Jan NettigSamsung’s One UI 6, the latest update for its Galaxy series, has sparked a mix of excitement and concern among users. While the update brings a slew of enhancements and features, it surprisingly lacks a crucial function that has been a staple in previous versions: the burn-in protection for icons in the status bar. This omission could potentially lead to permanent damage on the screens of countless Samsung devices.
The Burn-In Challenge
Older generations of AMOLED displays, which are widely used in Samsung smartphones, are prone to burn-in issues. This problem occurs when static images, like status icons and navigation buttons, remain unchanged on the screen for extended periods. Samsung had effectively combated this issue by regularly shifting the position of these elements on the display. However, in One UI 6, this protective measure is not fully implemented.
Comparing One UI 5.1 and One UI 6
The protective mechanism in One UI 5.1 actively prevented possible screen burn-in. Users could observe this by taking a screenshot, rotating the phone several times, and then checking the last screenshot in the Gallery. The status bar icons would have shifted slightly in position. This behavior was confirmed on the Galaxy S22 Ultra before updating to Android 14 with One UI 6. Unfortunately, similar protection in the new system version is not yet fully active.
User Concerns and Beta Testing Feedback
During the beta testing phase of One UI 6, users had already raised concerns about the absence of this feature. It was expected that the function would be included in newer update packages, but this has not happened yet. With a large number of phones scheduled for the update, this could pose a potential problem.
Are Burn-In Fears Justified?
So far, there are no known cases of screen burn-in following the update to One UI 6. However, Samsung had included this mechanism in its overlay up to One UI 5.1, likely for good reasons. Currently, it seems to be an oversight, as the position of the navigation buttons at the bottom of the screen continues to change, but the top status bar icons do not.
What Can Users Do?
In the meantime, users can take certain measures to protect their screens. One option is to avoid setting the screen brightness to maximum for extended periods. Fortunately, with the arrival of winter, smartphones will not automatically increase brightness to maximum levels outdoors. Alternatively, users can use the Good Lock app and the Quick Star module to hide the top status bar, which will only appear when swiping down from the top of the screen.
