LG WOLED TVs are rotting at the edges, test finds dead pixels in 14 of 16 sets

RTINGS ran 16 WOLED TVs from 2020 through 2023 until each one logged 18,000 hours — about a decade of average US viewing. When the test ended, 14 of the 16 sets showed what the outlet calls edge rot. The damage ranged from a lone dead pixel to dark clusters eating into the panel borders.

This isn't burn-in. Edge rot has nothing to do with what's on screen, so cycling varied content won't stop it. After consulting industry experts, RTINGS' leading theory points at the thin protective seal wrapped around each panel: tiny flaws in that seal may let moisture seep in over the years.

Age made it worse. Of the ten sets built on LG Display's older WBC panels, only the 2022 LG A2 came out clean. That's a warning for anyone shopping a used CX or C1 — RTINGS suggests pulling up a plain white or gray screen and scanning the edges for dark specks before handing over cash.

LG Display's newer WBE panels, which use deuterium in the OLED material, fared better but not perfectly: five of the six sets still showed some damage, and only the 2023 LG G3 escaped. The three QD-OLED sets from Samsung Display recorded zero dead pixels — their sole flaw was burn-in from hours of CNN.

LG pushed back, telling RTINGS that only a very small number of its OLEDs may develop the issue, and only after prolonged exposure to heat, humidity or other harsh conditions.

RTINGS hasn't tested 2024-and-later models yet, but it's already docking every WOLED slightly on its new Expected Reliability score until long-term data proves the problem is gone. Its Longevity 3.0 test now tracks LG Display's Tandem WOLED panels in sets like the LG G5 and G6. Since edge rot takes years to appear, warranty terms matter: in the US, LG's five-year limited panel warranty covers only the G, Z and M series, and labor is on the owner after year one. The popular C series falls under LG's standard warranty.