Some displays offer processing that makes tonal steps less obvious. It can help certain gradients, but may also smooth texture or alter detail. The effect depends on the source and implementation, so compare a difficult gradient and a detailed face before leaving the strongest option enabled.
Understand what is being changed
A visible band means neighbouring tones have become separated into steps. Processing can estimate intermediate transitions or add a less noticeable pattern, but it does not recover the exact original values discarded earlier. A cleaner-looking wall is therefore not proof that the underlying stream has gained precision.
Use two kinds of scene
First inspect fog, sky or a dim wall where bands are obvious. Then inspect hair, fabric and skin in another passage. A setting that improves the first can blur the second. Keep noise reduction, sharpness and contrast unchanged during the comparison so you can identify the actual trade-off.
Keep source differences in mind
An artefact confined to one title may need source-level attention rather than a permanent global filter. Report its time and the active HDR or SDR mode. Do not assume a ten-bit output setting repairs all earlier banding; the source can already contain stepped gradients before it reaches the player or television.