Pixel Shift in the status bar was disabled by the One UI 6.0 upgrade, as Reddit users observed a few months ago. However, it looks like this function has been restored in time for the Galaxy S24‘s release. Toranji’s test demonstrates that after One UI 6.1 is installed on devices like the Galaxy S23, Galaxy Z Fold5, or Galaxy Z Flip5, Pixel Shift is once again active in the status bar.
Instead of keeping the status bar icons in the same precise location all the time, Pixel Shift moves them about by a few pixels on a regular basis. These icons, which are typically presented in white, exert a lot of strain on the OLED panel and, especially when the screen brightness is high, might cause burn-in after extended use. Once these icons are burned into the panel, they can’t be hidden from view—not even while full-screen games or images are on show.
Pixel Shift changes screen content relatively slowly, so users are unlikely to notice this function during operation. Samsung has not confirmed why this feature was deactivated in One UI 6.0. There are currently many indications that this was simply an oversight, as Pixel Shift was still active for other elements on the screen, such as the optional navigation buttons at the bottom of the screen. Pixel Shift is just one of many features designed to protect the OLED display of a smartphone from permanent damage, although most functions are programmed to dim bright, static content after certain periods of time.
