service@fannal.com +86-571-85161516
- All
- Product Name
- Product Keyword
- Product Model
- Product Summary
- Product Description
- Multi Field Search
Burn-in is a common concern for OLED screens, but many users still wonder:
Do TFT displays burn in as well?
The short answer is:
TFT displays do not suffer permanent burn-in like OLEDs.
However, they can show temporary image retention, which typically disappears on its own.
This article explains the difference, why TFT displays behave differently, and how to prevent image retention in long-running applications.
OLED pixels are made from organic materials that gradually degrade.
If the same icons or UI elements stay on the screen for too long, the affected pixels age faster, resulting in irreversible burn-in.
TFT LCDs rely on:
A backlight
A liquid-crystal layer
TFT transistors
They do not use self-emissive organic materials.
Therefore, they do not develop permanent burn-in.
What they can experience is temporary image retention caused by:
Charge buildup
Uneven liquid-crystal alignment
Static high-contrast patterns
This effect is reversible in most cases.
The structure of a TFT LCD makes it extremely resistant to permanent burn-in:
✔ The backlight ages uniformly
✔ No pixel-level organic decay
✔ Liquid crystals return to normal when the voltage changes
✔ Industrial TFT modules use stable, long-life ICs
Even if a shadow or “ghost” image appears, it will almost always fade away.
While TFT panels don't "burn in", temporary retention may occur under these conditions:
Examples:
Industrial HMI dashboards
Medical monitoring frames
Navigation bars on automotive displays
Liquid-crystal alignment temporarily “remembers” the static pattern.
Running the display at full brightness for prolonged periods can slow the LC relaxation response.
Sharp black–white boundaries or thick lines may leave temporary shadows.
Low temperature → slower LC movement
High temperature → faster aging of LED backlight and ICs
In almost all cases: No.
TFT image retention typically disappears after:
Changing to a dynamic image
Lowering brightness
Turning off the display for a short period
True irreversible TFT burn-in is extremely rare
It usually only happens under extremely high-brightness + high-temperature + static image conditions for a very long time.
Compared with OLED, the risk is negligible.
These techniques are recommended for industrial, outdoor, medical, automotive, and 24/7 operation devices:
Examples:
Slight pixel shifting of icons
UI element repositioning
Auto-refresh zone updates
Turning off the backlight periodically extends longevity.
Indoor use rarely needs 100% brightness.
Use 60–80% whenever possible.
Add mild texture or gradual movement if possible.
Industrial TFT modules from FANNAL offer:
Wide-temperature design (-20°C to +70°C or higher)
Long-life LED backlight (50,000–70,000 hours)
High-stability TFT driver ICs
These greatly reduce retention risk.
No.
Industrial TFT LCDs are designed for 24/7 operation.
FANNAL's industrial TFT modules use:
✔ Stable driver ICs
✔ Uniform high-brightness LED backlight
✔ Image-shift firmware options
✔ Optical bonding for thermal stability
This makes them highly reliable for continuous-duty applications.
| Display Type | Burn-In Risk | Permanent? |
|---|---|---|
| OLED | High | Yes |
| TFT LCD | Very low | No (only temporary retention) |
➡ TFT displays do not burn in like OLED panels.
➡ Any ghosting or image retention is usually temporary and reversible.
➡ This reliability makes TFT LCDs the preferred choice for industrial, medical, automotive, outdoor, and IoT devices.
No. TFT LCDs do not suffer permanent burn-in. Only temporary retention may appear.
It can fade within minutes to several hours, depending on brightness, temperature, and static image duration.
Yes. TFT LCDs are much safer for applications with fixed UI elements.
Not permanent burn-in, but it may increase temporary image retention.
Not necessarily. Industrial outdoor TFTs are designed to handle high brightness without long-term issues.
