Deliberately Burning In My QD-OLED Monitor - 6 Month Update

Summary

In this 'Monitors Unboxed' update, the MSI MPG 321 URX QD monitor is put to the test for OLED burn-in over six months of intense productivity use. Despite no burn-in prevention measures, the monitor shows only faint signs of burn-in, primarily in the taskbar area and center line. The video explores the impact on daily use and compares the results to LCD monitors, concluding that while OLEDs may not be ideal for heavy productivity, they perform well for gaming and mixed use. The video also discusses the potential lifespan extension with OLED-friendly settings and the cumulative nature of burn-in.

Takeaways

• 🖥️ The MSI MPG 321 URX QD monitor has been used exclusively for productivity tasks for 6 months under a worst-case scenario for OLED burn-in.
• 🔥 Despite heavy usage, there was no noticeable burn-in after the first month, but faint signs appeared after 3 months of use.
• ⏱️ After 6 months, the monitor has been used between 1200 to 1500 hours with 141 panel compensation cycles run.
• 📊 Burn-in is more visible in darker shades and around the taskbar area, but it's not significantly impacting the user's workflow.
• 📉 There has been no reduction in peak SDR brightness capabilities, with the monitor even showing a slight increase in brightness.
• 👀 The green subpixel shows more burn-in compared to the red and blue subpixels, which is more noticeable after 6 months of use.
• 💡 The use of a burn-in enhancement filter in the video helps to highlight the differences in burn-in over time.
• 🕒 Burn-in is cumulative and related to hours of usage; using the monitor for shorter periods or incorporating dynamic content can extend its lifespan.
• 📚 For heavy productivity use with static content, the script suggests that LCD monitors might be a better choice than OLED to avoid burn-in.
• 🎮 OLED monitors are recommended for gaming and dynamic content consumption, where burn-in is less of a concern.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of the MSI MPG 321 URX QD monitor test?

The main purpose of the test is to perform a real-world test of OLED burn-in longevity in the worst possible configuration, effectively burning in the display on purpose to see how OLED monitors can be used as LCD equivalent productivity displays long term.

How has the user been using the MSI MPG 321 URX QD monitor for the test?

The user has been using the monitor exclusively as a productivity monitor for over 6 months, with usage often exceeding 8 hours a day, including continuous usage with no breaks, and no dark mode or screen savers.

What is the significance of the 141 panel compensation cycles mentioned in the script?

The 141 panel compensation cycles indicate the number of times the monitor has automatically adjusted to prevent burn-in. It aligns with the increased usage, doubling the usage and approximately doubling the compensation cycles run.

What is the recommended rate for panel protect cycles according to the script?

The recommended rate for panel protect cycles is every 4 hours of use.

How does the user's usage scenario compare to the recommended usage for OLED monitors?

The user's scenario is less than half as often as the ideal usage for OLED monitors, as they are running panel protect cycles less frequently due to full-time work without putting the monitor to sleep during breaks.

What visible signs of burn-in have been observed after 6 months of usage?

After 6 months of usage, a faint line down the center of the monitor related to snapping apps side by side and some burn-in around the taskbar area have been observed.

How does the user suggest mitigating burn-in on OLED monitors?

The user suggests using dark mode, a screen saver after 5 minutes of inactivity, and at a lower brightness level to extend the lifespan and prevent burn-in from becoming noticeable.

What is the user's recommendation for those who plan to use OLED monitors primarily for productivity apps?

The user recommends against using OLED monitors for productivity apps and suggests buying an LCD instead due to the visible burn-in observed during the test.

How does the user expect the burn-in to progress over time with continued use?

The user expects the burn-in to become more noticeable over time, but not to the point of significantly impacting the usability of the monitor, especially if used in a more OLED-friendly configuration.

What is the user's conclusion about OLED monitors for gaming and mixed use cases?

The user concludes that OLED monitors are more suitable for gaming and mixed use cases where they are not primarily used for static productivity apps, as the burn-in results are not as severe in such scenarios.