Got A New TV? Here’s How To Test for Dead Pixels
You’ve got that new, huge, flat-screen TV. You’re so excited! One thing you’ve read about is dead pixels. Some people have claimed online that they’ve experienced them on multiple TVs before they finally got one that worked properly. What’s the deal? How do you test for dead pixels on your new TV? Let’s discuss!
What is a Dead Pixel?
Before you can test for dead pixels on your new TV, you need to know what they are. In simplest terms, a dead pixel does not change color as it should. Often, they stay black though they may seem to be stuck white. Either way, the pixel isn’t changing. A dead pixel is a failure in the screen that suggests that no power is going to the pixel. This generally isn’t fixable (though there are lots of suggestions online.
Testing for Dead Pixels
If you are worried about dead pixels on your new TV, there are some tests you can perform. The easiest is to display a full screen of a single color. This will make dead pixels very obvious to spot. Some TVs will have the ability to display full-color screens as part of their calibration menu. Others will need an outside service to provide the source.
Of course, YouTube is your friend here. There are tons of full-screen color videos to help you find any dead pixels. We found this one in a matter of seconds but you can surely pick your own. The one we’ve linked will display a red, green, blue, black, and white screen for a few seconds each. This might not be enough time for you to find a dead pixel, but you can always pause it or play it on a loop.
You are, of course, looking for a black or white pixel that doesn’t change color. If you find one (or more), it is time to reach out to your manufacturer for a replacement. Hopefully.
What Do You Mean, “Hopefully?”
Some manufacturers will replace a TV that has just one dead pixel. That’s the dream. But some require a certain number of dead pixels before they’ll replace a TV. Some manufacturers don’t cover dead pixels at all! If you find yourself in that situation, you’ll need to rely on the retailer to exchange the TV for one without any dead pixels. If not, you’ll be stuck with a TV with dead pixels.
