8 Month Update! OLED Burn-in vs. Temporary Image Retention & Buggy Compensation Cycles

It’s been over 8 months since we started running 100 TV models for an average of 18 hours a day to simulate 10 years of usage in just two years. We’re testing the reliability of TVs by running them to the limit.

In this video, we'll discuss the nature of OLED image retention and what automatic functions a TV has to mitigate it. We'll also explore how buggy implementation can aggravate image retention and discuss these findings' impact on our longevity test.

0:00 Intro
1:22 Updates On Our Test
5:51 Image Retention Overview
7:25 Compensation Cycles
9:20 Implementation on LG OLEDs
11:02 Implementation on Samsung OLEDs
12:50 Implementation on Sony OLEDs
15:47 Impacts To Our Test
17:36 Conclusion

Goals of our test:
- How long do modern TVs last?
- What are the main reasons for a modern TV to fail? (we will be doing a teardown of each failed TV to determine this)
- How do modern OLEDs like the CX, C1, C2, S95B and A95K compare in terms of burn-in?

Non-goal:
- Predict lifetime of any individual TV

List of TVs:
Amazon Fire TV 4-Series
Amazon Fire TV Omni Series
Hisense A6G
Hisense A6H
Hisense H8G
Hisense H9G
Hisense U6G
Hisense U6GR
Hisense U6H
Hisense U7G
Hisense U7H
Hisense U800GR 8k
Hisense U8G
Hisense U8H
Hisense U9DG
Insignia F50 QLED
LG A1 OLED
LG A2 OLED
LG B1 OLED
LG B2 OLED
LG BX OLED
LG C1 OLED
LG C2 OLED
LG CX OLED
LG G1 OLED
LG G2 OLED
LG NANO75 2021
LG NANO75 2022
LG NANO85 2020
LG NANO85 2021
LG NANO90 2021
LG NANO99 8k 2021
LG QNED80
LG QNED90
LG QNED99 8k
LG UP7000
LG UP8000
LG UQ8000
LG UQ9000
Samsung AU8000
Samsung Q60/Q60A QLED
Samsung Q60/Q60B QLED
Samsung Q60/Q60T QLED
Samsung Q70/Q70A QLED
Samsung Q70/Q70T QLED
Samsung Q80/Q80A QLED
Samsung Q90/Q90T QLED
Samsung Q900TS 8k QLED
Samsung QN800A 8k QLED
Samsung QN85A QLED
Samsung QN85B QLED
Samsung QN900A 8k QLED
Samsung QN90A QLED
Samsung QN90B QLED
Samsung QN95B QLED
Samsung S95B OLED
Samsung S95C
Samsung The Frame 2021
Samsung The Frame 2022 QLED
Samsung The Terrace
Samsung TU7000
Samsung TU8000
Sony A80J OLED
Sony A80K OLED
Sony A8H OLED
Sony A90J OLED
Sony A90K OLED
Sony A95K OLED
Sony X800H
Sony X80J
Sony X80K
Sony X85J
Sony X85K
Sony X900H
Sony X90J
Sony X90K
Sony X91J
Sony X950H
Sony X95J
Sony X95K
TCL 3 Series 2020
TCL 4 Series/S435 2020
TCL 4 Series/S446 2021
TCL 4 Series/S455 2022
TCL 5 Series/S535 2020 QLED
TCL 5 Series/S546 2021 QLED
TCL 6 Series/R635 2020 QLED
TCL 6 Series/R646 2021 QLED
TCL 6 Series/R648 2021 8k QLED
TCL R745 QLED
Toshiba C350 Fire TV 2021
Vizio D3 Series 2021
Vizio M Series Quantum X 2022
Vizio M6 Series Quantum 2021
Vizio M6 Series Quantum 2022
Vizio M7 Series Quantum 2021
Vizio OLED 2020
Vizio P Series Quantum 2020
Vizio P Series Quantum 2021
Vizio V Series 2022
Vizio V5 Series 2021

Monitors:
Dell Alienware AW3423DWF
Samsung Odyssey OLED G8/G85SB S34BG85
LG 27GR95QE-B

[RTINGScomRD]

We've noticed that there might be some some confusion surrounding how some TVs have a manual setting while we say in the video that they don't. From what we've found, these cycles that _can_ be triggered manually from the TV settings (LG - Pixel refresher / Sony - Panel refresh / Samsung - Pixel refresh) are considered to be "long" compensation cycles. While some of them include voltage shift adjustment like we discuss in this video, their main purpose is to work on the EL Degradation (at least from what we understand so far!)

One last note: LG calls the long and short cycle the same thing and the feature is related to whatever the internal processor is and what cycle it's on. The only way to tell the difference if it's long or short is the duration. One menu will say 10 minutes and the other will say 1 hour!

[CarnivoryHODL]

This is why RTings is the gold standard: hosting reliable data while owning up to mistakes. Bravo.

[matt]

"We were wrong" in the first minute of the video? Major props on owning it. Wish certain other youtube channels would be as open about their mistakes.

[selohcin]

RTings is doing God's work. I'm not aware of anyone else IN THE WORLD who is doing such comprehensive, long-term testing to help people figure out what they're actually getting when they pay for a modern TV. Great job, team!

[MrMoneymedia]

I cannot believe I just spent 20 minutes being entertained by a video about OLED burn-in. Bravo, Abbey!

[gregma]

So this finding is very interesting. It also explains why "burn-in" was so pronounced on those OLEDs that were used in airports that were running 24/7. They never had any compensation cycles at all.

[EccentricMeat]

This video just saved my OLED! I bought a 42" Sony A80K to be used as my PC and console gaming monitor. After only having the TV for 2 weeks and playing ~8 hours of Starfield a day, every day, with custom HDR settings and noticeable peak brightness, the Starfield HUD appeared to be permanently burnt in to my display. On any sort of grey background, the HUD was clearly visible. I figured this was permanent burn-in as the image retention showed 0 improvement and did not even slightly fade away in about 6 weeks since. I made sure to leave the TV off for 6+ hours every day as this should trigger the short compensation cycles, I ran multiple "Burn In Fix" videos on YouTube for hours on end every few days, I made sure to watch/game varied content, and I even ran the Sony "Panel Refresh". Nothing improved the burn in at all.

I just tried the manual short compensation cycle highlighted near the end of the video, and now the image retention has COMPLETELY DISAPPEARED. Not even a faint outline can be seen even on 1% grey scale backgrounds. Simply remarkable, THANK YOU RTINGS!

Though this all but proves that my TV has not run a single short compensation cycle since I first bought the TV in July. Any ideas why that is, and if there's anything I can do to fix it? If I have to manually trigger these compensation cycles every few days, so be it, but I would obviously prefer if the TV did this automatically like it is supposed to!

[kartikkaushik]

I really respect RTINGS for including this. Gives me even more confidence in the testing

[TorToroPorco]

Mistakes and self inflicted mishaps are all part of epic quests such as this so I’m glad that they are included in the story. The journey is just as important as the destination. Well done!

[RngmonsterX]

RTINGS is THE gold standard for monitors and tvs. Y'all are doing such a great job!

[RowdyDandy]

You guys are doing amazing work, information we really need as customers.

Love the energetic presentation!

[mohammedaliraqi]

RTings is truly exceptional! The dedication and honesty you bring to your content are truly commendable. It's refreshing to see a channel like yours that prioritizes transparency and authenticity. Your commitment to delivering high-quality, informative, and genuine content sets a remarkable example for others in the YouTube community. I wish more YouTube channels would follow your lead and uphold the same level of integrity. Keep up the fantastic work!

[hellterminator]

Great work, guys! I'm looking forward to see how well the new QD-OLED panel stack up.

[guyelvy]

I think you can see the reflection on the screen warp at 10:57 as it heats up performing the pixel clean process. Amazing video as always, in depth, enjoyable, well researched, and well presented. Thanks RTINGS team!

[AustinPS]

Shout out to y'all(RTINGS) for addressing a mistake y'all made during testing. Also, I agree with Abby, ALL of the big companies(Samsung, Sony and LG) need to be more transparent about how long their automatic pixel cleaning cycles run after powering off the TV instead of ballpark estimates. Also, if I'm paying over a $1000 on a TV, can you make it easier to show how to protect my investment cause going through all of those hoops on the Sony TV was ridiculous.

[markrosenthal]

A product review, critical thinking, and honesty tutorial all in one. RTINGS is answering the question - "How do you know what is true?". If only mainstream news operated the same way instead of chasing "balance". We should encourage our children to watch RTINGS to demonstrate this distinction.

[andrem]

I appreciate the time and effort you guys put into these tests. Thank you and keep up the good job.

[axogablencet]

Gotta be honest, I LOVE rtings. The fact that a resource like this exists and is still very accessible is truly astonishing.

[playmaka]

THIS is the information customers need. TV manufacturers treat their customers like idiots most of the time and don't give us the information we need to make an informed purchasing decision or properly maintain our tvs, but YOU do. That's why I referenced your reviews when I bought my last 2 tvs and will do so again in the future. Keep it up!

[kev]

I like the tests. Liked the drama and a test of tv reliability and TV aging. Nobody else do these type of tests, you all are awesome.