Dell S-series IPS (HDR400) HDR settings

The best HDR settings for the Dell S-series IPS (HDR400) monitor — for gaming on PC, PS5 and Xbox and for movies on Apple TV, Android/Google TV and streaming apps — plus whether HDR is worth using at all.

Use SDR instead

Display at a glance

Type
Monitor
Panel
IPS
Peak brightness
~400 nits
Full-field brightness
~380 nits
Local dimming
None
HDR formats
HDR10
  • No local dimming — leave in SDR for the best image.

Dell picture-menu (OSD) settings

Picture mode · GamesHDR preset (DisplayHDR mode)
Picture mode · MoviesHDR preset
  • When Windows HDR is onMonitor auto-switches to HDR

    Most OSD picture controls grey out — calibrate in Windows/the game instead.

  • Peak Brightness (HDR menu)High

    Set the monitor’s HDR Peak Brightness to High for full highlight luminance — this stays adjustable even when other controls lock.

  • Colour Temperature / GamutWarm / 6500K (native/Auto in HDR)

    Let the monitor follow the HDR signal’s Rec.2020 mapping.

  • "Smart/Dynamic HDR" gimmicksOff

    Turn off any vendor auto-HDR that overrides your calibrated values.

Menu names vary by model and year — match the closest equivalent on your set.

HDR game settings — by platform

PC (Windows)

Use SDR instead

Dell S-series IPS (HDR400): skip HDR — a good SDR mode will look better.

  1. Disable HDR
  2. Use the panel’s "Game" picture mode
  3. Set white balance warm
  4. Turn off motion smoothing & noise reduction
  5. Use each game’s SDR brightness calibration

PlayStation 5

Use SDR instead

Dell S-series IPS (HDR400): skip HDR — a good SDR mode will look better.

  1. Disable HDR
  2. Use the panel’s "Game" picture mode
  3. Set white balance warm
  4. Turn off motion smoothing & noise reduction
  5. Use each game’s SDR brightness calibration

Xbox Series X|S

Use SDR instead

Dell S-series IPS (HDR400): skip HDR — a good SDR mode will look better.

  1. Disable HDR
  2. Use the panel’s "Game" picture mode
  3. Set white balance warm
  4. Turn off motion smoothing & noise reduction
  5. Use each game’s SDR brightness calibration

HDR movie & streaming settings

For movies

Use SDR instead

Dell S-series IPS (HDR400): HDR movies will be tone-mapped down — manage expectations and watch in a dark room.

Picture mode: HDR preset
  1. Use the TV’s built-in streaming apps
  2. Set streaming quality to the HDR tier
  3. Pick the movie picture mode (per app if needed)
  4. Turn off the ambient light sensor / eco dimming
  5. Set expectations for HDR on this panel

Watching via Apple TV, Android/Google TV, PC or a console? Open the calibrator in Movies mode for the exact per-source steps (Match Content, Dolby Vision, 24Hz and more).

Movie settings for the Dell S-series IPS (HDR400)
Open the Dell S-series IPS (HDR400) in the interactive calibrator →

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