Develop Bugs

Screen Flicker - Response from HTC

I have had my One X since last week on O2, I have noticed the screen flicker on full brightness. So I decided to contact HTC about this and they told me that there must be a problem with my device and to send it back to O2 and get a new one.
If that true then the new 1.28 OTA will not fix the problems that we myte have and it’s a hardware fault 

What do you class as a flicker? I notice my screen dimming and brightening fairly regularly under artificial light. Is your flickering more regularly?

fletchem said:
What do you class as a flicker? I notice my screen dimming and brightening fairly regularly under artificial light. Is your flickering more regularly?
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Its more like a light strobe effect

You are right. Go and return it for a new one... HTC told me the same!
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA

I'm the same.
Had an undranded One X from phones for you with terrible screen flicker.
I phoned HTC and they said it was def not normal or something that could be fixed with a software update.
I'm just back from exchanging it for a new one and this one is flicker free.

seems there are different types of screen flickers...
i experienced once something like a bad analog tv reception on a very small rectangular portion in the upper left corner when using the browser. you couldn't figure out what was "underneath" it.
it disappeared the same way it appeared...out of the blue

Hi, guys. What do you mean by screen flicker? Im finding that with mine on full brightness it appears as if the backlight part is flickering. Is this what you guys have had? thanks

jsmith_00 said:
I have had my One X since last week on O2, I have noticed the screen flicker on full brightness. So I decided to contact HTC about this and they told me that there must be a problem with my device and to send it back to O2 and get a new one.
If that true then the new 1.28 OTA will not fix the problems that we myte have and it’s a hardware fault 
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Click to collapse
When you say screen flicker is this happening all the time? I mean are you talking on the home screen and in apps or just when things are loading etc...?

zerozoneice said:
seems there are different types of screen flickers...
i experienced once something like a bad analog tv reception on a very small rectangular portion in the upper left corner when using the browser. you couldn't figure out what was "underneath" it.
it disappeared the same way it appeared...out of the blue
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this is not a flicker this one is the browser glitch
silly game HTC is making us play really....more n more i realize i was stupid not to keep the grey that was running perfectly

I just can't see how it can be hardware...
Mine is flickering at times too.It seems like just about every device that is out there is doing it. I still think its software based, and probably a setting to do with the LCD display. If its hardware then HTC are going to run out of phones...

it's what is being discussed here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1592157
and HTC CS said the same to me, do a DOA. So I don't think it's software related. Those responsible at HTC should have let their employees know by now if it was SF related, so there's no indications it is so.

Thinking back to when my MacBook had a flickering problem a few years back and when I remember a Dell laptop at work having had an issue before too; I am sure Apple/Dell simply released firmware updates to fix the problem as it was an update that had caused the problem.
Surely something similar can/will be done with the HTC? Maybe its not happening on all devices and is inconsistant so HTC are telling people to DOA there devices whilst they work on a fix for it (maybe OTA)?
I just find it hard to believe that I have had 2x devices now and both have suffered different issues that it could always be the hardware. It would have to be seriously bad luck for 2x phones to come with issues down to the hardware; usually when this many people are having problems its a software issue over hardware (isn't it?).
I mean mine is flickering slightly on certain screens or during certain actions, I don't want to DOA a second device just to get this problem again as I really do love the phone. If the flickering can/will be fixed then I am happy to wait for that, but as mentioned before at this rate everyone with be DOA'ing devices just for the sake of it as different devices just seem to have the same and/or similar issues.

I have this problem. What is weird is that if I charge the phone fully the problem disappears until discharge at reaching like 80% where it starts to appear again and gets worst over discharge. I'd like to know if I'm alone. If not there are chances an OTA can solve it as it would be some kind of bad power management of the screen. And we all know our power management has some troubles
Sent from my HTC One X using XDA

joplayer said:
I have this problem. What is weird is that if I charge the phone fully the problem disappears until discharge at reaching like 80% where it starts to appear again and gets worst over discharge. I'd like to know if I'm alone. If not there are chances an OTA can solve it as it would be some kind of bad power management of the screen. And we all know our power management has some troubles
Sent from my HTC One X using XDA
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Well I didn't notice it at all today, but I have noticed it when my device got to around 68% battery. Although it could of triggered before but I might not have been on the device. Whilst I was using it from 100% down to 86% everything was running perfectly fine with no flicker at all.
Could it be an app/widget in the background that is causing it? Then again probably not as we would all of had to install that same app/widget so ignore me there (thinking out loud).

It seems a lot of the initial launch day stock have the flicker.
I got mine on the 5th from Phones4U and my phone and some others sold that day have been returned to the same store.
The one I got today is totally flicker free on all colours. The screen seems totally different. It's not as blindingly bright as my original one but of a much better quality.
It may be software related but this would suggest otherwise.

If the thoery of it appearing while battery is going down it could just be some underpowering of the screen. That sounds logical and solvable via OTA.
I don't think any app could do that
Sent from my HTC One X using XDA

joplayer said:
If the thoery of it appearing while battery is going down it could just be some underpowering of the screen. That sounds logical and solvable via OTA.
I don't think any app could do that
Sent from my HTC One X using XDA
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Yeah it does... As I said thinking back to Macbook/Laptop and the flicker (which had LCD screens) they were sorted via a firmware upgrade as I mentioned; which really would lead me to think OTA could sort it and that HTC are saying to DOA devices simply because they don't have a solution right at this moment in time.

DazNoonan said:
Yeah it does... As I said thinking back to Macbook/Laptop and the flicker (which had LCD screens) they were sorted via a firmware upgrade as I mentioned; which really would lead me to think OTA could sort it and that HTC are saying to DOA devices simply because they don't have a solution right at this moment in time.
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Wasn't aware of this MacBook case. Nice to hear.
As I had some troubles with HTC i can tell you that (at least in France it works this way) their support service is like a different company. There is no communication between them and that is wanted for you not to be able to go far in complains. The people at these support center just read there scripts and know less of the product than we do. They can't be aware of early releases issues this way so for them the only solution is a new device. In the end that is stupid because they loose money and their good reputation
Sent from my HTC One X using XDA

joplayer said:
Wasn't aware of this MacBook case. Nice to hear.
As I had some troubles with HTC i can tell you that (at least in France it works this way) their support service is like a different company. There is no communication between them and that is wanted for you not to be able to go far in complains. The people at these support center just read there scripts and know less of the product than we do. They can't be aware of early releases issues this way so for them the only solution is a new device. In the end that is stupid because they loose money and their good reputation
Sent from my HTC One X using XDA
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Click to collapse
Thats exactly how it happens over here mate; would rather do the quick fix (handset exchange) than worry about the problem as they are reading from a script and probably don't even really understand the problem... By giving you another device they can simply bide time to report the problem to the technical team to work on a resolution.

I get that flicker only at lock screen when the notification lock screen its select it. Other than that none. So I can't use that lockscreen
Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

[Q] ONE X Battery/LCD replacement query

I recently sent my phone for repair because of abnormal overheating within the battery (which consequently caused screen burn causing a yellow tint). I am happy to be informed that HTC replaced the LCD screen panel/touch panel and the bezel as well as a new battery.
I was wondering whether the battery/lcd parts are the same as the stock parts or different tweaked to stop this problem ever occurring again. Any ideas?
P.S. Have been away from the 'development' side of the OX forums as of lately (since i have no OX and didnt want to be reminded of that), I have noticed that there are now 2 android development forums for the OX, the original and the other is just standard. Is there any difference between the 2?
Regards,

There is an announcement at the top of those forums explaining the differences. & I think HTC will just replace your screen with another normal LCD/battery. They will be newer though. Sounds like yours was an unlikely case so I doubt it will happen again.

ste1164 said:
There is an announcement at the top of those forums explaining the differences. & I think HTC will just replace your screen with another normal LCD/battery. They will be newer though. Sounds like yours was an unlikely case so I doubt it will happen again.
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What announcement?

Latest software but still have screen flicker?

Hi,
I'm on a stock Voda UK and have 1.29.161.13, which I've had ever since it was released - but I still have the screen flicker.
Does anyone else still suffer with this and does anyone have suggestions as to how I might get rid of it? My hardware is rock solid and I don't want to risk a repair or exchange.
Many thanks!

Send it back. No other way to fix it its a hardware fault
Sent from my Legend using xda app-developers app

People say put on a white screen on max brightness that might fix it quicker. You could try a software reset. If that doesnt help id get a replacement.

The flicker remained a little bit for me too even after the OTA. The solution for me has been a complete reflash via the RUU.
Since then the color fix finally works and no more visible flickering.
Sent from my HTC One X using xda premium

ste1164 said:
People say put on a white screen on max brightness that might fix it quicker. You could try a software reset. If that doesnt help id get a replacement.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How would I go about doing a software reset? Any other solutions would be gratefully received, thanks!

I just watched this video abot Hox screen flickering.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GX6TSsyL2B0
If this is the case, it is a hardware problem and will never be fixed by software update.
Best regards

flicker
shafez said:
I just watched this video abot Hox screen flickering.
youtube
If this is the case, it is a hardware problem and will never be fixed by software update.
Best regards
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Click to collapse
Pretty sure that's an example of screen corruption. Screen flickering looks quite a bit different to that, and was fixed (for me, and others have said the same), by software update.
Mine took about 3 days after the update to disappear. Has been perfect since.

shafez said:
I just watched this video abot Hox screen flickering.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GX6TSsyL2B0
If this is the case, it is a hardware problem and will never be fixed by software update.
Best regards
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ha, would that be the well known and well documented "hardware problem that'll never be fixed with software" that was, in fact, fixed by software? More specifically, v1.28.
Love people who state their uneducated gut feeling as fact. Great way to propogate misinformation.

My unit was down with Flickering issue too..
HTC replace the mian board for me...
and its been working well so far for me.....

Hey guys,
If you have screen flickering issues, please read this thread, there's an arising problem with all One X's
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1745886
Best of luck!

Atrixx said:
Hey guys,
If you have screen flickering issues, please read this thread, there's an arising problem with all One X's
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1745886
Best of luck!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, it's happened to at least 3 people, so it must affect "all One X's". Great application of deduction, logic and reason.

BenPope said:
Yeah, it's happened to at least 3 people, so it must affect "all One X's". Great application of deduction, logic and reason.
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That's probably heat either screwing with the GPU or anything else on the rendering chain.

Hunt3r.j2 said:
That's probably heat either screwing with the GPU or anything else on the rendering chain.
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Click to collapse
As anyone in the laptop repair world is well aware Nvidia chips overheating and degrading the solder joints are probably the most common reasons for graphics problems.
Mine flickers ,,it's less than four weeks old BUT it didn't flicker until after the first time my phone got very very warm.

huxleypig said:
As anyone in the laptop repair world is well aware Nvidia chips overheating and degrading the solder joints are probably the most common reasons for graphics problems.
Mine flickers ,,it's less than four weeks old BUT it didn't flicker until after the first time my phone got very very warm.
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Click to collapse
I wonder if any further updates might make a difference?

bigbamboo5 said:
I wonder if any further updates might make a difference?
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Click to collapse
I think it's a hardware issue. Software faults are present from day one usually and show up in virtually all devices. Hardware faults vary from device to device depending on heat range voltage etc etc ..So I doubt very much if there is a software "fix" you might lower the impact by altering the refresh rate say but it is only masking the issue of faulty hardware IMO.

huxleypig said:
I think it's a hardware issue. Software faults are present from day one usually and show up in virtually all devices. Hardware faults vary from device to device depending on heat range voltage etc etc ..So I doubt very much if there is a software "fix" you might lower the impact by altering the refresh rate say but it is only masking the issue of faulty hardware IMO.
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Click to collapse
How would I do that, please?
I often get the flicker on Chrome and apparently other browsers exhibit this less. Does anyone have experience of this?

Update it
Sent from my Legend using xda app-developers app

The assumed s/w fix that got rolled out originally was thought to address voltage regulation issues as well as graphics driver’s anomalies. Early on, in addition to the flickering, there was distortion in the notification bar and funky banding in the camera app. There was a big problem with chip consistency when the Asus Prime first launched. The chip in the One X isn't the same and it’s the first time it's being used. People have posted AnTuTu and Quadrant benchmarks that show some chips seem to be underperforming while others over perform. The problem could be an out-of-spec chip.

BarryH_GEG said:
The assumed s/w fix that got rolled out originally was thought to address voltage regulation issues as well as graphics driver’s anomalies. Early on, in addition to the flickering, there was distortion in the notification bar and funky banding in the camera app. There was a big problem with chip consistency when the Asus Prime first launched. The chip in the One X isn't the same and it’s the first time it's being used. People have posted AnTuTu and Quadrant benchmarks that show some chips seem to be underperforming while others over perform. The problem could be an out-of-spec chip.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think the graphical glitches were fixed in 1.28 and the flickering fixed in the second 1.29.
I think the variable benchmarks are due to temperature of the device and battery level.
At a certain temperature (normal) all 4 cores won't run at 1500MHz, but if you can keep it cool enough, they will.

Atrixx said:
Hey guys,
If you have screen flickering issues, please read this thread, there's an arising problem with all One X's
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1745886
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
BenPope said:
Yeah, it's happened to at least 3 people, so it must affect "all One X's". Great application of deduction, logic and reason.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm staying out of your BSOD thread because I don't want to bump it or add fuel to the fire. But the fact that it's just two pages kind of tells you how widespread the issue is. People unhappy with audio output from the in-built speaker made it to 11 pages to give you a frame of reference. Real problems present themselves and don't need to be promoted.
---------- Post added at 10:34 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:58 AM ----------
BenPope said:
I think the variable benchmarks are due to temperature of the device and battery level.
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Click to collapse
Nah. People with bad benchmarks got similar results hot or cold and at different battery levels. Some were already experiencing funky problems that they thought were s/w related. Nvidia has big problems with their yields so out-of-spec chips making it in to the wild isn't that surprising. It was a big problem on the first couple of batches of Prime's. I’d bet that people whose flickering wasn’t corrected by the updates have a bad chip (or aspect of a chip).

What went wrong with the Note7

It seems like we will know soon:
https://www.google.si/amp/m.gsmaren...blame-amp-22770.php?client=ms-android-samsung
Other sources claim Samsung has been able to reproduce the issue and that the anouncment will be made on Jan 23rd. What do you all think, battery after all?

I say user error if the report is true that it wasnt hardware or software problem
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N930A using Tapatalk

The article just says the battery is what caused the fire - that's obvious. The question that needs to be answered is how did they reproduce it. Saying it's not HW or SW problem could mean physical design problem like they mentioned before - not enough space for the battery to expand inside the phone.

Has LG actually fixed bootloops in newer models (SN601+)? Or can they still fail too?

Sorry if this has been answered before, I tried looking around the forum and couldn't find a definitive answer about this. Or perhaps people just don't know yet... Anyway, I own a G4 that developed the bootloop and LG agreed to help. I'll supposedly be getting a new replacement phone (mine is a Singapore variant, they're swapping it for a US carrier version instead). Hopefully all goes well and I get a fully functional replacement.
But i'm still concerned. Thanks to videos from CellularDR and others, the exact cause of the defect is known and fixable. If you have the tools and skill to delid the SOC, clean and de-solder the defective materials inside, and re-solder properly (which I don't). I'm sure LG is also aware of the way to fix it themselves if they were so inclined, though i'm not sure if I trust them to apply those corrections properly to prevent the problem from returning. It was initially believed they fixed models manufactured October 2015 and later (serial number beginning in 510). Mine however was a 510 and developed the problem. It can take time for bootloops to start too (mine lasted almost a year and a half), so even a 6xx or 7xx device that works at first may still bootloop later if the proper modifications were not made by LG.
So are newer "fixed" 6xx or 7xx models really fixed and safe from the bootloop? Anyone had any of these fail on them yet? I realize one way to tell- taking apart the Snapdragon SOC and see how the solder looks, but I don't expect anyone would have done this (nor expect them to).

Goatville said:
Sorry if this has been answered before, I tried looking around the forum and couldn't find a definitive answer about this. Or perhaps people just don't know yet... Anyway, I own a G4 that developed the bootloop and LG agreed to help. I'll supposedly be getting a new replacement phone (mine is a Singapore variant, they're swapping it for a US carrier version instead). Hopefully all goes well and I get a fully functional replacement.
But i'm still concerned. Thanks to videos from CellularDR and others, the exact cause of the defect is known and fixable. If you have the tools and skill to delid the SOC, clean and de-solder the defective materials inside, and re-solder properly (which I don't). I'm sure LG is also aware of the way to fix it themselves if they were so inclined, though i'm not sure if I trust them to apply those corrections properly to prevent the problem from returning. It was initially believed they fixed models manufactured October 2015 and later (serial number beginning in 510). Mine however was a 510 and developed the problem. It can take time for bootloops to start too (mine lasted almost a year and a half), so even a 6xx or 7xx device that works at first may still bootloop later if the proper modifications were not made by LG.
So are newer "fixed" 6xx or 7xx models really fixed and safe from the bootloop? Anyone had any of these fail on them yet? I realize one way to tell- taking apart the Snapdragon SOC and see how the solder looks, but I don't expect anyone would have done this (nor expect them to).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nobody really knows.
But I can say that I do not trust any refurbished phone where the mainboard gets replaced!
I believe this is also a hot fix only and it differs from phones produced since 2016.
I own two 603 serials and well I'm a heavy user when it comes to stress test due to development. No issues so far.. But regular backups is a must always
.
Sent from my LG-H815 using XDA Labs

I did see a couple of people in another thread were claiming their 601 G4's bootlooped. So that is troubling to me. Though I also saw someone else claim that there were actually some cases of people lying on here about the issue happening to them (Samsung trolls or something to that effect). I haven't found any posts claiming any G4's with 602 and above are bootlooping.
When I spoke with LG tech support, they said that I would be receiving a replacement phone instead of repairing my original device. Due to it being from a different region. I do not know anything about the "new" G4 they'll be sending back though, except that I think it'll be a T Mobile H811 variant (at least that is the carrier I said i'd be using, they seemed to be allowing me to choose). I don't know if it's going to be a new device or some kind of refurbishment, nor the model number it will have.
I'll have to cross my fingers. And hopefully they honor the replacement and don't find any reason to refuse to help me. I took very good care of the device and didn't go messing with it apart from exchanging the original battery (which went bad for no apparent reason and actually physically inflated, had to get rid of it as it's a fire hazard).

I never saw any proof(!) for a 603 or higher device which gets boot looped. Only one refurbished and actually without any proof. That's why I do not trust any refurbished..
The fix was introduced in late 2015 but I personally believe it takes time to change the production process. This means you would get e.g. a 511 with the fix and and also without (I have no proof for it though) and depending on the time required to change all production paths this can take a while.
I believe that you can be save after 3-4 months after the fix was introduced so 603 and later. But well guarantees are elsewhere..
.
Sent from my LG-H815 using XDA Labs

i would say. from 601 upwards it still can happen but no like before with 505-510's seems there a re slim chances it will.
last ive heard was a 603 about 3 of them.. not bad.. compared to the 505's so id say chances are slimmer..

raptorddd said:
i would say. from 601 upwards it still can happen but no like before with 505-510's seems there a re slim chances it will.
last ive heard was a 603 about 3 of them.. not bad.. compared to the 505's so id say chances are slimmer..
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My concern with assuming the reliability of 6xx models is the length of time it can take before a bootloop appears. My 510 lasted from January 2016 to May 2017 before it failed. Almost a year and a half. Though I do not know how typical my G4's lifespan was compared to others.
I don't know how typical that length of time is for others who bootlooped, but perhaps the reason so few 6xx devices have failed is because they're not old enough yet. Hopefully we don't see an increasing number of 6xx models failing as the year goes on.

Goatville said:
My concern with assuming the reliability of 6xx models is the length of time it can take before a bootloop appears. My 510 lasted from January 2016 to May 2017 before it failed. Almost a year and a half. Though I do not know how typical my G4's lifespan was compared to others.
I don't know how typical that length of time is for others who bootlooped, but perhaps the reason so few 6xx devices have failed is because they're not old enough yet. Hopefully we don't see an increasing number of 6xx models failing as the year goes on.
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yes true. about what you say.. but seems that reports are lower. nothing like the 5XX.

I've tried to find any accurate information regarding reliability of more recent versions, but haven't found any reliable source.
I had a 506, and it experienced bootloop after 12 months of moderate usage. It was repaired under warranty, and now it's 705 (motherboard was made in may 2017).
I just can't see any logic in producing crippled motherboards almost two years after cause of boot loop is discovered..

After 1 year and 2 months, my S/N 601 G4 just got bootloop last week. Threw it straight into the dustbin since that device was imported from the UK
just for the sake of the unlockable bootloader that doesn't exist in Asia.

My 511 just started bootlooping. Was able to get my data by setting it in front of my AC but will immediately reboot if it move it away.

Interesting fact is that motherboards usually fail after 1 year and 2 month (most likely). It was the same with my G4.

The replacement model LG sent me has a 701 serial number, so January 2017. Good. I guess this is the best chance of getting a bootloop free G4 that I can hope for. Though there's no telling if these models are safe either due to the time they can take to break. Can take a year or more to tell (and by then who knows if LG will even bother to help anymore).
At least for now though I once again have a working phone. It's also cooler thus far than my former G4, so maybe they did do something. Plus I now have a custom kernel and overclocking enabled on the big cores (though the custom governor settings might actually be helping thermals).