This tool is useful when checking a newly purchased OLED monitor or TV, or when inspecting a used screen before you decide whether to buy it. Clean the display and view it in your usual room lighting so you can compare the broad fields without dust or changing conditions getting in the way.
How to use OLED Screen Test
- Select a field from Pattern mode: Black, 1% digital gray, 5% digital gray, 20% digital gray, 50% digital gray, White or Checkerboard. Use Gray level to choose 1%, 2%, 5%, 10%, 20% or 50% for a gray-field view.
- Select Start Test to begin. Move through the fields with Previous and Next, or press Left and Right on your keyboard. In fullscreen, tap the left or right half of the screen to move between fields.
- Compare each field briefly, looking for visible tint, retention or unevenness. You can use the same fields again after changing a display setting to compare how the screen looks.
- Select Fullscreen or press F to enter fullscreen. Press Escape or select Exit fullscreen to leave it. On phones, an Exit button stays on screen while fullscreen is active.
- Press Space to use automatic mode, or select Reset or press R to reset. With reduced motion enabled, progression remains manual.
When to use it
- Checking a new OLED before the return period ends: Compare several fields to notice visible unevenness while you can still make a decision about the display.
- Inspecting a second-hand TV or monitor: Check for visible retention or tint before buying, alongside your usual checks of the device.
- Looking into faint screen marks: Black and low-gray fields can make some differences easier to see than ordinary content does.
- Checking bright areas: Switch to White to look for noticeable tint or uneven appearance across the panel.
- Comparing display settings: View the same fields before and after an adjustment, using similar room lighting and viewing position.
- Rechecking a suspected uneven area: Move through more than one field to see whether the area remains visibly different.
- Doing a quick screen check before work or gaming: Inspect a few fields when you want a visual check without undertaking a calibration session.
Tips for a more useful check
Keep your viewing distance and room lighting consistent when comparing fields. Take a moment when switching from a dark field to White, and stop if bright patterns cause discomfort. Short comparisons are preferable to leaving a static image on an OLED for a long time.
Try Black and the low-gray fields for subtle differences, then compare White and Checkerboard for a different view of the panel. The Gray level choices are useful for comparing displayed gray fields; their percentages are pattern options, not measured luminance values. For a closer look at low-gray appearance, try the OLED Gray Test. For a broader visual check of screen uniformity, use the Screen Uniformity Test.
Limits of OLED Screen Test
OLED Screen Test displays patterns for visual inspection, not calibrated measurement. What you notice may help identify an apparent difference, but the tool cannot determine its cause or severity. It does not diagnose burn-in, measure black luminance or restore damaged pixels.
If an issue remains visible during normal use or affects whether you keep or buy the display, ask the seller or manufacturer for advice. Use professional measurement equipment when you need calibrated readings.