The screen of Microsoft's new Surface Laptop Ultra has sparked widespread controversy among users and tech reviewers, with questions focusing on the effectiveness of the local dimming technology in the device's Mini LED screens, following observations of contrast issues and the appearance of blooming and ghosting effects.
Official clarification from Microsoft
Following conflicting reports, including claims from Notebookcheck that the local dimming feature is absent, Microsoft reached out to clarify the matter, confirming that the device does indeed support this technology. The company explained that the screen relies on 5,400 LEDs distributed across 1,344 dimming zones, which automatically adjust the backlight brightness based on the displayed content.
What changes practically for users?
Tests have indicated that local dimming performance depends heavily on Windows system settings. To achieve the best performance for this technology, the settings recommend the following:
- Enabling the "Change brightness based on content" option within system settings.
- Setting the display profile to "Enhanced" mode.
- Disabling HDR technology, as enabling it reduces local dimming performance, although it may contribute to reducing ghosting and blooming issues at the expense of contrast quality.
Technical context
Despite Microsoft's confirmation of the feature's existence, its performance remains subject to criticism compared to competing Mini LED screens, such as those found in MacBook Pro devices. Observers believe that the lower number of dimming zones compared to market-leading standards is the primary reason behind these technical issues. Users still hope that future firmware updates can improve local dimming processing, especially after a previous update successfully addressed screen flickering issues.