Database Users

[Q] Weird S4 screen issue - any ideas (?)

Hello everyone. I've been using my S4 for quite some time now, almost a year. I always kept in its protective case and had a screen protector from day one. Never dropped it. Virtually no scratches on the screen protector. A few days ago I noticed something that looked a bit like cracks. I'm attaching some images, here's how I can describe them:
they're underneath the glass
there are no markings, scratches or anything on the surface of the glass or the screen protector in that area
the sensitivity of the digitizer has not been affected, nor has the display itself
they are advancing very slowly, the first day I noticed them the smaller ones were barely visible
they almost look like air pockets in the glue that keeps the display and digitizer together (?), cracks are not that wide i think
never buying a Samsung phone again
Is this a common/known issue ? I've seen and used tons of smart gadgets, but this is the first time I've encountered such issue.
Thank you

this is really interesting

NK0d3R said:
Hello everyone. I've been using my S4 for quite some time now, almost a year. I always kept in its protective case and had a screen protector from day one. Never dropped it. Virtually no scratches on the screen protector. A few days ago I noticed something that looked a bit like cracks. I'm attaching some images, here's how I can describe them:
they're underneath the glass
there are no markings, scratches or anything on the surface of the glass or the screen protector in that area
the sensitivity of the digitizer has not been affected, nor has the display itself
they are advancing very slowly, the first day I noticed them the smaller ones were barely visible
they almost look like air pockets in the glue that keeps the display and digitizer together (?), cracks are not that wide i think
never buying a Samsung phone again
Is this a common/known issue ? I've seen and used tons of smart gadgets, but this is the first time I've encountered such issue.
Thank you
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yeah thats the adhesive between screen and the glass peeling off..

Not sure what to do here. I could try to _gently_ apply some heat (via a hair dryer), but I think I rather send it to an authorized service. It's still under warranty and it's not my fault so they should fix it for free. It's not that much of an issue now, but it will kill it's resell value later. One thing to learn out of all this : Samsung - never again. Sony and LG look so much better now.

Voting for a 1.april fools joke. Seems like you've just scratched the top layer film. The clue is where
the scratch ends that has accumulated plastic (white dot)
Sorry to O.P if I'm wrong!

Once I'll get home, I'll try to snap a picture with the screen protector raised. I don't want to remove it because it was a pain installing it. It is underneath the protective glass, I didn't even give it a thought that today was April 1st.

UXELLR said:
Voting for a 1.april fools joke. Seems like you've just scratched the top layer film. The clue is where
the scratch ends that has accumulated plastic (white dot)
Sorry to O.P if I'm wrong!
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Ok, that's the best I could, it's not really confortable holding the camera while I lift the screen protector while I try to keep it in focus. These screen protectors tend to build a lot of moisture underneath them, never expected that. Anyway, you can probably see, the problem is not a scratch on the screen protector.

My bad, proof enough! I feel sorry for you, never seen that one before.
If you now you haven't done anything wrong the blame is on Samsung. Maybe you should go with your initial thought about sending it in under warranty.
Itcould be they have seen cases like this and know about the problem. Fixing yourself seems risky. There are guides
changing the touchscreenglass on youtube.
Good luck, wathewer you choose to do! Please report back to this thread if its get fixed or not.

pin-sized "rainbow" scratches

I bought my S5 a few days ago and absolutely love it. However, I've noticed a few pin sized dot scratches appearing in the short time having it. I'm confused because my previous phone the Note 3 has the same type of glass and it is flawless after a year.
Does anyone else have this problem? Thinking of getting a new one if it's an isolated case.

No idea what you mean by "pin-sized "rainbow" scratches". The very first thing that should have crossed your mind would be to attach a sharp, full resolution photo to your post so that we could see what you are referring to.
The only unusual glass defect that immediately comes to mind.. but doesn't appear to fit your description is an apparent oleophobic coating failure as described here.
.

Unfortunately, my phone is my only camera so I can't take a picture.
To describe it, it looks exactly like a tiny stuck pixel but changes colors in different angles. I know it's a scratch because I can slightly feel my nail on it.

leepcharge said:
Unfortunately, my phone is my only camera so I can't take a picture.
To describe it, it looks exactly like a tiny stuck pixel but changes colors in different angles. I know it's a scratch because I can slightly feel my nail on it.
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Borrow a phone or camera to take a picture? Or (not as good) as an alternative, perhaps try finding a well lit mirror and try taking a picture of the phone with it's own front camera?
As to the defect, Corning Gorilla Glass is not invulnerable. I agree that it is pretty tough but it only takes one drop or slide on a rough surface to cause scratches or pitting. Did you lend your phone to anyone.. have a bit of sand in your pocket just once.. wipe your screen with a cloth that had a few grains of sand stuck in it just once, use your phone around any industrial acids or even under the hood of your car i.e near the car battery? These are just guesses though. Perhaps it's even coating defect a la the post I linked to earlier.
There simply isn't nearly enough information to draw any conclusions yet. A photo would certainly help.
.

Rear Camera Scratched

So I've been using this LS993 which is the Sprint version, for about 3 days now. It looks like the lens that covers both rear cameras is all scratched up. I ordered a case for the phone but it's not arriving untill tomorrow. I believe a case would have prevented this from happening but too late now. Do you think Sprint would exchange for a new one, or do you think LG would do anything about it? Thanks for any input.

They will not exchange for a new one unless you claim a manufacturer defect or something. FWIW, case would have probably done little to prevent that as almost all cases I've seen don't cover the camera. Maybe offered some protection by raising whatever could be rubbing against the lens off the phone a bit. But against sand or keys it's no match. The camera is Gorilla Glass 4 I believe, but just goes to show you that it can still be scratched.
I have cut out and placed an old screen protector over my cameras to prevent exactly this. With the camera being flush to the phone, there's no protection.
Sent from my LG-H830 using Tapatalk

Are you sure there is no sticker on the lens that you need to remove?

Pretty sure there isn't. I've picked at the edges with no luck. I can't believe the glass would scratch that easily though. It had to have been from just setting the phone down on the table or kitchen counter.

bowhunt2005 said:
Pretty sure there isn't. I've picked at the edges with no luck. I can't believe the glass would scratch that easily though. It had to have been from just setting the phone down on the table or kitchen counter.
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Granite will scratch it. There's a durability test out there that mentions this...
I ordered a case before I even got my phone. Helps with gripping when taking shots and it won't slip out of the hand as easily...

Mine is 5 days old and also all scratched up. It has been in a case from the 1st hour. It seems that even rubbing it with a cotton shirt seems to scratch it even more. I'm going to asking for a replacement or possibly switching to the S8. This is a defect!!

Have you guys seen this?
https://www.reddit.com/r/lgg6/comments/64h13y/how_to_fix_camera_scratches/
Someone's claiming that the glass itself isn't what's scratched but rather a coating that comes off.

Obscure Reference said:
Have you guys seen this?
https://www.reddit.com/r/lgg6/comments/64h13y/how_to_fix_camera_scratches/
Someone's claiming that the glass itself isn't what's scratched but rather a coating that comes off.
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Yes the same person posted on XDA
https://forum.xda-developers.com/lg-g6/how-to/camera-lens-scratches-t3587051/page2

maruichan said:
Yes the same person posted on XDA
https://forum.xda-developers.com/lg-g6/how-to/camera-lens-scratches-t3587051/page2
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Saw that after I posted.

I just bought a g6 and had the same issue. I had a screen protector from thebforst minute I got it but it scratched anyway on the rear camera lens. I thought maybe there was a plastic film protecting the lens but couldn't pull anything off. I then returmed into trouble and got another one and the same exact thing happened??? I have not been near the beach or anything so I'm not sure where the scratches came from? So I'm temporarily using a film screen protector to protect it until I figure out what the deal is with this rear glass. I was a le to chat with only and she did say there was a film on the rear camera lens but again when I tried to pick the corners nothing happened. I really dont known what to think because if I take it back to T-Mobile they will think I'm nuts. But this does cause an issue with the camera. The pics get a bad, bad flare for night pics with street lamps. When the lens is clear the flare doesnt happen. What do we do? I will try and call lg again but the people in the phone arent technical. I kmow I read the post where he says there is a coating that you buff off but should that coating be there? I dont want to ship it to lg because I need a phone for work plus they repair centers never tell you what they did to fix it? Is there a film? If there is Jerry rig didnt mention it on his testing. How can we confirm what the true issue is? For 650 I better get camera quality I expect for that kind of money. I dont want to give it back because I dont want a big bezeled phone, plus I dont like Samsung or apple. The only phone to get is the oneplus3t but they are rolling out the one plus 5 in a month and that will be bezeless. I feel screwed

Same issue here. Multiple G6 handsets including mine and my manager's. All with scratches. Almost all had cases. I am very careful with my device. Seems that if you just look at it wrong it scratches.

Other than polishing the coating off the lens as someone else here has done, you can cover the lens with a lens protector until they come out with a tempered glass version. Several have deduced it is the coating that is getting scratched, not the glass.
Currently I am using the Nillkin H+PRO since it was the only thing available at the time. I reviewed it here and it has pictures... comes with a tempered glass screen protector for front, two camera lens matte protectors and installation kit.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=71921533&postcount=50
I highly suggest to do this until you either you decide to polish, purchase tempered glass protection, etc. No reason to allow it to get worse. I think once a tempered glass protection comes out for the camera lens I will be good to go.

Need to replace the rear camera glass - the wide angle lens is obscured by dust

Does anyone have any suggestions for a video showing the safest way to remove the glass once you've heated it? I've looked at a few video's on youtube but they either show someone taking out glass fragments piece by piece or one guy who attacks his poor phone with a spudger and looks like he's trying to rip it to pieces!
What should I look out for when it comes to finding a replacement unit? Is it better to buy the ones with the adhesive already attached or should I get one where the adhesive comes separately to the glass and use the glass I already have? I've seen some reviews where people complain about the new glass resulting in hazy images. Mine is fine on the main camera, but the wide lens is full of dust!
I'm in the UK and this looks like a pretty solid item and at that price, if it's no good I can soon get another.

Had the same issue only way to get out the micro peices of glass was to carefully pick them out and shake it a little then i used a hair dryer to blow everything out.
Just think of it as carefully surgery i tried my hardest not to let any pieces come in contact with the bare lens itself.
I bought the same thing but in white mines a grey phone so now its a 2 tone colour on the back.

I think you've got the wrong end of the stick, mine isn't broken, it's just got a lot of dust in the wide angle lens. So I need to be careful when lifting the whole piece out so I don't take anything else out that shouldn't.
You bought that exact one from amazon? Was everything OK? What's the quality like with the photos after changing over?

My bad anyways lifting it off you wont take anything else with it just heat it up with a dryer and peel away...but you might break it while doing this so Becareful and slide your thin tool ever so slowly along the edges.
I bought the same but not from that seller there all from the same china warehouse so no diff...to me photos havent changed at all.

Back camera protector film

Have anybody tried these back camera film protectors? I dont know how, but My note 10+ got a tiny scratch near the center camera, even though that I put an aluminum protective ring to exactly avoid this, after this scratch happened, I am afraid it will happen again, but also I think that the quality of the pictures may be impacted, any one has tried them?

Leave it. Protective film can make photos worse. For me it's better to fix little scratches in PS than have problems with light, colors etc.
Wysłane z mojego SM-N975F przy użyciu Tapatalka

Thanks for the advice

SkoreK89 said:
Leave it. Protective film can make photos worse. For me it's better to fix little scratches in PS than have problems with light, colors etc.
Wysłane z mojego SM-N975F przy użyciu Tapatalka
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How do you fix little scratches like this?

I also would like to know how to to fix it, the scratch is very light, almost imperceptible

winol said:
Have anybody tried these back camera film protectors? I dont know how, but My note 10+ got a tiny scratch near the center camera, even though that I put an aluminum protective ring to exactly avoid this, after this scratch happened, I am afraid it will happen again, but also I think that the quality of the pictures may be impacted, any one has tried them?
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Have you ever received the message to clean your camera lens when taking a photo?

AllTheWay said:
Have you ever received the message to clean your camera lens when taking a photo?
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Yes, when smudged by fingerprints or such, but, due to the tiny light scratch I mentioned, no

I don't have anything other than a wrap on my camera. There's nothing on the lense directly above the camera sensor, but it keeps things from touching it as easily/often . Most wraps include a piece for the camera as well as the phone, I've put wraps on my last few phones, and haven't had an issue with any of the cameras. Slickwraps and Dbrand both have quality wraps. I have Slickwraps on my Note 8 and 10+. After 2+ years of being on my Note 8, the camera wrap came off a month ago only because it was peeled off in one of my bags while traveling.

That honeycomb pattern looks nice!

I know this is an old thread, but I thought people might wanna learn a few things about these camera protectors. I got one made of glass. I applied it pretty easily, though I needed to make some postapplying adjustments. I don't see any impact upon pictures, during the day or taken at night with the LED on.
There is no way you can remove scratches from the camera glass as any attempt to polish it will have negative impact upon camera performance.

D F said:
I know this is an old thread, but I thought people might wanna learn a few things about these camera protectors. I got one made of glass. I applied it pretty easily, though I needed to make some postapplying adjustments. I don't see any impact upon pictures, during the day or taken at night with the LED on.
There is no way you can remove scratches from the camera glass as any attempt to polish it will have negative impact upon camera performance.
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Oh my...
Not needed and it will degrade the image (refraction is one way). Adding uncoated optics is a big no-no especially.
It's not glass*, it a polycarbonate I believe and not the camera lense; it's a protective cover for the camera assembly below it.
The rear cover factory protector is cheap and easy to replace after you remove the rear cover.
A Zizo Bolt case gives good raised guards to protect it.
Keep your fingers off it and clean with a microfiber cloth as needed. Use a blower bulb first to clear loose sand if present.
I live in the desert, very windy with lots of sand and grit. After over a year and a half my 10+'s rear cam factory protector has no mars or scratches.
*you can polish mars and very slight scratches out of glass optics with a dry finger or palm.
Takes about 30 minutes or more. Any type of glass polishing more aggressive than this would likely deform it to the point of noticeably altering its optical qualities.