Monitor defects have been very common even with the newer monitors since many of them are part and parcel of the monitor-making process. We’ve also stressed that there is a tolerance threshold from the manufacturer which dictates how bad the issue has to be before they can scrap it as a faulty unit. And then there are technological limitations to consider which at times can only be solved by developing newer and better hardware.
We usually call out the monitor defects we see on every model we review, but that doesn’t mean that all the units in that particular product line have them. However, that means that no panel type, monitor brand, or specific price bracket is immune to these issues. We are not scaring you into not buying any monitor, but this is all for awareness so you’ll know what to do if you encounter the monitor defects listed below.
How to Avoid Monitor Defects
The only way to avoid monitor defects is to go to a physical store and have the staff there test the product you are buying. However, that’s not practical or doable for many of us since, especially in this day and age. Not all of us have trucks that can carry OLED behemoths or have a good computer store nearby, so only the lucky few can do this.
Another way to protect yourself is to buy from a reputable seller that gives you a good returns and exchanges guarantee. Most retailers like Amazon give you enough time to test the monitor out before deciding if you will keep it or return it for a refund. Some brands like Dell, AOC, or Philips even have guarantees for dead pixels and extended warranties, so it might be a good idea to consider them.
Common Monitor Defects and Solutions
IPS Glow/VA Glow
(Image by coolblue.nl)
IPS and VA glow is a fairly common monitor defect that is closely related to panel uniformity. It usually manifests as uneven illumination on some spots of the panel. It also affects the color fidelity or black level of the specific area so it is highly noticeable when you are viewing the display as a whole.
Unfortunately, the only way to solve this issue is to return the monitor and try for a better unit. There is no guarantee that the next one will be better since IPS or VA glow is usually present in every monitor made. Another method you can try is to tweak the backlight settings to see if the backlight can compensate and minimize the spots to make them less visible.
Backlight Bleeding
(Image by coolblue.nl)
Backlight bleeding is a similar issue to the one above, but the difference is that this issue happens when the monitor’s illumination escapes from the edges of the screen. This also causes uniformity issues since it shows up as clouding or streaks near the panel’s edge. This is very common with any LED-backlit LCD panels, but it is not an issue with OLED which doesn’t use a backlight at all.
The way to completely avoid this is to also go to a physical store and check the unit out before taking it home. Note that this can also happen if your package is mishandled, so being able to return and ask for an exchange or a refund is essential. That is why we highly recommend buying from big retailers like Amazon or Microcenter since they are customer-friendly for issues like this.
You can also try adjusting the backlight to reduce the clouding or streaking this monitor defect will introduce. However, doing that will not get rid of the issue entirely. You can only try to lessen it so it becomes less noticeable while viewing media or playing games.
Dead Pixel
This monitor defect happens when one of the pixels does not function at all, creating an annoying dark spot on your screen. It can be a single pixel or multiple pixels, and its usually caused by a manufacturing defect or damage during transportation. It’s most visible in bright scenes with light colors or when using white backgrounds while browsing or processing documents.
Unfortunately, you can only check for dead pixels using some programs or websites to test if they truly are dead or merely malfunctioning. The only real solution to this monitor defect is to return the monitor and ask for an exchange or a refund. You had to have 7 to 15 dead pixels before the monitor can be considered defective a few years ago, but now a single one is accepted by most brands and retailers.
Stuck Pixel
A stuck pixel is different from dead pixels because they are still functioning, but are stuck in a single color or level, or brightness. This monitor defect is solvable with numerous procedures, unlike dead pixels which is a hopeless cause. The first thing you can try is to get a damp cloth and press the spot on the screen which has a stuck pixel while it is turned off.
Turn on the monitor while still applying pressure, and the stuck pixel should be fixed after that. You can also use tools that flash the screen with multiple colors to get the pixel moving. These will usually solve this monitor defect, but it can also go away on its own after some time. However, if it can’t be fixed, then the proper course of action is to again return the monitor and ask for an exchange or a refund.
Blurring/Ghosting
Blurring or ghosting happens when the monitor’s pixels are slow so they can’t catch up when the screen transitions to a different color or level of brightness. It’s common on some panel types like VA and even some IPS types. This isn’t as big of an issue as the others in this guide, but it is annoying if you are sensitive enough to see it.
The first solution is to try a different refresh or overdrive setting for your monitor. Typically, fast or gaming-grade displays have built-in features to alleviate this so there are easy workarounds to this naturally occurring monitor defect. However, the effectiveness of the overdrive or backlight strobing is still dependent on the manufacturer and how they programmed it.
Overshoot/Advanced or Reverse Ghosting
(Image by Igorslab.de)
Overshoot, which is sometimes called advanced or reversed ghosting happens when the pixels are treated with too much overdrive so they go out of sync with the screen’s transitions. This monitor defect typically shows up as a smudge or trail in front of the moving object on the screen. This is common on non-gaming variants, but it can still happen if your monitor was not tuned properly at the factory.
The solution to this issue is to lower the overdrive setting to balance out the screen. A little blur or smudge here and there is better than overshoot which is usually worse than the opposite. There are hopeless cases in the market, but they are becoming rarer since manufacturers have become better at solving this issue.
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