Develop Bugs

Manufacturing Floor - Cracked Screen

Good Morning Guys and Girls,
Just wondering if anyone has experienced the same issue as me and how they got on.
I have had my phone exactly 3 weeks today I was using my phone and it was absolutly fine (no scratches/dents etc) put it face up on a table went had a showever when I came back there is a very large split in the screen perfectly straight (which would indicate manufacturing problem) going from top left corner half way down the phone to the right side.
I have spoken to HTC and they say its a chargeable fix as the warranty doesn't cover accidental damage but its not accidental damage! I have just phoned up my provider who said it would have to be sent back for them to determine whether it was accidental or not before sending out a new one but then they realised I actually got it through the carphone warehouse (as T-mobile direct were out of stock) and have now said I will have to take it to them as its their phone even though my contract was taken out with T-mobile direct.
This is a pain!

can you upload a photo?

Sure you had no impact before that? Or excessive pressure like in a pocket. Maybe it cracked later.
If not I don't know, maybe some faulty panel indeed that had a weak area that cracked due to thermal stress or something. In the lab it is probably easy to determine if it was cracked from the inside or due to external impact or torsion.

I have had a couple of light bumpbs but no damage/scratches after them and it was sitting all night on charge in my front room got up this morning picked it up used it for a minute (still fine) walked away came back 15 minutes later to find a crack. Noone had touched it.
Normally when I break a screen its a tiny crack and not normally in a perfect straight line. This one is 2.6" long
Pretty upset with this as its only 3 weeks old. I have had HD / HD2 / TD / TYTN etc and really abused them and I only end up with minor chips and scratches after about 10 months. Where as this one I have really tried to look after it

Also to add I never put my phone in my back pocket wher eI can sit on it.
It never shares a pockets with coins / keys or anything else that can damage it
And I will try and get a photo of it somehow - only cam I have at the moment is on the phone so don't think I can use that

Heres a picture, you can see where the light is reflecting is roughly the start point of the crack and it goes out both ways. I just don't see how a crack like this can form on its own sitting face up on a table.

That really sucks man.
I am going to get a hard cover for my phone. Don't want a cracked screen.
Having a look at your picture though - there doesn't seem to be a pressure point of impact etc. So what you're saying looks to be correct.
Hope you get it sorted.

I know thats what is frustrating me. Everyone telling me its accidental damage and I know I am not lieing, I have broken screens in the past and seen many more and I know how accidental damage looks you normally have a point of inpact as you say, its normally small or if it is big normally has multiple fractors no just one long steady line.

Yes, exactly.
However - you're going to have a hard time proving this to any retailer. As they normally have a very strict policy on warranty claims.

I'll get my way I have a nack of getting things I want from shops and businesses
I am hoping like the guy said at T-mobile as its only 3 weeks they might just do a handset swap rather than fixing it.
Anyone by any chance know how much it is to get a screen replaced?

Done some research for you - you're looking at 70 + pounds to replace it.

Thanks. Hmmmm thats quite a bit that I don't really have. Just hope I can get them to accept it as warranty. Might have to visit all stores in Sussex until one agrees to repair it lol.

Well it is even more, if you didn't actually cause the crack on the screen!
Hoping my Desire doesn't suffer the same fate as yours!

Good luck. My advice is do not put it on a table and walk away!
Ill post here how I get on.

I will be sure to keep a constant look on it, while I leave it on the table. Will test later if the same situation arises when leaving it on a chair.
Jokes aside: mine fell twice already. Once it was after a week I had it, it landed from about 1 meter high, 50cm far away after it slipped from my hand when picking it up from ... a table ! (I see a pattern, the desire doesn't like tables). Landed and rolled on my polished floor and I still can't see no visual damage. From that day on, I grip it so firmly, that it almost behaves like an iphone4
Second time it was from about 30cm and obviously no damage.
I had it for about 2-3 months and -knock wood- screen is ok.
It does look as a factory defect.

Is ur handset not insured either mobile phone insurance or as it happened in your house - your house insurance
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App

Well, don't know how the law is over there with you. But here in the Netherlands (and I thought it was EU, but not sure). Within a certain period of time the seller of the device is the one that should prove it wasn't used properly etc.
So.. they can say whatever they want about it being accidental damage. But at least here in this country, it's not up to you to prove otherwise. THEY have to prove you mistreated the device.
Your screen cracks without mistreating the device, sounds like a proper warranty claim to me!
It could be there has always been some tension on the screen, and when it got hot or cold it finally cracked. Who knows. I'd say let them prove you mistreated the device.

i work for carphone warehouse mate i wouldnt no what to do really say some thing elswe is wrong with it like crashing or some thing. depends on how noticeable try putting a cheap screen protector on it and see if it cant been seen then take it back LOL gimme a message if you want any more info =]

Don't CPW give you 3 months insurance for free as a come on?

That's nasty. I dropped mine from 30cm onto a wooden floor and the battery cover flew off and it sticks up in one corner now so had to bend it back to shape!
Good luck getting it sorted out.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App

[Q] Xperia ZL cover is peeling off

Hi
After 3 weeks I got this annoying problem. The external plastic layer that makes the cover mat is peeling off my phone on both sides (front and rear).
I brought it back to the store (Phone House Germany).
For me it's just a production problem, the glue that is detaching.
But the shop pretend it's my fault, and doesn't want to repair it for free, neither change the phone.
The are asking 335,72 EUR to repair it.
When the problem occurred I also had several reboots and sometimes the phone was very.
Both phenomena occurs even when not using the phone. I had reboots at night when sleeping. Or the phone became very hot in my pocket.
My suspicion is that the glue is detaching due to the phone becoming to hot.
My question is, are there other people who also have the problem with the cover that begins to peel off ?
In attachment you can see a photo of the cover.

i didnt find any issue because my XZL is white,
why its your fault man ? i think that is product defect.
can you give more picture, front side.

kickthefreak said:
i didnt find any issue because my XZL is white,
why its your fault man ? i think that is product defect.
can you give more picture, front side.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what I'm asking the Phone House, prove me that it's my fault (the have to due to article 5 point 3 from the Directive 1999/44/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 May 1999 on certain aspects of the sale of consumer goods and associated guarantees).
Article 5
3. Unless proved otherwise, any lack of conformity which becomes apparent within six months of delivery of the goods shall be presumed to have existed at the time of delivery unless this presumption is incompatible with the nature of the goods or the nature of the lack of conformity.
But I can not send any more pictures. My phone is already since 18-5-2013 at the phone house (repair center w-support.com GmbH).

I've seen this before and I think phone house has too, that might be why they don't want to repair it. This happens if you get some cleaning agents on the phone. Some window/glass cleaner does this. You either got some on your phone directly, touched your phone with some on your hands or put the phone on a surface that has just been cleaned with some.
A friend had this problem and also send the phone back. Either way, the seller has not to pay for repair.
Sent from my C6506 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

Sirence said:
I've seen this before and I think phone house has too, that might be why they don't want to repair it. This happens if you get some cleaning agents on the phone. Some window/glass cleaner does this. You either got some on your phone directly, touched your phone with some on your hands or put the phone on a surface that has just been cleaned with some.
A friend had this problem and also send the phone back. Either way, the seller has not to pay for repair.
Sent from my C6506 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
oh i see this is why the problem happen on black version, because white version is flat on the back and made by plastic

kickthefreak said:
oh i see this is why the problem happen on black version, because white version is flat on the back and made by plastic
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm just a bit confused since he said it's peeling of at the front and the back. My front is made completely out of glass, I don't see what could peel of there?
Sent from my C6506 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

Sirence said:
I'm just a bit confused since he said it's peeling of at the front and the back. My front is made completely out of glass, I don't see what could peel of there?
Sent from my C6506 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
maybe he mean peel off the screenguard on front.

dmeerpa said:
That's what I'm asking the Phone House, prove me that it's my fault (the have to due to article 5 point 3 from the Directive 1999/44/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 May 1999 on certain aspects of the sale of consumer goods and associated guarantees).
Article 5
3. Unless proved otherwise, any lack of conformity which becomes apparent within six months of delivery of the goods shall be presumed to have existed at the time of delivery unless this presumption is incompatible with the nature of the goods or the nature of the lack of conformity.
But I can not send any more pictures. My phone is already since 18-5-2013 at the phone house (repair center w-support.com GmbH).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't give up. It's definitely not your fault. Do you have authorized SONY service centers in Germany? Here in India, we have them, although the staff over there are incompetent and pathetic. We go directly to the service centers to get the faults corrected. If they are really hell bent on proving that it's your fault then head to the consumer forums and lodge a case against them. This is unacceptable. Btw, does it look that way only when you view from one particular angle?

dmeerpa said:
Hi
After 3 weeks I got this annoying problem. The external plastic layer that makes the cover mat is peeling off my phone on both sides (front and rear).
I brought it back to the store (Phone House Germany).
For me it's just a production problem, the glue that is detaching.
But the shop pretend it's my fault, and doesn't want to repair it for free, neither change the phone.
The are asking 335,72 EUR to repair it.
When the problem occurred I also had several reboots and sometimes the phone was very.
Both phenomena occurs even when not using the phone. I had reboots at night when sleeping. Or the phone became very hot in my pocket.
My suspicion is that the glue is detaching due to the phone becoming to hot.
My question is, are there other people who also have the problem with the cover that begins to peel off ?
In attachment you can see a photo of the cover.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
wow its the first time i see that on a phone, if u said that it happens when it gets hot, it can be a battery problem as your phone is restarting. dude that really sucks, now that i saw that i wont change my white ZL to the black ZL..... dont give up SONY must replace your phone.

Neither Sony nor phonehouse has to pay when someone gets chemicals on their phone. And those picture sure looks like he did. Maybe he even cleaned his phone with some cleaning agents since it's not only one spot but several. Getting worse when hot could be a reaction of the chemicals in the cleaning agents.
I am sure most phones don't react well to chemicals.
If Sony has to start paying when people don't treat their phone the right way they'll have to stop selling phones at all pretty soon or they'll end up broke.
Sent from my C6506 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

Sirence said:
I've seen this before and I think phone house has too, that might be why they don't want to repair it. This happens if you get some cleaning agents on the phone. Some window/glass cleaner does this. You either got some on your phone directly, touched your phone with some on your hands or put the phone on a surface that has just been cleaned with some.
A friend had this problem and also send the phone back. Either way, the seller has not to pay for repair.
Sent from my C6506 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
&
Sirence said:
Neither Sony nor phonehouse has to pay when someone gets chemicals on their phone. And those picture sure looks like he did. Maybe he even cleaned his phone with some cleaning agents since it's not only one spot but several. Getting worse when hot could be a reaction of the chemicals in the cleaning agents.
I am sure most phones don't react well to chemicals.
If Sony has to start paying when people don't treat their phone the right way they'll have to stop selling phones at all pretty soon or they'll end up broke.
Sent from my C6506 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No I didn't touch any cleaning products at all. Not at home or to clean the phone.
The problem started during my vacation. I was at a hotel where I do not have to clean or work.
Sirence said:
I'm just a bit confused since he said it's peeling of at the front and the back. My front is made completely out of glass, I don't see what could peel of there?
Sent from my C6506 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
&
kickthefreak said:
maybe he mean peel off the screenguard on front.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No not at all, its really a very tine film that's glued on the plastic cover at the back and front of the phone.
In front I mean the very fine edge around the screen. It's not really visible but I can feel it, that's it became rough.
A320232 said:
Btw, does it look that way only when you view from one particular angle?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's from every angle visible. The black cover is in fact very glossy. It seems covered with a very thin plastic film to rend the cover matte.
It's that film that came lose. Every where that it has been removed the phone is now glossy black. The glossy black plastic looks very cheap

dmeerpa said:
&
No I didn't touch any cleaning products at all. Not at home or to clean the phone.
The problem started during my vacation. I was at a hotel where I do not have to clean or work.
&
No not at all, its really a very tine film that's glued on the plastic cover at the back and front of the phone.
In front I mean the very fine edge around the screen. It's not really visible but I can feel it, that's it became rough.
It's from every angle visible. The black cover is in fact very glossy. It seems covered with a very thin plastic film to rend the cover matte.
It's that film that came lose. Every where that it has been removed the phone is now glossy black. The glossy black plastic looks very cheap
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well if its my phone and sony dont want to replace/fix that i would take off all that plastic or buy a black housing. and just replace the back part.

After 4 months I got my phone back...but still not repaired. The way I was treated by The Phone House has made it for me a matter of principe.
They keep saying the damage was my fault.
Following article 5 point 3 of 'Directive 1999/44/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 May 1999 on certain aspects of the sale of consumer goods and associated guarantees ', they need to prove it. During this 4 monts they never did. They send me away with a lettre coming from Sony Xperia Support Germany where they state that they damage was caused by a cleaning product or other chemical.
If they think in German that Belgian are stupid, then they are wrong. I studied industrial informatics and I did had courses in physics and chemistry also. So I know that you need special and expensive equipment en products to conclude such thing. They didn't even look at they extreem heating problem of the phone. That may be an software issue, but the phone should be shut off before it becomes burning hot.
But I got one luck, my professional client is the Belgian Federal Police. I already contacted yesterday some of my relations at the police and monday he will look if the cover can be investigate by a forensic team of the federal judicial police. In that case I will be able to prove Sony and the Phone House that no chemicals where found on the cover. And that they were lying. And in that case I will let them sue for fraud.

That is one weird problem. I have had my phone for over 5 months without any cases or screen protectors and it is scratch free and not peeling.
...did you spill caustic acid all over it?
Joking aside might be a manufacturing defect as from the 3 people I know that have had this phone for a couple months without these issues.

scratch/cracked screen

Anyone else noticed and scratches/cracks on the screen?
The damage seems to have appeared from nowhere and there has not been any drops, impact or contact with sharp objects which leads me to believe that my unit may have a slight defect in the screen that causes easy scratching and cracking? The crack is only about 4mm in length and if you run your finger across the scratch there’s a definite crack as your fingernail runs over it.
I’m almost certain that the screen, especially one that’s Gorilla glass should not show signs of damage as mine has with little to no stress.
I’ve emailed HTC on 26th May and yet to get a response.

None here.

Neither here (4 weeks so far)
Enviado desde mi HTC 10 mediante Tapatalk

Nothing here neither, I never had a problem like that with a HTC phone, you should ask to your family or your dog/cat if they know something about that

None here

My HTC 10 dropped from about 15cm and my display is scratched and broken on bottom side!!!
But gorilla glass 3 shouldn't be resistant???
I come from Samsung note 4 dropped few times and display never scratched neither broken!!!
Is it sure HTC 10 uses gorilla glass??

Question: is it possible HTC fraud us not using gorilla glass? How to check it?

last_nooby said:
My HTC 10 dropped from about 15cm and my display is scratched and broken on bottom side!!!
But gorilla glass 3 shouldn't be resistant???
I come from Samsung note 4 dropped few times and display never scratched neither broken!!!
Is it sure HTC 10 uses gorilla glass??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Glass is glass, and will always crack. Consider yourself lucky that the note didn't crack. Perhaps the falls were different because if you drop a phone face down, the chances of cracking the screen are greater than dropping the phone on its back or side.
Sent from my HTC6545LVW using Tapatalk

Naked or with a case? Cases absorb some of the shock.

what was HTC thinking, they should of used the new Gorilla Glass 4

How much could cost substitute it? They didn't tell me by phone. Approx I mean.

afuller42 said:
what was HTC thinking, they should of used the new Gorilla Glass 4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Whats wrong with gg3? I mean its nearly the same resistant but its a bit thicker(0,7 mm to 0,4mm). And this is a clear advantage. Take a grab on a lg g5. The glass is so thin and flexi that u can easily bend it by touching it, until its hits the lcd.

I have not used a screen protector this time. I have some very faint surface scratches in direct sunlight on the coating but nothing deep or noticeable with daily use
Sent from my HTC 10 using XDA-Developers mobile app

xperia x root said:
Whats wrong with gg3? I mean its nearly the same resistant but its a bit thicker(0,7 mm to 0,4mm). And this is a clear advantage. Take a grab on a lg g5. The glass is so thin and flexi that u can easily bend it by touching it, until its hits the lcd.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It was a sarcastic post

Contacting HTC
Deano1889 said:
Anyone else noticed and scratches/cracks on the screen?
The damage seems to have appeared from nowhere and there has not been any drops, impact or contact with sharp objects which leads me to believe that my unit may have a slight defect in the screen that causes easy scratching and cracking? The crack is only about 4mm in length and if you run your finger across the scratch there’s a definite crack as your fingernail runs over it.
I’m almost certain that the screen, especially one that’s Gorilla glass should not show signs of damage as mine has with little to no stress.
I’ve emailed HTC on 26th May and yet to get a response.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you had any luck with contacting HTC? I've noticed the same on my HTC 10. My three year old HTC M7 hasn't got a visible scratch on it's screen but my new HTC 10 has a couple of bad ones and I haven't dropped it or done anything out of the ordinary.

Yes I got the below back:
Hi,
Thank you for contacting HTC. We are committed to delivering a great customer experience. We apologize for any inconvenience you have experienced and at the same time, appreciate your patience as we work quickly to address your concern.
I understand that you want to have a working phone without any scratches or crack on the screen. Let me shed some light unto your issue.
You may need to send your device for repair so that we can fix the damages on the screen. Let me set your expectation though that there is a possible quotation if out of warranty damages will be diagnosed on it by our repair facility. Please be advised as well that we are unable to book a repair ticket via email due to security reasons. We highly recommend that you will contact our support hotline at ‎0845 890 0079 (Outside the UK dial +44 203 684 5000‎) so that we can properly process a repair ticket for you.
I hope this information is helpful. If you need further assistance, please feel free to reply to this email.
Again, thank you very much for choosing HTC! We truly appreciate your continued business.
Sincerely,
Christine​
I then replied with the below and heard nothing back:
Hi Christine,
Many thanks for your email.
I have to be honest and say I’m somewhat disappointed that you cannot
guarantee me a screen repair, I believe this is a service that is offered
to your American customers in addition to a free gift of a USB type C
cable? Why isn’t this something that is mirrored on the UK?
I would imagine that the cost of a replacement screen + fitting would be
around the £80 mark and unfortunately not something I can commit to seeing
as I have just paid £512 for the brand new HTC10.
Is there anything you can do to help? Even as a good will gesture for
being such a committed customer?​
So yeah a pretty null shrug off from HTC and I’ve had to resort to using a Spigen screen protector

I just dropped mine yesterday. Unfortunately... Went to grab it off the counter and knock it onto the ceramic tile ????
I have a tempered glass screen protector on my phone and nothing happened. Just some minor scuffs on the top of the phone above that grey plastic liner, and a small gouge on the bottom left where the chamfer and flat edge meet which I buffed and filed down so you can barely notice it. Other than that, my screen didn't take a single knick and it even bounced off of the face. I thought screen was going to be cracked for sure. Phone still looks ALMOST brand new besides the minor scuffs you see on the top portion in the back if the light hits it just right.

Deano1889 said:
Yes I got the below back:
Hi,
Thank you for contacting HTC. We are committed to delivering a great customer experience. We apologize for any inconvenience you have experienced and at the same time, appreciate your patience as we work quickly to address your concern.
I understand that you want to have a working phone without any scratches or crack on the screen. Let me shed some light unto your issue.
You may need to send your device for repair so that we can fix the damages on the screen. Let me set your expectation though that there is a possible quotation if out of warranty damages will be diagnosed on it by our repair facility. Please be advised as well that we are unable to book a repair ticket via email due to security reasons. We highly recommend that you will contact our support hotline at ‎0845 890 0079 (Outside the UK dial +44 203 684 5000‎) so that we can properly process a repair ticket for you.
I hope this information is helpful. If you need further assistance, please feel free to reply to this email.
Again, thank you very much for choosing HTC! We truly appreciate your continued business.
Sincerely,
Christine​
I then replied with the below and heard nothing back:
Hi Christine,
Many thanks for your email.
I have to be honest and say I’m somewhat disappointed that you cannot
guarantee me a screen repair, I believe this is a service that is offered
to your American customers in addition to a free gift of a USB type C
cable? Why isn’t this something that is mirrored on the UK?
I would imagine that the cost of a replacement screen + fitting would be
around the £80 mark and unfortunately not something I can commit to seeing
as I have just paid £512 for the brand new HTC10.
Is there anything you can do to help? Even as a good will gesture for
being such a committed customer?​
So yeah a pretty null shrug off from HTC and I’ve had to resort to using a Spigen screen protector
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Looks to me that they are giving you instructions on how to get it fixed. It is routine practice to warn you that if they find something wrong with it other than you describe that it may not be covered. It should surely be covered but only with Uh Oh protection. One time use. Warranty never guarantees the screen.

LibertyMonger said:
Looks to me that they are giving you instructions on how to get it fixed. It is routine practice to warn you that if they find something wrong with it other than you describe that it may not be covered. It should surely be covered but only with Uh Oh protection. One time use. Warranty never guarantees the screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm in the UK. HTC don't offer any kind of Uh Oh protection as they do for those in the US.

mine fell sideways on an iron rod. the volume-button is slightly bent, but not a scratch, thankfully
nonamecase without extra screen protection

General Hairline crack, inner screen, feels like screen protector.

Anyone else have hairline cracks on the fold of the inner screen? Mine feel like they are on the screen protector, my screen display is fine. Anyone else experiencing this?
Talking to support now, supposed to take to an authorized repair place. They say it covered by warranty due to normal use causing the cracks. Being sent to an authorized Samsung repair place.
Just inconvenient.

Adhesive failure. Probably due to excessive stretching of the plastic protector during assembly.

blackhawk said:
Adhesive failure. Probably due to excessive stretching of the plastic protector during assembly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Likely, but luckily it's covered by the warranty.

dirtybudha said:
Likely, but luckily it's covered by the warranty.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you end up getting this fixed under warranty? Mine did the same thing (and the entire screen protector along the fold ripped up all at once).
I did a chat and they told me to take it in to get it fixed, but I'm curious as to what they'll do.

Squeaky369 said:
Did you end up getting this fixed under warranty? Mine did the same thing (and the entire screen protector along the fold ripped up all at once).
I did a chat and they told me to take it in to get it fixed, but I'm curious as to what they'll do.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Squeaky369 said:
Did you end up getting this fixed under warranty? Mine did the same thing (and the entire screen protector along the fold ripped up all at once).
I did a chat and they told me to take it in to get it fixed, but I'm curious as to what they'll do.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I did. They sent me to a certified repair shop.
They essentially replace the whole interior screen. The process worked, but the guys at the location were not that knowledgeable. We plugged it into a computer and it didn't see the USB access. Once I got it home, it worked on my computer. Who doesn't have the drivers for a device that they repair?
Anyway, it works great now.

That's good to hear it worked out for you. My inner screen also failed in the same manner with hairline fractures and black line down the middle turning it in to a Microsoft Duo. I've been on the phone with Samsung three separate times and have had nothing but resistance from them. They sent me to a local repair shop and the manager told me I must have gotten a piece of sand in the hinge or something....huh? He said go ahead and start a claim, but the final word was with him. He also said he got rid of his Fold 3 because he didn't want the same thing to happen to him. So there's definitely a problem with some of the units out there. I'll be sending mine to Samsung soon. I have no confidence that Samsung will actually cover this under warranty in my case due to the treatment I've received from their customer service. It's upsetting.

What a bummer... I got my phone Sept 24, and now on March 24, I just noticed that I have a small crack right where the phone folds. I am going in to Verizon tomorrow. The "Samsung Care+" wanted me to send it in with $249... This is definitely a warranty issue.

I went to my local corporate Verizon store this morning. They will treat it as warranty and my replacement phone arrives tomorrow. The area manager was there, took pics of the screen, and the phone to document current condition (which I appreciate) before approving the swap. Plus she says they are monitoring how many come in like this. Mine wasn't the first. They suspect, like many here, that it's the screen protector. (I guess the Flip 3 has issues too, but my daughter has one that is so far so good).
Now, as long as Verizon doesn't declare my phone as "damaged" by me it will be a free swap. If not, they'll try to bill me. But the area manager agrees that it looks like a defect (and it really is a defect).
One last gripe: I guess I was too eager to get my Fold 3 to realize that the "protection plan" carries a potential $249 fee for a broken screen. Thank goodness this is a defect.

emtownsend said:
. They suspect, like many here, that it's the screen protector. (I guess the Flip 3 has issues too, but my daughter has one that is so far so good).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
do you mean that they suspect the screen protector is broken or that the screen protector is causing the UTG screen to break?

The thought was that the screen protector is cracking, but not the screen. I've not lost any functionality over the area that is "cracked".

Yeah, when I ran my finger nail over the cracks it would snag. It was absolutely my screen protector...which is factory installed and therefore falls under the manufacturer.
Yes, I think this will be an issue. I don't think this will totally kill the market or much of the sales. My replacement is still going strong, and I haven't heard too many others experiencing the cracks.
I'm sure the Fold 5 will have it all together. Hahaha

100% screen protector, I just replaced mine myself and small crack in the crease is gone!

Yeah, my nail would catch on it. At least it's not the screen...oy. That would be a nightmare.

Checked online, there is a few threads on the Sammy forums, and removing the inner screen protector does NOT void warranty. If the display/screen is damaged in the process, then iti is void.
My replacement protector, OEM, got it's first hairline crack. Gonna remove the OEM one and replace it myself. That way I can just replace it when it goes bad.
NOW I'll say I wouldn't recommend this phone to anyone because of this issue. Samsung failed here, but there's a chance to learn from it and improve it.

dirtybudha said:
Checked online, there is a few threads on the Sammy forums, and removing the inner screen protector does NOT void warranty. If the display/screen is damaged in the process, then iti is void.
My replacement protector, OEM, got it's first hairline crack. Gonna remove the OEM one and replace it myself. That way I can just replace it when it goes bad.
NOW I'll say I wouldn't recommend this phone to anyone because of this issue. Samsung failed here, but there's a chance to learn from it and improve it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
getting the same OEM Samsung screen protector was a bad decision and you should've known that already since it broke once. Samsung's screen protector is an ultra thin plastic layer that's why it breaks. I removed it myself and knew its nature. That's why I installed the Whitestone Dome Film instead (myself) and this protector is elastic and bends easily with the fold. You get definately no cracks because it's a film layer.
try it and you won't regret it. By the way it's so easy to install, and costs only $10- $15

A: How should I have known?? They could have replaced it with better materials.
B: Thanks for the insight into the Whitestone Dome.

Question If you're noticing loosening of the screen protector internal screen...

Get that screen protector replaced in an authorized repair center whether or not you have an active warranty.
Don't do any of the following:
don't attempt to replace it yourself no matter how simple it might seem to you
(The repair centers have a rig to assist them in doing this. And if you screw up, you could end up with a more serious problem.)
don't ignore it because it seems trivial or small
don't wait for the problem to "ripen" before acting
if your warranty has expired: don't decide that this doesn't warrant action
Why?
Over the past week or so, the protector started slowly separating down the crease area of the screen. So I brought it in to a local Samsung-authorized UbreakitIFixit by Asurion. The technician said he's seen a flow of these cases. I went a step further and said that I'm hearing that there are a number of people reporting cracked screens. He nodded and said that-- once the protector starts separating like mine was doing-- this starts to create a degree of pressure on the folding area of the screen. Basically he was telling me that what seems like a trivial cosmetic problem could turn into something far more serious. And expensive.
In my case, I bought my Z Fold 3 shortly before it was replaced by the Z Fold 4-- and I am still covered by the warranty. If you are in the same position, Samsung has what I would call a "silent recall" where they will cover a one-time screen protector replacement. Go to the Samsung service area on their website and avail yourself of this!
And if you are past the warranty, I'd urge you to take the precaution and pay to have the protector replaced-- you sure don't want to face a complete screen replacement-- you might not even consider the cost justifiable.

Apparently this is true; if cracked it will eventually take out the display. I was reading a review and that Australian reviewer didn't have kind things to say about this. He gives the protector a 4-6 month lifespan, if you make a year you're lucky.
He further said this has been a persistent issue; don't expect the next generation to be more durable.

Hmm, I have to replace my wife's every 4 months or so using the Orzero. It is a bit of a learning exercise, but not that hard(key it to do long side first and get the fold crease right at the start). YMMV.

xnappo said:
Hmm, I have to replace my wife's every 4 months or so using the Orzero. It is a bit of a learning exercise, but not that hard(key it to do long side first and get the fold crease right at the start). YMMV.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for letting us know that you feel confident doing this yourself. I also see a YouTube demonstration video from the company. I'm not sure that I'd do a neat job but it's good to know that it's possible.
You also opened my eyes to the frequency of replacement that made sense to both of you,

The Whitestone protector comes with a rig so that you place it perfectly right. Only thing you need to worry about is dust getting under it as you're putting it on (some people do it in the bathroom after steaming it up with a hot shower).
My OEM protector lasted over a year. It did separate along the crease at the top and it kept getting longer and longer, so I finally replaced it after months of the separated area. The replacement brought back the anti-fingerprint feature which had worn off the original one, so I was happy about that for sure. Doing it once now, I'll probably replace it next once that anti-fingerprint feature has worn off again since it wasn't as bad/hard as I thought it would be. No need to be intimidated by it after all!

ButterflyFlutterflyMyOhMy said:
The Whitestone protector comes with a rig so that you place it perfectly right. Only thing you need to worry about is dust getting under it as you're putting it on (some people do it in the bathroom after steaming it up with a hot shower).
...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ButterflyFlutterflyMyOhMy said:
No need to be intimidated by it after all!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have learned so much on xda-developers.com over the years. The two previous posts are really helpful. I found the Whitestone installation YouTube video and now I see how the jig works. I hope I won't have to replace the screen protector but now I realize a couple things:
It's wise to replace the inner screen protector once separation starts appearing
It's entirely possible to do the job myself if / when the warranty no longer applies.