Valve’s Steam Deck OLED model starts to exhibit screen burn-in symptoms after 1,500 hours of usage. This is particularly a crucial warning for users who play a single game for extended periods with static user interface elements.

Steam Deck OLED’s screen burn

In Issue: Appears After 1,500 Hours-The risk of screen burn-in, inherent to OLED displays, occurs due to static images remaining on the screen for an extended period. Burn-in manifests as the dimming of overused pixels and ghost-like traces of frequently displayed graphics on the screen.

Independent testers, such as Wulff Den and The Phawx, have revealed that slight image retention issues begin to appear on the Steam Deck OLED’s screen between 1,000 and 1,500 hours of use.

In Wulff Den’s test, a static screen of “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” was displayed for 1,500 hours. The Phawx used a program to test various colors in SDR and HDR modes.

Noticeable image retention at 1,000 nits brightness in HDR mode appeared after 750 hours, while mild screen burn-in at 600 nits brightness in SDR mode was observed after 1,500 hours. The maximum physical brightness on the Steam Deck OLED is set at 75% screen brightness.

Settings above this level digitally enhance exposure. Therefore, to reduce burn-in risk, users are advised to keep brightness levels below 75%. Heavy users, especially those who play the same game extensively, may face image retention issues after the one-year warranty period.

This problem is somewhat mitigated by the fact that the device’s screen is relatively easy to replace. This news serves as a reminder for Steam Deck OLED users to be cautious in preserving their device’s screens.

Paying attention to HDR usage and high brightness settings is crucial to extend the screen’s lifespan. This development also reignites ongoing discussions about the burn-in risk in OLED screen technology. What are your thoughts on this issue? Feel free to share your opinions in the comments section.