Mounting an OLED TV without damaging it

An OLED TV looks impossibly thin because much of the panel really is only a few millimetres of glass. All the electronics and the mounting points live in a thicker section on the lower back. That design is why OLEDs look so good on a wall — and why they need more care on the way there.

Carrying it

• Two people, always, for 55 inches and up.
• Hold it upright by the thick lower section and the bottom edge, never by the thin top corners.
• Don't let it flex. Carrying an OLED flat like a tray lets the panel bow under its own weight; that's how they crack.
• Keep it in the box until the bracket is on the wall, and read the lifting diagram printed on the carton.

Laying it down

To attach the bracket arms you'll usually lay the TV face-down. Do it on a flat, padded, clean surface larger than the screen — a bed or a table with a blanket. A single screw, a crumb or a zipper under the panel can leave a pressure mark. Some manufacturers recommend attaching the arms with the TV standing in its foam packing instead; follow the manual.

The mounting points are low

Because the VESA holes sit in the lower half, the TV hangs differently from an LCD: more of the screen is above the bracket than below it. When you plan the height, measure from the VESA holes, not from the middle of the screen, or it will end up several inches higher than you intended.

Screws and spacers

• OLEDs commonly use M6 screws (larger models may use M8), and the correct length matters: too long and the screw bottoms out against the panel's internals.
• If the back isn't flat where the arms sit, use the spacers supplied with the mount or TV so the arms don't press on the thin panel section.
• Tighten by hand until snug. No power tools on the TV side.

Which mount?

• Fixed/slim mounts suit OLEDs best — they show off the thin profile. Several brands sell their own flush "gallery" brackets.
• Tilt and full-motion work too. With an arm, move the TV by holding the lower, thick section or the bracket, never by pushing on a top corner.

Heat

OLED panels dislike sustained heat. Think twice about a spot directly above a fireplace that's used often; see the heat checks in our fireplace guide.

Sunlight

OLEDs are less bright than top LCDs and have glossy screens. Avoid a wall that takes direct sun — more in beating window glare.

After mounting

• Don't leave the protective film on; it traps heat.
• Run the TV's built-in panel care when it asks.
• Clean with a dry microfibre cloth only, with almost no pressure.

Weight

OLEDs are light for their size — often 35 to 55 pounds at 65 inches — so the wall load is modest. The risk is in the handling, not the hanging.

We handle large and thin panels with two people; labor for 66–85″ screens is $144.