Burn-In Test

Screen burn-in is permanent damage that occurs when static images remain displayed for extended periods, causing certain pixels to degrade faster than others. This creates ghost images or shadows that remain visible even when displaying different content. Our burn-in test helps you detect these persistent image retention issues on OLED, AMOLED, and plasma displays.

Unlike temporary image retention (which fades after a few minutes), true burn-in is irreversible. The organic compounds in OLED pixels physically degrade when exposed to the same high-brightness content repeatedly. Common culprits include channel logos, game HUD elements, taskbars, and navigation bars that remain stationary on screen.

Self-Emissive Pixel Technology

OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) displays use self-emissive pixels where each pixel generates its own light. These organic compounds have a limited lifespan and degrade with use. Pixels displaying bright, static content age faster than surrounding pixels, creating uneven wear patterns visible as burn-in.

Blue Pixel Degradation

Blue OLED pixels typically degrade faster than red or green pixels due to their higher energy output. This is why burn-in often appears with a slight color tint as the blue subpixels in affected areas become dimmer relative to surrounding pixels.

LCD Displays and Image Retention

LCD monitors rarely experience permanent burn-in because they use a separate backlight rather than self-emissive pixels. However, LCDs can suffer from temporary image retention where ghost images appear briefly but typically resolve within minutes of displaying varied content.

Use Solid Color Backgrounds

Display solid gray backgrounds at medium brightness to reveal burn-in most effectively. Gray tones show both lighter and darker damaged areas better than pure white or black. Cycle through red, green, blue, and gray screens while examining the entire display for persistent shadows.

Check High-Risk Areas

Focus on areas where static elements typically appear: screen corners (channel logos), top edge (status bars), bottom edge (taskbars, navigation), and center areas (game HUDs). These regions are most likely to show early signs of burn-in.

Distinguish from Image Retention

After detecting a ghost image, display varied content for 10-15 minutes. If the image fades, it's temporary retention. If it persists unchanged, you're likely seeing genuine burn-in. Many modern OLEDs include pixel refresh features that can clear temporary retention.

Enable Built-In Protection Features

Modern OLED TVs and monitors include pixel shift (micro-movement of the entire image), logo luminance detection (automatically dims static bright areas), and screen savers. Enable all available protection features in your display's settings menu.

Reduce Brightness and Static Content

Running your OLED at lower brightness significantly reduces burn-in risk by slowing pixel degradation. Avoid leaving static images like pause screens, game menus, or desktop icons displayed for hours. Use auto-hide for taskbars and navigation elements.

Vary Your Content

Regularly switch between different types of content to ensure even pixel wear across the display. If you watch a lot of content with black bars (letterboxed movies), occasionally watch full-screen content to balance the unused edge pixels.

Run Pixel Refresh Cycles

Use your display's pixel refresh or panel refresh feature periodically. These compensation cycles help even out minor pixel wear before it becomes visible burn-in. Most OLED TVs run automatic refreshes during standby.