RTINGS has identified a long-term reliability issue affecting older WOLED televisions, finding that 14 of 16 tested models developed dead pixels or visible deterioration along their screen edges. The findings, published on November 5, 2026, follow an 18,000-hour accelerated longevity test examining OLED panel durability. None of the three QD-OLED televisions included in the same test exhibited the problem.
The investigation identifies a form of panel deterioration RTINGS calls “edge rot,” which differs from the burn-in commonly associated with OLED displays. The affected televisions use WOLED panels manufactured by LG Display and include models released between 2020 and 2023. Some developed only a few barely noticeable dead pixels, while others experienced substantial damage extending around the screen’s perimeter.
RTINGS accumulated approximately 18,000 operating hours on the televisions, equivalent to around ten years of viewing in a typical US household. However, the accelerated testing conditions were unusually demanding, and the researchers caution that their findings cannot predict how frequently the problem will occur during normal ownership.
The results varied between WOLED panel generations. Nine of the ten televisions equipped with older WBC panels developed edge rot, with five classified as severe, three as significant, and one as mild. The 2022 LG A2 was the only WBC-equipped television without the defect.
The newer WBE generation performed somewhat better in terms of damage severity, although five of six tested televisions still developed edge deterioration. The Sony A90J experienced severe damage, while the LG G1 and G2 showed significant deterioration. The LG C2 and Sony A90K suffered milder defects.
The 2023 LG G3 was the only WBE television without edge rot. Although it experienced burn-in from prolonged exposure to a static news broadcast, RTINGS found no dead pixels or other visible panel defects.
By comparison, all three QD-OLED televisions completed the test without edge deterioration or dead pixels. These included Samsung’s S95B and S95C alongside Sony’s A95K. RTINGS emphasized that three televisions constitute an extremely small sample and do not establish that QD-OLED technology is immune to similar problems.
Edge rot is particularly relevant to PC and console gaming setups that use OLED televisions as large-format displays. Unlike burn-in, which can develop from prolonged exposure to static interface elements, edge rot does not appear to depend on the content being displayed.
That distinction matters because conventional OLED precautions, such as varying content and avoiding persistent on-screen elements, cannot prevent this type of deterioration. RTINGS believes the problem is associated with panel construction or manufacturing rather than user behavior.
The researchers identified several possible explanations, including contamination introduced during manufacturing and deterioration of the encapsulation layers designed to protect OLED materials from moisture. Damage to those protective barriers could allow environmental exposure to degrade pixels near the panel edges.
However, RTINGS has not established the precise cause. Confirming the failure mechanism would require specialized examination of the panels’ internal structures, beyond the scope of its existing testing.
The investigation also documented significant edge deterioration on two televisions owned by RTINGS employees: a 2020 LG GX and a 2021 LG C1. Both had been used under ordinary household conditions rather than in the accelerated testing environment.
LG Electronics and LG Display acknowledged the phenomenon in a joint statement provided to RTINGS. The companies said it may affect a very small number of OLED products subjected to prolonged high temperatures, high humidity, or other harsh environmental conditions. They maintained that the issue is not expected during normal everyday viewing and said they continue improving OLED panel design and manufacturing processes.
Samsung Display attributed the reliability of its QD-OLED panels to its Thin Film Encapsulation technology, which the company says helps prevent moisture from entering at panel edges. That explanation remains a manufacturer claim rather than an independently confirmed account of why the tested QD-OLED televisions avoided the deterioration observed in WOLED models.
RTINGS also examined three OLED gaming monitors from its longevity testing program: the WOLED-based LG 27GR95QE-B and the QD-OLED-based Alienware AW3423DWF and Samsung Odyssey OLED G85SB. None exhibited edge rot, although the sample was too small to support broader conclusions about monitor reliability.
The findings are relevant to the growing market for high-refresh-rate OLED gaming monitors, including ASUS's 720Hz and 540Hz OLED gaming monitors featuring newer Tandem WOLED technology. However, the investigation provides no evidence that these newer monitors experience the same problem.
Importantly, the original longevity test did not include televisions released in 2024 or later. RTINGS noted indications that newer manufacturing processes could improve resistance to edge deterioration, but insufficient long-term evidence exists to determine whether the issue has been resolved.
The publication has consequently adjusted its expected reliability assessments, assigning WOLED televisions slightly lower scores than QD-OLED alternatives. Despite the findings, RTINGS continues to regard OLED televisions as durable overall, noting that its broader longevity testing recorded fewer complete failures among OLED models than LCD televisions when burn-in is excluded.
Further evidence is expected from RTINGS’ ongoing Longevity 3.0 testing program, which includes OLED televisions released in 2025 and 2026. The newer test covers LG’s RGB Tandem WOLED panels alongside conventional WBE and Samsung Display QD-OLED models, allowing researchers to examine whether more recent panel designs develop similar edge defects over time.
