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Hello everyone.
I got my HD2 a couple of weeks ago and as usual with new toys, am still taking some extra care with it. I had a Touch HD before that withstood quite a few bumps and two small drops. I saw people carying iPhones in pants pockets, back and front. Given that HD2 screen is significantly larger, how fragile is it, really? I usually carry my phones in jacket pocket, screen towards the body, without any case or sleeve. Do I need to take so much care for it or is it actually more resilient than it seems? Yes, I've seen the threads with broken screens. Anything can break, given enough force.
Any serious feedback is welcomed. Thanks.
Cheers, R
Well I have had mine since it was released in the UK and have had it in my right hand side front pocket in my jeans/trousers etc, sat on floors etc and all sorts and nothing has ever happened to it at all. Its a pretty tough screen I think, as long as when its in you pocket its not at an odd angle, I cant see any problems keeping it in there. I certainly have no problems.
Scratch test
There is a YouTube video of a scratch test of the screen of an HD2, its in foreign but gives a good idea of its screen tolerances (those of a nervous disposition may wish to look away towards the end)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcEaehKWr2s
Hmm I can only speak for myself and my HD2... but my screen has 2 (really small) scratches..
I think these are from a keychain or maybe a lighter in my pocket. I don't really know where the came from - but not from dropping it.
I would recommend to use a (thin - not that thick vikuti) foil to protect it against scratches.
--> Question: What would you recomment regarding a foil to cover the screen? I bought 1 Vikuti foil and really disliked it - it is sooo thick
Edit: I think the knife in the video would be able to scratch the screen... only a matter of right angle an pressure
I dropped mine on new years eve - drunk and the only thing i noticed the following day was that i had lost the backplate lol
Someone on here very kindly gave me a replacement.
Other than that - no scratches so far
Had mine three weeks, using front trouser pocket though I am very conscious of checking the pocket for keys etc first.
I have a full body invisibleSHIELD skin, and i'm extremely happy with it.
I've knocked it a few times on the edge of tables and chairs, once on the metal hand grip on a bus seat, and theres not a mark on it anywhere.
I have a screen protector that covers the entire screen, and carry the phone in my pants pocket in the leather case that came with the phone (I'm waiting on a holster from eBay).
The screen is in perfect condition, however, I did scuff the corner of the HD2 by dropping it (in its leather case) as I went to put it in my pocket coming out of a movie theatre...dropped onto cement.
: /
I use a screen protector and have a very nice silicone case for it that fits very snug, but I'm just being careful.
I believe that common sense is enough to keep this device from being damaged. As you can see from the linked video above, the screen is very resiliant, but it's not scratchproof. Also, why on earth anyone would put it in the back pocket of their trousers and sit down is totally beyone me, but people have done it (and probably still do), but they end up on here asking how to fix their damaged screen. (My advice to them is to hook up a flex capacitor to their car, drive at 88mph, go back in time to before they broke it and slap themselves round the face and say "STOP BEING SILLY!!!")
It's tough, but not unbreakable. Just treat it with respect, look after it sensibly, and DO NOT PUT IT IN YOUR BACK TROUSER POCKET OR FRONT SHIRT POCKET!!!
As the meerkats say... simples
(I hate those adverts, but I do like Back To The Future )
johncmolyneux said:
FRONT SHIRT POCKET!!!
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Why not...I put it in there all the time?
So it won't fall out or...?
Spike15 said:
Why not...I put it in there all the time?
So it won't fall out or...?
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lol - I've NEVER seen anyone on this forum say that that has happened to them <sarc mark>
johncmolyneux said:
lol - I've NEVER seen anyone on this forum say that that has happened to them <sarc mark>
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Just making sure I wasn't missing something.
Personally I don't bend over when I need to get something on the floor et cetera...I bend my knees...I've heard that bending like that is bad for your back.
Spike15 said:
Just making sure I wasn't missing something.
Personally I don't bend over when I need to get something on the floor et cetera...I bend my knees...I've heard that bending like that is bad for your back.
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Yes, and even moreso if you have a hernia! Good to see that xda is also responsible for good health advice too
I can't wait for mine to arrive next week. I can tell you from experience that the IPHONE has cracked 3 times in pocket when I put too much pressure. Apple does replace them on a regular basis. They allow for what they call a hairline. If it spiders they won't replace it but a hairline is within their tolerance and is common enough for them to replace it without question. That is how I ended up with a new replacement recently. I wasn't using the phone much but my HD battery died on site so I put the time into the IPHONE to use it. I squatted with the IPHONE in backpocket and CRACK. I probably should check my beltline while I am at it..
They replaced it and that worked out anyways as I am going to sell it. Keep my HD and Bold as backup.
The glass looks pretty solid and as many people reported it a good solid piece of hardware.
i keep mine in the case it comes with when i am carrying it around... any pocket really.
i just make sure i dont sit on it! lol
the screen itself is extremely resilient when it is out and in use.
I leave mine lying around all of the time out of the case and it still looks brand new.
I dont use any screen protector.
screen strength
being a kapasitive screen it uses a propper glass cover instead of ****ty plexi glass or resistive glass as most phones use, this naturally gives it a more scratch proof serface but makes it less resilient to actually breaking. like one guy said it all has to do with angle and preshure.. and abit of bad luck when it comes to screen protection i recomend invisiShield. they are nice and thin, VERY clear plastic so it doesnt disturb teh screen quality. and last but not least, the fabric its made of is teh same as teh stuff that they use to cover helicopter rotor blades with, so it comes with a 30 year waranty.
Thanks for all the replies so far. I suspected as much, but it sure is nice to hear other people's experience
Cheers, R
Impunitus said:
Thanks for all the replies so far. I suspected as much, but it sure is nice to hear other people's experience
Cheers, R
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I had the same fear with its screen .. i posted a poll on the screen
see this
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=618978
Has anyone else encountered the screen starting to lift by the ear piece?
Sent from my Liberty using XDA App
uborame posted about this problem in a thread about a week back (I'd link it, but for some reason I'm not allowed to), and I've had the same problem, bringing us to a count of 3 reports that I've seen. It seems as though this is a somewhat rare issue, but isn't isolated to just one device...
Do you use a case? I don't, but could see how a case might hold things together such that it would prevent this issue.
I'm actually planning on returning my Aria and moving up to the Captivate since I'm in the 30 day window and can get the Captivate for the same price I paid for the Aria. The screen separation issue and chatter about what upgrades this phone may or may not get have me concerned about its longevity.
The Aria uses a two piece screen/digitizer assembly; as in the digitizer glass sitting over the screen. What you are experiencing is the digitizer seperating from the display beneath it; it's simply held in place with the usual double-sided foamy tape.
RepairsUniverse has a video on how to disassemble/replace the screen -- That's the info you need to get at it... but you'll only have to go about half way, enough to get the digitizer seperated.. then replace the tape, reseat, reassemble.
The Aria is *not* a durable phone; IMHO one of the more breakage prone units... Kind of regret going with it for this reason, but figure I'll just learn it inside out and keep fixing it until it's FUBAR.
Honestly the screen issue doesn't bug me much. The digitizer is a 50 dollar part I can replace in <1 hr if I screw up and kill it again -- My main concern is water damage -- The way the case mates with the screen/digitizer looks like a real invitation for capillary action to destroy the phone with just a little bit of fluid... We'll see how that works out...
My phone also seems to have this issue. The left side of the screen has lifted itself ~.5mm higher than the wall of the backplate. I noticed this a couple of days after I bought the phone, but I brushed it off assuming I was just being critical.
Very unfortunate...
Hi,
Got my HD2 couple months back and using it with silicon cover since beginning but now I want to take the cover off and show the real beauty of the phone to everyone but I am too scared to take the silicon cover off because I am clumsy and I drop my phone way too frequently.
I know the phone looks very durable but exactly how durable is it??? can people share some experiences like oh I dropped it from 5ft and it was intact or oh I dropped it from 2ft and the screen broke etc etc.
I used to have HTC Kaiser/tilt and I dropped it way too my times without any covers but it never gave up on me.
PS: I know there is no real way to define durability of a cellphone but u know there are some cellphones which are really delicate and u have to handle them with extra extra care. While there are some like the kaiser who are made for rough use. Just want to know which category our HD2 belongs to?
Sorry for the double post, by mistake i posted it in accessories section!
Hey, i droped it many times and nothing happens.
Sometimes from 150 cm and a bit more and less.
I have thrown my Diamond down the street many times on a night out, but I would never want to drop my HD2 outside of a case, the entire front of the phone is glass, so you may get lucky a couple of times you may not. I wouldn't want to take the chance, it's expensive to replace.
I've dropped my HD2 a few times, most recent was when my mate rugby tackled me on a night out and broke my hand in the process, the HD2 survived almost unscathed due to it being in its case, although there is now a tiny chip on the front-facing bezel above the headphone socket where it meets the glass.
I never bothered with a screen protector and the screen looks as good as new and I've had mine since Nov2009. It's a tough little phone. As long as you keep it in its case when its not being used you will be fine.
hardik119 said:
Hi,
Got my HD2 couple months back and using it with silicon cover since beginning but now I want to take the cover off and show the real beauty of the phone to everyone but I am too scared to take the silicon cover off because I am clumsy and I drop my phone way too frequently.
I know the phone looks very durable but exactly how durable is it??? can people share some experiences like oh I dropped it from 5ft and it was intact or oh I dropped it from 2ft and the screen broke etc etc.
I used to have HTC Kaiser/tilt and I dropped it way too my times without any covers but it never gave up on me.
PS: I know there is no real way to define durability of a cellphone but u know there are some cellphones which are really delicate and u have to handle them with extra extra care. While there are some like the kaiser who are made for rough use. Just want to know which category our HD2 belongs to?
Sorry for the double post, by mistake i posted it in accessories section!
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If you're that clumsy, I'd suggest you keep it in it's case Hardik119 as Murphys law says you'll drop it as soon as you take that cover off?
Hulmeman said:
If you're that clumsy, I'd suggest you keep it in it's case Hardik119 as Murphys law says you'll drop it as soon as you take that cover off?
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hehe, i can see tomorrows post already
'so last night i fumbled whilst taking the case off and the phone exploded into 900 pieces'
hardik119 said:
Hi,
Got my HD2 couple months back and using it with silicon cover since beginning but now I want to take the cover off and show the real beauty of the phone to everyone but I am too scared to take the silicon cover off because I am clumsy and I drop my phone way too frequently.
I know the phone looks very durable but exactly how durable is it??? can people share some experiences like oh I dropped it from 5ft and it was intact or oh I dropped it from 2ft and the screen broke etc etc.
I used to have HTC Kaiser/tilt and I dropped it way too my times without any covers but it never gave up on me.
PS: I know there is no real way to define durability of a cellphone but u know there are some cellphones which are really delicate and u have to handle them with extra extra care. While there are some like the kaiser who are made for rough use. Just want to know which category our HD2 belongs to?
Sorry for the double post, by mistake i posted it in accessories section!
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Click to collapse
It's great, I dropped it several times from 0.5m-1.0m and it's working perfectly ATM.
Had mine for 9 months now, never put a silicon case or it or screen protector. Only use the leather-ish case that came with it, have dropped my HD2 loads of times. I am litterally the worst person with phones, i had four new phones in a 2 year contract before this because i am so clumbsy, including the kaiser and tp2. HD2 is far more resilient and mine has not noticable marks on it.
Maybe i'm lucky with this phone, but i have seen videos of hd2 and iphone being pushed together screen to screen and the iphone breaks way earlier and considering the screen is that much smaller more pressure would be technically be being applied to the HD2.
Dust in your HD2's USB port is more likely to break your phone than dropping it.
The screen is gorilla glass, check out youtube for some videos of guys trying to break or scratch it, not easy! As for the case, I dropped it a couple of times on asphalt, and while the case looked fine, there is a rubbery edging around the screen that did get gouged. You can't really tell by looking, but you can feel it.
Such a classy device needs to be treated elegantly!!
A screen protector is a must have.
And to show off with ur sexy phone use a OEM leather pouch (slim and rich looking) that can be bought from ebay with a reasonable price.
http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Leather-pou...389855?pt=PDA_Accessories&hash=item415267839f
for such a big screen with lots of glass, its pretty tough, im a bit clumsy with phones, like some, i dropped by LG BL40, good job, it was ****e, but screen shatterd, chucked it in the bin and got this...always used the pouch, but had it out playing music, a broom(yes a broom) fell over and i have a c shaped scratch, drives me mad...but did scratch easier i thought..the case marks pretty easy to. But for such a large phone, thumbs up.
sevoflurane said:
Such a classy device needs to be treated elegantly!!
A screen protector is a must have.
And to show off with ur sexy phone use a OEM leather pouch (slim and rich looking) that can be bought from ebay with a reasonable price.
http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Leather-pou...389855?pt=PDA_Accessories&hash=item415267839f
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Click to collapse
not sure I agree with the screen protector. I can never keep one on the phone, it will be on for a couple of months, then start annoying me and I take it off. The screen is very scratch resistant and I don't tend to drop phones. It stays in it's bodyglove kickstand case (which adds a little lip to the edges) and goes in a leather beltclip case.
hardik119 said:
I know the phone looks very durable but exactly how durable is it???
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Click to collapse
The screen is very durable. Over the 9 months I've owned my HD2 the screen hasn't had one scratch on it despite no screen protector.
Drop it and one of two things will happen: nothing or total destruction of the screen.
Unfortunately, after 9 months of being careful I recently dropped my phone onto concrete from about 2 feet and the screen is totalled
The problem lies with the thinness of the bezel where it meets the screen (it deforms easily) and the tight tolerances of the join between the bezel and glass.
The combination is deadly and any design engineer ought to have noticed that at pre-production.
Someone at HTC sacrificed how the phone felt in the hand to how the glass screen reacts to side on pressure as a result of the bezel deforming on impact.
I'd be happy to have a chunkier bezel with just a few more mm of metal on the bezel if it prevents deformation on impact.
The phone is insured but I'll probably get reamed at policy renewal time next year.
the hd2 is durable as far as drops go (i don't use a case) - i've dropped mine twice, once on a wooden floor from about 5 ft up,no damage, and once onto concrete from the same height,only damage a very tiny dent/scratch on the corner of the case where it hit the street.
however, do NOT believe the bull**** about the screen being super scratch resistant !! after only two weeks of GENTLE use,and only being kept in my back pocket with nothing else,there was a one inch scratch across the front. i know,i saw the videos as well, but the fact remains. it scratches,and it scratches pretty damn easy.
GET A SCREEN PROTECTOR IMMEDIATELY !!!!
Neither case nor screen protector has (or will) ever touched the perfect curves of my hd2. Furthermore, it has seen a heavy ammount of abuse.
As far as dropping it goes... I wouldn't reccomend it. Mine has survived chest high (I'm 6'4") drops on to concrete (landing screen first) and not broken. However, many a sad story has been told by users with falls from lesser heights. The unlucky folks notwithstanding, I have to say that the screen is certainly well-made. In the 6+ months I've owned it, the screen remains conspicuously scratch-free. It should be noted that I often take out my car keys and and aggressively assault the screen with them (to the horror of onlookers). I also regularly lay my device down face-first. Still can't seem to find a single scratch.
As previously mentioned, I do not have or use a case of any kind. I keep my phone on me at all times in my front pocket (screen facing my leg). This includes when I am at work. I work... at a warehouse. Which means my hd2 gets to enjoy pallets, boxes, and various other blunt-force trauma slamming against it in my pocket. Here's what I have found.
The parts that are NOT so tough:
1) Battery cover.
I have noticeable scratches and marks on the battery cover. There is a thin coating on it that will flake off after a certain ammount of abuse.
2) The flash.
My led flash was dislodged slightly (some time while at work) and pressed up against the vibration motor. Although it was easy enough to fix by popping the phone open and remounting it.
The parts that ARE tough:
So far... everything else.
jamima69 said:
it scratches,and it scratches pretty damn easy.
GET A SCREEN PROTECTOR IMMEDIATELY !!!!
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No. It really doesn't. Whatever happend to your phone to cause a scratch is unfortunate... but it is the exception, not the rule. When I am unable to INTENTIONALLY scratch something, aforementioned "thing" can not be considered "easily scratchable".
I dropped mine from 4-5 feet high a few times (a couple onto concrete) and it was fine.
Then yesterday I dropped it from 2 feet high onto a wood floor and the screen was totally destroyed. Must have just hit at the right (wrong) angle...
Also, my screen has several scratches on it, so saying it is EXTREMELY scratch resistant is BS. However, now that my screen is destroyed anyway, I tried scratching it with a key, and knife, a pushpin, and a couple other things (haven't tried my wife's diamond ring, heh) and cannot for the life of me scratch it. But it DID get scratched somehow... and one of them was there after only a few days of use.
jamima69 said:
however, do NOT believe the bull**** about the screen being super scratch resistant !! after only two weeks of GENTLE use,and only being kept in my back pocket with nothing else,there was a one inch scratch across the front. i know,i saw the videos as well, but the fact remains. it scratches,and it scratches pretty damn easy.
GET A SCREEN PROTECTOR IMMEDIATELY !!!!
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Click to collapse
the one inch scratch on your HD2 is very unfortunate, but does not mean at all that it scratches "pretty damn easy". At this point I totally disagree. I have my HD2 now for more than 1 year and I'm a heavy user, but after all this time there is not one single scratch to detect on the screen. I must say though, that I always have my HD2 in a leather belt case when not in use, but never used a screen protector on my HD2.
So in conclusion: the HD2 does not scratch easlly at all, but you have just been unfortunate and very unlucky.
regards, Kuzibri
I've recently replaced the screen in my HD2 because the old one had sustained some serious damage through an unfortunate encounter with asphalt. The device can handle some serious punishment, but the screen can crack quite easily when dropped just the wrong way. I've heard the screen can handle 400 newton of force which is quite a lot, but a 1 meter drop and slide across asphalt was too much.
Also, the screen is almost scratch-free except for sand! Sand can scratch the screen easily (had it in my pocket when working on the beach) so use a screenprotector when in a sandy environment.
While the phone is durable, it is always a good idea to to have the phone in a gell case to keep it from getting mangled when dropped. having owned several touch phones I have not found a need for a screen protector as I do not put my phone face down or in a pocket with other things...
Hey was wondering how is the screen holding up. Do you guys having any scratches on them or anything? I'm debating on whether to take mine off
It's a very tough screen, mine is still in mint condition w/o a screen protector, but I never leave any sharp objects such as keys in the same pocket as my phone either.
No scratch at all, looks like new... (other than the rest of the device).
And I never used any "protective" thingies.
Cambxo said:
Hey was wondering how is the screen holding up. Do you guys having any scratches on them or anything? I'm debating on whether to take mine off
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I've had my HD2 for 14 months and there are no scratches on it at all. When I first got it I saw the well known youtube vid of a guy trying to scratch his HD2 screen and failing. One night I was drunk and decided to show this to a mate, so I took a bottle cap and went to work with my screen, as hard as I could! We were both very impressed at the results (or lack of), but I noticed not long after that you could see where I had scratched it when I'd run my finger over it. If I wiped it clean then you couldn't see it at all. It was VERY feint, but it was there when smudged.
However, it's now 100% disappeared, even after major use.
I used to have a screen protector, but no longer bother. It's obviously always recommended not to put your phone in your pocket with keys & loose change etc., but this screen is THE BEST screen I've ever had on a phone.
I think it only needs a minimum of common sense and it will live for a looooooooooooong time!
Took mine off month ago, and very happy I did. It did nothing but lessen screen sensitivity and slightly dull viewing.
The glass on the screen can't withstand every stracth known to man, but it's pretty tough. Usually, the people with really messed up glass dropped theirs and the glass BROKE.
Here's the scratch test video and here's another thread about this where others share their thoughts and experiences.
I have just avoided putting in the same pocket as my keys, so far so good.
Wow that's pretty cool. I think I'm still going to keep one on though. To me its sort of like insurance. I may not need it often, but when I do, I sure will be glad I have it!
Sent from my HTC HD2 using XDA App
dung8604 said:
Wow that's pretty cool. I think I'm still going to keep one on though. To me its sort of like insurance. I may not need it often, but when I do, I sure will be glad I have it!
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AHHH!!! They really need to move that damn thanks button, but thanks for that
To be honest, if it gives you peace of mind and doesn't have an adverse effect (sensitivity & brightness mainly) then yeah, keep it on.
I have my HD2 about 1,5 years now, and the screen didn't have a scratch at all. Unfortunately the back plate loses it clear finish, but that's acceptable.
Almost a year and no scratches whatsoever. I do keep it in a case whenever I am carrying it around, though. The only wear I can see at all are some indentations in the material on the top right corner of the handset.
Hi,
Got a cover, no scratch at all, like many people, i don't mix keys/smartphone screen, the best way to damage it !
almost a year and no scratch at all. I must say I guard it with my life.
it never leaves my sight and is always in it's original leather pocket.
I had a HTC Touch Cruise before and it was a plastic restitve touchscreen.
Even that thing was okay and usable after 3 years... It had many deep scratches but with backlight on you only saw them a bit and it wasnt a problem for the usability
The screen of the hd2 really needs some effort to get scratched. In my opinion a screen protector is useless, because the power that is needet to scratch this screen would easily cut the protector
But i also use the barely there case, to avoid scratches on the housing (put some tape on the corners to avoid damage from case on/off). The screen protector that was with this case gives me a better feeling on the touchscreen, its easier to glide ^^ and i dont have so many fingerprints
^^^
Fingerprints can be easily removed, you know
Mine is over 9 months old, still as good as new .
My secret is "The Magical Original Leather Pouch"
It never gets out of it, unless I want to use it
Is the camera lens cover made from the same material? Does it resist scratches as well as the screen?
I also don't use a screen protector. My phone is kept in a leather belt pouch, but is handled delicately (partially because it is expensive and partially because it is such a beautiful phone).
Got my TMOUS HD2 when they first came out, and screen is still perfect. I do keep it in a pocket by itself though, so no contact with keys or change.
Ive had mine around 14 months now, never used a protector and there's no problems at all with my screen. This is even after I stopped using the leather pouch a few months ago after getting an extended battery and even after dropping the phone a few times!
Almost one year without screen-protector and without case.
Not only one scratch on the screen.
I have two scratches on the screen, but you have to make effort to see them.
I took it to a sandy beach to read books every day all summer long, no protection whatsoever.
It's a great phone.
My wife's Essential PH-1 screen filled with lines while she was using it (listening to music). Phone continued working until she tried to reboot it.
After reboot screen now looks like this. I tried powering off, then power+vol-up and power+vol-down but just see the same.
I think the cpu is still working as pushing buttons elicits the tactile vibration response but screen seems gone.
Obviously Essential is out of business. In addition I've read a few posts that even when they were in business they were not repairing dead/cracked screens rather just replacing the phone.
So here is the question. Is it repairable? If so, by whom? At what cost?
dorkshoei said:
So here is the question. Is it repairable? If so, by whom? At what cost?
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If the issue is really just a failed screen and not the mainboard, it's most definitely repairable, and the replacement can be done relatively easily at home (been there, done that). Good quality aftermarket replacement screens are available and not expensive (I bought mine on Amazon more than a year ago for US$70, and now I can see them for less than $50). The process itself is of average difficulty (not too bad compared to some other phones), but could be a bit too much for someone with no experience whatsoever. Fixez.com has a great and useful video (don't use the guide from ifixit.com, they screwed up this one).
I am sure any repair shop would be able to do this job, if you are not a DIY kind of person, but I have no idea what they would charge. Or think of any friend you may have who is good with electronics (hobby or pro)...
kt-Froggy said:
If the issue is really just a failed screen and not the mainboard, it's most definitely repairable, and the replacement can be done relatively easily at home (been there, done that).
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Click to collapse
I thought I'd read that the PH-1 was very hard to access, that iFixit basically trashed one trying to get it open. It has a 1/10 repairability rating on the site.
I've done LCD screen replacements before on other phones but always the ones with a plastic case where it's just a simple task of opening the back using a spudger.
Yeah, no clue if this is the screen or a mainboard issue. $50 isn't bad if it's the screen but it's wasted cash if it turns out to be a deeper problem.
Okay, that's funny. I just put my fingernail under the bezel and saw it was loose. Lifted slightly and the entire screen popped off as it there was zero adhesive.
Okay, screen replacement looks fairly simple at this point, IF IT IS THE LCD. I have a tube of B-7000.
dorkshoei said:
I thought I'd read that the PH-1 was very hard to access, that iFixit basically trashed one.
I've done LCD screen replacements before on other phones but always the ones with a plastic case where it's just a simple task of opening the back using a spudger.
Yeah, no clue if this is the screen or a mainboard issue. $70 isn't bad if it's the screen but it's wasted cash if it turns out to be a deeper problem.
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That's why I said don't do it the way Ifixit did, LOL... Watch the video from fixez.com. You need to be careful, and know how to use a heat gun properly. Otherwise, it's not that hard. And you need to get either a narrow (1mm) adhesive tape or a liquid glue to mount the new screen. Also, a couple of things to watch out for around the earpiece opening and silicone gasket for the front camera. If you consider a DYI job, feel free to PM me, I'll be happy to help. My PH-1 has been working perfectly since the repair in Feb 2019, and I've done screen replacements quite a few times on similar phone designs like Sony Xperia Z series.
kt-Froggy said:
You need to be careful, and know how to use a heat gun properly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have an SMD rework preheater that works great for softening the glue on screens, far more precise than a heat gun .... but as I said above I don't think I'll need it
Now, the issue is whether it's a mainboard issue or LCD.
Fixez seems to have a screen for $24
https://www.fixez.com/essential-phone-ph-1-screen-replacement
dorkshoei said:
Okay, that's funny. I just put my fingernail under the bezel and saw it was loose. Lifted slightly and the entire screen popped off as it there was zero adhesive.
Okay, screen replacement looks fairly simple at this point, IF IT IS THE LCD. I have a tube of B-7000.
https://www.amazon.com/Essential-Digitizer-Replacement-Assembly-Complete/dp/B07CLNDBZS/
@kt-Froggy Is the above what you were referring to. I guess I can always order, see if it fixes, else return it.
Fixez has one for $24
https://www.fixez.com/essential-phone-ph-1-screen-replacement
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Yep, that's exactly the screen I got, and left a detailed review on Jan 29, 2019 (from a user KT). $24 from Fixez is even better, and sounds like a no-brainer. And if your screen is already removed, then you don't have to do the most difficult part. Just plug in the new screen and confirm if it works Like I said, be careful around the earpiece opening and the gasket. Good luck!
Ok, ordered from Fixez. We shall see if it corrects the issue.
dorkshoei said:
I thought I'd read that the PH-1 was very hard to access, that iFixit basically trashed one trying to get it open. It has a 1/10 repairability rating on the site.
I've done LCD screen replacements before on other phones but always the ones with a plastic case where it's just a simple task of opening the back using a spudger.
Yeah, no clue if this is the screen or a mainboard issue. $50 isn't bad if it's the screen but it's wasted cash if it turns out to be a deeper problem.
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Search the Reddit AMA posts on the Essential sub-reddit from the fall of 2017. Essential was asked about iFixit's teardown and rating. Essential's response was that they gave iFixit instructions to opening the phone but they ignored them completely. They said you apply heat to the sides, even gave a specific temperature, to loosen the adhesive and use a suction cup to lift the screen off. Most people use some thin tools to get under the screen though. But it's much easier to do than iFixit makes you think. I'm not sure why they ****ed that up so badly. Ignore their guide and find a better one.
My concern is how fragile the screen is. I want to replace the battery but haven't opened this phone yet. I have seen lots of people replace the battery and damage the screen.
gk1984 said:
Search the Reddit AMA posts on the Essential sub-reddit from the fall of 2017. Essential was asked about iFixit's teardown and rating. Essential's response was that they gave iFixit instructions to opening the phone but they ignored them completely. They said you apply heat to the sides, even gave a specific temperature, to loosen the adhesive and use a suction cup to lift the screen off. Most people use some thin tools to get under the screen though. But it's much easier to do than iFixit makes you think. I'm not sure why they ****ed that up so badly. Ignore their guide and find a better one.
My concern is how fragile the screen is. I want to replace the battery but haven't opened this phone yet. I have seen lots of people replace the battery and damage the screen.
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Yeah, big surprise with the guide from iFixit... This one left me scratching my head. Probably the only one I know where they so royally screwed up.
A few comments from my experience replacing the screen on PH-1... The screen on my phone was shatterred badly enough to make a suction cup useless, so I had to pry it out (still, with a heat gun). There was no concern about saving it, anyway. But if I had to open up the phone again, e.g. for replacing the battery, I am pretty confident I could do that safely. From the repairability standpoint, there are two problems with the screen on this phone. One is a very narrow shoulder to mount the screen assembly to the frame (but this is also a good thing, as there's not that much adhesive to struggle with). And the other is a very fragile "sandwich" behind the glass that contains the LCD and the backlight components. It's too easy to damage that sandwich from the sides with a tool, even made of plastic. It will be pretty obvious once you have a replacement screen in your hands and take a close look at it.
A general issue with disassembling the phones of this design at home is that most people will not be able to heat the perimeter evenly to lift the screen off by a suction cup only (I know I can't). So, you would most probably have to use some tool around the edges. The trick is to NOT pry the screen out (or you will crack the edge), but only use a tool to carefully undercut the adhesive as you pull with a suction cup, so the screen can separate from the frame. This way, you can gradually work your way around the perimeter, while heating it up and lifting the screen with a suction cup. A thin plastic spudger would work. If you really feel adventurous, maybe a hobby knife, but I don't recommend it. I would suggest starting from the top, as the adhesive strip under the earpiece is extremely thin, and it would be easier lifting off that part of the screen as you heat it.
Another thing is to NOT reach deeper than about 1mm under the edge of the screen with any tool, otherwise you are risking damaging the LCD assembly.
Update. Screen from Fixez.com ($28 shipped) fixed the issue. Happy wife. Happy me.
Easy install, just used some B7000 glue I already had. Clamped screen down for 24 hours.
@kt-Froggy thanks for your help and encouragement.