One sharp point
Bright or stuck pixel
Most obvious on black. It may look white, red, green, or blue and change across RGB.
Run the bright-pixel checkScreen issue atlas
Match the shape and behavior—not just the first label that comes to mind.
Use the examples as a starting point
These diagrams show common patterns, not photographs or a diagnosis. Test the mark on several colors and use the display’s own diagnostic before deciding what it is.
One sharp point
Dark or dead pixel
Most obvious on white or a primary color. It does not glow on black.
Run the dark-pixel checkSoft or irregular speck
Dust or debris
Edges are often fuzzy or uneven. It may be on the surface, under a protector, or inside the panel.
Compare pixel versus dustMoves or appears in a screenshot
App, overlay, cable, or input
A physical screen defect stays in one place. View a screenshot elsewhere and try the display’s own test.
Find where the mark comes fromFixed edge patch
Backlight bleed
A brighter region near an edge or corner that stays in roughly the same place as you move.
Run a practical bleed testChanges with angle
IPS glow
A corner or edge haze that shifts as you move closer, farther away, or off-axis.
Compare IPS glow and bleedFaint shape from earlier content
Image retention or burn-in
Temporary retention fades after varied content; persistent uneven wear may remain. A quick test cannot prove which one it is.
Use the retention checkBroad patch or band
Uniformity or dirty-screen effect
Best seen on gray or moving, even-toned content. A single-pixel exerciser is not meant for this.
Run the new-screen inspectionLine, crack, cluster, or spread
Panel or physical damage
Long lines, branching cracks, growing dark areas, and ink-like blotches need service or replacement—not a pixel fixer.
Document the problem