What Are Dead, Stuck, and Hot Pixels?
A dead pixel is permanently off (black) regardless of what the surrounding image displays. It cannot reproduce any color. Dead pixels are caused by transistor failure in the sub-pixel: the silicon component that controls light output has stopped functioning. A stuck pixel is permanently on in one color (red, green, or blue). Unlike a dead pixel, the transistor still works but the liquid crystal is stuck in one position. Stuck pixels are sometimes recoverable using rapid color cycling, which our Stuck Pixel Fixer tool implements. A hot pixel is permanently displaying white: all three sub-pixels are stuck on. Hot pixels are much rarer than stuck pixels. All three defects are most visible against solid color backgrounds. Against a black screen, dead pixels are invisible but stuck pixels glow bright. Against white, dead pixels appear as black specks. Cycling through 8 standard colors reveals every type of defect.