Screen review site RTINGS has achieved striking results in its long-term durability tests for televisions and monitors. The site used its “legendary burn-in test,” which involved more than 100 televisions and several monitors, to measure how panels perform under long-term use. The tests revealed that burn-in problems are inevitable, particularly with OLED displays, and that edge-lit TVs carry a serious risk of malfunction.
Burn-in on OLED displays
In the test, each screen was exposed to a news channel 24/7 at maximum brightness. This method aimed to increase the risk of burn-in by constantly exposing the screens to specific images. Burn-in manifests itself when certain elements leave permanent marks on the screen. This phenomenon is particularly pronounced on OLED displays, and the marks become permanent even with prolonged use.
Three monitors in the test: the LG 27GR95QE-B, the Alienware AW3423DWF, and the Samsung Odyssey OLED G8, showed noticeable burn-in marks after 24/7 use. When the test concluded, the fixed banners and logos from the news channel became permanent at the bottom of the screens. A person’s silhouette was clearly visible in the center of the screen on the LG monitor, while the news channel logo became prominent in the bottom right corner of the Samsung Odyssey OLED. Interestingly, the monitors’ brightness values remained mostly stable throughout the test, demonstrating their increased durability compared to TVs.
RTINGS stated that one of the most significant findings of the test was that edge-lit TVs fail much more quickly than direct-lit models. While edge-lit TVs are thinner and cheaper, intensive and continuous use can cause the panel to warp and crack, leading to premature LED failure. Backlight failures were observed in many TVs during the test, and in some devices, a single LED burnout resulted in the entire screen failing.
RTINGS’s over two-year test clearly demonstrates the inevitability of burn-in on OLED panels and the risk to the longevity of edge-lit TVs. While monitors continue to show signs of burn-in but most continue to function, high rates of backlight failure in televisions are seriously shortening the lifespan of the devices.
