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So the Nexus 4’s potentially quality screen has crappy screen issues. There. I said it.
What I mean is that it’s a GREAT screen in some ways (resolution mainly) but it’s let down by what seems to be noticeably poor quality/manufacturing.
Why do I say this? Well, it’s been my experience that the Nexus 4 (in general) has a chronic problem with significantly poor screen uniformity for both colour and brightness. I ordered my first phone on the 13th December 2012 and as soon as it arrived I was pretty excited at finally getting a new phone (upgrading from Galaxy S1 the N4 is a beautiful beast).
When I booted it up and started using it I immediately got a sinking feeling as I realised that the bottom third of the phone had a slight but easily noticeable yellow gradient tint to it along with the left edge and the right edge was grey/dingy about a half a centimetre in. The left side and bottom third were also noticeably brighter than the right side of the phone. I’ve illustrated this in the attached pic. It’s all fairly subtle – but it’s definitely there and is easy to see.
Since I use (like most people I guess) quite a few apps that have white or solid colour backgrounds (gmail, currents, google books, email, messaging, chrome etc) – this lack of uniformity really made things look crappy in a not spectacular but just “sub-par” way unless I was viewing something which was a picture or video or filled the screen where it wasn’t noticeable.
So I called Google Play and told them about the problem and they arranged for a return.
When I got my replacement I booted it up and immediately, even before getting past the X logo animation noticed a big spot of light bleed at the top right. *Very* easy to see and my heart sank.
There on in I opened up the Mail app and closed the keyboard so I got a nice, mainly white screen. Again I noticed the same issue with the yellowing tint to the bottom and left but this time it was *more* noticeable.
To cut this long story short I’ve now sent back 3 devices for this issue, about to send back my 4th and my 5th should arrive tomorrow. I’m not holding out much hope.
I’ve seen this exact same issue on about 4 other Nexus 4’s in shops in the UK (Carphone Warehouse, O2) and while there looked at the HTC One X, iPhone 5 and the new Lumia phones from Nokia running Windows Phone 8. Those phones in particular (with LCD screen tech too) didn’t have these issues *at all* as far as I could tell. In fact the HTC One X screen looked to me to be flawless, as did the Lumia 820 and 920. If I could put the screen from the One X into the N4, I would. Sadly, not gonna happen. Sadly I don’t want the One X but do want an N4. P.S. I know LG manufacture their own displays.
Now I’m NOT claiming to speak for ALL N4’s (why I’ve started this thread) but I do believe that it cannot be a coincidence that ALL the N4’s *except one* showed this issue. I believe that LG simply manufacture the screens in such a way that they invariably have these tinting and brightness uniformity inconsistencies and that because most people don’t care, they don’t care.
********What I’d like is to ask if people with an N4 they’re happy with could do the following and provide the following info:
*Open the Mail app and close the keyboard (press down arrow at bottom). Look at the white of the screen and see if there is any edge or part of the screen that is noticeably *brighter* or *more yellow*. Are there any areas of the screen that are noticeably darker or duller? Do this for different brightnesses (low and fairly high). What do you see? Any yellow tint? Any inconsistency in brightness? All ok? Perfectly even?********
TL;DR: I’ve had 4 Nexus 4’s from Google Play all with the same yellow tint and brightness uniformity issues. Very noticeable. Not acceptable to me for a device that displays a lot of white “pages” and solid colours. Other phones (that I don’t want) do not have this issue (annoying). Please can you give feedback from your phone.
PLEASE NOTE:
Other threads discussing the “yellow tint” issue invariably attract trolls in their varying forms.
DO NOT reply to this thread if you simply want to say any of the following:
1) I don’t see a problem with mine therefore I don’t understand what you’re talking about.
2) I don’t see a problem with mine therefore you’re imagining a problem with yours.
3) I don’t see a problem with mine therefore you’re expecting a “perfect” screen and they don’t exist.
4) There are more important things in life to worry about. (A: I’m not “worried”, screen uniformity is important to me, get over it.)
5) I see a slight yellowing but I don’t care therefore you shouldn’t care. There are more important things in life to worry about.) [see above]
The attached illustration is slightly "exaggerated" to make sure the effect is reproduced for all screens. Not by all that much though.
UPDATE: 31/01/2013: Well I've received *another* N4 replacement today and lo and behold the exact *same issue*. With this one I'm going to wait it out at least a week and see if it improves. I *really* want an N4 as in every other way it's truly a great piece of tech. Pray for me guys!
Re: [Q] General poor screen uniformity - brightness and colour - Feedback Please!
My screen has no discolorations or brightness unevenness that I can see.
Sent from my Paranoid Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2
I've had tint issues with all three handsets. First two it didn't disappear after use. This third handset SEEMS to have gotten a little better after a week.
All three had light bleed. First one was least noticeable, last two including the current have two blobs of light bleed in the exact same places along the top of the LCD.
It's almost as if something during manufacturing (screw tightness?) has caused it on both handsets. They are both 212K and revision 11.
It's annoying me and I may do one final RMA once I see what this new wave of devices brings.
mine's fine.
I did what you asked, OP and I'm not seeing and unevenness, yellow tint, or brightness issues (aside from auto-brightness being stupidly low).
The only issue I have with my screen is poor colors. I have a One X and an iPhone 5 that I sometimes compare with my N4's screen and it's shockingly apparent that the N4's screen has colors that just aren't worthy of a top-tier device. The resolution is nice and all, but I like it when the colors are nice and accurate. It's most easy to tell when comparing images of people and looking at their skin. Now I'm no anthropologist, but I have a pretty solid grasp of what skin looks like. The One X is probably the best at representing things the way they look IRL, followed by the iPhone 5. I don't know if it's just my N4 or other people have the same issue. I've tried using apps to adjust the color (FauxClock with Faux's kernel, to be specific), but nothing makes it look quite as nice as my other phones.
I guess you never asked about the second part, but there it is.
I had that issue when I received my device, Used kernel setting to rectify the problem but after 4-5 days of use it gone away. Now device is perfect.
I recommend you to stay with it for 3-4 days before returning it and check.
blackplague1347 said:
I did what you asked, OP and I'm not seeing and unevenness, yellow tint, or brightness issues (aside from auto-brightness being stupidly low).
The only issue I have with my screen is poor colors. I have a One X and an iPhone 5 that I sometimes compare with my N4's screen and it's shockingly apparent that the N4's screen has colors that just aren't worthy of a top-tier device. The resolution is nice and all, but I like it when the colors are nice and accurate. It's most easy to tell when comparing images of people and looking at their skin. Now I'm no anthropologist, but I have a pretty solid grasp of what skin looks like. The One X is probably the best at representing things the way they look IRL, followed by the iPhone 5. I don't know if it's just my N4 or other people have the same issue. I've tried using apps to adjust the color (FauxClock with Faux's kernel, to be specific), but nothing makes it look quite as nice as my other phones.
I guess you never asked about the second part, but there it is.
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Click to collapse
Thanks for the feedback - very helpful. I got *another* one through today and it seems "better" by a bit than the previous one at least. I think I'll see how it goes. Good to know that it's not only me sho can see the difference.
Audioboxer said:
I've had tint issues with all three handsets. First two it didn't disappear after use. This third handset SEEMS to have gotten a little better after a week.
All three had light bleed. First one was least noticeable, last two including the current have two blobs of light bleed in the exact same places along the top of the LCD.
It's almost as if something during manufacturing (screw tightness?) has caused it on both handsets. They are both 212K and revision 11.
It's annoying me and I may do one final RMA once I see what this new wave of devices brings.
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Click to collapse
All the phones I've had have been 301K and they've all had the same issue with yellow tint/backlight inconsistency in a very similar way. I'll have sent back 4 N4's if I decide to keep the current one! I think you're probably right about the screw tightness or some such other minor thing during manufacturing. It's not like a viewing angle problem. It does look like something to do with assembly in particular. Please do let me/us know how you get on and how things work out.
ksavai said:
I had that issue when I received my device, Used kernel setting to rectify the problem but after 4-5 days of use it gone away. Now device is perfect.
I recommend you to stay with it for 3-4 days before returning it and check.
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I used FauxClock on my previous device (sat here waiting to go back) and it did seem to improve the situation slightly - but then since the screen isn't uniform, it reduced the yellow where it was yellow but then made it too "blue" on the rest of the screen. I really hope that this yellow tint is a "glue" issue or something that will even out through repeated use due to heating/cooling - i.e. expanding and contracting which somehow settles things down. I'll keep this one about a week and see what happens. Fingers crossed!
Thanks for your feedback guys!
Re: [Q] General poor screen uniformity - brightness and colour - Feedback Please!
alsheron said:
5) I see a slight yellowing but I don’t care therefore you shouldn’t care. There are more important things in life to worry about.) [see above]
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^ this is pretty much all I can say.
Every nexus 4 phone I handled had a slightly yellower screen at the bottom. For me its barely noticeable, not as yellow as it is in your illustration.
They all seem to have that same issue, along with light bleeding across the top edge.
You can keep RMAing if you're not tired of that .. But you will not receive a fully uniform no matter what.
If screen uniformity is important for you get one of the above phones you mentioned.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda
beegbear said:
^ this is pretty much all I can say.
Every nexus 4 phone I handled had a slightly yellower screen at the bottom. For me its barely noticeable, not as yellow as it is in your illustration.
They all seem to have that same issue, along with light bleeding across the top edge.
You can keep RMAing if you're not tired of that .. But you will not receive a fully uniform no matter what.
If screen uniformity is important for you get one of the above phones you mentioned.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda
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Click to collapse
Thanks for the info, that's interesting to know. Out of interest, how many have you handled? Going by some comments on XDA and around the web regarding this issue, you'd think that the yellow tint was only on a handful of handsets and an isolated quirk, not as I suspect and you seem to suggest, a common trait of the N4.
alsheron said:
Thanks for the info, that's interesting to know. Out of interest, how many have you handled? Going by some comments on XDA and around the web regarding this issue, you'd think that the yellow tint was only on a handful of handsets and an isolated quirk, not as I suspect and you seem to suggest, a common trait of the N4.
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Click to collapse
Well,
I ordered three of them, all screens looked identical with the exact same issues: some yellowing at the bottom with a light bleed over the top edge (especially top right corner). I had to RMA 2 out of the 3 due to severe screen issues (screen flickering and dead pixels). Received 2 new units, screens have the exact same issue. I have 2 friends with N4s and their screens are like that too. It's almost not noticeable.
beegbear said:
Well,
I ordered three of them, all screens looked identical with the exact same issues: some yellowing at the bottom with a light bleed over the top edge (especially top right corner). I had to RMA 2 out of the 3 due to severe screen issues (screen flickering and dead pixels). Received 2 new units, screens have the exact same issue. I have 2 friends with N4s and their screens are like that too. It's almost not noticeable.
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Does the light bleed appear like small blobs from the top edge?
My worst is the top left, about an inch in. Then there's another smaller blob nearer the right hand side. Little bit leakage top right and top left, but its worst along the actual taskbar.
I will take a picture tomorrow.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2
My first nexus 4 (rev 10) has perfect whites except the bottom of the screen would turn yellow after warming. All of the 4 RMA devices I've recieved (rev 11) don't have this issue EXCEPT all the rev 11s are calibrated horribly leading to the entire screen being yellower than my rev 10 unit. The screens are uniform, however, I just wish they calibrated the phones like they did with the rev 10.
The new rev 11s have a calibration problem while my rev 10 has a glue problem.
The new rev 11s also have a dimmer screen than my rev 10. I kinda just want them to send a perfect rev 10 to me.
Interesting because calibration issues affect the whole screen. If any part of the screen isn't the same "tint" as another part and its noticeable then this isn't something that can be fixed with calibration. Calibration can only save a uniformly "yellow" or "blue" tinted screen. To that end I wish mine was uniformly yellow. Mine is a rev 11 and I'm on my second day with it and hoping the bottom and left yellow tint fades soon and that it's just glue. I've tried Fauxclock and applying various screen tweaks with a previous similar phone and it helped somewhat but there's nothing can be done about unevenness in the tint really unless its glue and it dries.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
I know there are other threads that discuss this topic (somewhat) but I wanted to post this separately because what I'm asking is very specific.
I've had about 8 separate Nexus devices from Google Play in the UK and every one of them has had the same issue:
The display has had a noticeably yellow but admittedly slight (possibly slightly brighter) tint on the bottom and left edges, while the right edge has been dull/dark.
This is specific because there are other and numerous reports of a yellow "tint" across the whole screen. This is not the whole screen, this is very clearly just the bottom third and left edge of the screen.
Some think that this is a "glue" issue that will resolve itself. Some think it won't get better. Some think that it's an issue they can live with. Some can't stand the lack of uniformity.
Well I can't stand the lack of uniformity because in my opinion, on a 4.7 inch screen, I find it distracting to be reading text on a solid background or white and the "white" or background colour changes as I read right to left or top to bottom. I consider a decent amount of uniformity to be a minimum requirement for devices which will be used in the way most of us use our phones and tablets. Manufacturers, seemingly, don't care at all except in the most extreme of cases. It looks like they are churning out whatever they can get away with. In all other aspects, the N4's screen is fantastic.
There's nothing anyone here can really do to help directly but it leads me to a question I haven't been able to find the answer to anywhere by Googling or searching other forums:
What is the cause of this lack of uniformity on these LCD panels? It seems to be LCD specific. As mentioned, some think it's "glue" but then others say not and in my experience the tint issues haven't gotten any better in the time I've had the devices that have passed through my hands.
I don't think it's the LED backlighting but could it be something to do with that?
Does anyone know, from a technical point of view why LCD panels are so prone to this issue with the yellow tints across *part* of the display. It's a very widespread thing as it's been noted on most of the iPhone range and a lot of other handsets too. Is there something inherently difficult for panel manufacturers (in the N4's case, LG) to do to make the panel evenly toned and lit? Surely it can't be that hard at this stage in the development of LCD tech once the manufacturing process is "calibrated" at the factory and underway? I assume these handsets are assembled by robots, not by hand. Is that right? Why is it so widespread? Is it a cost issue? Would I have a better chance of a quality panel by buying a more expensive handset? (Although I've seen many HTC One X's with the same problem - I did see one which was almost literally "perfect" in uniformity and brightness). I'd really appreciate any feedback on this. I know that because it's the "norm", sadly, the common response is to now "accept" the panels and handsets that are out there. There doesn't even seem to be a "higher end" manufacturer where high quality uniformity is more likely - or is there?
Anyone with a good/strong knowledge of LCD tech or the manufacturing process out there that can explain this?
Thanks!
***UPDATE***
I've now attached an illustration to show what I mean. ***It's exaggerated a bit*** to show the effect but illustrates the problem clearly.
Have you tried using a custom kernel to tweak the colors of the screen? The Nexus 4 is known for it's washed out colors so using a custom kernel like Trinity or Franco kernel allows you to tweak the color of the screen to your desire. Of course you will need an application to tweak the colors.
LG is known for light bleeding and or panel uniformity issues, I had to swap 4 LG tvs before I decided to go with Panasonic , my LG ips monitor that im typing on right now for my pc has light bleeding in some areas which results in low contrast. I saw about 13 different optimus g devices before I got the nexus 4 and the screens are beautiful with good contrast, punchy colors and good black levels with no light bleeding or weird tints while my nexus 4 has slight light bleeding right where the signal bar is located. I love this phone and its seems to get the " perfect " one you maybe have to swap a few times and to me the price kind of fits the quality of the phone but then I almost have enough spare cash to buy another one lol can't complain about that.
demorik said:
LG is known for light bleeding and or panel uniformity issues, I had to swap 4 LG tvs before I decided to go with Panasonic , my LG ips monitor that im typing on right now for my pc has light bleeding in some areas which results in low contrast. I saw about 13 different optimus g devices before I got the nexus 4 and the screens are beautiful with good contrast, punchy colors and good black levels with no light bleeding or weird tints while my nexus 4 has slight light bleeding right where the signal bar is located. I love this phone and its seems to get the " perfect " one you maybe have to swap a few times and to me the price kind of fits the quality of the phone but then I almost have enough spare cash to buy another one lol can't complain about that.
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Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply. I've heard elsewhere that LG specifically seems to have poor quality panel uniformity. I think LG panels are used by Apple who have had many, many reports of panel yellow "tint" issues on both their iPhone and iMac range. It seems to affect screens big or small. Having said that, HTC had similar problems and their panels were manufactured by Sony. I would *love* to know what's causing this or what is the reason for the yellow "tint" issue on part of the screen.
scream4cheese said:
Have you tried using a custom kernel to tweak the colors of the screen? The Nexus 4 is known for it's washed out colors so using a custom kernel like Trinity or Franco kernel allows you to tweak the color of the screen to your desire. Of course you will need an application to tweak the colors.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have done all of that and with some success with all of the handsets I've had but because the tint affects only part of the screen in a sort of gradient - the calibration cannot fix it.
I'd much prefer a screen that had a yellow "tint" evenly across the whole screen then of course I could calibrate accordingly.
alsheron said:
I've had about 8 separate Nexus devices from Google Play in the UK and every one of them has had the same issue:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You've had 8 different Nexus 4's?
yellow patches is from the glue used in the optical lamination process, yellow tint is from the display calibration which is often used to reduce banding and gives more saturated/warm look to colors
if your device is affected by by visible yellow patches the only cure is to re-calibrate the display to reduce the effect and don't get the device too hot as it may increase it
DynamicRam said:
yellow patches is from the glue used in the optical lamination process
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Not that I don't believe you, but could you link me to the source of this theory?
DynamicRam said:
yellow patches is from the glue used in the optical lamination process, yellow tint is from the display calibration which is often used to reduce banding and gives more saturated/warm look to colors
if your device is affected by by visible yellow patches the only cure is to re-calibrate the display to reduce the effect and don't get the device too hot as it may increase it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry but this is not what my OP is about. I do not have a uniform tint and therefore it cannot be to do with "calibration" of some sort unless I am mistaken. Neither do I have "patches" or "spots". This is very specifically about a gradient yellow "tint" that only affects part of the screen and trying to find out the technical reason(s) for its prevalence in a wide range of LCD screens used in mobile phones and of course the Nexus 4 in particular. I've updated my original post to include an illustration of the effect I'm asking about. Thanks!
I am pretty sure its a hardware fault and i assumed you tried to return it otherwise there is nothing else you can do so i suggested calibration to reduce the effect
I had the same issue, then flashed custom ROM and it was fixed. Go figure :silly:
stevenhw8 said:
I had the same issue, then flashed custom ROM and it was fixed. Go figure :silly:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hi stevenhw8, can U give me name and link to download your custom ROM? thank you.
Short:
To any G2 owners, can you confirm whether or not the display has a visible touch grid of dots on the screen?
Also, can you adjust the color tone for the display in options anywhere?
---
Long:
Some reviewers say it has a dot grid, some haven't mentioned it, however the reviews saying it does I think might be using the trashy AT&T screen protectors which actually have this grid directly on them. So I am *hoping* it isn't baked into the factory glass/cover.
Also, does anyone know if you can adjust the color tone and make it over-saturated like a Samsung AMOLED screen? I've been using OLED-based displays for 5-6 years now (since the Zune HD) and I'm extremely partial to them. I wasn't a huge fan of the HTC's Super LCD 3 (I could see it flickering and blacks were washed out), and I have heard the G2 compared to its quality, but wanted feedback from someone who might have a more final end-user experience.
It does indeed have the grid...can be seen with the screen off in the sun light.
Ir does yes, just like the nexus 4. Having used it all day out in sunlight I can say its only visible when looking at the phone at a extreme angle in direct sunlight. The upside i guess is that it does feel like a very touch sensitive screen.
Sent from my LG-D800 using Tapatalk 2
yup has the grid. i think my last phone that i noticed this on was my og Inc lol
I would have never noticed this. Just shined a flashlight on it. I dig it.
Yeah, will confirm, I went to att to check the phone out...wish I had the money to buy it outright...but it does have a touch grid...not noticeable at all though
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 4
Ok well I would like to get peoples feedback and opinions on their screens.
My story. Broke my GNote II instead of paying to replace LCD decided to upgrade with my carrier.
First Note 3 I bought was bright with nice whites and great viewing angles. But it has the dreaded pinkinsh purple screen tint issue in the lower 3rd of the screen more so on the right side. This is subtle and is less evident in brighter conditions or higher screen brightness. At low brightness and in dark environments it is particularly visible on white and grey backgrounds. Went to store to exchange and they refused given they could not see the defect. I came online here searched around and it seems this has been an issue on the GS4 and people have mentioned it on the new Note 3.
Convinced my carrier to send me a replacement and I will return the original to them. Well got the replacement 3-4 days ago. The unit seems quite different. First off the screen is overall a bit more yellow at face on viewing angles and perhaps a hair less bright at similar settings though hard to tell. The bottom is not color shifted puple. The screen color is more homogenous. However the viewing angles are completely different. Here while the brightness stays goo dlike the first when angling the screen, the colors shift to a more aqua color with minor angle variation. (guessing 20-30*) whereas the original unit has virtually no color shift at almost 90*.
I probably have to send back a unit in the coming day or 2 and make a final decision. In theory I could try to ask for a third model, however it was with a lot of difficulty and threats to leave my carrier that they relented in the first replacement. SO I likely will have to stick with one of these or return both and use my somewhat broken note 2 and wait for something else.
I am wondering if any of you out here have similar pink/purple tint issues at one end of your screen. Or if you have issues with significant white color shift when angling your screen more than 30* in either portrait or landscape. Also if good or bad can you check build date on your phone (should be under battery). FInally did you or will you replace it? Was replacement better or worse?
Also if in my shoes would you go for the better looking screen with the pink issue or the more consistent looking screen that is a bit more blue yellow.
Thanks!
lots of postings about this, i even made a thread regarding this:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2463786
some people call it nitpicking, but as you can see i'm feeling with you...
TML1504 said:
lots of postings about this, i even made a thread regarding this:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2463786
some people call it nitpicking, but as you can see i'm feeling with you...
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Click to collapse
I know you did and I posted some long posts there and the thread kind of died.
I have some specific questions here as well as asking what I should do in my case.
I had a note 2 and remember there being perseus kernel and with STweaks one could shift color etc and make it how you like. I am thinking going with the more uniform color model as I am sure the slight yellow tint can be corrected and the blue tint on viewing angles is no worse than my note 2 looking back so I will get used to it I imagine. That said the first screen really has great screen but the purplish pink right bottom corner bugs me on white and grey screens ( not noticeable on high brightness though) and often reading on websites etc indoors I notice it enough that it bugs me.....
So for anyone who cares here is an update on my plan. The more uniform note 3 is more yellow/green tinted whites compared to the other one that is whiter/redder. That said if I use one of these screen filter style apps that exist in the play store, I can modify the overall screen into however I like.
Downside is that it means a persistently running app to do it with whatever effect on screen longevity and battery.
Now on my Note 2 which is also yellower, I was running perseus kernel and the s tweaks app and was able at the kernel level to modify the color to get better whites. I imagine it is only a matter of time before someone can do that for our note 3. I can handle the viewing angle color shift as the device is in my hand and not on a table when i use it where it might be off angle viewing by a large amount. And even then, the tinting of white has a bluish shift and now worse than a yellowing shift my wifes iphone has off angle or my note 2 did.
Would love tohear from others and what their screens are like and or developers who might have the means of modifying color at kernel level the way Andreilux did on the note 2
I checked almost 10 note 3s bkack n white as well..and found only 1 set.it has no yellow tint and no gray lining.
nabilsweet007 said:
I checked almost 10 note 3s bkack n white as well..and found only 1 set.it has no yellow tint and no gray lining.
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Click to collapse
You checked 13 notes and 12 of them were either yellow tint or what gray lining issue?
How did you manage to check so many.
Can you check the following. Look at the phone screen face on the tilt either up down or side to side about 30 degrees and tell me if the white on the screen turns bluish.
One of my phones does this and has the yellower whites. The other does not and has better whites but has some purplish discoloration in the lower right part of the phone.
Any one here try a new kernel from the android development sections?
Some of them talk about being able to modify screen color. Am wondering if this can be a fix for my issues.
There seem to be quite a few Note 4's being sold globally that suffer from serious screen coloring (color shifting) when watched from close to a normal viewing angle. To get an idea of the scale of this problem this topic contains a Poll.
This defect is most easily noted on a bright white screen (www.google.com, "Dead Pixel Test" app). Even at a slight angle (=20"-30" from dead straight) the screen will show a clear blue, green or red colored haze. The screen on a properly built Note 4 stays (close to) white, even at a wide angle.
Please let us know if your Note 4 suffers from this phenomena beyond a trivial degree or if it doesn't.
Also be aware to check for this defect BEFORE you root your Note 4, as Samsung will object or even prohibit you to exchange your device for a better model.
see here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/note-4/general/note4-amoled-screen-quality-t2906365
common problem, since forever with samsung amoled screens...
TML1504 said:
see here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/note-4/general/note4-amoled-screen-quality-t2906365
common problem, since forever with samsung amoled screens...
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Click to collapse
Thanks for the link! Was just going to add it in the opening post, but this also seems adequate.
Ettepetje said:
The screen on a normal Note 4 stays white, even at a wide angle.
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I don't think there is such a thing as a "normal" Note 4. Every AMOLED phone from Samsung varies from unit to unit. I remember finding exactly the same differences between two Galaxy S3s where one had a tint horizontally and the other had a tint when angled vertically. Interestingly the phones with the greatest colour shift are usually the ones that go brightest when looked straight on. Either Samsung is making these phones in multiple ways from multiple factory plants....or for whatever reason using different materials (such as polarising materials) in the top layers of the screen.
Although I didn't check the tint on a second Note 4 I tried, I did notice that mine was obviously brighter at all points on the brightness settngs bar!
Either way, while bad uniformity is definitely a defect....I think this off-axis viewing tint is not. If it was a defect, it would exist with Note 4 only and not all the Samsung phones I have seen to-date. BTW my Note 3 also tints when viewing at an angle but a bit less than the Note 4.
jonstatt said:
I don't think there is such a thing as a "normal" Note 4. Every AMOLED phone from Samsung varies from unit to unit. I remember finding exactly the same differences between two Galaxy S3s where one had a tint horizontally and the other had a tint when angled vertically. Interestingly the phones with the greatest colour shift are usually the ones that go brightest when looked straight on. Either Samsung is making these phones in multiple ways from multiple factory plants....or for whatever reason using different materials (such as polarising materials) in the top layers of the screen.
Although I didn't check the tint on a second Note 4 I tried, I did notice that mine was obviously brighter at all points on the brightness settngs bar!
Either way, while bad uniformity is definitely a defect....I think this off-axis viewing tint is not. If it was a defect, it would exist with Note 4 only and not all the Samsung phones I have seen to-date. BTW my Note 3 also tints when viewing at an angle but a bit less than the Note 4.
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I never had this phenomena with my 5 previous Note or Galaxy S phones, nor on my Samsung Tab S 10.5's. I did have multitouch issues on my Note 3 and 2014 Note 10.1. Seeing the screen of the Note 4 is plenty bright I don't care too much for the "more brightness" bonus, if it were applicable here. I compared my unit to a random store unit and in direct comparison I much preferred the store model. The white screen already looked a bit 'off' on mine, and the store model did not have color shifting at all.
Ettepetje said:
I never had this phenomena with my 5 previous Note or Galaxy S phones, nor on my Samsung Tab S 10.5's. I did have multitouch issues on my Note 3 and 2014 Note 10.1. Seeing the screen of the Note 4 is plenty bright I don't care too much for the "more brightness" bonus, if it were applicable here. I compared my unit to a random store unit and in direct comparison I much preferred the store model. The white screen already looked a bit 'off' on mine, and the store model did not have color shifting at all.
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What are the chances of both my Note 3 and Note 4 having the same "fault" though? My Note 3 goes bluish off axis, my note 4 goes greenish. Both screens are still perfectly readable at any angle, and only colours that noticeably shift are white/grey. Orange still looks like orange, red still looks like red.
jonstatt said:
What are the chances of both my Note 3 and Note 4 having the same "fault" though? My Note 3 goes bluish off axis, my note 4 goes greenish. Both screens are still perfectly readable at any angle, and only colours that noticeably shift are white/grey. Orange still looks like orange, red still looks like red.
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I think it depends on the amount of color shift. My Note 4 has a clear blue haze even when looking at it close to dead straight. I watched a snowboard movie/documentary and snow went definitely blue with only a shift of 20-30 degrees.
It's really good news to know that many devices don't have the blue tint when shifting! If mine has it I'll definitely send it to maintenance. I guess repairing is better as I can look at the device at their facility and not accept it if I don't like the results.
Ettepetje said:
I think it depends on the amount of color shift. My Note 4 has a clear blue haze even when looking at it close to dead straight. I watched a snowboard movie/documentary and snow went definitely blue with only a shift of 20-30 degrees.
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It is really hard to be sure we are all seeing or evaluating this the same way. For example, if I display a photo with many colours, I see no shift at any angle. White is the most obvious and you need "lots" of it like a www.google.com screen to see it. I would say I am fine for 20-30 degrees before it starts shifting. I think you may have been a bit unlucky in happening to choose a snowboard documentary rather than Iron Man 3 or something like that etc! Then you might not have noticed it
I voted "No" because the poll asks whether the screen color changes at a "SLIGHT" angle. While mine does not, at a larger angle the screen does show blue tinge that increases with the angle.
I have this too, its normal?
I have the same "issue" actually it was the first thing I realized when I turned on the phone for the first time. I haven't even realized it with my previous used galaxy S5
It's probably caused by some coating layer. Nothing we can do about it, doesn't distract me much in a phone anyway. The screen is lovely apart from that, the black level made me almost cry when I compared it to my LCD TV. I so want an OLED TV now. Shame they are so expensive.
Mine does this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVrm73sAnUs
Is this a faulty display or is it just the way this display works?
There are several factors involved,
- Amount of Oleophobic Coating which distorts the actual colors discernible by the viewer
- The Digitizer
- The Corning Gorilla Glass
- And the amount of bonding used to keep the AMOLED display adhered to its bottom layer (Remember: Organic by Nature).
Magnesus said:
It's probably caused by some coating layer. Nothing we can do about it, doesn't distract me much in a phone anyway. The screen is lovely apart from that, the black level made me almost cry when I compared it to my LCD TV. I so want an OLED TV now. Shame they are so expensive.
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I get all the colors green a little blue and a little red it actually seems to me like a [email protected] rainbow I don't mind it much because it doesn't distract me much but I will pay more attention in the near future before buying a Samsung phone again...
No solution to this feature?
jvidia said:
No solution to this feature?
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It is not repearable by software or external means. Well, maybe a heater could do something, but I am not gonna try.
I sold my Note 4 and now have the Note Edge, which luckily has much less issue with color shifting.
While looking directly mine is red at the middle of the screen. While rotating, the red tint is appearing at the top or bottom of the screen according the rotating direction. Also Bottom part of the screen is also less white than top.
Forgive my not reading the entire thread as it's late and time is an unusually precious commodity lately...
My screen does develop an extremely mild hint of a color shift at slight angles, but I don't notice it unless I look for it. However, at extreme angles (at which I never view the screen, like greater than 75 degrees away from dead-on perpendicular to the screen surface) I do see not only greenish/bluish (almost like a faded teal) but also a magentaish hue. I suspect in my case it's a result of the manufacturing and tempering processes of the glass. LCD panels exhibit something similar when viewed through polarized sunglass lenses, but this is not the same: LCD panels have a nearly random-blob appearance where on this Note 4 it appears in bands running along the vertical (when viewed in portrait orientation) axis of the screen. At worst, I can make it greenish on the left side and magentaish on the right by viewing at around 70-80 degrees off perpendicular, so admittedly I have to hold the phone in such an extreme position to see this that I don't consider it a defect per se.
HIH.