• After 15+ years, we've made a big change: Android Forums is now Early Bird Club. Learn more here.

My solution to the screen wobble

epicIllini

Newbie
Sep 22, 2010
12
0
Hey guys. So my one big issue with this phone is the screen wobble. The two halves of the phone sort of "click" when pressed in certain spots. There is also an oreo effect. This made the phone seem loose and cheap. I had to try to do something about it because it bothered me a lot. So this is what I did:





What I did was I took bodyguardz protective film, cut it into strips, and stuck it on my phone. I pushed the two halves of the phone together and put the film over the place where the two halves meet. So far it's worked really well. The phone feels a lot more solid, and you can barely tell that the film is there. The downside is that you cannot use the slide out keyboard. However, the software keyboard is good enough for me.

Also, I did not use the solution to apply the bodyguardz. I'm sure if I did, the film would stick on ever better, and would probably not peel at the ends.

What do you guys think? Can you think of any way this can harm the phone?
 
Hey guys. So my one big issue with this phone is the screen wobble. The two halves of the phone sort of "click" when pressed in certain spots. There is also an oreo effect. This made the phone seem loose and cheap. I had to try to do something about it because it bothered me a lot. So this is what I did:





What I did was I took bodyguardz protective film, cut it into strips, and stuck it on my phone. I pushed the two halves of the phone together and put the film over the place where the two halves meet. So far it's worked really well. The phone feels a lot more solid, and you can barely tell that the film is there. The downside is that you cannot use the slide out keyboard. However, the software keyboard is good enough for me.

Also, I did not use the solution to apply the bodyguardz. I'm sure if I did, the film would stick on ever better, and would probably not peel at the ends.

What do you guys think? Can you think of any way this can harm the phone?

That's kinda ghetto, yo...
 
Upvote 0
So basically you don't use the slide-out keyboard at all because it would break your tape? Bro, if you don't want the slider, there are cheaper comparable phones you could get. I mean, any of the other Galaxy S phones are for all intents and purposes an EPIC 4G minus the keyboard. (I know there are other differences, but generally speaking) if you have to have Sprint, then just go with an EVO. Seems silly to put a piece of ugly tape on there that prohibits one of the main selling points of the device from working!

I bought a case that also has a holster. Whenever I'm not using the phone it stays in the hard plastic holster which prevents it from sliding open. I think this helps it from constantly slipping open in your pocket. Maybe something like that would help you out.
 
  • Like
Reactions: awrnsmn
Upvote 0
So basically you don't use the slide-out keyboard at all because it would break your tape? Bro, if you don't want the slider, there are cheaper comparable phones you could get. I mean, any of the other Galaxy S phones are for all intents and purposes an EPIC 4G minus the keyboard. (I know there are other differences, but generally speaking) if you have to have Sprint, then just go with an EVO. Seems silly to put a piece of ugly tape on there that prohibits one of the main selling points of the device from working!

I bought a case that also has a holster. Whenever I'm not using the phone it stays in the hard plastic holster which prevents it from sliding open. I think this helps it from constantly slipping open in your pocket. Maybe something like that would help you out.

First of all, I have to stay with Sprint so my two main options are the Evo and Epic. I have small hands so I like the form factor of the epic more. The Evo is too wide for me. I also like the Epic's screen and camera better. In all honesty, I barely notice the tape so I don't think it looks ugly. The slide out keyboard is nice, but the landscape keyboard and even portrait keyboard work just fine for me. Also, it seems like a few people on these forums are bothered by the screen wobble and would sacrifice the slide out keyboard if it could be fixed. This is just my solution and it has worked well for me. I agree, its not the perfect solution, but its a cheap solution nonetheless.
 
Upvote 0
to each his own (seems to be my motto on the android forums, going to update my sig now...), but this would irritate me to no end with the tape corners sticking out after a few in-out of pocket.

i would get something with a bit of tack on one side (not sticky) and sticky on other. put it on the underside edges of the screen to firm up the sliding action. the sliding is still there when needed, and the 'tape' is not visible.
 
Upvote 0
Seriously, I have been thinking of how to keep the phone more solid too. Tape will do it, or glue, but I do want to occasionally use the keyboard. Samsung should have made a simple latch or release button. I have read some reviews where one would switch to another phone because of this. It is a major irritant.

my thoughts:
-watch the market for cases. Hopefully someone would make a case with a latch with a simple button???
-buy a case and modify it?
-magnets? Will magnets interfere with the electronics or antenna?
-put a thin strip of velcro (just the furry side) on the leading edge of the keyboard to provide friction and cushion. May just cause the slider to wear and get looser.

Samsung, please note this concern!!
 
Upvote 0
I actually had the same problem. what I did is if you open the phone (slide the key board up) and look at the back of the screen you will see three indentions. The two on either side are where the spring mechanism is...the one in the middle...well is is just a hollow indention. What I did was cut a piece of velcro (the fuzzy side) that had some sticky on the back to roughly the same size as the middle indention. I then only took of a little of the part that allows it to stick, the rest I left covered. I then slid the part that still had the sticky part covered down into the indention, and only secured the very top of the fuzzy part of the velcro stripping so that I could easily remove it if I need to. It really helped with making the screen when it is open not to wiggle at all....it does make the slide stiffer and less "snappy" but that is fine with me as it gets rid of the wiggle!!! I will post pictures is anyone is interested in seeing this in more detail...
 
Upvote 0
Why not just use duct tape? The gray accents might look nice...

laugh.gif
 
Upvote 0
I agree with those saying this phone isn't solid enough. I was under the impression that when I read the specs, saw the pics on the internet and handled the phone in the store that this phone wouldn't have a sliding keyboard. I also figured once I got it, since it had the sliding keyboard I'd never use (I'm good at Swype) there was no reason at all to take it back in on the 30 day return policy and get one of the 20 other phones offered by Sprint that don't have a sliding keyboard or go to any of the other carriers with non-sliding keyboard Galaxy phones. I tried just using C-clamps on the phone to keep it from sliding apart in my cargo shorts but the clamp kept digging into my thigh, so I came up with a solution. The phone seems EXTREMELY solid now, and I'm pretty sure it won't slide apart. What do you guys think? I attached a pic:

concrete-block.jpg
 
Upvote 0
I just used the soft part of velcro not the plastic hook side. I cut 3 thin strips of it and put one in the center location of my keyboard under the space bar and curved the other 2 strips around the curve of the phone and its super solid, doesn't look bad and still have access the the keyboard. Try that out.

Post a pic if you can-- I was thinking of trying this. The tapping has bugged the f out of me... However, I've found that if I hold it in my right hand .. say while I'm driving :eek: and spread out my grip behind the phone, with my index finger almost covering the camera, it taps less when using my thumb.. fwiw.
Wait, was my body just possessed by Steve Jobs?

What bugs me more is the back cover creaking and crackling. Anyone else have this prob? I dropped by a sprint store a few weeks ago and they gave me another cover. It fixed it for a bout a week, but now back to normal creakyness when I squeeze the sides.
 
Upvote 0

BEST TECH IN 2023

We've been tracking upcoming products and ranking the best tech since 2007. Thanks for trusting our opinion: we get rewarded through affiliate links that earn us a commission and we invite you to learn more about us.

Smartphones