This application discloses a method for detecting residual image of a display panel, including: controlling a display panel to display a checkerboard image including pure-color sub-images, gray scales of two adjacent pure-color sub-images are a first gray scale and a second gray scale; controlling, after the checkerboard image has been displayed for a first time period, the display panel to display a detection image with a predetermined gray scale; controlling a reference display panel to display a calibration image including first and second matrix images, a gray scale of each first matrix image is the same as the predetermined gray scale, gray scales of each second matrix image includes a third gray scale being the same as the predetermined gray scale and a fourth gray scale different from the predetermined gray scale; comparing the detection image and the calibration image to obtain a residual image level of the display panel.