When Garmin first introduced AMOLED displays in their wearables, the vibrant colors and rich contrast were an instant hit. However, some users grew concerned about screen burn-in, an issue that has plagued OLED technology in various devices for years. Burn-in occurs when static elements—such as watch faces—stay on the screen for extended periods, causing the pixels to degrade unevenly, leaving permanent marks. Early on, this was a concern for Garmin users, but now, thanks to advancements at the firmware level, it's a far smaller risk.
Garmin has rolled out several sophisticated methods to mitigate the risk of burn-in on their AMOLED devices. One of the most effective techniques they've implemented is the use of imperceptible pixel shifting. Essentially, the display subtly moves pixels around to avoid prolonged stress on any one part of the screen. This pixel movement happens on a micro-level, making it invisible to the human eye but effective enough to distribute wear and tear more evenly across the display.
But pixel movement isn't the only trick Garmin has up its sleeve. The firmware on newer AMOLED devices also dims the screen strategically, especially during static displays, such as when a watch face is in ambient mode. By lowering the brightness just enough, the potential for burn-in is significantly reduced. Garmin has designed these dimming measures to kick in automatically and seamlessly, so users won’t notice a major difference in display quality, but the screen will be spared from excessive wear.
What’s more, Garmin has taken proactive steps to protect users from potentially problematic content. The system actively detects and shuts down watch faces that pose a higher risk of burn-in. That means any Connect IQ (CIQ) watch face currently running on a Garmin AMOLED device has already been vetted and passed stringent standards, ensuring it won’t cause undue strain on your display.
While no system is foolproof—burn-in remains a theoretical possibility—the risk is now lower than ever. The combination of dimming, pixel shifting, and watch face detection creates a robust defense against this once-common issue. Users can now enjoy the vivid, high-contrast displays without constantly worrying about damaging their screens. In short, Garmin’s firmware advancements mean AMOLED burn-in is no longer a major concern for most users, making these devices even more appealing for everyday wear.