LG OLED Smart TVs suffer from edge rot, some models are immune according to long-term test

Following the surveillance scandal, a long-term test by Rtings now reveals yet another serious problem with LG OLED Smart TVs. Somewhat older WOLED panels from LG Display suffer from a defect that Rtings calls "edge rot." This causes clusters of pixels along the edges of the screen to burn out after prolonged use, resulting in a look that, at first glance, is somewhat reminiscent of black mold on the screen.

Of the ten Smart TVs with an LG WOLED panel that Rtings subjected to a long-term test of 18,000 operating hours, nine suffer from edge rot, only an LG OLED A2 from 2022 was spared this problem. In addition to the LG OLED BX, CX, A1, B1, C1 and B2, the problem also affects TVs from other manufacturers equipped with a panel from LG Display, such as the Sony A80J OLED, the Sony A8H OLED or a Vizio OLED Smart TV from 2020.

Newer panel generations from the 2023 model year onward may have resolved the problem, as Rtings could find no signs of edge rot on an LG OLED G3. TVs with QD-OLED panels from Samsung Display also showed no edge rot in Rtings' test. Rtings believes that this problem is caused either by contamination during manufacturing or by inadequate sealing that allows moisture to enter the panel.

Unlike burn-in, edge rot is primarily influenced by the time elapsed since production, rather than the actual operating time. In the video embedded below, Rtings also shows that burn-in can be a problem even with newer OLED panels, and is visible even sooner on some newer models than on older Smart TVs. However, their higher peak brightness now makes it more practical to extend their lifespan by reducing the brightness.