View controlled dark gray levels that can reveal OLED near black banding, tint and unevenness that pure black may hide.
Why this test is useful
Very dark gray can reveal OLED banding, tint and near black unevenness that pure black hides because OLED pixels may switch off completely. Repeat uniformity checks at several gray levels because a variation can be obvious at mid gray and almost disappear on pure white or black.
Before you start
- For black, backlight and near black checks, dim the room enough to see dark detail while keeping the display at a realistic brightness.
- Start at the brightness you normally use. Extreme brightness can exaggerate some panel behavior and make the result less representative of daily use.
- If automatic brightness or dynamic contrast keeps changing the image, turn it off for the comparison and restore it afterward.
A reliable way to run the test
- Very dark gray can reveal OLED banding, tint and near black unevenness that pure black hides because OLED pixels may switch off completely.
- Repeat uniformity checks at several gray levels because a variation can be obvious at mid gray and almost disappear on pure white or black.
- Inspect the whole panel in an ordered path from one corner to the other rather than staring only at the center.
- After an artificial pattern reveals something, check the same area with real photos, video or games at your normal viewing distance.
How to read the result
Very dark gray can reveal OLED banding, tint and near black unevenness that pure black hides because OLED pixels may switch off completely. Compare the center, edges and corners for broad brightness changes, warm or cool tint, dirty screen effect and large patches rather than isolated pixels. Phone cameras often exaggerate dark screen glow. Judge the panel mainly with your eyes from the normal viewing position, then use photos only as supporting evidence.
What to do next
- Repeat uniformity checks at several gray levels because a variation can be obvious at mid gray and almost disappear on pure white or black.
- After an artificial pattern reveals something, check the same area with real photos, video or games at your normal viewing distance.
- A browser test does not decide whether a panel is inside a manufacturer tolerance. Use the maker pixel policy or warranty terms for that decision.
What this test cannot prove
Do not make a hardware decision from one pattern alone. Repeat the observation with a second pattern or related test. Phone cameras often exaggerate dark screen glow. Judge the panel mainly with your eyes from the normal viewing position, then use photos only as supporting evidence. A browser test does not decide whether a panel is inside a manufacturer tolerance. Use the maker pixel policy or warranty terms for that decision.