget says Deep Color "simply extends color depth to the levels needed for HDR." It also says "no consumer TV can take advantage of anything more than 10-bit color."

Sony's help guide puts the setting under Settings > Channels & Inputs > External inputs > HDMI signal format/VRR, where you choose the input. It lists three options: Standard format, Enhanced format (ALLM) and Enhanced format (Advanced). Sony puts ALLM in one option's name and VRR in the menu's name, so at least you know you're in the right menu.

Tom's Guide gives the Hisense path as Settings > Picture > Advanced Settings > HDMI Format, where you change Standard to Enhanced for each port. The full Tom's Guide article was not available at the time of writing.

Sources read on 10 November 2026. Menu paths can change with software updates. None of the names above uses the word bandwidth.

Which cable Sony asks for

Sony's help guide asks for an 18 Gbps Premium High Speed HDMI cable for high-quality 4K. For 4K at 100 or 120Hz, it says you need an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable that supports 48 Gbps. It also says support depends on the model and region.

Sources read on 10 November 2026. The cable is the one part of this you can't change from a menu.

Game Mode, ALLM, VRR, eARC and CEC

Samsung says Game Mode reduces input lag. TCL's guide says "ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode) is the convenience feature" and "VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) helps keep the image stable when frame rates bounce around." Hisense Australia calls eARC an "expansion of the existing ARC solutions" and says it carries high-bitrate audio without an optical cable. A soundbar or receiver that uses it goes in the TV's HDMI port labelled ARC or eARC. CEC is the HDMI feature that lets connected devices send each other basic commands, such as power and volume.

Some menu names were not available at the time of writing. That covers Game Mode on LG, Sony, TCL and Hisense, ALLM and VRR on Samsung, LG, TCL and Hisense, and eARC and CEC on all five brands.

Setting it up, in order

Engadget reports that some TVs split Enhanced into two levels: one for HDR and a higher one for high refresh rates and VRR. It says consoles and PCs need the higher level, while streaming boxes and Blu-ray players mainly need the HDR level.

1. Plug the console or PC into the port TCL describes as supporting 4K 120Hz, VRR and ALLM.
2. Check the cable: Sony asks for 48 Gbps for 4K at 100 or 120Hz.
3. Turn on that port's setting, using the brand table above.
4. If the TV offers more than one Enhanced option, check its manual to see which does what.
5. On a Samsung, turn on Game Mode.
6. Open the console's video settings and look for a 120Hz option.
7. No 120Hz option: TCL says to check the enhanced HDMI setting and use a certified HDMI 2.1 cable.
8. Picture or sound wrong on a Sony: move the device to an input set to Standard format.
9. No HDR from a PC on a Hisense U8K: RTINGS reports that HDR is disabled when FreeSync is on.

When Enhanced causes trouble

"When using Enhanced format (ALLM), picture and sound may not be output correctly." (Sony help guide)

If that happens, Sony's advice is to plug the device into an input set to Standard format. Sony's guide does not name the incompatible devices.

RTINGS reports that on the Hisense U8K, HDMI Format has to be set to Enhanced format for HDR to work with most sources. It also reports that HDR is disabled when FreeSync is on. FreeSync is AMD's version of VRR.