This is a subject that hasn’t received much attention. Usually, OLED TV reviews mention the attributes of the OLED displays that differentiate them from LCD or Plasma screens.

Amazing contrast levels, fantastic color and impossibly thin screens are many of the things that promise to make TV viewing, at least in the future, so much better. There are still production difficulties to overcome and the problem of offering a consumer ready product at a price point that is at least semi-competitive with LCD or plasma TV.

However, OLED TVs are not perfect. With the first OLED TV available to consumers, the XEL-1, Sony warns about screen damage due to image retention. This has been a problem in the past with plasma TV but apparently this is still something that OLED manufacturers are dealing with.

The XEL-1 manual states the following;

“Prolonged display of still images over time may cause permanent image retention. Avoid displaying images that cause image retention and take the following measures to protect the screen.”

The following are images that Sony says may cause image retention.