[Q] Star S9 Chinese Phone Cracked screen - General Questions and Answers

I have bought the chines Star S9, fooled by the low price and extremely high specs, from here: flosmall.com/phones/star-s9-red-detail
And I must say that despite the phone having terrible battery life, randomly going to sleep, being on constant roaming (it was charging me as normal - ufff), having weird chines app installed that couldn't be removed (spyware or surveillance - never know with Chinese), the smart cover not working and having the most absurd themes(there was in fact no way to delete them or go back to original theme) i was happy having payed 175 pounds for a phone with FHD screen and 32 gb rom. Then after a month of it it dropped from about 50cm to a wooden floor, and the screen cracked in two(irony is it split right down the middle - left hand side is unresponsive while right works fine). When will they make screens that last (i know that iphone screens are good, but for android i heard ppl complain even about newest phones dropping from small distances and cracking).
Anyways here finally is my question. Does anyone know or have any information where i can get a replacement screen? Even the part number of screen would be helpful. Hell the website of manufacturer would be a plus (many star phones on Amazon but no manufacturer website - WTF??)
Message to all, DEFINITELY DO NOT BUY FROM CHINA or from outside Europe and America. 2nd DO NOT BUY CHEAP CHINESE PHONES I know just how tempting it is but save yourself the trouble and waste of money.
Thnaks for any help given,
Best,
Max

Cracked Screen
hi,the same thing happened to me a couple of days ago. I have been looking everywhere and the only thing helpful I have found was a 'LCD with Touch Screen Digitizer Assembly for Star S9 5.0 inch' on Aliexpress
However I don't know how to install the screen and it costs another £75.
If you know how to install screens or can help in anyway please do.
This phone cost me a lot of money and I don't want to waste it.
Thanks
Joel

Related

Display problem (broken??) - HTC support & warranty

Hello everybody,
I want to tell you what happened to my Touch Pro this evening:
On the display (also if the device is off) appeared a small rectangle in the center (about 2x3 cm) made from bubbles. Well, not bubbles, I’m quite sure that are liquid crystal. If I put pressure with the finger the “bubbles” move and follow the pressure also out form the edge of this small rectangle)
As I can reach a decent camera I’ll post some photos of this rectangle.
The strange thing is that the device didn’t fall in ground, didn’t have temperature range; nothing hit it and so on. It was in my pocket well safe!!
If display is on the problem is quite invisible, if display is "black" or off... ....Grrrr!!!
Now, my questions:
1) Warranty is also for display?
2) How warranty works in Italy? Where should I ship the item? Which times?
3) If I have ship the device, sould I load the original rom & radio? Where can I find the rom?
Certainly, first thing I’m going to do Monday morning Is to call Italy HTC’s support number…
Thanks a regards,
Andrea
The "oil spot" problem isn't a broken display. It's the touch sensitive layer, which has been subject to too much pressure (carrying it in your pants pocket, etc). This has been happening on a bunch of Touch Pros and Diamonds. You should still be able to use it just fine, but touch sensitivity may get worse over time.
HTC may or may not be willing to replace it for you (and if so, they may or may not charge some kind of fee). Although it's just a hardware change, you should probably recover stock SoftSPL for warranty.
I have the "oil patch" problem with my Touch Pro. Unfortunately when I first noticed, HTC would not fix it for me, so I still have the oil patch on my screen, although everything still works fine so far. If it gets worse, I plan on buying a replacement LCD/touchscreen and replacing it myself:
http://mobile.brando.com.hk/prod_detail.php?prod_id=03799
I've noticed this problem on quite a few of the original touch / elf / 6900 phones, including my old personal phone which I used in this condition for many many months without every having any actual issues. It is strange but like you said: pretty much not noticeable when on and probably just best left alone unless it really bothers you.
I have the same spot but it is not causing any problems that I noticed but there is many who have this spot in the diamond forum.
today i also noticed this on my touch pro..i sort of fell asleep on it and i think i might have messed it up
i can see that oil spot that you mention but only if i tilt the phone at a certain angle and only if the screen is off.When the display is on i can see everything properly
The problem:
Touch function is messed up badly..i tested in notes application and sometimes when i press at a point X the dot appears somewhere else on the screen...Internet browsing is a pain in the ass like this...
i also noticed one thing..i took the stylus out, put the phone next to my ear and i tapped at the area outside the oil mark. I get the normal soft sound and pressure feeling as it should be.. When i do the same at the oil spot its rather hard feeling and sound..
i will contact HTC on monday and see what they say about it..
otherwise i will get a replacement for 159euros (inc installation) from pdatech...
Happened to my Fuze...
Happened to me too 60 days into owning it. I carry all my phones in my pocket, but have never had this problem. I brought it into the at&t store that I got it at and they never saw it either (it is only a few months old for them and have not had any complanints yet). They were going to replace it for me but were sold out. They had me call the warranty department and they replaced it with a refurbished unit (although all of their refurbished units are brand new as of this point because the phone is so new for at&t).
If you got your phone through at&t call warranty support and they will swap it out if the unit is under warranty (which being 2 months old at this point it will be).
This happened to my Fuze as well. I tried to call AT&T support and visit a corp store but they ruled it as physical damage, thus voiding my warranty. Apparently the "crystals" under the display are cracked/damaged, causing the rectangle. Who knows.
has anyone successfully sent a touch pro raphael to HTC repair shop to be repaired under warranty with this issue?? its really bothering me that i can see it and i feel like it will affect my phone eventually...
Add me to the list too.. I am going to try to get mine replaced through Sprint if it gets bad. I hope they know this is an issue/defect and not something like water damage
ez345 said:
has anyone successfully sent a touch pro raphael to HTC repair shop to be repaired under warranty with this issue?? its really bothering me that i can see it and i feel like it will affect my phone eventually...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe this is a design/quality issue. I posted about this same problem here some weeks back. HTC will not repair under warranty, paid in total 77 pounds to get this fix from them. I believe they are aware this is a problem because in the warranty book, screens are not covered even when its not your fault. They call it Newton ring .
Funny thing that a lot of people started noticing this issue very recently: as if a cheap component came to the end of its life cycle.. propably in my head only..
Anyway: I noticed this on my TP a few days ago and I'm going to drop my phone to the local service. It's the second time in just over 4 months.. crappy build quality really
also: Diamond users have had the same issue: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=439410
Local HTC service got back to me: they're insisting that it's a 'mechanical fault, not covered by the manufacturers warranty'. Then it gets better: the estimated repair cost is 275 euros (that's roughly 355 USD) for the replacement of the display and front cover.
Naturally I'm going to challenge this as the oily patch appeared over night when the phone was sitting on a table.
not that im questioning what happened but personally i find it difficult to imagine how it can get the oil spot just by sitting on the table :S
normally you would expect this after exserting enough force on the screen. Personally that was my case. I sort of fell asleep on the phone and might have hit it on the metal edges of the bed..anyway i got mine replaced from pdatech.nl for ~170euros including installation costs..
Well if I had to venture a guess, I'd say that the 2h navigation on the night before took its toll on the display and during the night it just spread out and became visible..
how dodgy. I have been getting this problem, but funnily enough I thought it was due to air pressure, because it happened to mine when i was on the plane.
anyway i was just coming home from someplace real hot (40C), and it kept giving me the screen alignment problem for a few weeks, kept thinking i was pressing the top right corner of the screen regardless where I pressed. However, found that putting slight pressure on the screen for a few hours (i.e. a weight) fixed the screen alignment problem temporarily (for a few hours).
Anyway, just came back on the plane from someplace real cold (-10C), now the problem has ceased.
???? air pressure? or temperature variation?
I don't have the screen oil spot problem you guys have however.
Here's to it lasting a little while longer...
I asked for a more detailed report of the fault and the service just said that 'It's a fault defined as OOW (Out Of Warranty) by the manufacturer' and that there's nothing they can do but charge me for the repair. Note: they're not even putting the blame on me saying 'abuse/misuse'!
Now I'm going to go to the seller (expansys) and hope that they have some interest in keeping customers happy (and maybe have more business with them in the future!) and make things right (=fix my phone or replace it).
Wow, and I thought I was the only one. I've noticed the same oily stain after falling asleep on the phone. I've had it for a month now, and I've gotten used to it. It does not seem to affect the sensitivity or the accuracy on the touch screen. At least not in my case.
Does anyone have any experience replacing the touch screen by themselves? Is it a complicated operation? I would greatly appreciate a 10-step-guide on how to replace the screen, if it's going to be an issue over time.
disassembly guide
check out the wiki of xda click on service manuals and look for raphael. its on page 19 of the PDF
I noticed this issue on my Touch Pro today morning! I used my phone last evening and everything was fine. Now the touch screen doesn`t work at all. Great.
Same issue
I have also been victim of the oily patch.
I have had the Sprint Touch Pro since November and it just happened within the past 2 weeks.
Maybe this is due to not putting the screen protector on the phone.
I'm going to try visiting the Sprint Repair Center to replace it and then put the InvisibleShield Screen Protector on it.

Advice needed from people who've repaired TP screens

Ok so i walked into my desk at work last week and cracked the LCD - i had already puchased a new digitiser as my screen was getting pretty scratched up so i figured i'd simply buy a new LCD and take the phone and new parts round the corner to my local phone shop who were happy to replace my screen and return the next day.. great.
Fast foward and now i have a BIG problem. The new LCD doesnt seem to work once the phone has booted. SO, when you turn the phone on you get the usual windows boot screen with the rom info in red in the bottom corner (im using Monx's latese 6.5 rom). After that though it all goes Pete Tong, when then alignment wizard starts the screen goes nuts, flickering like an old TV and not displaying a steady image. The guys at the store say the phone is damaged from the knock to the screen however before I did a hard reset and removed my sim and SD card the parts of the LCD that were still able to display the today screen etc were showing everything correctly and flicker free and even allowed me full touch control with the stylus.
I basically need some advice from people who know a thing or two about replacing Touch Pro screens. Despite what the shop guys say i suspect that my screen is not compaitble with my Touch Pro which is originally a UK Vodafone but i now live in Canada and got the new LCD from the States. The person who sold me the LCD said it was compatible with all Touch Pros & Diamonds, but then he would say that wouldnt he!
My options are either buy another LCD and hope that does the trick or bite the bullet and get a new crappy canadian contract and a new handset. please help me ive tried the search and cant find anything that helps me and im desperate for a solution!
Cheers
Its a LCD issue what you got, my guess is that the person at the store either gave you a faulty one or its a duplicate lcd,also cleaning the LCD connector with alcohol would be a good idea.Its very rare that in the Diamond/Touch Pro category the connector to get damaged.

[Q] broke my infuse glass

So, I broke the glass on my Infuse a week ago. The LCD touchscreen beneath it is in perfect condition without any noticeable defects. I have dropped my phone from over 5' onto concrete multiple times in the past and nothing broke those times, but I went to get out of my car and it slipped out of my pocket and fell one foot onto asphalt and the screen shattered, at least the bottom half. It sucks, but it happens, right? That is why I pay $5 /month for insurance, it is an expensive phone that i don't want to replace out of pocket. Well, it turns out that the last time I had to file an insurance claim they hadn't updated their pricing policy. It use to be $50 for a claim, but now it is $200! Ridiculously expensive if I say so myself. I went onto ebay and found that they sell the LCD, glass, and tools for $190, but this is an outdated phone, well AT&T doesn't sell it anymore at least. Why would I want to spend close to $200 for a new screen when I only spent $80 to buy the phone 15 months ago???
Now onto my real question:
1) Should I buy the screen replacement and fix it myself? I'm generally really good with electronics... and I've replaced screens in flip phones before.
2) Should I open a new line on my existing account for $10 a month and get the galaxy s3 for $170 and just put my sim card in the phone?
3) or should I go through AT&T's replacement service and get w/e phone they want to give me? (What phone replaced the Infuse anyway?)
What do you guys think I should do?
I have cracked glass on my Infuse (LCD still works fine in my case, I assume it does for you as well).
Here are what I think are the three best options (no particular order)
1 - Send it to Samsung for repair. They'll do it for about $156, including shipping both ways (they send you a shipping envelope). But you'll lose your phone for 1 to 2 weeks.Contact phone number: 1-888-987-4357
2 - Get a used phone on ebay, craigslist, etc.
3 - Live with it and hope it gets better. This may sound wacky, but I have a cracked phone glass and it really honestly seems to have gotten "better" over time. I'm not kidding.
Part of is switching your apps to dark background so you don't notice the cracks as much (and save battery anyway)..
part of it is getting used to the cracks so they don't catch your attention...
and here's the wacky part ... in my case some of the cracks have "gone away" or gotten smaller since the initial damage. I know that sounds silly and I certainly can't explain why it did that (other than to say this is not normal glass), but that is what I observed with my own eyes.
I don't think replacing the whole LCD unit is an attractive option. It costs $150 and you can get a new phone or have Samsung fix it for that much. It is a somewhat delicate procedure from what I have heard so after spending tht $150 there's a small chance you may not have fixed anything.
There is also Infuse Glass for sale for $10 or so but it is apparently unusable... can't replace glass without replacing the entire LCD unit (they're glued together)
you might want to double check ATT website. i got my refurbished infuse for 1 penny. flawless, looked and worked like brand new. so good, i got one for my sister too.
I have an infuse that I'm willing to sell for 150. Everything works besides the USB port being wonky at times...sometimes it works, others it doesn't. So for 150 you could repair your phone and gain another battery/everything else for the same price as sending it to Samsung.
I advise against adding a line...yeah its 170 up front but add another 240 for 10 bucks a month extra over two years. So that's paying essentially 410 for that s3...same with buying it for a penny online...paying 240 for another infuse over two years.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
electricpete1 said:
3 - Live with it and hope it gets better. This may sound wacky, but I have a cracked phone glass and it really honestly seems to have gotten "better" over time. I'm not kidding.
Part of is switching your apps to dark background so you don't notice the cracks as much (and save battery anyway)..
part of it is getting used to the cracks so they don't catch your attention...
and here's the wacky part ... in my case some of the cracks have "gone away" or gotten smaller since the initial damage. I know that sounds silly and I certainly can't explain why it did that (other than to say this is not normal glass), but that is what I observed with my own eyes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Attached are pictures immediately after I dropped my phone. I took them using front-facing camera mode.
Here are photos of the same phone (not repaired) today, about 5 months after I dropped it.
I was not able to recreate the exact same view (not sure how I originally managed to use front-facing camera and mirror to get photo of screen without seeing picture within picture type thing).
But I hope you can see it is a lot better. Tough to capture in pictures but there is no doubt in my mind the cracks somehow got better.
Your cracks got better likely because of the adhesive on your screen protector. That is a decent idea for the op to try though...if no chunks of glass are missing, they could try seeing if a screen protector makes the cracks less noticeable
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
I have a screen protector on the phone right now and that is the only reason I'm able to use it. I'll post some pictures in a few showing how it looks.
captemo: How were you able to get an Infuse for $0.01? Was it an upgrade/new line/new customer deal?
electricpete1: they showed up when I posted my reply. Interesting...Makes me wonder what type of nearly self healing glass they implemented on your phone! lol Well, that is interesting, I can still see the impact site on the 5 months after photos, but the cracks seem to be nearly invisible now. [[]]edit[[]]For some reason your images are not showing up.[[]]edit[[]] I'll take a look on another browser and see what it looks like. But I am using a screen protector already.
welchertc: I was actually ready for an upgrade in a month but the account holder was a few hours late on his scheduled payment for an over due account and it bumped my upgrade deadline to July next year. So I would technically keep the new line for 7 months, then deactivate my current line and transfer the number over. (I believe that it possible...correct me if I am wrong though) I'll think about buying your infuse. Could you either show a picture of the screen or describe its condition? Mine was flawless, until it dropped that is.
So, my options are either buy a used one for $50 less, claim insurance, send to samsung (Should I keep the custom rom on the phone or will this send up red flags? I'm running Jellybean), or live with it until I can upgrade?
welchertc said:
Your cracks got better likely because of the adhesive on your screen protector. That is a decent idea for the op to try though...if no chunks of glass are missing, they could try seeing if a screen protector makes the cracks less noticeable
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I have the same screen protector on there now that was on there when it cracked (didn't change it).
Maybe the screen protector somehow played a role in the appearance of cracks going away (even though it's the same screen protector).
Maybe the adhesive is soaking into the cracks. Maybe the protector started to pull away from the crack so hides it a little.
Beats me.
Rhamza161 said:
But I am using a screen protector already
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same as I was. For whatever reason, the screen that looked horrible 5 months ago after I dropped it looks great now... and I didn't do anything (including didn't change screen protector). I was on the verge of spending $156 to have Samsung fix it, and the only reason I didn't was that I didn't want to give up my phone for the period of 1-2 weeks required for that shipping/repair. Now, based on all the factors I mentioned (using black background, getting used to it, and cracked appearance going away somewhat) I'm glad I didn't spend that money.
here are the pictures:
To me, it looks similar to how mine looked. Heavy damage in one corner with cracks spreading accross the screen.
You could try waiting a month or two (three tops). If you see no change, then go ahead and find your replacement. But you might be pleasantly surprised with substantial improvement in appearance (like I was). In the meantime, set your apps and wallpaper to black for very dark backround.
I think I'll wait and see if I can live with it for a month, and if I cannot...then I'll see about replacing the screen first. I'll start the contact with samsung within the week though. I'd rather get the information now and be able to get the replacement screen as quick as possible if I decide to go that route.
Thanks for the advice guys.
Rhamza161 said:
I think I'll wait and see if I can live with it for a month, and if I cannot...then I'll see about replacing the screen first. I'll start the contact with samsung within the week though. I'd rather get the information now and be able to get the replacement screen as quick as possible if I decide to go that route.
Thanks for the advice guys.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK. I think it was about two months before I noticed the change. I wasn't expecting a change and therefore wasn't looking for a change, so may not have been really observant. You on the other hand have very good quality pictures of screen and will be watching closely.
** Please do come back here and let us know how it turns out.
(I have zero doubt about what I saw, but I also understand it's difficult for anyone else to believe... would feel better if someone else reports similar observations)
I'm always on the forum, but rarely post because the only threads I usually watch are the ones dealing with development. I'll be sure to let you know about the glass though,
Rhamza161 said:
3) or should I go through AT&T's replacement service and get w/e phone they want to give me? (What phone replaced the Infuse anyway?)
What do you guys think I should do?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd like to know what phone replaced the infuse too, especially since its officially considered an obsolete phone now.
As a matter of fact Rhamza, that's the case you should build to AT&T-that the phone is obsolete. I've heard plenty of cases, including myself, of complaints to service providers and getting whatever it is you want, so long as your nice and get a compliant tech in the line.
Tell them (if u want) that "my cat knocked my phone off the table, breaking my screen. I see that this phone is totally obsolete and unavailable to purchase at any authorized att retailers... I feel I deserve a replacement because"...etc..
I've heard of people getting galaxy phones for the infuse, so it always worth shot. The worst that could happen is they say no.
In this economy never pay a dollar more for something if you don't have to. Millionaires don't.
Sent from my SGH-I997 using xda app-developers app
Hm, interesting. I'll give it a try. I mean it is worth a shot.
Sent from my SGH-I997 using xda app-developers app on jellybean rom.
I finally just went ahead and called samsung and they said the replacement screens including the LCD would cost exactly $155.88 including shipping. I don't think I'll go that route. I get paid Thursday for over 50 hours so AT&T will be contacted about a broken screen.
electricpete1: I have noticed that some parts of the screen do actually look better, however the 4 buttons on the bottom of the screen are starting to not work because of lost glass even after placing a screen protector over the loose pieces. I think they just came off of the LCD portion.
Sliding the unlock to the right on JB (CM10 unofficial) is starting to require a little more pressure than normal.
honestly i'd send it to samsung unless you have insurance, i had bad luck with replacement parts from china despite them having official "samsung" branding and looking legit. the insurance might get you a phone you don't wan't. since i think (not sure) they deal in refurbed phones for insurance but it might however get you an i-777 sgs2 (a nice upgrade if you like the smaller size) since it looks like hey still have new and refurbed i777s in stock online depited it being long out of production like the infuse. but if they a replacement phone you don't want then samsung is the best way to go unless you find a repair service that has a good warranty policy. i've replaced the screen on one of my infuses myself for a single crack across the screen that was barely visable, the replacement screen burned out in under 2 months and it cost me more than what samsung quoted you to fix yours,at the time i didn't want to be without my phone while waiting for a repair and it cost me.
Well I went ahead and went through the insurance company. Supposedly I coudl have had a choice in the phone I was given, but when I clicked on the "Choose more" button it sent me to the same phone, the Galaxy S2 Skyrocket and it said "If you click on 'more options again, you'll be directed to an associate who will attempt to help solve your problem and will not be allowed to continue online at any point" So I stayed with the Skyrocket for now...I'm honestly not sure how I'll like it. Some websites say that the screen is 0.2" smaller than the infuse, other say it is the same. I love my Infuse, but I would rather get a new phone, not one that is a year old already (the skyrocket came out last year in October after all). The phone should be here tomorrow sometime, so I'll report back and let you guys know if it is refurbished or new. In a way I hope that there is something wrong or something I dislike so I can justify attempting to get a nicer, newer phone.
But at least it is coming with ICS and the screen is not broken and there is a modding community here that is amazing! So even if it isn't the best phone I've ever used, it'll still be better than nothing and I can have JB on it within the hour of it arriving. lol
well there was something wrong with it out of the box. (Of course right?) I called Asurion and she said "we'll send you a shipping label and you can send it back to us and when we receive it we'll send you another one right back."
"Wait, I don't have another phone to use while this one is being processed and shipped. What will I do without a phone? I need it for work!"
"Well, go to AT&T and see if they will loan you a phone for about two weeks while we send you another one, but I've never heard of them doing it before."
"Why can't you send me a new phone and when I receive it, I'll send the defective one back?"
"It doesn't work like that."
"If AT&T doesn't hand out a phone for a loan and I miss work because of it, will your company compensate me my $10/hr wage and contact my bosses and explain to them that it is your fault that I missed work?"
"Um, no we can't do that either."
"[[]]sigh[[]] just send me the shipping label and be done with it. This is ridiculous."
"okay. Have a good night." and she hung up the phone.
wth? Rude and not helpful at all. The new phone that I was sent had a defective mic, both on normal calls and speaker phone calls. The AT&T customer service person was really polite and helped me though their trouble shooting guide for the phone and ended up having me go down to AT&T to get a new SIM card. That didn't work, but they activated the new SIM and added the phone to my plan. So the next AT&T rep sent me a phone number to Asurion to get it replaced, because I have 30 days to report a defective device. Well the previous conversation ensued and I find that I am really not satisfied with their representatives. I should have been recording it! jeez.
Here are some photos I took of my Infuse before I put it into the shipping box three days ago.

Busted Screen...Design flaw?

:crying:
LONG VERSION:
Well when I first got my idol 3 on May 23rd the first thing I did before turning it on was to install a cheap plastic screen protector. I then turned it on, played with it and poured over the outside of the phone. Build seemed good. The only area I genuinely disliked was the design choice laying the glass screen on TOP of the frame/bezels. It looks nice but I thought at the time, 'makes me worry about dropping it, even with a case'. I always use TPU cases with no problems and installed it on the idol. Today my screen shattered. I did not drop the phone (haven't dropped it once in the 3+ weeks I've owned it). I did not bump into anything. The phone was in my side pocket of my work pants (not 'skinny' jeans I wear loose pants/jeans. Side rant: no disrespect to the hipsters but skinny jeans are not in my vocabulary, I don't know anyone that looks good in them ) while I drove from work around the corner to Wegmans (grocery store). Got in the store and pulled out my phone only to see a shattered screen. I thought it was my tempered screen protector ( I put that on a few days after getting the phone once they were in stock) until I noticed I couldn't use the bottom 2/3 of the touchscreen. Digitizer was shot. Ugh. Looking back the only point I can think of where any pressure was applied to the screen would be when I got out of the car and my pants probably tightened when pivoting off the seat. Seriously. That's it. I must have done the same thing 2 dozen times as I almost always go to Wegmans after work and since it's so close I leave the phone in my pocket (loose pockets!!). Afterwards while driving home I always put the phone in it's holster on the dash. I got home and pulled the tempered glass off (incidentally the glass protector is fine..) and took a closer look. Remember "Bendgate" with the 6-plus? Yeah my phone is also ever so slightly bent as well. I baby the hell out of my phone, not a scratch or nick anywhere on the body. I'm so disappointed. I absolutely love this phone and yesterday I would rate alcatel/the phone a 4.5 out of 5 for a stellar product with few issues (obv. the pervasive DT2W issue). But after today I strongly believe they messed up their design by putting the glass on top of the frame and not embedded within the bezels like almost every other phone out there. I'm preparing my email to alcatel now in hopes I get something from them but I know they have no reason to believe my story as to how this happened. I don't believe my actions were a result of misuse by any means as I've owned plenty of smartphones without ever breaking one. I don't expect anything from Alcatel but I seriously hope their next iteration of this phone will be better protected. I'm creating this thread as a warning to all the other owners out there that you need to be very careful handling this phone, If a simple motion such as this can result in a broken screen then I'm sure that a drop will be just as bad even with a tempered glass protector. So everyone PLEASE be careful! Personally I am distrustful of the device's build quality now and will hang on to this until I can buy a replacement screen/digitizer and attempt to replace it myself ( a review on Amazon a few days ago mentioned that screen replacement costs $150, almost the price I paid for the thing) though I will wait to hear back from Alcatel. I'll try to upload a couple pics of the phone, but really all you'll see is an otherwise pristine phone with a broken screen and the leftover residue from my tempered protector (now removed). Ugh, this sucks
Short Version:
My screen broke while in my pocket from minimal to barely moderate pressure and is also now bent, ala #Bendgate. WTF
I can't believe this phone broke that easy, it was either a defective phone or its just fragile. I'm really thinking of returning this phone since it has so many things to it.
Sent from my 6045I
I hope it was just a dud for everyone else's sake, problem is I don't expect Alcatel to replace it under warranty and I'm not willing to spend 75% of what I paid for it on a new screen. THe other issues are minor to me personally, with DT2W being the biggest annoyance. I barely get any lag with animations on top speed and nova launcher and I'm satisfied with the camera for the price point. My previous phone, the HTC One m7 was great until it got the lollipop 5.02 update and then lagged like crazy so I truly believe performance issues will be resolved with an update/root. I'm really devastated this broke so easily as the screen size/front speakers were exactly what I wanted in a phone, not to mention the great battery life I get vs. old phone.
Dang I have a tpu case and tempered glass but I'm scared now lol thinking of returning and getting a OPO
Sent from my 6045I
I seriously considered the opo but for me band support was paramount. I wonder if a hard case would be better for this phone, I know they're harder on the body but would presumably give a bit more structure for the phone. OT, I finally have a use for the reversible feature as it allows me to type on the phone and open most apps flipping the thing upside down over and over :/
Hopefully its not a defect to all phones. I only have till Monday to figure out if I want to return it
Sent from my 6045I
psu2fan said:
I hope it was just a dud for everyone else's sake, problem is I don't expect Alcatel to replace it under warranty and I'm not willing to spend 75% of what I paid for it on a new screen. THe other issues are minor to me personally, with DT2W being the biggest annoyance. I barely get any lag with animations on top speed and nova launcher and I'm satisfied with the camera for the price point. My previous phone, the HTC One m7 was great until it got the lollipop 5.02 update and then lagged like crazy so I truly believe performance issues will be resolved with an update/root. I'm really devastated this broke so easily as the screen size/front speakers were exactly what I wanted in a phone, not to mention the great battery life I get vs. old phone.
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Click to collapse
Have you approached Alcatel to see if they will replace the device/display under warranty? Clearly you did not do anything out of the ordinary - drop it to knock it against something - so they *should* replace it, and if not, you should be able to take it up with your credit card company. I feel sorry for your situation. I got my phone for $200, have no problems except the lag ( and more recently more frequent d2w issues ) - and I am waiting for something like you to happen to me. At that time I will have to take it up with Alcatel , because I certainly want to keep the device, for its bright screen and loud speakers alone, for the $200 I paid.
Electronics are not flawless articles - but my suggestion would be give Alcatel support a chance. This will also tell all of us, how good their support really is. Abt 4 years back, I was one of the lucky ones that got in on the $99 HP Touchpad sweepstakes - and right after I got it, the display panel started malfunctioning. So I took it up with HP and they sent me a prepaid box - and had me ship the tablet back to them - and returned it to me after replacing the display. Since that day, that device has been a workhorse for me - Best $90 I ever spent on a piece of electronics. So my point is - sometimes - your immediate experience will be negative - but it is worth give it another chance. And these days, usually your CC company will come to your rescue in such matters.
Oh absolutely. I guess I wasn't very clear about that but I'm retelling my story with them. I certainly hope they do something about it, I just have my doubts.I'll have to read through the terms on my credit card, can't remember if I used Amex or Discover for it.. but I thought you just got an extended warranty through them, no?
Ok I sent out my lengthy email to Alcatel just now, so I'll update this thread when I hear back from them. Also I looked into my purchase and I did use Discover which includes 90-days device coverage including broken screens so I'm covered in case Alcatel doesn't come through. Thanks stl1859, I would not have remembered that if you didn't mention it.
psu2fan said:
:crying:
Short Version:
My screen broke while in my pocket from minimal to barely moderate pressure and is also now bent, ala #Bendgate. WTF
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Click to collapse
many of todays phones has this 2.5D corners, so bad luck...it happens. I got ZTE V5, felt many times so i bought screen protector shield (plastic, not foil) and rugged back cover...anyway felt from 50cm to the ceramic tiles and got broken screen..it happens ...**** happens. Hope you will get osme satisfactory. And minimal to barely moderate pressure, really? Do you think that his would someone believe?
DallasCZ said:
many of todays phones has this 2.5D corners, so bad luck...it happens. I got ZTE V5, felt many times so i bought screen protector shield (plastic, not foil) and rugged back cover...anyway felt from 50cm to the ceramic tiles and got broken screen..it happens ...**** happens. Hope you will get osme satisfactory. And minimal to barely moderate pressure, really? Do you think that his would someone believe?
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Click to collapse
I know it's hard to believe, I have a hard time believing it. Which is precisely why I posted about this. And yes it was minimal to moderate pressure. I did not drop the device, it was in my pocket and I didn't bump into anything. The only pressure exerted was from my pants as I shifted to the left to get out of the car. I've certainly been fortunate over the years to have never broken a screen; I've dropped my previous phones a handful of times, even rolled over one while it was in my pocket. If any of those things would have happened and resulted in a broken screen/bent phone I wouldn't be posting here.. I expect that outcome in those situations. Also no I don't expect Alcatel to believe me, which is why I was so worried about spending my money on a device only to have it fail in this manner. Thankfully due to the suggestion of another member I will be covered thanks to my CC company.
You are still going to try getting a replacement from Alcatel, right ? I am really interested in knowing how efficient they are in handling repair/exchanges.
stl1859 said:
You are still going to try getting a replacement from Alcatel, right ? I am really interested in knowing how efficient they are in handling repair/exchanges.
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Click to collapse
Yes, I'm currently waiting on them. Since I submitted the support email going into the weekend I'm giving them through Monday to reply before I start calling them.
Well, As expected.. BTW the phone number listed is not valid. Had to initiate claims online at alcatel.finetw.com Customer care didn't care (haha) how the phone broke, though I wouldn't expect them to. I'll include a copy of my original email with the phone so that hopefully the tech at least takes a look at the strength of the phone.
Dear xxxxxx,
Thank you for getting in touch with us. We understand your concern and we will be happy to assist you. Unfortunately with physical damaged the warranty gets void, so you can contact the repair center and ask how much they will charge you to fix device, the phone number is 496-484-6610..
Best regards,
ALCATEL ONETOUCH
First, that is a pathetic response. With that kind of attitude, they are not going to gain many customers. Second, I don't think that is a valid statement at all. Defects can cause 'physical damage'. It is a piece of electronics after all . If they are not covering 'physical damage' - what are they covering - emotional damage !!!
They probably meant physical *abuse* - which in your case - there was none. So I do not think they have grounds to decline warranty. It appears that they are simply assuming there was 'physical abuse' . Let me ask you - did you explain the incident - to the level of detail that you did over here ? ( meaning how it was in your pant's pocket - and how there might have been some pressure when you tried to get out of your vehicle , etc etc. ) - Or did you simply tell them that you discovered the screen to be shattered one fine day when you took it out of your pocket ?
Are you still engaging with them, or are you going to go to your CC company now ? I am disappointed with their support. Clearly, the only way they can sell anything if they keep pricing their products dirt cheap. Even then, I would think twice before buying from them.
I'm just thinking that this is going to be my last Alcatel product if I even decide to keep it. This support is pretty bad.
Sent from my 6045I
I keep mine in jeans, including skinny jeans and don't have these issues. It doesn't have much give so I have to position it in the pocket with the least pressure points. I would expect screen separation before screen cracking since it is plastic. I have had issue when its hot the double tap to wake will turn on the lock screen and dial contacts if the pocket is big enough for it to move around. So far I am impressed with dragontrail being less prone to fingerprints, but I do everything to avoid scratches and cracks short of a screen protector so take that into consideration.
i dont think any brand will buy your story even if its true. any physical dmg will become a user end fault no matter which product you purchase since theres no way to prove its their manufacturing fault when its physical defect and the end user is using it.
Sent from my 6045I using XDA Free mobile app
This is really the crux of it. And why I said I did not expect them to do anything. The only way to uncover a design flaw IMO is if this starts happening a lot (like bendgate.. well maybe not a lot in that case but some people showing on video how easily it bent). Also yes I went into great detail about the when/where/how the device broke. I also included the details with the phone, imploring the tech to at least look at the device to determine if there's a structural weak point or something. Sorry I took so long to reply, I've been getting my backup device (LG Leon.. ok phone for price but slooooow) setup and haven't been to the site in a few days.
gavolo said:
i dont think any brand will buy your story even if its true. any physical dmg will become a user end fault no matter which product you purchase since theres no way to prove its their manufacturing fault when its physical defect and the end user is using it.
Sent from my 6045I using XDA Free mobile app
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Click to collapse
Yeah I'm going through the CC company now. Interestingly I had to pay $40 to send the device back listing the screen as broken, so maybe (knock on wood) it won't be as expensive after all

Cracked Screen

Hey everyone,
It's been a while since I last posted on here, and in attempting to avoid a pessimistic undertone, the G7 Power is actually a really good phone: the battery really does last for ages (I charge it once every two days, and it has never been below 40%), and it is surprisingly loud (everywhere). I am a pretty casual user now, rarely playing games or other media, but I am impressed with the difference compared to upgrading from a Moto G4. Some apps which appear as though they were designed for more premium screens - logos, icons, widgets - definitely lose some fidelity around the edges and these can look a bit poor on the 720p screen, but I have become oblivious (or distracted from) a lot of the finer details already.
And now the question: where, and how, would I be able to repair a cracked screen?
It feels like a pretty silly question; but the screen has 'developed' a crack from the bottom-right corner of the new notch, to about 2cm underneath the power button.
I say develop, as the phone is always within eyesight or kept in a pocket. It has never been dropped onto a surface harder than a pillow, and the case/screen protectors are still yet to arrive. It has been in my possession for about 12 days, and it lasted for 6/7 of those. I still have no clue when or why the crack appeared.
The question is a combination of where/when/how, I have contacted Motorola Technical Support, and explained the situation leading up to the cracked screen. The response was (exactly): "we do not process repair of the screen, what we offer is replacement of the whole device", they also said that this service will cost a fee (shipping + device) depending on the IMEI information. A single crack on the screen resulting in the replacement of a whole device seems pretty excessive, and the support member did not acknowledge that it is a brand new phone, or that it is* under warranty.
This is the first cracked screen from all previous handsets, so I am not sure what to do: is there any way to avoid replacing the whole device? How does this effect any warranty? What if I/whomever repairs the device creates other issues? When would services and replacement parts become available? XDA always has a someone whom is knowledgeable in these areas, and it would be great to hear some helpful advice from the community on how to proceed,
Thanks all,
MrSpuddy
(Also - the phone was bought directly from the Lenovo website - and I was hopeful that the "one free screen replacement" still worked)
mrSpuddy said:
Hey everyone,
[ quote edited to save space]
And now the question: where, and how, would I be able to repair a cracked screen?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please see the teardown video here: https://forums.androidcentral.com/m...-power-xt1955-disassembly-teardown-video.html
I repair a lot of phones as a hobby. And phone that are assembled front to back are hard as hell to fix. You have to remove pretty much everything to get to the screen. Contrast that with something like the Pixel phone where the screen is connected last. You just have to pry up the screen and unplug the cable. Fixing the screen on the Moto G7 may not be worth it.
My recommendation is to use your phone as long as you can and then buy a new one. Hopefully by then it will not be as expensive as it is now. I know, it is not much of a solution...
zerogun said:
Please see the teardown video here: https://forums.androidcentral.com/m...-power-xt1955-disassembly-teardown-video.html
I repair a lot of phones as a hobby. And phone that are assembled front to back are hard as hell to fix. You have to remove pretty much everything to get to the screen. Contrast that with something like the Pixel phone where the screen is connected last. You just have to pry up the screen and unplug the cable. Fixing the screen on the Moto G7 may not be worth it.
My recommendation is to use your phone as long as you can and then buy a new one. Hopefully by then it will not be as expensive as it is now. I know, it is not much of a solution...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The solution provided by the company was just to buy a new phone; which was not very helpful at all. My collection of screen protectors arrived, and the one on the phone is a lot more robust than the original screen.
Thank you for providing the video.
These screens are very easy to replace... Multiple times...
I have the moto g7 and I have replaced the screen four times, and I'm getting another screen in the mail this weekend, because this *[email protected]_-HJN' SUCKS DONKEY WHATEVER. I like the phone, but for some reason, the screen doesn't like to stay in one piece. All you need is a hair dryer and a new screen. Amazon has them. But you have to watch out; there are counterfeits out there. Buy from two different vendors, and return the counterfeit. Here's how to tell: make sure the printing on the ribbon cable is the same as the one you're replacing. Make sure that the printing on the back plate is the same as the original. You won't know until you take the screen off, which replacement is legit. But it's just one connector and some glue. Way easy, or mail it to me and I'll fix it.

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