OLED burn-in and other potential defects of OLED technology

Defective Products - September 1, 2023 by Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates

Organic light-emitting diode (OLED) televisions have become one of the most sought-after types of televisions in the United States in recent years. Unfortunately, OLED defect issues continue to be a cause for concern. Although there may be several advantages of OLED, the risk of burning and other technological defects could be considered a significant drawback.

What is OLED technology?

OLED TVs are different from standard liquid crystal display (LCD) TVs. OLED TVs use organic materials to conduct the light needed to produce vivid colors. They do not require backlights because they are made up of organic pixels. Here, when an electric current is applied, the OLED television screen will emit light which allows pixels to turn on or off independently. This can dramatically give the television a far superior picture quality than traditional LCD TVs.

It is not only TVs that use OLED screens either. Gaming consoles and telephones are also switching to OLED screens. The contrast ratio makes them the preferred choice when compared to LCD screens. Some of the biggest companies in the tech field have switched to OLED screens, including Google, Algae, Samsung, Sony, Nintendo, and Apple.

Unfortunately, you may need a Chicago defective product lawyer if your OLED TV malfunctions and causes severe injuries or emotional trauma. While this is not a common occurrence, there are several issues with OLED TVs that may cause you to think twice before you make your purchase. This includes the risk of OLED burn-in and other defects.

What is OLED burn-in?

OLED burn-in refers to parts of an image on your TV screen remaining visible in the background when other images are also appearing on the screen. OLED monitor burning can seem ghostlike, with images appearing faintly visible behind other images, no matter what is playing on the screen.

OLED burn-in risk is possible with any type of OLED screen. This includes smartphones, televisions, monitors, and other electronic devices using screens. In fact, Apple has an entire support page that describes how cell phone users can potentially reduce the effects of OLED burn-in.

Other OLED defects

iPhone OLED burn-in is not the only technological defect or malfunction you may experience when using any type of OLED screen. Although OLED screens have fantastic contrast ratios, bright colors, and exceptional displays, the defects may give you good cause to choose another type of screen for your purchase.

Issues with color accuracy

One of the biggest problems with OLED screens is issues with color accuracy. Colors may shift over time, which can dramatically change how they appear on the screen. OLED screens also are known for color banding, which reduces image quality and shows obvious signs of the screen’s color gradient.

Image retention

You may also find yourself dealing with image retention issues. The image on your screen may remain there for a significant period of time, which can be irritating and frustrating when watching a movie, a sports program, or playing video games. There may be software that can reduce image retention, but it is still a big problem with OLED screens. In some cases, image retention can become permanent and ruin your television, smartphone, portable gaming system, or other electronic devices.

Degraded viewing angles

Unfortunately, OLED screens limit the user’s viewing angles. Anytime you look at your OLED screen from the wrong angle, there is a noticeable change in the picture quality. This is seen frequently in homes with larger television screens. This limited viewing angle can have a negative impact on color accuracy, which decreases the quality of the images on your screen.

Lack of durability

Unlike TVs from the 1960s and 70s, OLED TVs and screens are not durable. The materials used for OLED displays can degrade and are extremely sensitive to light and heat exposure.

Limited HDR support

Most games, movies, shows, and entertainment are created in or available as HDR content. Although OLED screens allow for exceptional black and color contrast levels, when it comes to HDR, high brightness is something OLED screens lack. OLED screens and TVs may not be able to provide the same HDR experience you might get on an LCD TV.

Limited ability to scale up

When you want to convert low-resolution content to your screen, you must have exceptional upscaling capabilities. Unfortunately, OLED screens have limited ability to scale up. This means when users are trying to match TV resolution with non-HD content, the viewing experience will be less than ideal due to poor quality in detail on an OLED screen

Takeaways

OLED televisions may have the potential for burn-in and other technological malfunctions and defects that could destroy your expensive television set. Make sure you are aware of these risks before making your purchase, and consider adding a warranty so you are protected financially if your OLED screen winds up being defective.

If you or a loved one has suffered an injury from an OLED television, reach out to a Chicago defective product lawyer and learn how we can help pursue compensation on your behalf.