OLED Screen Test Guide
Burn-in is permanent and WOLED vs QD-OLED behave very differently — an 8-step flow built for OLED owners.
Why You Need This
Burn-in is forever — and maybe uncovered
Burn-in can’t be repaired and some brands exclude it. A 2-minute retention check at unboxing is the one step you can’t skip.
WOLED vs QD-OLED differ hugely
Subpixel layout, text fringing, high-brightness color and burn-in signatures all differ — LCD rules of thumb don’t apply.
Extra care as a monitor
Taskbars and window borders are burn-in hazards — verify protections like auto-hide before committing.
Essential for used OLEDs
Used OLED TVs and monitors show retention surprisingly often — one grey screen tells the truth behind “like new”.
The 8-Step Inspection Flow
Test each item in order — every step links to a free online tool.
Burn-in
EssentialCheck white, 50% grey and solid colors for fixed ghosts — retention out of the box means a demo or returned unit.
Verdict：Any fixed ghost out of the box — return immediately.
Open ToolDead Pixels
EssentialCycle solid colors for bright/dark pixels; on QD-OLED also check triangular subpixel edges.
Verdict：≥1 bright or ≥3 dark pixels qualifies for exchange.
Open ToolBlack Level
EssentialVerify pixel-true black in a dark room: the reference black in PLUGE should vanish, only near-black steps visible.
Verdict：Glowing “black” means black-level raise is on — or the panel is faulty.
Open ToolNear-Black Greys
RecommendedCheck whether near-black greys crush to pure black; WOLED often tints near-black — the “shadow detail” control helps.
Verdict：Crush that responds to settings is normal; unfixable crush is not.
Open ToolColor Gamut
RecommendedVerify 98% DCI-P3; QD-OLED keeps saturation at high brightness while WOLED washes toward white.
Verdict：Noticeably shrunken gamut or abnormal banding indicates a panel fault.
Open ToolABL Behavior
RecommendedWatch auto brightness limiting on full white, and whether resizing windows changes brightness enough to bother you.
Verdict：ABL is protective and normal; constant visible pumping during work may justify a return.
Open ToolPWM Flicker
OptionalFilm in slow motion at low brightness to check dimming flicker; monitor OLEDs are mostly DC-like, phone OLEDs vary widely.
Verdict：If you’re flicker-sensitive, judge by feel — eye strain can’t be predicted from specs.
Open ToolRetention Recovery
OptionalShow high-contrast content for 10 minutes, switch to grey, and time how fast temporary retention fades — minutes is normal.
Verdict：Retention lasting beyond 24 hours is burn-in — a defect.
Open ToolKey Terms
Burn-in
Permanent ghost from uneven organic-material aging — irreversible, unlike temporary image retention.
ABL
Protective dimming on large bright areas — full-screen white is typically half the peak brightness.
Pixel Refresh
Periodic compensation cycle that clears temporary retention and slows aging — run it when prompted.
Black Crush
Near-black greys rendered as pure black, losing detail — partly fixable via shadow-detail/gamma settings.
WOLED vs QD-OLED
WOLED adds a white subpixel (slightly washed highlights, cleaner text); QD-OLED uses quantum dots (purer color, triangular layout fringes text).
Panel Lifespan
Modern OLEDs last ~30,000 hours to half brightness — 8-10 years of normal use; burn-in risk depends on habits.
Colorimeter / certified cable recommendations coming soon.
Panel Technology Compared
WOLED
LG mainstream- Better text clarity
- Many sizes
- Highlights wash slightly
- Near-black tint
QD-OLED
Samsung flagship- Purer color at high brightness
- Faster response
- Visible text fringing
- Blacks look purple in ambient light
手机 OLED
Small-screen- Very high PPI
- LTPO efficiency
- PWM varies widely
- Low-brightness tint common
Return vs Normal
Should Return
- Any fixed retention out of the box (demo/returned-unit sign)
- ≥1 bright or ≥3 dead pixels
- Large-area mura (cloudy unevenness on mid grey)
- Abnormal banding that pixel refresh can’t remove
- Fixed edge discoloration or bright lines
Normal Behavior
- ABL dimming on full-white content
- Mild black crush (adjustable in settings)
- Low-brightness PWM flicker on some models
- Periodic pixel-refresh prompts
- Temporary retention that fades within minutes
- QD-OLED blacks looking slightly purple in ambient light