Modern OLED TVs show similar burn-in to 2017 models after 10,000 hours, but are brighter and more efficient

OLED Burn-in Longevity Test Results

Rtings.com conducted a longevity test comparing OLED TVs from 2020-2023 against a 2017 LG C7 model. After 10,000 hours of simulated news channel content, all tested OLED TVs, regardless of their manufacturing year, displayed similar levels of image retention or burn-in.

The testing methodology involved setting each TV to its maximum SDR brightness, rather than a universal luminance value. This approach aimed to simulate real-world usage where consumers often operate their TVs at high brightness settings, accounting for inherent brightness differences between panel generations.

Brightness and Efficiency Improvements

Despite similar burn-in susceptibility, modern OLED panels demonstrate significant advancements in brightness and power efficiency. The average 2023 OLED TV was found to be 28% brighter than the 2017 model in 10% window tests, and more than twice as bright when displaying a full-screen image.

These brightness gains do not come at the expense of power consumption. Models from 2023 are approximately 27% more power efficient than their 2017 counterparts. For instance, a 2017 OLED consumed 1.28 watts per nit at 100 nits, while a 2023 model consumed 0.97 watts per nit.

Impact on Real-World Usage

The increased brightness and efficiency of newer OLED TVs provide crucial headroom. While the underlying burn-in vulnerability remains, the ability to achieve desired luminance at lower internal power levels or to offer a brighter image overall can mitigate the typical burn-in period and potentially extend the perceived lifespan of the TV in daily use. Users can operate newer TVs at lower relative brightness settings to achieve the same visual output as older models, reducing stress on the organic pixels.