When buying a second-hand phone, TV, or monitor, the condition of the screen directly determines the device's value. Burn-in (also known as "ghost image") is the most typical hidden defect that occurs on OLED screens after long-term use, and sellers often do not proactively disclose it. For ordinary users, mastering the basic methods of burn-in detection can help quickly identify issues during device inspection and avoid paying a high price for a device with screen aging. This article will summarize the most common burn-in scenarios on phones, TVs, and monitors, and introduce how to use burn-in detection images and online tools for efficient testing.

1. Why Should You Focus on Burn-in When Inspecting Second-hand Devices?

The self-emissive nature of OLED screen pixels makes them more prone to localized aging compared to LCDs. Areas such as the phone status bar, TV channel logos, and monitor taskbars display fixed content for long periods, causing the corresponding pixels to age faster. When the screen switches to a solid color or uniform background, these areas will reveal faint gray or colored outlines — this is burn-in. Once burn-in occurs, it is irreversible and directly affects screen appearance, especially when watching videos or using solid-color wallpapers. For second-hand devices, the degree of burn-in is an important basis for evaluating screen lifespan and negotiating the price.

2. Common Burn-in Areas and Images on Phones

  • Status bar: Time, battery, signal, and other icons remain fixed at the top of the screen for long periods, making it the highest-risk area for phone burn-in. On a solid white or gray background, a row of faint icon afterimages often appears where the status bar is located.
  • Navigation bar/gesture bar: The bottom back button, home button, multitasking button, or gesture bar remains unchanged for extended periods, and button outlines or short horizontal line afterimages can easily appear at the bottom.
  • Keyboard area: The input method keyboard is displayed for long periods, and faint dividing lines may remain between letter keys, especially when a white keyboard is used.
  • Home screen icons and widgets: If a user keeps the same home screen layout for a long time, the positions of home screen icons and weather or clock widgets may leave faint outlines on light backgrounds.
  • Short video UI: The like, comment, and share buttons on the right side, and the progress bar at the bottom of short video platforms are also common sources of phone burn-in in recent years.

3. Common Burn-in Areas and Images on TVs

  • Channel logos: Channel logos in the top-left or top-right corner of the TV are the most typical source of burn-in. For users who frequently watch news or sports channels, logo outlines can easily remain in the corresponding positions.
  • Bottom scrolling news ticker: The scrolling subtitle bar at the bottom of news channels occupies a fixed area for long periods, and a light horizontal band spanning left to right may appear at the bottom.
  • Fixed menus and information bars: The navigation bar, input source labels, and volume bars on smart TV home screens can also cause localized aging if displayed for extended periods.
  • Movie black bars: When watching a large number of widescreen movies, the pixels in the top and bottom black bar areas emit less light, while the middle picture area is brighter. After long-term use, the middle area may age faster, creating the opposite effect — uneven brightness known as "reverse burn-in."

4. How to Use Burn-in Detection Images

Burn-in detection images are the most convenient inspection tools. You only need to prepare a few key images and display them fullscreen on the device for quick checking.

  • Solid color images: Prepare six solid color images: red, green, blue, white, gray, and black. Solid gray (50% gray) and solid white are the easiest backgrounds to expose afterimages because burn-in areas have the highest contrast at medium brightness. Observe whether there are irregular dark areas, bright areas, or colored outlines on the screen.
  • Grayscale gradient image: A gradient image that transitions smoothly from black to white can help detect localized brightness unevenness and banding issues. If a certain area of the screen shows obvious jumps or color shifts, it indicates that the pixels in that area have aged to different degrees.
  • Grid/checkerboard image: A black-and-white checkerboard or fine grid pattern can detect burn-in at the edges and corners of the screen, and is especially suitable for checking the phone status bar and navigation bar areas.
  • Dynamic video: Play a detection video containing moving squares, scan lines, or rapidly flashing images. Dynamic images can amplify the visual perception of static afterimages, making them easier to notice.

5. Advantages and Steps of Online Burn-in Detection Tools

Online screen burn-in detection tools require no download or installation — simply open them in a browser to use, making them especially suitable for quick operation during on-site device inspection. These tools typically integrate multiple detection modes and support one-click switching between solid colors, gradients, and dynamic images.

  • Advantage 1: Simple operation: Open the webpage and click start testing; the tool will automatically display different test screens in fullscreen, eliminating the need to manually switch images.
  • Advantage 2: Rich modes: Built-in solid color, grayscale, grid, flashing, and other modes cover the detection needs of phones, TVs, and monitors.
  • Advantage 3: Mobile-friendly: When inspecting a phone, you can directly open the test page in a browser, avoiding the need to download apps on unfamiliar devices.

Usage steps: Set the device brightness to 50%-70%, disable auto-brightness and eye protection mode; open the online burn-in detection tool and enter fullscreen mode; observe red, green, blue, white, gray, and black screens in sequence; focus on checking whether afterimages appear in the status bar, navigation bar, and logo areas; stay on each screen for 5-10 seconds and record the location and severity of any abnormalities.

6. Practical Tips for Second-hand Device Inspection

  • Environment preparation: Choose a dimly lit environment to reduce glare interference. Turn off the device's auto-brightness and manually fix it at medium brightness.
  • Check solid gray and solid white first: These two backgrounds are the most likely to expose burn-in. Use them for a quick initial screening before checking other colors.
  • Repeatedly confirm key areas: For phones, check the status bar and bottom navigation bar; for TVs, check the logo and bottom information bar; for monitors, check the taskbar and window title bar positions.
  • Combine with dynamic video: When solid color images reveal no issues, play a dynamic detection video and observe whether any fixed outlines briefly remain after screen transitions.
  • Communicate with the seller: If minor burn-in is found, you can negotiate the price accordingly; if the burn-in is severe and affects daily viewing, it is recommended to buy cautiously or walk away.
  • Check warranty and usage time: Find out the device's purchase date, usage intensity, and whether the screen has been replaced to comprehensively assess burn-in risk.

7. Summary

Burn-in detection is an indispensable part of inspecting second-hand OLED devices. By familiarizing yourself with common burn-in scenarios such as phone status bars, navigation bars, TV logos, and information bars, and combining them with solid color images, grayscale images, and online testing tools, you can make a reliable judgment about the screen condition in a short amount of time. Remember: burn-in is irreversible, but early detection can help you avoid wasting money. We hope this guide helps you quickly identify issues during device inspection and purchase second-hand devices with healthy screens.