LG WOLED TVs suffer from 'edge rot' pixel death
LG WOLED TV panels made around 2019 to 2023 may be susceptible to edge rot — almost all of RTings' WOLED test units show clear signs of degradation
When considering purchasing an OLED television, potential buyers have typically been wary of burn-in, a phenomenon that has largely been alleviated except for certain scenarios involving non-stop TV usage. However, RTings has uncovered a new issue affecting pre-2023 LG WOLED panels, aptly named "edge rot," where pixels gradually darken around the edges, resembling a mold pattern.
According to RTings, 14 out of 16 LG televisions tested, spanning from 2020 to 2022, exhibited this problem to varying degrees, accounting for 87.5% of the small sample. This issue has reportedly affected several staff members at RTings, and similar reports from regular users have emerged. Interestingly, LG WOLED panels with Samsung QDOLED panels did not display these symptoms, though the test only included three Samsung units.
Moreover, as the test ran from 2022 to 2025, RTings cannot determine if LG's newer WOLED panels have the issue, as the manufacturing process for these panels reportedly improved in 2024. While most tested television sets are likely beyond their warranty, LG offers a five-year panel warranty, covering higher-end units like the G, Z, and M series since 2021.
RTings inquired about the issue with both LG and Samsung, with each firm mentioning moisture indirectly or directly. LG claimed the problem may occur in a small percentage of OLED products under prolonged exposure to high temperatures, high humidity, or harsh conditions, but the humid test environment and the widespread user reports of TVs in living rooms do not strongly support this claim.
Conversely, Samsung attributes the issue to its proprietary Thin Film Encapsulation (TFE), which blocks ingress at the panel's edge and prevents border degradation. According to industry experts, contamination during manufacturing, defects in the encapsulation of OLED displays, or encapsulation degradation over time may be responsible for the problem.
Additionally, RTings noted that some test units experienced edge delamination, which could be related to power-on hours or the unit's age. It is improbable that all user reports stem from individuals constantly leaving their TVs on or near the maximum usage capacity.
Written by urgent.news from Tom's Hardware's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
