Thanks to iOS 14.5 and tvOS 14.5, it is easier than ever to choose the optimal display settings for your TV. With the Color Balance function, the Apple TV does this all by itself, with a little help from an iPhone.
What is Apple TV Color Balance
Setting up your television optimally can be a hassle. Is the brightness just too high or not? Or do you have to tinker with the contrast to make films look as good as possible? Apple recognizes this and has therefore added Color Balance. This function is part of tvOS 14.5 and takes this job off your hands. To use Color Balance you need the following.
This is what you need to use Color Balance:
- 2015 Apple TV HD or newer
- iPhone with Face ID (iPhone X or later)
- tvOS 14.5 or later
- iOS 14.5 or later
Do you have everything? Then you can get started to activate Color Balance. You only have to do this once, because after that the Apple TV will remember the setting and use it. Follow the steps below to enable the feature.
Apple TV Set color balance: this is how you do it
You set Apple TV Color Balance as follows
- Open the Settings app on your Apple TV and choose ‘Video and Audio’;
- Scroll down and click on ‘Color Balance’;
- Hold your iPhone close to your TV until a notification appears. Press ‘Continue’ on your iPhone;
- Follow the instructions on your TV screen: turn your iPhone over and hold it 2.5 centimeters away from your TV in the box;
- Wait for the calibration to complete.
Now that the calibration is complete, a new screen will appear. Here you can switch between the original settings and Color Balance, so that the difference is immediately visible. In our case, we saw a marked change, with Color Balance showing much richer and more true-to-life colors.
Since the function views and scans your surroundings with your iPhone, we recommend that you use it again if you move the TV once. For example if you move or put it in another room. That way you can be sure that the color settings are optimal.
Color balance option not available?
Do you not see the Color Balance function appear or is it not clickable in the menu? Then this can have various reasons. Always check first if your Apple TV has actually been updated to tvOS 14.5 or newer. In addition, the function does not work if your TV supports Dolby Vision, because this technology already adjusts the color itself. There are also some TVs that do not support the function.
Looking for more things iOS 14.5 has to offer? Check out our overview with the 11 most important new functions and improvements.