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18-Month Worst-Case Test Finds OLED Monitor Burn-In Only Now Becoming Noticeable

The results come from a deliberate worst‑case regimen that exceeds typical gaming or mixed use.

Overview

  • Monitors Unboxed ran a 32-inch 4K QD‑OLED for over 4,000 hours across 18 months and reports artifacts are only now occasionally annoying.
  • The test used about 95% static productivity content at 200 nits with pixel-compensation cycles allowed roughly every eight hours instead of four.
  • Visible effects include a faint center line, an inverse shadow from the taskbar, left‑right uniformity issues, and subpixel wear with green most affected.
  • Peak full‑screen brightness remained unchanged, and the panel was judged still fine for most tasks despite increased visibility in dark or uniform scenes.
  • PCWorld says the burn‑in is noticeable mainly when you look for it and recommends running cleaning cycles, noting that many gaming OLEDs include burn‑in warranty coverage; MSI separately claims a 533‑day run with basically no effects.