Develop Bugs

Galaxy Nexus grainy and vertical banding screen!

how many have devices like this? It doesnt seem to disappear on mine until about half brightness up.. and even there i can slightly tell. is this a problem on most phones or only some? Also with light usage i'm losing over 10% per hour, doesnt seem right at all

All AMOLED screens have that issue at low brightness, it just varies from phone to phone. Give it a few charge cycles before you start looking at the battery. The battery on my Nexus drained extremely quickly when I first got it but it's been lasting longer and longer with each passing day (3 so far)

My screen is the same, you need to be at half brightness to get a decent image. Auto brightness in full darkness makes you think that the screen is totally broken.

yours has like bands of a different shade too? mine has one thick one on the right of the screen and it's pretty annoying.. about to go into the city tomorrow to exchange it but if there all like that then i dont know

I went in to the store, and they said that they wouldn't switch it out.

Mine looks fine at lowest brightness. I use mine mostly at.about 10% brightness and look great.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

Yes ! I thought that mine was also broken. It is good to know i am not alone .

can we get a screenshot?

Would it even show in a screenshot? Yes, it's AMOLED... that's the way it is. More than worth it.

It wouldn't show in a screenshot since this is a hardware related issue. And I don't think it's normal if it has brighter spots like explained. Mine isn't as smooth as you would expect either at lower brightness levels but it is not like explained by the OP.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA App

All SAMOLEDs sacrifice clarity and color representation for slightly better black levels. Just the nature of the screen technology. All 4 Samsung models (and all 7 phones) I've come across have it.

@rbiter said:
Mine looks fine at lowest brightness. I use mine mostly at.about 10% brightness and look great.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
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in denial???

I've never seen the banding effect before, and this is coming from someone in a household with two out-of-commission Galaxy S', two GSIIs, a Focus, and my Nexus. The PenTile screen door effect can get to me if I'm looking for it, but that's the only SAMOLED issue I'm familiar with.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA App

I actually like the slightly grainy look mine has at lower brightness levels

Would Voodoo Control be compatible with this? It was an awesome feature that my Nexus S had!
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

Not only is mine grainy at low brightness, it also has a pink and green tinge (in opposite sides of the screen)
It doesn't seem to happen on the 1st gen AMOLED (Nexus one, not grainy at low light) or S-AMOLED (Galaxy S, it did have an overall blue tint, but it was on the WHOLE screen)
Not completely noticeable, but would have expected better. At 40% or higher, its barely noticeable.

Got the same problem 40-50% and its barely noticable, any lower and i can see much distortion.
I know its a hardware thing but is this something that might be fixed with a future update or are we stuck with this?

The screen will look grainy on white/grey backgrounds at lower brightness settings, but there should not be any vertical/horizontal banding on the screen.
My first phone had a vertical bar of banding going down the entire screen, and bothered the crap out of me. Went in this morning and had it swapped with a Nexus that has no issues. For the price that we're paying for this phone (especially those with International unlocked imports) it better be perfect.

yup, i only ever see it in one place (the grain), and thats on the store before anything loads (an all gray background). Don't see it on white or anything else... that i know is pentile.

Galaxy Note is similar at lower brightness levels, must be AMOLED.
iPhone 4S is best if reading at lowest brightness levels is very important,
but in brighter light the Nexus and Note look amazing.

Try this Test, Post your results

Ok, I have just noticed this, not sure what it means. but it's something that can be easily tested by everyone in a few minutes.
While in gentle alarm in nightmode. the screen is all black and the digital clock is shown, I noticed black lines across my screen and really black dots peppered all over the screen, mostly at the top closest to the earphone. I'm thinking they are dead pixels but not sure.
To reproduce it, I downloaded SBMX, a paint app like photoshop. I painted the canvas black, turned off the lights and after my eyes adjusted, I can see the same pattern of black pixels all over the screen. there is one line near the top of the screen that goes right across.
If some people can try this and post your results it would be very appretiated. If they are dead pixels, I will return the phone.

If they were dead pixels you would see them no matter what color the screen was.

My nexus has those spots while displaying black. My Vibrant also have the dots. Its just how amoleds are, I'm not sure about the amoled plus
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA App

I would try but it's broad daylight here.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

Yeah I have them too. If you turn the brightness to 1, you can see them.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

That is pretty crappy. I'm sure most people could live with it and I probably will but it kinda erks me that this is the best they could do. I mean if it were a few phones in a bunch, but for all of them to be like it don't seem right.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

SolidHelix said:
That is pretty crappy. I'm sure most people could live with it and I probably will but it kinda erks me that this is the best they could do. I mean if it were a few phones in a bunch, but for all of them to be like it don't seem right.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
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It's how the screen technology is.. we had a lot of threads like this a while ago.
The conclusion was: "When are you ever going to be looking at your phone in pitch black, on a black screen, with the brightness set to 1?"

From what I have read it has something to do with Super Amoled and the glue used.
My Nexus is not near as bad as the Razr I had. Check out the Razr thread on this.
Ocassionally I would notice on my Razr when using the phone at night, without having to "look" for it.
I can honestly say that I have to try hard to see this on the Nexus, and I have never noticed it in general use, even at night. It shouldn't keep you from enjoying your phone!
edit: so much for that build quality argument they keep throwing around
lol had to say it.

I noticed this on mine in bed the other night ,it is all along one edge in landscape mode. can't see it at all in normal use though...

To exchange or not exchange, that is the question...

So I purchased the CDMA Galaxy Nexus last week and love it. I'm coming from a Nexus S and while I think the S had a better screen I think the Galaxy's is great nonetheless.
Either way before I purchased it I lurked these threads and saw that a few of you were having screen related issues. So upon buying the phone, I promptly installed a few screen tester apps to check mine.
I found mine to have quite a few imperfections while displaying an all black screen. Blotches and lines to be exact. And so I asked Amazon for a replacement.
The replacement ended up having fewer imperfections than my original one but they were still there. And not only that but it seemed that the colors were more faded on the replacement one too. So now I have the two phones here and don't know what to so.
Should I keep my original one and stop obsessing, should I send the original one back or should I just say screw it and send both back in hopes for a better third unit?
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

No opinions/suggestions/advice...? Anything? ANYONE??
Exchange, not exchange...get an iPhone, maybe?
(Okay that last one was too much, but you get my point...)
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

The franco.kernel app has handy color control options, imo thats about the best thing its good for, it eats the hell out of battery and I get random reboots once a day since flashing it.

The nexus s has better screen than the galaxy nexus super AMOLED HD lol u clearly don't know what ur on about the blotches and stuff is normal on a amoled screen if it is displaying black

If it isn't noticeable under normal use, just stop obsessing about it. I've noticed on a flat black or dark grey screen there are a couple bands (nothing major) but I can't ever notice them in normal use. Its just not worth my time.

martonikaj said:
If it isn't noticeable under normal use, just stop obsessing about it. I've noticed on a flat black or dark grey screen there are a couple bands (nothing major) but I can't ever notice them in normal use. Its just not worth my time.
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Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA App
Totally agree. AMOLED has issues in terms of a few production defects, but nothing major.
If it bothers you in daily use, exchange. If it is only noticeable when you look for it, stop looking

Thanks for the replies guys
Yes, IMO my Nexus S's screen has more vibrant colors than the Galaxy's. But that's not to say that I don't think it's gorgeous still. It may be due to Voodoo colors or who knows. I use the tweaks in Franco's app by the way, and that has made it much better.
My main concern over the blotches is that it could be an indicator of a possible early screen failure. Probably not however, I'll stop obsessing.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

brmayhem said:
Thanks for the replies guys
Yes, IMO my Nexus S's screen has more vibrant colors than the Galaxy's. But that's not to say that I don't think it's gorgeous still. It may be due to Voodoo colors or who knows. I use the tweaks in Franco's app by the way, and that has made it much better.
My main concern over the blotches is that it could be an indicator of a possible early screen failure. Probably not however, I'll stop obsessing.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
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Like the other person said, it is normal to see blotches on a full black screens when in a dark room. Some spots are darker on the screen and sometimes you will see lines. Not a big deal to me.
There are some kernels that allow you to change the colors which will give you a great improvement. Like someone mentioned Franco's kernel and also lean kernel.
If you install AOKP and lean kernel you can control the colors right in the settings menu. For Franco's kernel you might have to by his app for that. Not sure you you can change the color's within the Rom.
I also believe CM9 might have color settings built into the Rom with the stock kernel...

If you mean some lines and pixelerror like thingys on black dark screen than I can tell you:
I'm with my 3th GNex now and all had this "errors" but I can't see them on daily usage; just when for example I'm in a completely dark room and brightness is on 0% and then it's kinda hard to see it too...

Is the screen TOO bright?

The one problem I've had with the Note 1 is the retina burning brightness, even on the lowest settings. Especially at night, in dark rooms.
Is the Note 2 similar?
Thanks
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda app-developers app

gaddy888 said:
The one problem I've had with the Note 1 is the retina burning brightness, even on the lowest settings. Especially at night, in dark rooms.
Is the Note 2 similar?
Thanks
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This doesn't answer your question, but the free app Screen Filter allows you to lower the brightness below minimum. I use it on my Galaxy S3 when reading at night. Like you, I find the minimum brightness on Samsung screens too bright at times. Just thought I'd mention it.

Brighter screen is better isn't it? I mean you can always turn the brightness down...on the other hand, if the screen is not bright enough...you can't really do anything about it can you? !
Sent from my GT-N7100 using xda premium

It is bright but not overwhelming if you mean that. I like the fact that it makes it easier to see in the sunlight.

DMax99 said:
Brighter screen is better isn't it? I mean you can always turn the brightness down...on the other hand, if the screen is not bright enough...you can't really do anything about it can you? !
Sent from my GT-N7100 using xda premium
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That's just the thing. On the Note, you couldn't dial it down too far. In a dark room, it was bright such that without apps like screen filter I couldn't look at the phone. On screen filter is alright, except the display then looks overly blue.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda app-developers app

henrybravo said:
This doesn't answer your question, but the free app Screen Filter allows you to lower the brightness below minimum. I use it on my Galaxy S3 when reading at night. Like you, I find the minimum brightness on Samsung screens too bright at times. Just thought I'd mention it.
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Thank you

Basically, the screen's lowest setting isn't low enough. I find myself using screenfilter a lot at night in a room with no lights.
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda app-developers app

my display way too bright, when lowering the brightness to the minimum, its still relatively bright enough. some note 2 displays I've seen had a different brightness than mine even though both levels were same for both phones. its an amoled thing.

Are u worry about screen burning issue? my note 1 got it after 6 month usage..note 2 I'm not sure, hav to wait another 3 month to see the effect, since i just got it 3 month ago...
Sent from my GT-N7100 using xda app-developers app

You can always try different screen modes in settings -> display

I dont think that those screens are too bright, but rather becausr theyre too big. Even on the lowest setting, there is so much light generated by such a big screen that this might be it. Screen filter app may help.

Note 2 minimum brightness is definitely dimmer than Note 1, since I came from Note 1. So it is not bright at minimum setting IMO.

I use this program to give me fine-grained control of screen brightness at night.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.haxor
it's very well thought out in the way it works and puts an entry into the notification bar.

Questions go in Q&A
Thread moved

henrybravo said:
This doesn't answer your question, but the free app Screen Filter allows you to lower the brightness below minimum. I use it on my Galaxy S3 when reading at night. Like you, I find the minimum brightness on Samsung screens too bright at times. Just thought I'd mention it.
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Used that app, works great, so thanks for the suggestion man. Especially at night, I am pretty sure it is saving me some juice. What I am wondering is, is there an app which does the complete opposite of this? As in, one which allows you to increase the brightness more than the maximum level for n7100? Tried searching for one on the playstore but didn't find one
The thing is, I am in India, and when it's sunny here, its really, really sunny. Not complaining, but it makes reading your messages all that difficult while out.
Sent from my GT-N7100.
Those who help noobs go to heaven. True story.

If your phone is rooted, then download and install rom toolbox and open the build.prop editor. Change the minimum brightness level to whatever you desire. By default it's set to 20percent.
Sent from the Rabbit Hole

bushako said:
If your phone is rooted, then download and install rom toolbox and open the build.prop editor. Change the minimum brightness level to whatever you desire. By default it's set to 20percent.
Sent from the Rabbit Hole
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Not going with the Rom toolbox... It kind of messed up a script I was running last time I used it. Had to reflash stock and what not. Any other options, something which is only concerned with the screen?
Sent from my GT-N7100.
Those who help noobs go to heaven. True story.

You could just manually edit the build.prop with a text editor and change the ro.lcd_min_brightness=20 line to something lower. More info on build.prop editing here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2056364.
I'm a fan of Screen Filter, the standard minimum brightness is still quite bright in a dark room

Nexus display problem.

Hello
I`ve just noticed that my galaxy nexus has some wierd "ghost yellow menus" when everithing is white.
I have attached some pictures.
What can I do to get ridd of them?

Looks like screen burn-in, which is unavoidable with an AMOLED display. My GNex has similar banding from the notification bar, soft-key bar, and the address bar in Chrome (which is why I've stopped using Chrome and reverted to stock Browser.)
I don't know if there's a way to fix it, but the fact is that if you have a static image displayed on the screen, it will retain itself, much like a plasma TV.

Man I hate the blue burn in the notification bar and the nav bar
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA Premium HD app

Isnt it the rest of the screen that have some kind of 'burn in' Or more specific, the rest of the screen is degenerated/worn? The yellow hue wasnt present on my first GN when I got it. I have two GNs, the newest is more bluish/cleaner white - crisper..
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app

Same here.. I've got a blue ghost on the notification bar when the screen is white
Inviato dal mio Galaxy Nexus con Tapatalk 2

Andrei P said:
Hello
I`ve just noticed that my galaxy nexus has some wierd "ghost yellow menus" when everithing is white.
I have attached some pictures.
What can I do to get ridd of them?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're holding it wrong

We all have this. It's common on GNex. just ignore it.

hp13 said:
We all have this. It's common on GNex. just ignore it.
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If I can`t get ridd of it then What can I do to prevent it from getting worse?

Andrei P said:
If I can`t get ridd of it then What can I do to prevent it from getting worse?
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Rotate the screen every now and then. If yoru phone is still under warranty, you can ask Samsung to replace it for you. Hopefully the new batch or SAMOLED are less prone to burn in.

If this common on sampled screens why don't I have this issue ?
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app

Streaker said:
Isnt it the rest of the screen that have some kind of 'burn in' Or more specific, the rest of the screen is degenerated/worn? The yellow hue wasnt present on my first GN when I got it. I have two GNs, the newest is more bluish/cleaner white - crisper..
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app
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Yeah. The pixels of these displays wear out slowly but surely with use (and subpixels of a certain color - green, I believe, although I'm not 100% sure right now - wear out faster than the others), but since the notification and navigation bars are mostly completely black (meaning those pixels are turned off and barely get used at all) those areas don't get worn out like the rest of the display does. So it's not that the bars are "burned" into the screen, it's rather that those areas are in better condition than the rest of the display.

RoadHazard said:
Yeah. The pixels of these displays wear out slowly but surely with use (and subpixels of a certain color - green, I believe, although I'm not 100% sure right now - wear out faster than the others), but since the notification and navigation bars are mostly completely black (meaning those pixels are turned off and barely get used at all) those areas don't get worn out like the rest of the display does. So it's not that the bars are "burned" into the screen, it's rather that those areas are in better condition than the rest of the display.
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This^^
:good:

RoadHazard said:
Yeah. The pixels of these displays wear out slowly but surely with use (and subpixels of a certain color - green, I believe, although I'm not 100% sure right now - wear out faster than the others), but since the notification and navigation bars are mostly completely black (meaning those pixels are turned off and barely get used at all) those areas don't get worn out like the rest of the display does. So it's not that the bars are "burned" into the screen, it's rather that those areas are in better condition than the rest of the display.
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I was thinking that too but did you guys notice that when the screen is displaying back it is not absolutely black? The pixels do glow a little bit for faster screen switching (it was mentioned in some other posts). I think it could also be this static glow that causes the burn in.

What's this about a new batch? Did Samsung start using new displays with the GalNex recently?
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app

Sorry, I meant like a production batch. Don't thing they will use new displays with the Gnex.

I have insurance thru VZW which gives me a 2 year warrantly. I already had VZW replace 2 Gnex's, because of screen burn in, and if I get burn in again, I'll have them replace it again. They really don't give you a problem with replacing the phone, just tell them you did all like troubleshooting methods like factory data reset etc. and the burn in remains. They will send you a "like new" refurbished replacement. All the replacements I have got have been in great condition. If you are under warranty do not tolerate screen burn in, get it replaced immediately.

I've seen 5 gnex and each one of them had different screen. I mean every one looked different, worse or better. It looks like producing a good quality amoled display is very difficult or Samsung has very low QA for them... I wouldn't worry about it if I were you. Just use it... It's not that you often display static full screen gray background.
Wysyłane z mojego Galaxy Nexus za pomocą Tapatalk 2

ray3andrei said:
If this common on sampled screens why don't I have this issue ?
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app
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Be happy you don`t have it!

ray3andrei said:
If this common on sampled screens why don't I have this issue ?
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app
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I think it's more common with the people who brag about their 3 or more hours of on screen time a day.
Those of us who are more like 30 mins to an hour a day of on screen time are not going to be affected near as fast.

its also for me
and also for most of nexus devices even nexus 4...
wierd...