Lo, if thou dost spy the remnants of shadowy or ghost-like images upon thy smartphone or tablet, thy device may have fallen victim to the dreaded screen burn-in. ‘Tis a rare affliction among the modern electronic devices, where an image, be it whole or in part, doth linger faintly yet persistently upon the screen, even when ’tis meant to show thee something entirely different.
As the years have passed, display technology hath improved mightily, seeking to diminish the occurrence of screen burn-in. Yet, ’tis still a possibility, depending on how thou dost make use of thy smartphone or tablet. Fear not, for prevention is within reach with some prudent precautions.
# What is screen burn-in?
The concept of screen burn-in doth harken back to the days of yore, when cathode-ray tube (CRT) displays, those grand “picture tube” televisions and computer displays of old, did reign supreme. These displays did employ a phosphor layer upon the glass, which would glow when beset by electron beams from a “gun” at the tube’s rear. Over time, these phosphors would wear unevenly, leaving behind a lasting, “burned-in” image upon the screen’s visage. ‘Twas most common in the monochrome displays of the past, such as the “green screen” and amber hues of early computing.
Alas, the march of progress did not entirely dispel the specter of screen burn-in. Though the physics did shift with the transition to plasma and OLED technology, both are still vulnerable to varying degrees of burn-in. LCD panels may also suffer burn-in, though ’tis a rarity, and when it doth occur, ’tis mostly a transient image persistence that shall resolve itself in time.
# What causes screen burn-in on phones?
As the name doth imply, screen burn-in doth come to pass when a static image lingers on the screen for an extended duration. ‘Tis more oft seen on televisions, particularly those tuned to news or sports channels with steadfast logos or graphics. Thus, have many a newer television been graced with screen savers, returning with a changing or moving image. While ’tis less common on smartphones and tablets, ’tis still possible, especially in scenarios where an app with static elements doth grace the screen for an extended period.
# Which Apple and Android devices can get screen burn-in?
‘Tis known that LCD screens art not prone to burn-in, save for dire circumstances. Thus, among smartphones and tablets, ’tis the newer devices with OLED-based technology, including AMOLED, that art susceptible to burn-in.
# How to prevent screen burn-in
Once screen burn-in hath struck, ’tis a condition that cannot be mended. Yet, most instances of what may appear as burn-in art but image retention—temporary ghosting of a prior image that may dissipate with the passage of time.
Image retention may lead to permanent burn-in, but if thou dost use thy smartphone or tablet in a normal manner, thou shalt be granted ample warning ere such a fate befalls thee. And should true burn-in arise, ’tis often too late to remedy. Yet fear not, for the likelihood of such an event on modern OLED displays is quite slim. Image retention is the more common ailment, and one that may be easily resolved.
# Lower your screen brightness
Since image retention and screen burn-in art both products of overwrought pixels, reducing the brightness of thy screen can make a marked difference. Particularly in cases where a single app is employed for an extended period, such as navigating during a lengthy journey.
# Turn on dark mode
One of the blessings of OLED displays is that black pixels art truly turned off. Hence, employing dark mode upon thy phone not only doth consume less power but also aids in avoiding image retention, as fewer pixels art illuminated.
# Use screen timeout settings
Leaving the same image upon thy screen for an extended span of time doth invite image retention and burn-in. Thus, setting a timeout to automatically switch off thy screen when idle shall help stave off such afflictions.
‘Tis wise to remember that image retention and screen burn-in art deemed expected behaviors with OLED displays rather than defects of manufacture. ‘Tis rare for warranties to cover such maladies. However, by taking care and heeding these precautions, thou may avoid the perils of screen burn-in and image retention. Should thou espy ghosted images upon thy screen, act swiftly to prevent further harm and restore balance to thy device.
