OLED Burn-in Check
Specialized test patterns to detect sub-pixel degradation and image retention on OLED displays.
Solid Red: Reveals blue/green sub-pixel degradation
How to check for burn-in
- Red and magenta patterns are most revealing for OLED burn-in.
- Look for faint ghost images of taskbars, browser UI, or app icons.
- 50% gray shows static element ghosts most clearly.
- Minor burn-in only visible on test patterns is considered normal wear.
Testing guide
How to check an OLED for burn-in
Burn-in is permanent uneven wear of OLED sub-pixels, usually caused by static bright elements like taskbars, logos, or HUDs staying on screen for hundreds of hours. Full-field solid colors are the reliable way to see it, because a worn area shows up as a faint ghost of whatever was left on screen.
Best for
- Checking an OLED monitor, TV, laptop, or phone for permanent image retention.
- Inspecting a secondhand OLED panel before buying it.
- Confirming whether a faint ghost image fades on its own, which separates temporary retention from true burn-in.
How to run the test
- 1Run the test in a dark or dimly lit room so faint discoloration is easier to spot.
- 2Display each solid color full screen and look carefully at areas where static UI normally sits.
- 3Pay special attention to the taskbar strip, notification area, channel logo corners, and game HUD positions.
- 4Note whether any ghost image persists after several minutes of moving content, or fades away.
How to read the result
A faint ghost that fades within minutes is temporary image retention, which is normal and not damage.
A permanent outline of a taskbar, logo, or HUD that stays on every color is true burn-in.
Solid gray and solid color fills reveal burn-in far better than black, since worn sub-pixels differ in brightness rather than being dead.
Related tools and guides
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between burn-in and image retention?
Image retention is a temporary ghost that fades on its own within seconds to minutes once the content changes. Burn-in is permanent, caused by sub-pixels physically aging at different rates, and does not fade no matter how long you leave it.
Which color best reveals OLED burn-in?
Solid mid-gray is usually the most revealing, followed by solid red, green, and blue. Burn-in shows as a brightness or color difference rather than a black spot, so a uniform lit field exposes it far better than a black screen does.
Can OLED burn-in be fixed?
True burn-in cannot be reversed, because the affected sub-pixels have permanently aged. Built-in pixel refresh and panel refresh cycles can even out mild wear, and a pixel-cycling tool can help with temporary retention, but permanent burn-in requires a panel replacement.
How long does it take for OLED burn-in to happen?
Modern OLED panels are far more resistant than early models, with pixel shifting, logo dimming, and automatic refresh cycles built in. Burn-in typically requires hundreds to thousands of hours of the same static bright element in the same position at high brightness.
Do LCD monitors get burn-in?
Not in the same way. LCDs can show temporary image persistence, which fades, but they do not suffer the permanent sub-pixel wear that causes OLED burn-in, because their backlight is separate from the pixel layer.
Testing guide
How to check an OLED for burn-in
Burn-in is permanent uneven wear of OLED sub-pixels, usually caused by static bright elements like taskbars, logos, or HUDs staying on screen for hundreds of hours. Full-field solid colors are the reliable way to see it, because a worn area shows up as a faint ghost of whatever was left on screen.
Best for
- Checking an OLED monitor, TV, laptop, or phone for permanent image retention.
- Inspecting a secondhand OLED panel before buying it.
- Confirming whether a faint ghost image fades on its own, which separates temporary retention from true burn-in.
How to run the test
- 1Run the test in a dark or dimly lit room so faint discoloration is easier to spot.
- 2Display each solid color full screen and look carefully at areas where static UI normally sits.
- 3Pay special attention to the taskbar strip, notification area, channel logo corners, and game HUD positions.
- 4Note whether any ghost image persists after several minutes of moving content, or fades away.
How to read the result
A faint ghost that fades within minutes is temporary image retention, which is normal and not damage.
A permanent outline of a taskbar, logo, or HUD that stays on every color is true burn-in.
Solid gray and solid color fills reveal burn-in far better than black, since worn sub-pixels differ in brightness rather than being dead.
Related tools and guides
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between burn-in and image retention?
Image retention is a temporary ghost that fades on its own within seconds to minutes once the content changes. Burn-in is permanent, caused by sub-pixels physically aging at different rates, and does not fade no matter how long you leave it.
Which color best reveals OLED burn-in?
Solid mid-gray is usually the most revealing, followed by solid red, green, and blue. Burn-in shows as a brightness or color difference rather than a black spot, so a uniform lit field exposes it far better than a black screen does.
Can OLED burn-in be fixed?
True burn-in cannot be reversed, because the affected sub-pixels have permanently aged. Built-in pixel refresh and panel refresh cycles can even out mild wear, and a pixel-cycling tool can help with temporary retention, but permanent burn-in requires a panel replacement.
How long does it take for OLED burn-in to happen?
Modern OLED panels are far more resistant than early models, with pixel shifting, logo dimming, and automatic refresh cycles built in. Burn-in typically requires hundreds to thousands of hours of the same static bright element in the same position at high brightness.
Do LCD monitors get burn-in?
Not in the same way. LCDs can show temporary image persistence, which fades, but they do not suffer the permanent sub-pixel wear that causes OLED burn-in, because their backlight is separate from the pixel layer.