Sony has packed a nice innovation into its latest firmware for the PlayStation 5, which strangely hadn’t been especially highlighted. The console finally masters ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode). This means that the console can ensure that the TV automatically switches to your TV’s gaming mode when you switch to the PS5.
Or ALLM then switches to gaming mode in games but can activate a different picture mode if you start a streaming app or a Blu-ray, for example. Sony had previously implemented a similar custom function, but it only worked on their own TVs and was a bit “dumber” than ALLM. Because it was only generally switched to gaming mode as soon as the PS5 was activated. So this mode made no distinctions between games, streaming apps and movie playback from the disc.
Incidentally, ALLM only works if it is also supported by your television set. The manufacturers also like to use their own designations for this. At LG, the function is called Instant Game Response. I can confirm that ALLM works flawlessly on my LG OLED E9 and PlayStation 5 combo. Nice thing that helps me because I have connected the PS5 and a UHD Blu-ray player to the same TV input via a switch. Before, I always had to think about changing the mode manually depending on the player. Thanks to ALLM, this now works automatically.
The Xbox Series X|S have ruled ALLM (and VRR) since launch, so it’s really overdue for Sony to get their act together. VRR aka Variable Refresh Rate is also to be submitted in the coming months. Then the only thing missing would be the output of an 8K video signal, which is advertised in large letters on the box, and the ability to send a 1440p signal to monitors.