Shortly after Apple released an update regarding the iPhone 15 Pro Max overheating issue, a more serious problem has emerged on the company's expensive phones : OLED display burn-in. There have been numerous reports of image retention on the iPhone 15 Pro Max phones, with icon outlines remaining on the home screen and the keyboard remaining visible.
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Screen burn-in, which occurs when a fixed image is displayed on a part of the screen for an extended period of time, has been a concern for OLED display makers for years. Manufacturers have been introducing ways to reduce the problem in recent years, making it less of a concern, so it's surprising to see reports of burn-in on the iPhone 15 Pro Max just weeks after its release .
Owners of Apple's latest flagship device have reported cases of burn-in on Reddit, Twitter, the company's community forum, and elsewhere.
A forum reports that he discovered burn-in after just 14 days of using his iPhone 15 Pro Max. The user reported that he had the optional Always On, but the timer was set to turn off the screen after 2 minutes of inactivity.
The user took his device to the Apple store. The technician explained that the phone was experiencing an issue called “ghosting.” The usual solution was to replace the screen, but there were no parts available since the iPhone 15 Pro Max had just been released. Instead, they were going to order another one, but the device was too new, which meant there were none available. So, the customer had to wait for another device to arrive.
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A Reddit user, who is also having a burn-in issue on his iPhone 15 Pro Max, reported that he was using it “normally.” Oddly enough, the screen also displayed a blurry image of a thumbnail from a YouTube the user had been watching.
Several other people have confirmed the burn-in issue on their iPhone 15 Pro Max — it appears that this model is the only one affected — and Apple has agreed to replace the phones as soon as supplies are available. It's unclear how widespread the issue is at this time.
Reports that Apple's latest phones were overheating started just a week after their release, which analyst Ming-Chi Kuo attributed to thermal design. Earlier this month, Apple released iOS 17.0.3 with a patch that addressed the overheating issues. However, it seems that now the company has something else to worry about with its latest flagship.
What is OLED burn-in and how is it caused?
OLED burn-in is a term that describes a permanent image display problem on an OLED display, which can cause irreversible damage. Burn-in is caused by long-term use of the same display, which causes the pixels on the display to “fatigue” from their continuous operation. When this happens, some pixels may not turn off completely, leaving a permanent light feed on the display that can appear as a feeling of blur or a blurry image.
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The OLED displays on the iPhone 15 Pro Max are particularly susceptible to burn-in due to the nature of OLED technology. Each pixel on an OLED display is controlled independently, which means some may be exposed to more light than others. If certain pixels are subjected to more continuous motion, burn-in can occur.
Additionally, the iPhone 15 Pro Max uses a technology called “Super Retina XDR,” which has a higher level of brightness and a richer color output, which can accelerate the possibility of burn-in.
How can consumers monitor and deal with OLED burn-in?
Consumers should be aware of the possibility of OLED burn-in and should know how to monitor and address any signs. Switching icons and scenes during system use can help prevent burn-in, while using the iPhone at lower brightness settings can also help.
Source: techspot
