In context: Most of the concern around OLED TVs still centers on burn-in from static logos and news tickers. But a long-running durability test now suggests that panels made by LG Display have a quieter weak spot, too. Over time, dead pixels can slowly creep in along the edges of the screen.
The findings come from RTINGS, whose accelerated longevity test kept each TV running until it hit 18,000 hours, or roughly a decade of use in a typical US home. Of the 16 WOLED sets from 2020 to 2023 in that group, 14 came out with what the outlet calls edge rot. That covers anything from a stray dead pixel or two to dark clusters chewing along the borders of the panel.
Unlike burn-in, edge rot has nothing to do with what's on screen, so watching varied content won't head it off. RTINGS' best guess, after talking to industry experts, points to the thin protective seal around each panel. Small flaws in it may let moisture creep in over time.
Older panels took the biggest hit. Among the ten TVs built on LG Display's earlier WBC panels, only the 2022 LG A2 escaped untouched. Anyone eyeing a used CX or C1 should keep that in mind. Before buying, it's worth pulling up a plain white or gray screen and checking the edges for dark specks.
Thanks to deuterium in their OLED material, LG Display's newer WBE panels held up a little better. Even so, five of those six sets showed some damage, and only the 2023 LG G3 came through clean.
Meanwhile, the three QD-OLED TVs from Samsung Display came out without a single dead pixel. Their only blemish was burn-in from hours of CNN.
For its part, LG told RTINGS that only a very small number of its OLEDs might show this, and only after long exposure to heat, humidity, or other harsh conditions.
None of this covers TVs from 2024 onward. Still, RTINGS is docking all WOLEDs slightly in its new Expected Reliability score until long-term data shows the issue is gone. Its ongoing Longevity 3.0 test now includes LG Display's latest Tandem WOLED panels in sets like the LG G5 and G6.
Since edge rot typically takes years to surface, warranty length matters here too. In the US, LG's five-year limited panel warranty only covers its G, Z, and M series. Even that coverage leaves owners paying for labor after the first year. Everything else, including the popular C series, sticks with LG's standard warranty.