Garmin smartwatches suffer from burn-in, OLED and MiP displays affected – NotebookCheck.net News
A small wave of reports about burn-in on Garmin smartwatches is circulating on social media. This affects the usual OLED panels but also MiP screens that use a technology similar to e-ink.
The light-emitting diodes of screens with OLED panels inevitably degrade over time, which can lead to certain issues. For instance, burn-in is permanent and generally represents a reduction in picture quality, with varying degrees of severity. Modern OLED monitors have various protection mechanisms that are designed to prevent burn-in. This feature is also extensively covered by manufacturers as part of their marketing. In general, it’s probably not a dramatic issue anymore, and despite the growing number of OLED monitors, there is no massive wave of user criticism.
However, there are a few posts about this issue on Reddit, in which users are complaining that their Garmin smartwatches have been more or less severely damaged by burn-in. However, some additional context is needed, as a smartwatch can be pretty much the worst-case scenario for an OLED display. While the time and the number of steps taken, for instance, may change depending on the watch face, other screen content—especially text—often remains static.
One example shows a Garmin Epix Gen 2, which already shows very clear burn-in after four years of usage. Words like “Battery” are clearly discernible even at times when they shouldn’t be visible at all. In this case, the smartwatch was used with activated always-on display. Rather surprisingly, even Garmin watches with a MIP display might suffer from this issue. There is at least one documented case of visible burn-in on a five-year-old Garmin Fenix 6 Pro. Such a visible degradation of the screen can probably be prevented or at least reduced by choosing a dynamic watch face and deactivating the always-on feature, which also limits the usability of these smartwatches.
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Editor of the original article: Silvio Werner – Senior Tech Writer – 15090 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2017
I have been active as a journalist for over 10 years, most of it in the field of technology. I worked for Tom’s Hardware and ComputerBase, among others, and have been working for Notebookcheck since 2017. My current focus is particularly on mini PCs and single-board computers such as the Raspberry Pi – so in other words, compact systems with a lot of potential. In addition, I have a soft spot for all kinds of wearables, especially smartwatches. My main profession is as a laboratory engineer, which is why neither scientific contexts nor the interpretation of complex measurements are foreign to me.
Translator: Enrico Frahn – Managing Editor Accessory Reviews, Tech Writer – 5263 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2021
My fascination for technology goes back a long way to the Pentium II era. Modding, overclocking and treasuring computer hardware has since become an integral part of my life. As a student, I further developed a keen interest in mobile technologies that can make the stressful college life so much easier. After I fell in love with the creation of digital content while working in a marketing position, I now scour the web to bring you the most exciting topics in the world of tech. Outside the office, I’m particularly passionate about motorsports and mountain biking.
Silvio Werner, 2025-09- 7 (Update: 2025-09- 7)
