Podcast #1221: RTINGS Longevity Burn-In Test Updates

On this week's show we take a look at the Longevity Burn-In Test Results From 100 TVs that RTINGS.com has been tracking for the last two years. We also read your emails and take a look at the week's news.

News:

• I spent three months with Telly, the free TV that's always showing ads
• Ring announces 4K doorbell with Alexa+ AI greetings and new Search Party feature for pets
• 33 Years Ago Today Cartoon Network Premieres: A Milestone in Animation History
• NBCUniversal Shuts Down Its Cable Network Apps on Roku TVs & Roku Players To Promote Peacock

Other:

• Is Google TV's New Interface Better? Full Redesign Review
• Sports on TV Today: Where to Watch or Stream Games - Sports Media Watch

Longevity Burn-In Test Updates And Results From 100 TVs

RTINGS.com has been conducting an accelerated longevity test for over two years. We've covered it periodically but haven't provided an update recently. In today's show, we'll summarize the key findings and discuss their implications for consumers.

1. Introduction to the Test Methodology and Purpose

RTINGS.com conducts an extensive longevity and burn-in test on over 100 TVs to assess their durability under real-world usage conditions. The purpose is to evaluate how modern displays, particularly OLED and LED models, hold up over time, focusing on issues like image retention and permanent burn-in that can degrade picture quality. The methodology involves running TVs for thousands of hours in a simulated accelerated aging scenario, including static content like CNN tickers, sports scores, and video games to mimic common usage patterns that risk burn-in. Tests are performed in a controlled environment at 50% brightness (except for high-end OLEDs at 100% for stress testing), with periodic photo documentation and measurements of uniformity, color accuracy, and brightness retention. This ongoing project, started in 2019, aims to provide data-driven insights into TV lifespan beyond short-term reviews.

2. Key Results and Findings

The test has yielded detailed observations on burn-in susceptibility across various TV brands and panel types, with over 18,000 hours of cumulative runtime as of the latest update. Here's an expanded breakdown:

• OLED Performance and Burn-In Incidence: OLED TVs, known for perfect blacks but vulnerable to burn-in from static elements, showed mixed results. The LG C8 (2018 model) exhibited permanent burn-in after just 8,850 hours, with visible CNN ticker ghosts in dark scenes, marking it as one of the earliest failures. In contrast, the LG G4 (2024) and Sony A95L (2023) QD-OLEDs remained burn-in free after 5,000+ hours, though minor temporary image retention appeared in high-stress tests. The Samsung S95B QD-OLED burned in after 9,000 hours, displaying HUD elements from racing games, while the LG G2 showed no permanent damage after 14,000 hours but had noticeable retention.
• LED and Mini-LED Durability: LED TVs generally fared better against burn-in. The TCL QM8 QLED (2023) and Hisense U8/U8N (2024) showed no burn-in after 5,000–7,000 hours, with only temporary retention in extreme cases. However, the Samsung QN90A (2021) developed subtle uniformity issues after 10,000 hours, but no true burn-in. Budget LEDs like the Hisense A6G lasted without issues up to 12,000 hours.
• Brightness and Color Degradation: Across all panels, brightness dropped by 20–50% over 10,000+ hours; for example, the LG CX lost 40% peak brightness. Color accuracy shifted slightly, with OLEDs maintaining better DeltaE scores (<3) than LEDs. Uniformity worsened in 30% of samples, often due to banding rather than burn-in.
• Comparisons and Trends: Newer panels (2023–2024) with features like pixel shifting and logo dimming delayed burn-in significantly compared to 2018–2020 models. QD-OLEDs outperformed traditional WOLED in color retention but were equally prone to gaming HUD burn-in. Data suggests burn-in is rare under 5,000