How Long Do OLED TVs Last? Durability, Lifespan, Fragility!!

OLED TVs are the most advanced type of TV available right now. There may be better ones in the near future, but there’s a good chance they won’t surpass this.

However, we often wonder what OLED is and if it is worth getting an OLED TV, do OLED TVs last longer than other TVs, and a host of other questions related to their durability.

In this comprehensive guide, I will discuss the durability, life span, fragility, and other aspects of OLED TVs, including how long they last under normal conditions, how to increase their longevity, and so on.

A major advantage of OLED TVs over traditional TVs is that each pixel has its own source of light instead of relying on a backlight, OLED TVs emit their own light.

As a general rule, if you watch your TV for approximately 8-10 hours a day, the OLED TVs last approximately 8-10 years. Before concluding, let’s look at what an OLED is, how it works, and what affects its life span.

What are OLED TVs and how do they work?

Many people are unaware of this new kind of TV, especially because they are very expensive, and mainstream consumers do not want to spend thousands of dollars just to find out what the features are.

OLED TV Display Elements Vs Other TVs
OLED TV Display Elements Vs Other TVs (Image Credit: LG)

OLED, or Organic Light-Emitting Diodes, have been in use for many years, but it wasn’t until 2010 that the first production OLED TV was sold to the general public.

At present times, OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diodes) is a display technology that is becoming more and more popular.

A few reasons behind it are quality and durability. Instead of using LEDs and backlights, these panels create their own light. This means that the screen isn’t lit up from behind and has complete control over dimming.  

OLED Display Elements
TV Display Elements

OLED TVs are brighter, thinner, and more colorful than other types of TV. They also offer sharper pictures and faster response times, among other benefits.

OLED panels use up less power because they only emit light when the pixels are lit up. Whereas, LCD and LED screens require a backlight that is powered all the time which can consume more electricity.

Here’s a video that lets you see how OLED TVs work so it’ll be easier to visualize.

How durable are OLED TVs?

If you’re considering or owning an OLED TV, you may wonder about its durability and how long it will last.

I can explain this better since I have worked in TV manufacturing and R&D units in the past.

So let me explain how a television’s lifespan is calculated, what affects it, and how that translates to the number of years that you can expect your television to last.

Note: Basically, The lifespan of an OLED TV depends on how it is used and how it is treated by its owner. The best way to prolong the life of an OLED TV is to avoid exposing it to extreme temperatures, high humidity, or direct sunlight as these factors can damage the display panel irreversibly.

How Long Do OLED TVs Last?

OLED is designed to last decades, although the organic material used to create light in the display degrades over time, just like the filament in a lightbulb.

There are many reasons why people prefer OLED TVs over other types of TVs. But, how long does an OLED TV last on average usage?

You’ve probably heard that OLED TVs have a lifespan of around 30,000 hours, but what does that mean?

Sony says that the chances are likely to only be around 10% in the first 10 years of use, according to CNET.

That’s pretty reassuring. Here’s another way to think about it, if you watched TV for eight hours a day, every day, for 10 years straight, it would still last more than three years after your marathon TV-watching session.

Now coming to another question, What causes OLED panels to last longer and what affects their longevity.

Mainly the way how OLED functions, the lasting period depends on that, so to make it more clear for you, let me explain why OLED TVs last long and how you can increase their life span as well.

Displays made of OLEDs are capable of long-term functionality. This is because OLED pixels generate light themselves, reducing the number of components required within an OLED display such as backlights and color filters.

The only parts that need to be replaced on a proper time interval of a few years are quite small, replaceable parts such as OLED emitters, TFT drivers, and glass covers covering the OLED screens.

So to conclude the longevity of OLED displays, OLED display panels can last tens of thousands of hours before degradation becomes so bad that you need to replace the panel.

Can an OLED TV Display break easily compared to other TVs?

Now that we’ve gone over the lifespan of an OLED TV, let’s look at how tough it is compared to other TVs.

As you might wonder, can an OLED TV display shatter if knocked over?

This is a question that many people ask themselves when they are purchasing an OLED TV. OLED TVs are expensive, so it’s understandable that people would want to know if they can be damaged easily.

OLED Display Components
OLED Display Components

I’m going, to be honest with you, this is a tough question to answer. OLED TV displays in general are much more sensitive than their other counterparts. If the display was knocked over, there is a chance that the screen could shatter.

Nevertheless, if impact is directly placed on the display, then the OLED screen’s fragility is significantly less than that of a LED TV. The two things which could happen are either that the OLED screen would break or it would develop a dead pixel.

What does that mean, are OLED TVs more fragile?

There is no doubt that OLED TV screens are prone to be more fragile than older TVs and other alternatives such as LED TVs. OLED screens are thin and can’t withstand even minor impacts.

This is where most people get frustrated and report dead pixels.

As I was researching the lifespan, fragility, and longevity of OLED TVs, I came across a few videos that showed tests being put on OLED panels to determine their durability and impact resistance.

How do I increase the lifespan of my OLED TV?

As technology advances, so does the lifespan of our products. OLED TVs have come a long way since they were first manufactured. The lifespan for an OLED TV is approximately 10 years and more with proper care and maintenance.

There are a variety of ways to extend the life of an OLED TV. One way is to make sure the TV is not placed near any source of heat or air conditioning vents, as this can cause the screen to shrink and distort.

You might not think your advanced OLED TV is worth taking care of, but the truth is that caring for your OLED TV just like any other device can help prolong its lifespan. Here are a few ways you can help:

  • The first thing to do is to make sure your TV has enough power without fluctuation. Though this may sound counter-intuitive, it actually helps avoid screen burn-in and longer display life.
  • It’s important to ensure that the TV is not used in a high-temperature environment.
  • Give your TV a break once in a while by switching between sources and inputs.

Conclusion

As far as longevity goes, there is a reason why OLED displays are considered “forever” TVs.

While there are many other factors that determine how long your TV lasts like usage, care, calibration, etc.

Usually, on average usage, An OLED TV is designed to last up to 10 years on normal usage of around 10 hours daily as this is the amount of time it takes for the TV to display half of its original brightness., whichever comes first.

The reason for this long lifespan is that it only has one light source and doesn’t need a backlight. This means you don’t have to worry about any burn-in issues or screen flickering.

I hope you have received the answers you were looking for regarding OLED TV durability, lifespan, and fragility.