Develop Bugs

any way to charge a phone once completely dead

any way to charge a phone once completely dead
as the title states, once in the bootloop issue if your battery ends up at 0% and can't be charged is there a way out of this. Here is my issue. I can't get into recovery. Hboot or fastboot are the only options available. Sometimes it boots into the ROM but instantly dies once restarting. No clue as to the trigger as I've tried pretty much all the combinations of factory reset, reboot-bootloader, erase cache etc etc etc trying to get this into a non on mode so it can charge.
In addition to this of course anytime I plug the phone in it automatically turns on in either bootloader or fastboot which gives it no opportunity to charge at all otherwise I would simply run the RUU which won't let me until it hits 30%. I've more or less come to the conclusion I have to send it in because its not quite the same situation that others have experienced. But was hoping to get an answer/fix so I don't have to send it in to HTC to get repaired since the RMA guys just told me it'll be 10 business days before they even get in parts to the texas facility to get it sent there for repairs.
also of note, I had managed to relock the bootloader but can't get enough juice to run the RUU

What about borrowing a battery or getting one and charging it. That would be better than sending it in.
Sent from my HTC PH39100 using xda premium

megatronisabeast said:
What about borrowing a battery or getting one and charging it. That would be better than sending it in.
Sent from my HTC PH39100 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if only it were that simple, the one x doesn't have a removable battery or I would have solved this by now

Forgot about that, sorry about that.
Sent from my HTC PH39100 using xda premium

phil.W said:
if only it were that simple, the one x doesn't have a removable battery or I would have solved this by now
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can try that: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=24821382#post24821382

Have you tried actually just pitting it on the charger? I know the bionic can charge when completely off. Itll act like its booting up but then show a giant battery in the center with a %...
Sent from my DROID BIONIC using XDA

silvernirvash said:
Have you tried actually just pitting it on the charger? I know the bionic can charge when completely off. Itll act like its booting up but then show a giant battery in the center with a %...
Sent from my DROID BIONIC using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With the current recovery. The phone can't charge while off. You can't let it die
Sent from my HTC One X using XDA

yeah so far I've tried literally everything out there. I almost need a way to figure out how to wipe the rom so it can't restart and sit on the loading screen so it can charge, but so far no luck with anything in the forum. I've literally tried it all.
Could be worse, my replacement comes today (but cost the same sadly, looks like the gf will get a new one when I can send it out to htc for repairs and get it back)

So, when you plug the charger in, the phone starts up into hboot or something? And can you not press and hold power for 10 secs to force it to power off while still plugged in? My phone was charging while it was completely off. That's after I discharged it completely, it shut itself off.

any time I plug it in it automatically turns back on. If I hold down the power button for 10 seconds it simply reboots.

phil.W said:
any time I plug it in it automatically turns back on. If I hold down the power button for 10 seconds it simply reboots.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
By either plugging in every time it stops charging or rebooting it like that you should be able to gradually charge it over 30%, that's what I heard. So it's not as easy as plug in and wait, but rather plug in, unplug, plug back in.

I have this same issue. Arent their any recoveries that charge while in recovery mode??

Yes.. The stock recovery. You need to flash that.

again, can't flash diddly because of low battery. So flashing stock recovery does nothing as it would end in an error.

Very possible solution! Worked for me!
It seems my reply via the XDA-App did not come through.. As I wanted to reply.
My H0X was also dead. Wouldn't charge nor boot, with wall charger or by pc.. but I thought.. well let's give it a chance by using my iPhone 4 charger (with HTC cable of course)
Guess what: It worked!
SO TO ALL WHO IS HAVING THIS 'WILL NOT CHARGE' PROBLEM:
Try an other charger, even try your wireless mouse, or other phone chargers.. Anything!

Blackvibes said:
It seems my reply via the XDA-App did not come through.. As I wanted to reply.
My H0X was also dead. Wouldn't charge nor boot, with wall charger or by pc.. but I thought.. well let's give it a chance by using my iPhone 4 charger (with HTC cable of course)
Guess what: It worked!
SO TO ALL WHO IS HAVING THIS 'WILL NOT CHARGE' PROBLEM:
Try an other charger, even try your wireless mouse, or other phone chargers.. Anything!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you don't think something silly like this idea has been done? When the phone is plugged into any outside source of charge, it turns on in bootloader. This does not charge it...

Get into fastboot and try charge ..same happened to me when I tried to install Mike's Rom. So what I ended up doing was after trying a millions things to get a little charge so I could flash stock recovery and relock bootloader. I turn phone off. Plug charge for 2 seconds unplug. Plug again unplug. Big pain in the ass. Don't let charger to long cause it boots phone againg. So usually u see led turn on then few seconds later it goes off that's when u have to unplug charger. Do that again a few times. Enough to get a little charge again to flash stock recover. Once u flash stock recover phone charges normally. You also need the correct RUU for ur phone. That's after flashing stock recovery then relock bootloader then flash ruu. Then u can try again a custom Rom or whatever u were doing
Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

phil.W said:
again, can't flash diddly because of low battery. So flashing stock recovery does nothing as it would end in an error.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same **** happened to me. Do what I said. It worked for me. Your phone just need a little charge so u can adb flash stock recovery.
Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

sadly I've tried many many many times now to do anything with it to get even a little juice but no luck. Just going to send it in at this point ..... =/

I faced your situation once
get into the bootloader and flash back the official recovery

Help! Phone won't boot up at all

So, I woke up this morning and I went to go check some messages on my phone, but when I checked, the phone wouldn't turn on. I charged it like I usually did and when I got to it, the blue led light was flashing. Not brightly, but just like it would try to turn on, but it can't so the light slowly fades away. I tried to hold the power + volume buttons (both up and down) but it still wouldn't do anything. Any help before I take it into sprint?

Rum2rum said:
So, I woke up this morning and I went to go check some messages on my phone, but when I checked, the phone wouldn't turn on. I charged it like I usually did and when I got to it, the blue led light was flashing. Not brightly, but just like it would try to turn on, but it can't so the light slowly fades away. I tried to hold the power + volume buttons (both up and down) but it still wouldn't do anything. Any help before I take it into sprint?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
can you charge the battery? is the battery loose? I would take it to sprint and let them check it out.

Yeah. I think I might just take it back to sprint. But it won't charge at all I think.

Pull the battery and leave it out for a few minutes then try again.

someguyatx said:
Pull the battery and leave it out for a few minutes then try again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've done that and I actually start seeing the empty battery logo. But It's only for a second. I think there's a problem with the battery or the charger thing

someguyatx said:
Pull the battery and leave it out for a few minutes then try again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay, My phone actually started up now. The battery is not charging though

Just kidding. It's charging. Anyone know if I should be worried about anything?

Are you using an after market charger?
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda app-developers app

Get a brand new quality USB cable. A HUGE amount of issues can be resolved by just doint this, believe me.

I was using the charger cable it came with but connected to my computer

well your computer USB port can only push 500mA out max. sounds like its undercharging your phone. the stock charger pushes 1000mA or 1A.

Soft Bricked

So, my LGOG is soft-bricked with a dead battery (happened during a twrp backup, although i swear it was at least 60% when i started). I can get to fastboot by holding vol up and power, and then plugging it in (i lgnpst'd teenybin), but when i try to load recovery it shows a black screen that says google and has an unlocked padlock at the bottom for an instant, then dies.
Everyone on IRC has been very helpful, especially autoprime. When i plug it in, the cap button lights and the red led flash. I plugged it the wall in for about 30 minutes, no heat, nothing. So I am just going to leave it unplugged for the night in hopes something will reset or die enough that the battery charges next time i plug it in. Otherwise I will try a battery pull, and go from there.
If anyone has any insight on getting my battery charged via another method, it is certainly welcome and appreciated.

Did it charge? I'm curios if you fixed it.
Sent from my LG-LS970 using xda app-developers app

ABurningFalcon said:
Did it charge? I'm curios if you fixed it.
Sent from my LG-LS970 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, but I have not done the battery pull yet.

rumgool said:
No, but I have not done the battery pull yet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It may have just been my luck, but when this happened to me, I put the phone into download mode by plugging into a USB port while holding volume up and volume down. After that, I unplugged and powered off, then plugged back in to normal ac charger, and it began to charge, as it showed the battery icon. Left it for a bit, then booted it up no problem. Might be worth a try before opening the phone.
Sent from my LG-LS970 using xda app-developers app

outerpip said:
It may have just been my luck, but when this happened to me, I put the phone into download mode by plugging into a USB port while holding volume up and volume down. After that, I unplugged and powered off, then plugged back in to normal ac charger, and it began to charge, as it showed the battery icon. Left it for a bit, then booted it up no problem. Might be worth a try before opening the phone.
Sent from my LG-LS970 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, when i unplug mine from download mode, it dies immediately, so i don't think I am getting an opportunity to power it off to reset, but I'll give it a try. Thanks for the suggestion!
UPDATE: I tried, but with no avail, it just goes back to flashing alternately between the cap lights and the red led. I am going to try flashing zv9 stock in lgnpst, to see if maybe i can get into stock recovery.

maybe try charging from download mode? only thing i can think of

Battery pull LGOG worked
Well, battery pull worked! As soon as I flipped that battery bracket back down, the phone powered up and booted fine.
Now here is the interesting part... my phone powered back up and the battery was at 69%. It was not by any means dead. I even left it off the charger for a while to confirm. So, something happened during my TWRP backup that tripped a fault. Could allowing the screen to timeout in TWRP have caused this?
Either way, I want to thank autoprime again for helping me get to this point. My LGOG is back!

rumgool said:
Well, battery pull worked! As soon as I flipped that battery bracket back down, the phone powered up and booted fine.
Now here is the interesting part... my phone powered back up and the battery was at 69%. It was not by any means dead. I even left it off the charger for a while to confirm. So, something happened during my TWRP backup that tripped a fault. Could allowing the screen to timeout in TWRP have caused this?
Either way, I want to thank autoprime again for helping me get to this point. My LGOG is back!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sounds like a corrupt restore!

hooover said:
Sounds like a corrupt restore!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well since I LGNPSTd back when jelly bean leaked and I flashed the update, I have not done anything but root. In fact, I had just installed FreeGee and installed TWRP 2.5 and was doing my first backup. So, something must have gotten corrupt during the backup; possibly because I was on the flashed update vs the OTA, idk...

[Q] Fried battery?

So occasionally if I'm up too late, I don't hear my alarm (on phone). Well, I had noticed recently it got super warm to the touch if I overslept a bit, I think because it just buzzes constantly while plugged into the wall.
Anyway, it won't turn out now without direct power plugged in. Tried reformatting, wiping cache, everything.. I can get it plugged into the pc and booted up but as soon as I try to select media storage, it fails. Won't turn back on now even with it plugged in.
Any suggestions, did my battery just croak?
TYIA.

that's what happens if you charge it overnight

Seraz007 said:
that's what happens if you charge it overnight
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For real? Man, I'll be honest.. I had to break my flashing addiction, so I intentionally got an older Nex, so I could root, and leave it the F alone.. Haven't flashed a ROM since I owned it (bought it unlocked like 12 months ago), couldn't even tell you what ROM is/was on it..
Since when is it a bad thing to charge overnight? I adopted that habit when I went android. :/

DNak206 said:
For real? Man, I'll be honest.. I had to break my flashing addiction, so I intentionally got an older Nex, so I could root, and leave it the F alone.. Haven't flashed a ROM since I owned it (bought it unlocked like 12 months ago), couldn't even tell you what ROM is/was on it..
Since when is it a bad thing to charge overnight? I adopted that habit when I went android. :/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well some phones don't have any problems with ovecharging but its not recommended nevertheless
heard some batteries were F***** up from overchargind

Same exact thing happened to me...thought the phone was fried. I replaced the battery as a last ditch effort and she lit up like a Christmas tree. And as for that last response, I leave mine on the charger all night literally every night without any negative issues. You cannot overcharge the battery on an android phone. They have protective charging circuits, just like laptops.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

misterk267 said:
Same exact thing happened to me...thought the phone was fried. I replaced the battery as a last ditch effort and she lit up like a Christmas tree. And as for that last response, I leave mine on the charger all night literally every night without any negative issues. You cannot overcharge the battery on an android phone. They have protective charging circuits, just like laptops.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm hoping it's only that but wouldn't it fire up with wall charge? It freeze on the Google loading screen.. have a feeling it's cause I wiped it and maybe it didn't finish.
EDIT: Okay, I obviously was a bit messed up earlier.. I factory wiped it, including the OS.. how can I jump an OS onto this thing if it won't boot without charge?

Okay, well the symptoms sound exactly the same as when I fried my battery. At first, mine would only boot with a wall charge, but then it stopped doing even that. The only thing I could get into was the boot loader. I'd try a new battery before worrying too much. In the meantime, however, can you see if the phone is being recognized by a Windows PC, or if you can get the bootloader?If it is bricked, there is a bit of software called OMAPFlash that i used once that can completely reset the phone's programming.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

If you just wiped the OS from recovery you should still be able to boot into fastboot. Are you able to boot into fastboot (power+volume up+volume down)? If so then it is not hard to fix.
If you can't boot into fastboot, try:
1) Without battery, plugged into wall (try a different charger)
2) Without battery, plugged into computer
3) With a different USB cable.
Does it vibrate when turning on? And does it go into fastboot?

My Gnexi said:
If you just wiped the OS from recovery you should still be able to boot into fastboot. Are you able to boot into fastboot (power+volume up+volume down)? If so then it is not hard to fix.
If you can't boot into fastboot, try:
1) Without battery, plugged into wall (try a different charger)
2) Without battery, plugged into computer
3) With a different USB cable.
Does it vibrate when turning on? And does it go into fastboot?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When I plug it in, the initial charging indicator comes up (Battery with lightning bolt), but won't otherwise turn on via holding power.. or get into fastboot at all. If I plug it into my pc, it initially shows the power indicator again but same deal. Interestingly enough tho, my pc makes the sounds it makes when it's syncing or installing usb drivers for something.. except it starts, then stops, then continues.. it's non-stop trying to sync but nothing is happening, it's almost as if it's getting either a partial charge/connection and then it stops. What I thought before was a battery I'm thinking is worse cause I can't get the thing on at all now. :/ Might be time to hit Verizon today..

It was the battery but now I have no OS on the phone.. UGH. I can't get it into storage mode to pull a new ROM over from PC to flash. Anyone know how to force a ROM over via adb?

DNak206 said:
It was the battery but now I have no OS on the phone.. UGH. I can't get it into storage mode to pull a new ROM over from PC to flash. Anyone know how to force a ROM over via adb?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Boot into a custom recovery, adb will work there.

[Q] Stock OneX switched itself off, now red flashing light.

I have used the search button and found many people with similar problems but I don't think any of them are the same as mine hence the question.
Please be patient with me as I'm new. :good:
My 18 month old factory stock OneX was switched off and on charge over night and in the morning the green light was on.
I took the phone off charge and switched it on, all was fine and I put it in my pocket and drove to work.
After about 5 mins I hear the low battery chime from the phone and when I take it from my pocket it has switched off and will not switch back on. I plug it in to a charger and get a red flashing light. I've searched for days and tried all the button pressing tricks, charging from mains, charging from usb and nothing has brought it back to life.
Thinking the battery had just decided it no longer wanted to be part of this world I bought a OneX+ battery and changed it over, it is still the same.
If I hold down the volume - and power buttons it will boot to the screen where it tells you it is ***locked*** and tell me not enough power to flash.
If I plug it in to the pc the HTC MTP device loads every few seconds.
Is my phone now an expensive paperweight or can it still be revived? Any help greatly appreciated.

BizzOneX said:
I have used the search button and found many people with similar problems but I don't think any of them are the same as mine hence the question.
Please be patient with me as I'm new. :good:
My 18 month old factory stock OneX was switched off and on charge over night and in the morning the green light was on.
I took the phone off charge and switched it on, all was fine and I put it in my pocket and drove to work.
After about 5 mins I hear the low battery chime from the phone and when I take it from my pocket it has switched off and will not switch back on. I plug it in to a charger and get a red flashing light. I've searched for days and tried all the button pressing tricks, charging from mains, charging from usb and nothing has brought it back to life.
Thinking the battery had just decided it no longer wanted to be part of this world I bought a OneX+ battery and changed it over, it is still the same.
If I hold down the volume - and power buttons it will boot to the screen where it tells you it is ***locked*** and tell me not enough power to flash.
If I plug it in to the pc the HTC MTP device loads every few seconds.
Is my phone now an expensive paperweight or can it still be revived? Any help greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What I understand you can go in bootloader this is ok! But it is strange that HTC MTP device loads every few seconds. Are you able to start the Android? Becouse only if you start the system you can see the MTP device in bootloader it is inposible.
Second download this unzip to folder and start the file chargeONEX.bat report back if the battery start charge. Dont worry the phone will start a lot of restart in the bootloader but will slowly charge.

Thant said:
What I understand you can go in bootloader this is ok! But it is strange that HTC MTP device loads every few seconds. Are you able to start the Android? Becouse only if you start the system you can see the MTP device in bootloader it is inposible.
Second download this [/URL] unzip to folder and start the file chargeONEX.bat report back if the battery start charge. Dont worry the phone will start a lot of restart in the bootloader but will slowly charge.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can only get in to the bootloader when connected to the mains charger, it will not go in to bootloader when connected to the laptop usb port.
I will try on a desktop pc and see what that does.
I ran the .bat file and it gave me a voltage of 477mV, this is a brand new OneX+ battery, I did try this script before I changed the battery and the old one was 536mV
Because the phone will not boot in to bootloader when plugged in to the laptop it only runs once, then the screen goes black, it is then that the MTP device loads every few seconds.

BizzOneX said:
I can only get in to the bootloader when connected to the mains charger, it will not go in to bootloader when connected to the laptop usb port.
I will try on a desktop pc and see what that does.
I ran the .bat file and it gave me a voltage of 477mV, this is a brand new OneX+ battery, I did try this script before I changed the battery and the old one was 536mV
Because the phone will not boot in to bootloader when plugged in to the laptop it only runs once, then the screen goes black, it is then that the MTP device loads every few seconds.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Use original cable and USB 2.0 port leave it for 20 min on the computer and after this try to go in bootloader and start the script and report back

Thant said:
Use original cable and USB 2.0 port leave it for 20 min on the computer and after this try to go in bootloader and start the script and report back
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've just tried it in a desktop pc, an iMac and a G5 mac and it will still not go in to bootloader.
I'll leave it for 20 mins and report back.
Thank you very much for you help. :good:

After 20 mins plugged in to a G5 Mac I still have to connect it to the mains charger to start bootloader.
I then have to select Fastboot before the script will see the phone and the voltage was 501mV, it then goes black and the MTP driver tries to load again and again.
Any idea what could have caused this in the first place and why a new battery is doing the same?

BizzOneX said:
After 20 mins plugged in to a G5 Mac I still have to connect it to the mains charger to start bootloader.
I then have to select Fastboot before the script will see the phone and the voltage was 501mV, it then goes black and the MTP driver tries to load again and again.
Any idea what could have caused this in the first place and why a new battery is doing the same?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just you buy your new battery empty this is bad luck for you.
in my zip have fastboot-mac rename it to fastboot and the fastboot rename to fastboot-windows. Are you manage to start in bootloader. Are you with custom recovery. If you are with custom recovery go in recovery and try to charge the phone in recovery.
EDIT: I see you are full stock will not help with charge in recovery.
The best way will be if you start the script to charege the phone but if you cant the best way will be to charge the battery manually.

Thant said:
Just you buy your new battery empty this is bad luck for you.
in my zip have fastboot-mac rename it to fastboot and the fastboot rename to fastboot-windows. Are you manage to start in bootloader. Are you with custom recovery. If you are with custom recovery go in recovery and try to charge the phone in recovery.
EDIT: I see you are full stock will not help with charge in recovery.
The best way will be if you start the script to charege the phone but if you cant the best way will be to charge the battery manually.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Voltage is now 520mV.
I still have to connect to the mains charger to go in to bootloader, I will leave it charging over night and see what the voltage is in the morning.
Thank you for your help and I will let you know if I get it working. :good:

BizzOneX said:
Voltage is now 520mV.
I still have to connect to the mains charger to go in to bootloader, I will leave it charging over night and see what the voltage is in the morning.
Thank you for your help and I will let you know if I get it working. :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK good luck from me and I wait to report good news soon:good:

Thant said:
OK good luck from me and I wait to report good news soon:good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Checked again and the voltage is now 550mV.
At this rate it will take weeks to reach enough charge to switch on.
I'm not sure it will ever get to full charge, I think something else on the phone is causing the issue.

BizzOneX said:
Checked again and the voltage is now 550mV.
At this rate it will take weeks to reach enough charge to switch on.
I'm not sure it will ever get to full charge, I think something else on the phone is causing the issue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wait to be possible to go in bootloader without charger and when you go in bootloader run the script to charge.

As my other thread has now been closed does anyone know if a lithium ion battery WILL actually recover from this voltage?

BizzOneX said:
As my other thread has now been closed does anyone know if a lithium ion battery WILL actually recover from this voltage?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i think not, the system reads the battery voltage and 3680 mV is round about 10% of charge so 550 is way undervolted. and if i am not mistaken 4200 is about full loaded.
edit :
at least that's what i read from here
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1658084&highlight=floepie

BizzOneX said:
As my other thread has now been closed does anyone know if a lithium ion battery WILL actually recover from this voltage?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am not sure the battery is deep discharged but have 50-50% to be good. If you have battery pack but not to connect with usb to the phone The battery pack must use the pins on the back side on your phone try to wake up the battery or manualy disconnect the battery and charge it or the chipest way is to buy new battery but mesure beffore to buy.

The battery voltage is slowly rising and is now at 562mV.
I'm still not sure this reading is correct because when you start in to fastboot or recovery you can remove the charger and the phone continues to run. Surely the phone would switch off as soon as the charger was removed if the battery was as low as .5V
Any ideas?

BizzOneX said:
The battery voltage is slowly rising and is now at 562mV.
I'm still not sure this reading is correct because when you start in to fastboot or recovery you can remove the charger and the phone continues to run. Surely the phone would switch off as soon as the charger was removed if the battery was as low as .5V
Any ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well it may be a bit more difficult but i would look for a way to charge the battery from another source outside the phone. something like a little project of cutting wires and connect them straight to the end of the usb cable (wall charger) ...... welll something like that ?

Mr Hofs said:
well it may be a bit more difficult but i would look for a way to charge the battery from another source outside the phone. something like a little project of cutting wires and connect them straight to the end of the usb cable (wall charger) ...... welll something like that ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll give it a go, nothing to loose.
This is a new battery I've got in the phone now, the original one read the same voltage. Only thing I didn't do was to check the voltage of the new battery before I installed it.
I'll try charging the original battery that is sat on my desk.

BizzOneX said:
I'll give it a go, nothing to loose.
This is a new battery I've got in the phone now, the original one read the same voltage. Only thing I didn't do was to check the voltage of the new battery before I installed it.
I'll try charging the original battery that is sat on my desk.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah if you can get that one to full load and the phone reads wrong its other hardware i'm afraid

Mr Hofs said:
yeah if you can get that one to full load and the phone reads wrong its other hardware i'm afraid
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've just checked the voltage of the orignal battery that I removed from the phone fully charged and it reads 4.2V, my multi meter might not be 100% acurate as it's only a cheap one. I also checked my 65% charge HTC Desire battery and that reads 3.9V.
So it looks like the batteries are fine and the phone is seeing the wrong voltage.
Do you think this would definitely be a hardware issue?

I cant say no but indeed those voltages looks fine. It could be the circuit on the mainboard not reading correct