Prolonged 3800-hour examination suggests reduction in OLED burn-in - Extensive testing on MSI MPG 321URX displays reveals only marginal burn-in issues following a 15-month trial of worst-case usage scenarios.
An Unfiltered Take on OLED Monitor Longevity - A 15-month Update
Gear up for the nitty-gritty on an OLED monitor's lifespan as Monitors Unboxed recently published a 15-month update on the degradation of the MSI MPG 321URX. This Monitors Unboxed update offers a dose of reality, but it's not all bad news.
The MSI 4K OLED has been subjected to some aggressive usage - think of it as rock 'n' roll treatment compared to the gentle care typically lavished on LCDs. But don't worry, the display was not purposefully-torched; instead, it was used just like any ordinary LCD alternative.
The day-to-day routine included using Windows 11 in light mode, no screensaver, and a 2-hour idle-time screen-off setting, with apps consumed primarily on the same preferred areas of the screen 95% of the time. This goes on eight hours a day, seven days a week, adding up to a whopping 3,000 hours a year.
After 15 months, burn-in issues have appeared on the bottom of the screen, the hotspot for the Windows taskbar, and vertical burn-in artifacts thanks to the host's unwavering app tiling preferences. These static image elements can inflict burn-in on some parts of the display, as seen in the time-lapse images shared in the video.
While color degradation has been noted, a closer look reveals the green subpixel suffered the most over 15 months. This shift in color quality will eventually affect professional work requiring color accuracy and consistency. Schiesser estimates this might happen around 2-3 years of age for the MSI monitor under test.
But fear not, everyday users won't likely subject their OLED monitor to such extreme conditions. Thus, they may well enjoy a longer burn-in-free lifespan than the one observed in this test. That said, IPS monitors still boast a much longer service life.
Keep in mind that the MSI monitor comes equipped with anti-burn-in technology and a three-year warranty against burn-in issues, but it's silent on the panel's longevity for color-critical work. We recommend keeping tabs on long-term review updates or manufacturer guidance specifically addressing color calibration longevity.
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In contrast to the intense use of the MSI MPG 321URX OLED monitor in this test, smart-home devices like gadgets and other technology might sustain lighter daily routines, potentially leading to longer lifespans without burn-in issues. It's essential to keep updated about the color calibration longevity of OLED monitors to ensure optimal performance for professional work, similar to monitoring the performance of smart-home devices in a connected home environment.
