Backlight Bleed vs IPS Glow: What's the Difference?

Turn on a black screen in a dark room and you may see glowing patches. Are they a defect or just physics? It depends.

Backlight bleed

Light leaking through the edges of an LCD panel. It's visible head-on, looks like cloudy patches in the corners, and doesn't change as you move.

Check yours with the Backlight Bleed Test.

IPS glow

A viewing-angle effect unique to IPS panels. It shifts and fades as you move your head, and is most visible in the corners from an angle.

What's normal?

Almost every LCD has some bleed and glow. Worry only when it's uneven, distracting in everyday use, or severe in the corners. Deep-dive guides: backlight bleed and IPS glow.