There is nothing worse than staring at your TV screen only to notice that residual graphics have become permanent residents on your screen- blocking or distorting the image you are currently displaying. When avoiding TVs that are known for burn-in, are QLED TVs a good choice?
QLED TVs are designed with inorganic Quantum dots that work to prevent burn-in (residual dark spots from static graphics) that distort the image on your TV display and ultimately render the TV less functional. QLED TVs do not experience burn-in and most manufacturers have a 10-yr guarantee.
Also read: Is it Worth Buying a QLED TV?
Finding a TV that does not burn-in is not something that everyone thinks about but as TV streaming on services like Netflix, Hulu,
Disney+ along with online gaming platforms are the ultimate entertainment go-to, it is essential to find a TV that is going to last and is not going to have issues with burn-in. QLED TVs hold up to the test. Let’s take a closer look.
What is TV Burn-In?
Understanding what burn-in is and how it affects your TV can help you to see the distinct importance of choosing a TV that is not prone to this occurrence.
Specifically, once you recognize how big of a deal this is- as well as how frequently it occurs- you will opt for new habits and technology that has been built to prevent this from happening in the first place.
So, what is TV burn-in?
TV burn-in can appear as dark spots or residual graphics that are “burnt” into the display on your TV. These permanent images appear after having stayed on the screen for a prolonged period, and they distort the image display until the TV is repaired or replaced.
If you have ever been playing video games on your screen or streaming a show that has a logo emblem portrayed in the corner, only to find that turning the screen off still leaves these images behind, you might have experienced a brief (or prolonged) glimpse of burn-in on your TV.
There are several ways to test if your TV has experienced burn-in, but it is likely that you would have already noticed the spots before even testing to make sure.
It may have seemed like an old wives tale that you should not leave your TV paused and stuck on one screen for a long time, but this legend has merit to it.
Leaving a stagnant image on your screen for a prolonged period can result in the image your TV burning in. Unfortunately, this can be difficult to correct and can cause you to need to repair or replace the TV entirely- an ultimately costly mistake.
Common causes of burn-in on TV image displays include sports games that have score boxes or other residual graphics located at the bottom, video games with point or vital trackers, or other types of programming that includes stagnant graphics that could get burnt into your TV’s display.
When the organic matter “absorbs” these images, your TV is left for the worst with blotchy dark spots or dimmed shadows of the graphics that were once on your screen and will not remain.
To avoid your TV from burning in, you can choose a variety of strategies, or you can opt for a QLED TV that does not burn in like OLED TVs do.
Specifically, if you are someone who perpetually games, watches live sports or the news, or leaves their TV paused with stationary graphics for prolonged periods, it is recommended to consider investing in a QLED TV.
With burn-in having such a disastrous effect on your TV display, you want to choose a TV that can prevent this from occurring in the first place.
How Does a QLED TV Prevent Burn-In?
If TV burn-in is so destructive for your viewing capabilities, then you might be looking for an investment in a TV that is made to prevent burn-in.
Specifically, if you are someone who perpetually uses gaming or streaming services, constantly have the TV on to control your smart home devices, or otherwise have an image that is “stuck” on your screen, you should consider investing in a QLED TV.
A QLED TV uses inorganic Quantum particles to prevent burn-in from residual images and graphics on your TV’s display. By obstructing the image from the possibility of getting burnt into your screen, the TV has increased longevity and is consequently worthy of investment for those who are avid TV users.
The science behind the QLED TV goes all the way down to the particles that are used in the display. While other TVs (conventional, OLED) are more prone to “absorbing” the residual graphics that eventually can become burnt into the display, QLED TVs have the technology to prevent this from occurring in the first place.
In a very raw example, consider the Quantum particles as acting like a sunscreen type of barrier. When using sunscreen, the sun still shines just as brightly as it would, and you assume that your body will receive the same exposure. However, using a barrier like sunscreen to protect your skin from the exposure’s effects can prevent sunburn.
In the same way, the Quantum particles act as a barrier to prevent the residual (stagnant) graphics from burning into the screen. Even though the image is not distorted and the screen’s brightness is still just the same as it otherwise would be, the screen is protected through the prevention of this “absorption”, and the consequential results are prolonged longevity of the QLED TV.
Because of this, and the various tests run on the QLED TV to ensure that its burn-in prevention guarantees live up to their mark, you can rest assured that the burn-in prevention is well worth its quoted benefits. No longer will you have to worry about the distortion of burn-in on your conventional TV.
With a QLED TV, you can rest with peace of mind knowing that the applied barrier (aka the Quantum particles built into the TV) will prevent the burn-in from occurring and wreaking havoc on your entertainment investment.
How Long will a QLED TV Last?
Investing in a high-quality TV is something that does not come at a small price tag, yet you still want to make sure that what you are choosing to spend your money on is worth it.
There are a variety of reasons that you might consider investing in a QLED TV, but one of the primary concerns you likely have is how long the TV will last.
Fortunately, the science behind the Quantum particles preventing burn-in on a QLED TV help to perpetuate a longevity of an estimated 7-10 years assuming appropriate use and no extraneous damage. Many manufacturers offer a 10-year guarantee from burn-in on a QLED TV.
Of course, if you were to become angry and all of a sudden launch your remote or headset at the TV screen, this would, of course, decrease the expected longevity of the QLED TV.
However, assuming your general wear and tear, you can expect the QLED TV to last just as long (if not longer) than a conventional TV, and it will have burn-in prevention guaranteed by most manufacturers.
Because of this, you can look at investing in a QLED TV as an investment- something that you will buy now and reap the benefits of for years to come. Truly, there are so many benefits to a QLED TV, but the fact that you do not have to worry about burn-in can give you peace of mind for a long time.
Especially if you are the head of your household and have other family members who consistently leave screens paused for prolonged periods, watch the news with a TV emblem or logo, or are constantly gaming with your vitals tracker remaining in one location on the screen, you will not have to worry about these images causing prolonged distortion on your QLED TV through burn-in.
Still, even if you are not someone who is known to leave the TV on pause for prolonged periods, the burn-in prevention guaranteed by QLED manufacturers is just one of the many reasons why you should consider investing in this high-quality entertainment device.
Also read: QLED vs. Plasma – Differences Explained
Jason is a home theater expert with over 10 years of experience in setting up home cinema rooms and systems. What started out as a hobby soon transformed him into an authority in the audio-visual field. He is passionate about providing readers with accurate and up-to-date information on the latest audiovisual technologies and their applications for home theaters. Read more about Jason.