Recent long-term testing of OLED televisions manufactured between 2020 and 2023 has revealed a surprising lack of significant improvement in burn-in resistance compared to a 2017 LG model. The primary culprit is believed to be the increased screen brightness of newer displays.

RTings.com's tests indicated that the average 2023 OLED TV was 28% brighter than the 2017 model in a 10% SDR window test, and a substantial 52% brighter in a sustained full-screen SDR test. This enhanced brightness, while desirable for image quality, appears to have negated advancements in burn-in mitigation technologies.

Worst-Case Scenario Testing

The study subjected the tested televisions to thousands of hours of continuous CNN viewing, a scenario designed to replicate a worst-case usage pattern with static on-screen elements, such as a persistent news banner. At the 10,500-hour mark, a noticeable degree of burn-in was still evident on the newer models.

However, the testing was conducted at the maximum SDR brightness settings for each TV, without adjustments to account for their higher brightness capabilities. This suggests that users who opt to lower the brightness on their newer OLED displays may still achieve a longer burn-free lifespan. The report notes that even with reduced brightness, newer panels can still offer more usable brightness than older generations.

It is important to note that these tests represent an extreme, "worst-case scenario" that is unlikely to reflect typical consumer usage. The full 18,000-hour test period would equate to a decade of watching nothing but CNN for five hours daily. A mixed content viewing schedule over the same period would likely yield far less severe burn-in results.

RTings concluded that for most users engaging in mixed content viewing, burn-in is unlikely to become a significant issue. "Users with static-heavy SDR workloads can lower the brightness setting to reduce cumulative stress while still retaining more usable brightness than earlier OLED generations offered," the report states.

While the pursuit of extremely bright OLED panels may be at odds with enhanced burn-in resistance, adjusting brightness settings could offer a viable compromise. Many manufacturers also offer extended warranties that include burn-in protection, providing an additional layer of security for consumers.