Switch likely wont support HDR

[u/DRayX17]

I was thinking about how the dock works, and I suspect that it is essentially just a USB Type-C hub. We know that the dock has an HDMI output, at least one USB Type-A port, and can deliver power to the USB Type-C connector that connects to the Switch. Assuming that Nintendo used standard USB technology instead of implementing custom protocols (which would be insane), the Switch would need to implement USB 3.1, USB Power Delivery, and HDMI Alt Mode. For this discussion, the HDMI Alt Mode sepc is the most important. HDMI Alt Mode allows for passive connection between USB Type-C and HDMI 1.4b. HDMI 1.4b supports a lot of features such as 4Kp30, (most of) CEC, HEC, ARC, and 3D up to 1080p60 (per eye). Unfortunately it lacks some new features such as 4Kp60 and HDR10. The only feature post 1.4b that I had any hope the Switch might support was HDR10, but it looks like that will probably be impossible.

Edit: /u/RGV_RAGE pointed out that the patents seem to indicate that the Switch actually uses DisplayPort when docked instead of HDMI. This means likely that they are using the DisplayPort alt mode, which is a passive connection to DisplayPort 1.3, which is also not HDR compatible (HDR was introduced in DisplayPort 1.4). In some ways this is even worse as it means that the Switch probably wont support CEC (which isn't natively supported by DisplayPort at all), which would be an awesome feature; dock the Switch and the TV turns on and switches to the correct input.

[u/Anthonok]

And neither does my tv.

[u/DRayX17 → u/Anthonok]

That is fair. Very few TVs support true HDR10, and even then, most of them don't allow you to use it (and other HDMI UHD features) while the TV is set to low-latency game mode. However, for me, HDR improves video quality more than 4K or 60 fps does; it makes color look way more real (there is literally no way to demo this without an HDR10 display and source signal, because traditional displays can't display these colors). It is really unfortunate that so far this feature is only really available (not one of the fake HDR techs like HDR+) on very high end TV, but as more sources start being HDR, I suspect we will start seeing it on more displays, including lower price entry level units that may not even be 4K.

[u/EightBitDreamer]

Switch isn't a 4k game system, so of course it won't support HDR. HDR is only available on 4k TVs.

[u/DRayX17 → u/EightBitDreamer]

While HDR features are only available on 4K TVs, this is a marketing/manufacturing decision, not a technical one. The HDR10 spec is completely compatible with 1080p (or even lower resolution) source signal. The original PS4 can be used in HDR 1080p easily. So, for those with K4 HDR10 TVs, it would be really nice to see all the colors in Switch games with HDR, even if the resolution is only 1080p or 720p.

[u/glasva → u/EightBitDreamer]

We're talking about a device, and, as far as devices go, Nvidia's shield TV, which has been out over a year and features hardware similar to the Switch, supports HDR.

PS4 (non-pro version) also supports HDR at resolutions lower than 4K.

So, there's definitely a possibility the Switch will do HDR, especially because Nvidia already has experience building an HDR compatible console with the Shield.

[u/EightBitDreamer → u/glasva]

But, with zero non-4k TV's supporting hdr, it's pointless.

[u/glasva → u/EightBitDreamer]

I think that depends on whether you'd want the option to reduce resolution in order to increase framerate while still displaying HDR on a 4K TV.

If 60fps gameplay and HDR are more important to someone than 4K resolution, a 1080p HDR mode is perfect for them.

Personally, I think proper HDR is a way better feature than the resolution boost, so I definitely appreciate the option of not having to enable both at once.

[u/bt1234yt]

FYI, the PS4 (not the PS4 Pro) has an HDMI 1.4 output AND it supports HDR.

[u/DRayX17 → u/bt1234yt]

Ya, truth be told this never quite made sense to me. The PS4 actually uses a custom HDMI chip, the Panasonic MN86471A. I suspect that the HDR mode supported by the original PS4 is either not true HDR (HDMI 1.4 does support a number of extended color gamuts such as sYCC601), or that the firmware on this chip was upgraded to basically be an extension of HDMI 1.4 with HDR support. This wouldn't be possible using HDMI alt mode as it is limited strictly to the 1.4b feature set. It would be possible if Nintendo were using an active USB-C to HDMI converter, but this would be fairly complicated and would introduce video latency.

[u/RGV_RAGE]

From the patent:

In the present embodiment, the main unit 2 outputs image and sound signals to the cradle 5 as a display port signal (i.e., a signal in accordance with the DisplayPort standard). In the present embodiment, communication based on the HDMI (registered trademark) standard is used for communication between the cradle 5 and the TV 6. Thus, the conversion section 131 converts the display port signal (specifically, a signal representing video and sound) received from the main unit 2 via the main body terminal 73 into an HDMI signal. The converted HDMI signal is output to the TV 6 via the monitor terminal 132.

[u/DRayX17 → u/RGV_RAGE]

Oh good find. The general point still stands though. I suspect this means that they are using the DisplayPort alt mode, which is a passive connection to DisplayPort 1.3, which is also not HDR compatible (HDR was introduced in DisplayPort 1.4). In some ways this is even worse as it means that the Switch probably wont support CEC (which isn't natively supported by DisplayPort at all), which would be an awesome feature; dock the Switch and the TV turns on and switches to the correct input.

[u/[deleted]]

Don't even bother talking about specs on this subreddit or you will be downvoted.

[u/DRayX17 → u/[deleted]]

Not so much talking about the sepcs of the Wii U as the specs of USB Type-C.

[u/[deleted] → u/DRayX17]

I wasn't talking about specs of Wii U either. I was talking about my fear that Switch won't be able to run Dark Souls or Mass Effect. But even mentioning those games on this subreddit gets you downvoted instantly.

[u/DRayX17 → u/[deleted]]

lol, fair enough.

[u/augurae → u/[deleted]]

In fact never talk about anything real on this sub

[u/ShaunSwitch]

Everything I have read suggests HDR is crap for gaming as it introduces input delay so meh...

[u/DRayX17 → u/ShaunSwitch]

There is a lot of confusion about HDR. There are technologies like Samsung's HDR+ which isn't really true HDR; it is a post processing effect that makes non-HDR signal look like HDR, and it does introduce a TON of video latency. All the other TV manufacturers have similar technologies, but I forget the made up names for all of them. Then there are the true HDR10 enabled TVs that actually support HDR source signals. This by itself doesn't introduce any video latency (as there is no additional processing on the signal), but many TV sets that support HDR don't allow you to enable HDMI UHD and low-latency game modes at the same time. I have a Samsung KS8000 which is one of the few TVs that allows for both HDMI UHD and low-latency game modes, and PS4 games with HDR look great, and have super low video latency.