Samsung QLED TV screen burn-in is a rarely experienced phenomenon. However, there are certain things you can do to prevent it from happening to your Samsung TV.
First presented in 2015, Quantum Dots is a technology created to make images on a TV screen appear much better.
When it first launched, the technology was only available on high-end TVs. Fast forward to today and you can get mid-rate TVs boasting QLED technology.
If you’re thinking of acquiring one or you already own a Samsung QLED TV, this post will help you better understand Quantum Dots and the most ideal screen settings for QLED TVs.
What Is Quantum Dot (QLED)
Quantum Dot and QLED mean basically the same thing. The image in QLED TV is ‘creating’ similarly to how it is created on an LCD or LED display however, the diodes are what set them apart.
Basically, if LED display diodes emit white light, QLED TV diodes emit blue light. Ideally, LEDs do emit blue light as well, however, they’re coated with a yellow phosphor which makes them emit white light.
The popular RGB spectrum consists of red, green, and blue colours. When these three are mixed, several other colours are created.
Keep in mind though that blue light tends to be the most energy-consuming colour and that’s why the first colour created on a QLED TV screen is blue.
Now, the TV refracts blue colour to a lower energy state, the result of which creates red or green colour. Because of the blue light, the QLED TV’s max brightness becomes 4000 nits.
Standard LEDs, on the other hand, are limited to providing a brightness of up to 1000 nits. This, in essence, is how QLED screens work.
Samsung QLED TV Screen Burn-In
First, you need to understand that any LED TV is prone to burnout, not just Samsung QLED TV screens. When this occurs, the image from the TV screen gets worse over time.
However, you need not worry much about it since Samsung has issued guidelines for viewing content on a QLED TV. You can find more information about it
here.
How to prevent Samsung QLED TV Screen Burn-In
Follow the official Samsung recommendations below to prevent your QLED TV from experiencing screen burn-in:
Avoid watching content with 4:3 or 21:9 aspect ratio
Aspect ratios are depicted as visible black bars (when watching an image or video). They usually appear at the top and bottom of your screen and sometimes, bordering the screen.
Typically, a 16:9 aspect ratio is primarily designed for viewing widescreen images as well as full-screen video. Thus, it isn’t advisable to watch content in other width proportions like 4:3 or 21:9.
So, if you have to watch your favorite programs on a QLED TV, it is important to ensure they’re in 16:9 widescreen format, and if the TV allows scaling, be sure to use this feature whenever you want to watch 3:4 aspect ratio videos.
However, if your QLED TV doesn’t come with the scaling feature, ensure that content that doesn’t meet up to the recommended aspect ratio requirement is limited to 15% of your weekly viewing time.
Basically, this means that your TV must display an image with black bars for not more than 15% of your entire viewing time every week.
Limit viewing stationary images, texts, etc.
Content such as other stationary images and texts, including stock reports, unaltered logo images, video games, websites, photos, computer graphics, and drawings should be limited for all QLED TVs.
This could be in the form of news stations that display graphic texts on their screen for prolonged periods and games that show graphic texts and icons on the screen while play is on.
Watching these stationary images above the recommended viewing time can trigger uneven aging of the unit’s display panels, which, although may be small but still, persistent.
When this happens, you may start seeing ghosted images on the QLED screen. You can prevent this from occurring by varying the programs and images.
Also, use the full screen first to move the images while ensuring dark bars are not left behind. Be sure to also avoid using static images.
Avoid unplugging the Samsung QLED TV power cord
Several TVs come with a feature often referred to as “auto refresher.” What this does is that it shifts the entire image on a screen by a few pixels at intervals.
Doing this helps prevent burn-in from affecting your unit as static images and logos are constantly being moved around.
Keep in mind that this feature only works if the TV is connected to a power supply. Thus, avoid leaving the QLED TV power cord unplugged for prolonged periods.
How long can a Samsung QLED TV last?
In truth, the lifespan of any Samsung QLED TV depends largely on how you make use of it. However, according to the brand, a QLED TV should work perfectly for 7 to 10 years before visual degradation becomes visible.
Most people may not even experience any problems with their Samsung QLED TVs before they change/upgrade their TVs. So, this shouldn’t be a cause of worry for you.
Final Words
The issue of screen burn-in on Samsung QLED TVs has been on since 2016. However, since the beginning of 2019, Samsung has made swift progress toward ensuring that burn-in is avoided on their QLED TVs.
The recommendations in this article are still necessary if you intend to continue using your QLED TV for a long time to come.
Lastly, if you want to purchase a new Samsung QLED TV, you can visit any of the best electronics stores closest to you and gain more information about preventing screen burn-in.
