How to Check a Used Monitor Before You Buy
A practical 10-minute inspection for pixels, ports, uniformity, motion, and warranty evidence.
Read guidePractical screen guides
Make sense of what the test reveals.
Clear, cautious explanations for buying, troubleshooting, documenting, and discussing display problems.
Dead Pixel vs. Stuck Pixel: How to Tell
Compare the symptoms safely, rule out dust, and choose the right next step.
Read guideBacklight Bleed vs. IPS Glow
Learn why they look similar, how viewing angle changes the result, and when to document it.
Read guideOLED Image Retention vs. Burn-in
A careful retest process for deciding whether a visible shadow is temporary or persistent.
Read guidePrefer to test first?
Run one guided check, then open only the guide you need.
The 5-minute check records what looked unusual and points you toward the most useful next step.
Start the 5-minute check
2 min
Dead pixel test
Find black, bright, or color-stuck pixels with clean full-screen patterns.
Open test 3 minOLED burn-in test
Reveal image retention, logo shadows, tint, and near-black banding.
Open test 2 minBacklight bleed test
Inspect dark scenes for edge glow, light leakage, and IPS glow.
Open test 3 minScreen uniformity test
Check dirty screen effect, tint, brightness shifts, and vertical bands.
Open test 4 minMonitor color test
Review gradients, grayscale, contrast, clipping, and color separation.
Open test 1 minRefresh rate test
Measure browser refresh timing and inspect motion smoothness.
Open test