If you have been weighing the purchase of an OLED gaming monitor or TV, new data from long-term testing suggests that burn-in remains a factor despite advancements in display technology. Testing conducted by RTings on OLED panels manufactured between 2020 and 2023 shows that these newer models have not significantly reduced burn-in risks compared to older 2017 hardware.
The Impact of Increased Brightness
The core issue identified in this testing is display brightness. Newer OLED panels are significantly brighter—measured at 28% higher in 10% SDR window tests and 52% higher in sustained full-screen SDR tests compared to 2017 models. This performance leap appears to have created a stalemate, where the benefits of higher brightness are offset by an increased susceptibility to image retention.
In a simulated “worst-case scenario” involving 10,500 hours of continuous CNN viewing, static banners remained visible on newer OLED models. This suggests that the quest for higher peak brightness may directly impact the long-term lifespan of the panel if static elements are present.
How to Protect Your Display
While the results show that burn-in remains a technical risk, they also highlight a simple mitigation strategy for users. Because these tests were conducted at maximum SDR brightness settings, manually lowering your monitor's brightness can help reduce cumulative stress on the panel. Even with reduced settings, modern OLED panels often remain brighter than older generations.
It is important to remember that these results are based on an extreme, continuous-use scenario equivalent to 10 years of watching the same static content for five hours a day. For those using their monitors for mixed-content gaming and media, the likelihood of noticeable burn-in remains low. If you are still concerned about the investment, many manufacturers currently include extended warranties specifically covering burn-in protection.