RTINGS Longevity Test
Fourteen of the 16 WOLED TVs tested in an 18,000-hour accelerated longevity evaluation developed dead pixels and damage along their panel edges, RTINGS reported.
This degradation equates to roughly 10 years of typical television viewing in the United States, according to the testing outlet.
All affected televisions utilize LG Display panels released between 2020 and 2023. Unlike traditional burn-in, this edge damage occurs independently of on-screen content, meaning standard viewing habits cannot prevent it.
Panel Generations Compared
Older WBC panels suffered the worst degradation during the testing period. Nine of the 10 units utilizing these panels showed edge damage, with five rated as severe cases, according to RTINGS. The 2022 LG A2 was the sole WBC model to remain completely unaffected.
Newer WBE panels, which incorporate deuterium into their emissive layers to reduce wear, performed better but still exhibited defects. Five out of six WBE models developed edge rot, though instances on sets like the LG C2 and Sony A90K were classified as mild by testers.
QD-OLED Sets Stay Clean
Three QD-OLED televisions included in the test showed no signs of edge degradation. The Samsung S95B, Samsung S95C, and Sony A95K remained entirely free of dead pixels along their borders, displaying only standard static image burn-in from prolonged CNN feeds.
Testing parameters involved a small sample size for QD-OLED technology. Consequently, RTINGS reported that testers do not claim these models are completely immune to the issue.
Manufacturing Contamination Suspected
Investigators suspect that production contamination or flaws in the encapsulation layer allow moisture to degrade the organic emitters over time. Confirming this hypothesis requires a comprehensive failure analysis involving microscopic inspection of damaged panels, according to RTINGS.
On top of just summarizing what @rtingsdotcom said, VideoCardz didn't even link to the source article:https://t.co/Aq6whGiwKD
Two RTINGS employees also discovered edge rot on their personal 2020 LG GX and 2021 LG C1 televisions used in home environments. LG Electronics and LG Display issued a statement noting that the phenomenon may occur in a very small number of OLED products
under prolonged exposure to harsh conditions like high heat and humidity.
Updated Reliability Ratings
Testers adjusted their expected reliability metrics downward for newer WOLED models as a precautionary measure. However, RTINGS still considers OLED technology more durable overall than traditional LCD displays.
Upcoming evaluations will incorporate 2025 and 2026 models featuring LG’s RGB Tandem panels to determine if manufacturers have resolved the edge rot vulnerability.
Does Mixed Content Prevent OLED Edge Rot?
Does mixed content prevent OLED edge rot?
No, because edge rot stems from physical panel degradation rather than pixel wear caused by static on-screen images. Varying your viewing habits has no impact on its development.
Which specific models remained clean during testing?
The LG A2 and LG G3 WOLED models, alongside the Samsung S95B, Samsung S95C, and Sony A95K QD-OLED units, showed no edge degradation after 18,000 hours.
What causes the edge damage on WOLED panels?
Testing teams suspect manufacturing contamination or microscopic flaws in the moisture-barrier encapsulation layer, though formal failure analysis is still required to confirm the root cause.
Keep reading