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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Short answer: neither LG nor Samsung can be declared the universally more reliable OLED brand from the available evidence. OLED burn-in remains possible when the same static graphics are displayed repeatedly over a long cumulative period, while varied viewing is not expected to create a burn-in problem for most viewers, according to RTINGS’ October 2, 2026 update. The published tests are accelerated studies of particular television samples—not failure-rate surveys of every LG or Samsung OLED.
The clearest verified warranty difference is in the United States for LG’s 2025 range: G, Z and M models receive five years of panel coverage, but only the first year includes parts and labor; years two through five cover the panel while labor is charged. The US C5 listing states one year of parts and one year of labor. Authoritative US warranty terms for the current Samsung comparison models were not established in the cited material, so a Samsung warranty winner cannot be named.
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The practical verdict for buyers
- Mixed viewing: Movies, series, varied games and changing channels are a lower-risk pattern than displaying one fixed interface for hours every day. No OLED is burn-in-proof.
- Static-heavy viewing: News tickers, sports scoreboards, desktop taskbars, surveillance feeds and a single game HUD can raise cumulative wear risk. The relevant question is how often the same bright elements remain in the same place, not simply whether the set is an LG or Samsung.
- Reliability evidence: RTINGS has found useful differences between individual samples and panel approaches, but its accelerated longevity work does not establish a current, brand-wide reliability ranking.
- Warranty: LG’s verified US 2025 G/Z/M provision is panel coverage, not five years of free repairs. Samsung’s exact coverage must be checked in the warranty document for the model and country you will buy.
Use the exact model number, model year, panel type, usage pattern and written warranty terms together. A brand-level slogan is a weaker basis for a purchase than those five details.
What “reliability” means on an OLED TV
Burn-in is cumulative and content-dependent
OLED pixels emit their own light, and repeated use of the same pixels at the same brightness can produce uneven aging. In practical terms, a fixed logo, menu, score bar or desktop element may eventually remain visible as permanent image retention. RTINGS’ Longevity 3.0 update, dated October 2, 2026, says modern OLED displays can still experience burn-in, but varied content is not expected to create a problem for most viewers. That is a risk description, not a guarantee for any household, brightness setting or model.
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The risk is cumulative: a short session with a static image is not equivalent to displaying it for the same number of hours every day over years. Conversely, a television used for varied programs can still develop a fault or uneven wear. Burn-in should therefore be treated as a usage-dependent possibility rather than an inevitable consequence of owning OLED.
Panel technology is a comparison point, not a reliability verdict
The material reviewed by RTINGS compares QD-OLED and WOLED while naming Samsung S95F and LG G5 and C5 examples. Earlier test samples included Samsung’s QD-OLED S95B and Sony’s A95K, alongside LG WOLED C2 and G2 sets. QD-OLED and WOLED use different light-generation and color-conversion designs, so test observations can help identify failure modes. They do not, by themselves, prove that every QD-OLED is less reliable than every WOLED, or that one manufacturer’s entire current line will last longer.
What the long-term testing actually found
RTINGS’ 100-TV accelerated project
RTINGS describes its longevity project as an accelerated test of 100 televisions examining degradation and failure, including component-level causes. Sets remain under test and updates are published as checkpoints are reached. Because the schedule deliberately stresses displays, the results can reveal weaknesses sooner than ordinary ownership, but they are not a population survey of all owners. A failure in one sample is evidence about that sample under those conditions, not a predicted failure percentage for a brand.
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In an earlier investigation update, RTINGS reported possible permanent image retention after two months in two QD-OLED samples: Samsung S95B and Sony A95K. The LG WOLED C2 and G2 samples remained clean at that checkpoint. The observation is useful when thinking about panel behavior, but the test conditions, number of samples and checkpoint do not support the claim that all QD-OLED televisions are less reliable than all WOLED televisions.
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January 21, 2026 S95C update
In its January 21, 2026 update, RTINGS said discoloration on its Samsung S95C sample had worsened. The affected area roughly corresponded with a hot part of the television. RTINGS could not determine whether the cause was degradation in the electroluminescent layer or in the quantum dots. That is a reported observation and a tentative possible mechanism, not a confirmed diagnosis for the S95C line or Samsung OLEDs generally. The same update said one LG G3 data set remained before that test’s official end.
The October 2026 Longevity 3.0 message
RTINGS’ current Longevity 3.0 account keeps the practical conclusion conditional: static elements can cause burn-in even on modern OLEDs, while varied viewing is not expected to be a problem for most people. The project’s accelerated schedule is intentionally demanding. Read each result with its model, panel, exposure pattern and checkpoint rather than turning it into a simple LG-versus-Samsung score.
Evidence at a glance
| Model or sample | Panel context | Reported checkpoint | What the observation supports |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung S95B | QD-OLED | Possible permanent image retention after two months in an earlier RTINGS investigation | A sample showed a potential retention issue under the study’s conditions; it does not establish a QD-OLED failure rate. |
| Sony A95K | QD-OLED | Possible permanent image retention after two months in the same investigation | Shows why panel and sample conditions matter; it is not an LG-versus-Samsung comparison by itself. |
| LG C2 and G2 | WOLED | Clean at the two-month checkpoint in that investigation | Those samples had no reported retention at that point; the result is not a lifetime guarantee. |
| Samsung S95C | QD-OLED | Discoloration had worsened by the January 21, 2026 update | RTINGS observed a change in one sample and could not confirm whether the electroluminescent layer or quantum dots were responsible. |
| LG G3 | WOLED | One data set remained before the official end of the January 2026 test | The published checkpoint was incomplete, so it cannot be used as a final durability result. |
RTINGS’ QD-OLED versus WOLED comparison names Samsung S95F, LG G5 and LG C5 while discussing the technologies and states that OLED can eventually experience burn-in. It does not establish a blanket reliability hierarchy between the two approaches.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchCan survey data settle the LG-versus-Samsung question?
No. LG USA’s summary of Consumer Reports results says the survey covered 121,881 new televisions purchased by surveyed Consumer Reports members from 2015 through 2025. The page republishes predicted overall TV-brand reliability scores of LG 94/100 and Samsung 86/100. Those figures concern TV brands broadly, not OLED-only sets or only current models, and they do not measure burn-in specifically. They are useful context about a large ownership survey, but they cannot resolve the OLED reliability question in this comparison.
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US warranty comparison: LG 2025 models and current Samsung models
Warranty language is narrower than many product headlines suggest. Panel coverage, parts coverage and labor coverage are separate promises. A “five-year panel warranty” does not mean five years of free diagnosis, removal, shipping and repair.
| Model or series | Market and model year | Stated term | Panel coverage | Parts and labor | Burn-in wording in the cited material |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LG G5, Z and M series | United States, 2025 lineup | Limited five years for the panel | Year one plus years two through five | Year one includes parts and labor; years two through five cover the panel and charge labor | The cited terms do not establish that every burn-in case is covered; check the included warranty and exclusions. |
| LG G5 (example listing: OLED65G5WUA) | United States, 2025 | Matches the extended OLED-panel provision | Extended panel coverage described by LG | Parts and labor in year one; labor charged in years two through five | Verify the exact written terms for the purchased SKU. |
| LG C5 (example listing: OLED55C5PUA) | United States, 2025 | One year | The cited support listing states one year of parts and one year of labor; it does not list the G/Z/M extended provision | One year of parts and one year of labor | The cited listing does not establish burn-in coverage. |
| Samsung S95F or S90F | United States, current comparison models | Not stated in the cited material; verify Samsung’s exact warranty document | Not stated in the cited material | Not stated in the cited material | Not established in the cited material; do not infer coverage or exclusion. |
LG’s 2025 US OLED lineup announcement describes the G, Z and M five-year panel provision. The G5 support page repeats the distinction between first-year parts and labor and later panel-only coverage. LG’s C5 support listing states one year of parts and one year of labor.
These terms are US-specific and tied to the cited 2025 models. Eligibility can depend on the exact SKU, purchase date, original-purchaser status, retailer, exclusions and service procedure. Do not generalize them to another country or model year.
No authoritative Samsung US warranty terms for the S95F or S90F were established in the cited material. Before purchase, open Samsung’s warranty document for the exact model and country and record whether it addresses the panel, image retention or burn-in, parts, labor, duration and exclusions. Until that check is complete, the fair comparison is “verified LG terms versus Samsung terms still to be verified,” not “LG covers burn-in and Samsung does not.”
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Choose by viewing pattern, not by logo
| Your main use | Risk question | What to verify before buying |
|---|---|---|
| Movies and series with changing scenes | How much of your day contains genuinely static graphics? | Exact model warranty, panel coverage and service location. |
| Mixed console or PC gaming | Does one game HUD, health bar or minimap remain fixed for long sessions? | How the warranty treats panel defects and image retention; vary games and content rather than relying on a guarantee. |
| Daily news, sports or financial channels | Will bright tickers, scoreboards or logos occupy the same area for many hours? | Written panel terms, labor charges after year one and the manufacturer’s claim process. |
| Desktop monitor replacement | Will taskbars, browser chrome and application windows be static most of the workday? | Whether an OLED is appropriate for that duty cycle and whether the exact warranty addresses image retention. |
| Retail, lobby or surveillance display | Is the same interface visible continuously? | Commercial-use eligibility and a written warranty that covers the intended installation; consumer terms may not fit. |
For static-heavy operation, the decisive issue is exposure pattern. A longer panel term can reduce financial risk, but it cannot turn continuous fixed imagery into a risk-free use case. For varied home viewing, current evidence does not justify paying a premium solely for a claim that one brand is categorically more reliable.
Questions to ask before relying on a warranty
- Is the display panel itself covered? Record the number of years and whether the term is limited to a defect or also addresses image retention.
- Are parts and labor both included for the entire term? LG’s verified 2025 G/Z/M terms separate first-year parts and labor from later panel-only coverage with labor charged.
- Does the document mention burn-in or image retention? “Panel warranty” alone does not answer that question.
- Does the term apply to your exact SKU and country? Model suffixes, regional editions and model years can carry different conditions.
- Who is eligible? Check original-purchaser, authorized-retailer, registration and proof-of-purchase requirements.
- What is excluded? Look for commercial use, misuse, accidental damage, installation conditions and cosmetic damage.
- What does service involve? Confirm whether the manufacturer arranges in-home service, requires shipment, charges inspection or bills labor after a panel-only period.
How to reduce avoidable OLED wear
No setting can promise immunity from burn-in, and no pixel-care feature should be treated as a guaranteed repair. The evidence supports a simpler principle: reduce the amount of time the same static elements occupy the same pixels.
- Mix programs, games and sources instead of leaving one channel or interface on for most of the day.
- Do not use an OLED as a continuously displayed dashboard unless the manufacturer’s commercial terms explicitly support that duty.
- Set the television or connected device to switch off after inactivity, particularly when a console or computer may remain paused.
- When a fixed logo or menu is unavoidable, shorten uninterrupted sessions and vary the rest of the viewing schedule.
- Keep the purchase invoice, model suffix, serial number and warranty document. These details matter if a panel claim is disputed.
- If a persistent mark appears, photograph it with a neutral screen, note the date and source, and contact support rather than assuming it is either harmless temporary retention or confirmed burn-in.
These steps lower exposure; they do not guarantee a particular panel’s lifespan.
What to do if you see retention or discoloration
- Document the symptom. Photograph the mark on a plain, bright and dark screen, and record the source, hours of use and whether it appears across multiple inputs.
- Identify the exact television. Write down the model suffix, serial number, purchase date, country and retailer. Warranty eligibility is model- and market-specific.
- Describe the usage pattern accurately. Explain whether the set displayed varied content, a fixed logo, a game HUD, a desktop or another static image. Do not describe an accelerated test result as ordinary use.
- Read the written terms before making assumptions. Separate panel, parts and labor provisions and look for image-retention exclusions or defect language.
- Open a service case with the manufacturer. Ask for a written determination of whether the symptom is considered a panel defect, image retention or another failure, and request the applicable cost if labor is outside the covered period.
- Keep every diagnostic result and estimate. If the claim is declined, the written reason tells you whether the disagreement concerns the panel, the usage condition, the warranty term or an exclusion.
How to read a future reliability update
When a new test checkpoint appears, look for six pieces of context before changing your buying decision:
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- The exact model and production sample.
- Whether the panel is QD-OLED or WOLED.
- The content pattern, brightness and duration used in the test.
- The checkpoint date and whether the test has officially ended.
- Whether the observation is permanent image retention, discoloration, a component failure or a suspected mechanism.
- Whether the authors are reporting one sample, several samples or a representative owner survey.
RTINGS’ continuing project can add or revise findings as sets remain under test. A later update may strengthen, narrow or overturn an early interpretation; that is normal for a longitudinal test and is why checkpoint-specific wording matters.
Bottom line for an LG OLED versus Samsung OLED purchase
For a living-room buyer who watches varied content, current evidence does not show a decisive LG or Samsung reliability winner. Burn-in remains a real cumulative risk when static elements dominate viewing, but RTINGS does not expect varied use to create a burn-in problem for most viewers. The tests reviewed here reveal important sample- and technology-specific behavior without supplying a brand-wide failure rate.
In the United States, LG’s 2025 G, Z and M models have a documented five-year panel provision with parts and labor only in year one; the C5 listing states one year of parts and labor. Those terms are not five years of full repair coverage, do not automatically establish burn-in coverage and do not apply universally outside the cited models and market. Samsung’s exact warranty must be checked from its current model documentation before you treat it as better, worse or equivalent.
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The defensible buying method is therefore straightforward: match the panel and model to your usage, read the exact warranty, separate panel coverage from labor, and treat every accelerated test as evidence about its stated sample and conditions—not as a promise about every television in a brand’s lineup.
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