Samsung's zero dead pixel policy

Look, any time you buy something with an LCD screen in there's a good chance you'll have at least a couple of dead pixels. Most manufacturers won't even replace a display with dead pixels unless there are at least four or five of them (yeah, it's frustrating, though a couple of dead pixels is maybe not the biggest of deals since most of the time you probably won't even notice they're there—we can't even find the dead pixel on the laptop we're using right now), but Samsung is saying screw it and have announced a new zero tolerance policy for dead pixels. Beginning today anyone who buys an LCD monitor from them can get a free replacement if they find even one dead pixel on their display within six months of purchase. Doesn't apply to LCDs bought before today, and to be perfectly honest we're not sure whether it applies anywhere outside of South Korea or not. Either way, you have to hope that other manufacturers will follow suit.

[Via Slashdot]

[Lenny @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

I bought a Samsung LCD monitor (172N) at Best Buy and it had one dead pixel. I brought it back, and they exchanged it within a few minutes. Although it wasn't Samsung that replaced it, but Best Buy, it is still not a problem to get a new LCD if the one you bought has dead pixels.

[RAMOO @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

yep same here, switched a viewsonic lcd for a samsung 174v at compusa. easy, but this is more promising and allows people to buy more of one of the best lcds out there

[anonymouse @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

Silicon Graphics had a "zero dead pixel" policy on the flatpanels which they manufactured in the late 90's (the 1600SW was the model name).

It cost them an absolute fortune, they had to make five panels to get one which they could sell. (They were really *really* nice panels, though, I think they were also the first with the ColorLock device).

[Go Samsung @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

YEA! For Samsung. I am sick and tired of getting screwed in the rear with lousy crappy workmanship on products and dealing with those McJob jerks at Walmart or wherever to replace them

[anonymous @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

Seems like it only applies on screens sold in South Korea :'-(
http://www.forbes.com/infoimaging/feeds/infoimaging/2004/12/30/infoimagingasiapulse_2004_12_30_ix_9333-0197-.html

[Amit Malhotra @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

Monitors Direct also offers Zero Pixel Protection for all the monitors they sell. More here
http://digitalphotography.weblogsinc.com/entry/6686937593646793/

[Jazon @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

you watch. i bet sony will do the same thing for the psp. it is such a great device with sush an amazing screen, the best screen ever to show up. it is so bright. i bet they will replace mine cause it has 3 dead pixels.

[albert @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

I think in the Asia region, Samsung is responding to competition, especially from Philips, who has been running a "zero bright dot" (no dead pixel) campaign for almost a year, especially here in Singapore.

[seawall @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

when I bought my 19" IBM flat panel screen five years ago, there were some dead pixels.

I replaced it, and replaced it again. I think I used three before getting a perfect one. IBM was courteous and prompt with each replacement. I noticed, however, that this particular screen model was no longer offered the following year (flips from landscape to portrait). Yes I still use it and it has no dead pixels, still.

[Nic Seow @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

viewsonic has had this 'zero bright dot' thing since 2000. but 'bright dots' are different from dead pixels(black dots), right?

[ConceptVBS @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

Sony's PSP screen is made by Samsung.

[Justin @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

I bought one of those cheap KDS 15" lcd's way back when. It came with one ill-lit pixel. They actually agreed to replace it. They sent me another LCD. When I tested it, it had 3 screwed up pixels. So I ended up keeping the original one and sending back the 2nd one. One pixel isn't so bad!

However, my 24" Samsung has all of it's 2million+ pixels working great.

[Kenton Hicke @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

I'm a little torn on this one. What do they do with all the "defective" screens that have one or two dead pixels? It seems like such a waste to throw them out. (I have a LCD with one dead pixel - I don't even notice it unless I look for it intentionally). We already live in a society that is incredibly wasteful; it seems a little petty to chuck a perfectly good monitor because there is a pinprick on it somewhere. Is the pursuit of a "perfect" LCD really that important? Cost is also a factor; what if a zero dead pixel policy increases the cost of our LCD's by a significant margin? They may have to produce three panels to get one that is perfect. Cost may go up by 50% or more. Would it be worth it then? Your dreaming if you think Samsung, or any other company, is willing to absorb many times the manufacturing cost of a product just to have good PR.

[Stephen @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

When I bought my Thinkpad 2 years ago, IBM had their replacement policy set at 12 dead pixels.

[jonathan @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

Prediction: Apple will be one of the last to match this.

[jonathan @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

Prediction: Apple will be one of the last to match this.

[Peter @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

For a screen the size of the PSP's it's at least possible to pursue a "zero dead pixels" policy since it's small enough that they probably get decent yields.

For computer displays though I think that it's still just not economically feasible to have a "zero dead pixel" policy. I was hoping that this announcement meant that Samsung had developed some clever tricks for reducing their manufacturing costs or increasing their yields. However from the sounds of that commentor from Singapore this is just them bowing to local market pressure.

Also, on an LCD the definition of a dead pixel is one that's always white, i.e. the pixel can't darken properly because it's dead and all you ever see is the fluorescent backlight showing through. Same thing with stuck pixels, one (or perhaps more) of the three sub-pixel colors can't switch properly and so it's perpetually red, green, blue etc. Remember, LCDs don't emit light, without a backlight you don't have a display, hence one of the attractions of OLED which does.

[Owubame Keefananue @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

I bought polaroid 15lcd tv and it has pixel that is green. Is this pixel dead? How can fix this?
Any idea please say so.
Thanks,
Owubame