Droid has dust under screen, should i exchange?

[spazma7ik]

My 30 days is up in the next few days, and I have some dust under the screen. Now this is really the only problem I have with my droid, so I was wondering if its even worth exchaning for another one or will it just happen again as long as its pocketed? Did motorola fix this problem by chance with newer models?

 

[SinfulDragon]

take it back, as far as I know there should be no way for this to happen on a DROID so if it is, there are more serious problems a foot

 

[GtRacerH]

if when you bought it it already had dust, then yes you probably should. If it has accumulated dust from your use, then no you shouldnt. to begin with, a new one is gonna probably end up the same way as your current one eventually. second, if you're not having any problems with it you should keep it because a fully functioning phone with a bit of dust is much more valuable than a non dusty one that has quirks. and third, just the principle of the matter. things are going to hapen. if you bought it and it got like that from regular use, you just deal with it. for example, if i buy a new car and on the third day it gets a chip on the hood from driving it, i dont take it to the dealer and say, "hey give me a new one. i drove it on the highway and a pebble chipped my paint".

 

[spazma7ik]

if when you bought it it already had dust, then yes you probably should. If it has accumulated dust from your use, then no you shouldnt. to begin with, a new one is gonna probably end up the same way as your current one eventually. second, if you're not having any problems with it you should keep it because a fully functioning phone with a bit of dust is much more valuable than a non dusty one that has quirks. and third, just the principle of the matter. things are going to hapen. if you bought it and it got like that from regular use, you just deal with it. for example, if i buy a new car and on the third day it gets a chip on the hood from driving it, i dont take it to the dealer and say, "hey give me a new one. i drove it on the highway and a pebble chipped my paint".

I see where you're coming from, but dust getting under the screen is definitely a manufacturer defect. If you bought that same car and there was an oil leak after a few days that's most definitely a problem with the manufacturing assuming you didn't give any drastic bumps to the car, similarly I have never dropped my droid or any of the such.

 

[SinfulDragon]

huh, ok well looks like I might be wrong then.
If thats the case I agree with GrRacerH

 

[Gunner]

I've been thinking about exchanging mine as well. Mines got a noticeable patch of dust collecting in the upper right corner. Very annoying in daylight. I disagree that this falls under 'normal wear'. The screen should be sealed well enough that this never happens. Never before w/ all of the phones and PDA's I've used in the past has this happened - never had dust get underneath any of those screens - even after years of use!

I'm well past the 30 days, so I'm not sure if VZ will fight me on this. I've also had a problem w/ the USB port being loose since day 1.

 

[alostpacket]

You shouldn't be getting dust under the screen, you're right, take it back -- That's a mfgr defect.


.

 

[Nissan1973]

Why would you deal with something for the entire time you have the phone if you could get it replaced for free? Like Sinful said, there shouldn't be a way for dust to get under the screen unless its been dropped pretty hard. Just take it back or you will regret it.

 

[ccousinsjr]

Wait.

Under the screen as in the slider? or the glass?

If it's the glass, seriously, take it back.

 

[spazma7ik]

Wait.

Under the screen as in the slider? or the glass?

If it's the glass, seriously, take it back.

Yes, under the glass! Its in the top right corner as said by someone else.

 

[SamMax]

Yes, under the glass! Its in the top right corner as said by someone else.

Dust under the screen is a lot more common than you think, just google any particular model and you will see Its quite common. When I was with Sprint this was an issue with the Hero some exchanged it, but within weeks to have more dust under the replacement.
A lot of factors can contribute to dust, environment no case pocket. On order to even see this dust you usually have to sit under a light.

 

[sohc sti]

Just search the bb storm forums. Mine was so bad it was getting hard to see.....But that screen was floating anyway.

 

[anjoga]

I've had my Droid for about 2 weeks now, and just found my first speck of dust under the screen. I have the usual 30 days return period, but I bought my Droid through amazon wireless. Should I exchange my phone, or am I going overboard for one speck of dust?

 

[CRPercodani]

Dust under the screen happens with just about every phone. If you have some sorta gap between your LCD somewhere then that is a defect, but dust can get under the screen easily no matter how well the phone is built. Unless you get a phone that has NO charging ports or headphone jack and is encased in plexiglass (or something similar) you will probably get some dust sooner or later. Of course having it in your pocket often without a case can contribute to the problem, and how clean is your home/car/work? A dusty/dirty environment is a problem.

Return it if you want, but don't be surprised when/if it happens again.

 

[anjoga]

Dust under the screen happens with just about every phone. If you have some sorta gap between your LCD somewhere then that is a defect, but dust can get under the screen easily no matter how well the phone is built. Unless you get a phone that has NO charging ports or headphone jack and is encased in plexiglass (or something similar) you will probably get some dust sooner or later. Of course having it in your pocket often without a case can contribute to the problem, and how clean is your home/car/work? A dusty/dirty environment is a problem.

Return it if you want, but don't be surprised when/if it happens again.

Makes sense. I know that exchanging my Droid for another is no guarantee that the new one won't get dust underneath. I can live with the one measly speck I found, but am a little concerned that it may only be a sign of things to come.

I actually just started using a sleeve with it yesterday. This one was recommended here, so I picked one up (NEW OEM T-Mobile HTC G1 Google Phone Pocket Case Pouch - eBay (item 120524915681 end time Mar-02-10 02:11:55 PST)). I never noticed any dust before, have had it in and out of this sleeve yesterday and today, and then noticed the dust speck for the first time this afternoon. I'm wondering if this cheap sleeve caused it. I may have to suck it up and spend a few more bucks on the waterfield case (Droid Suede Jacket - Droid Sleeve - Droid Case - Milestone Sleeve - Milestone Case - Slim Droid Case - Droid Pouch - Droid Soft Case - Ultrasuede - WaterField Designs Droid Suede Jacket).

 

[CRPercodani]

Well I used my old G1 sleeve for like 2 months when I first got my Droid, which is the same one you have. It is actually a pretty good sleeve and provides some padding, I never had any trouble with it. Now I have a Sena case, its brown leather with DROID laser engraved on it, Sena Cases - Designer Leather Cases : Motorola-Droid -UltraSlim oh and here is a 20% off coupon code PCWIPNK11

 

[anjoga]

Well I used my old G1 sleeve for like 2 months when I first got my Droid, which is the same one you have. It is actually a pretty good sleeve and provides some padding, I never had any trouble with it. Now I have a Sena case, its brown leather with DROID laser engraved on it, Sena Cases - Designer Leather Cases : Motorola-Droid -UltraSlim oh and here is a 20% off coupon code PCWIPNK11

Perhaps it is just coincidence that I found the dust speck after only a day or so of using the G1 sleeve. Those Sena sleeves are sweet, but a bit pricey. I'd love to get one, but not sure I can justify it.

 

[CRPercodani]

I think I paid $38 for mine with shipping, but if you don't want the laser engraving it is $10 less. I will tell you now it is of the highest quality, it fits like a glove and literally has formed into the same shape as my Droid. It also came with a nice pouch that I gave to my fiance for her DSi, but it would work for any device around that size.

 

[anjoga]

I think I paid $38 for mine with shipping, but if you don't want the laser engraving it is $10 less. I will tell you now it is of the highest quality, it fits like a glove and literally has formed into the same shape as my Droid. It also came with a nice pouch that I gave to my fiance for her DSi, but it would work for any device around that size.

Where is the engraving option? I can't find it on Sena's website or checkout anywhere.

 

[p8ntballah21]

Well I used my old G1 sleeve for like 2 months when I first got my Droid, which is the same one you have. It is actually a pretty good sleeve and provides some padding, I never had any trouble with it. Now I have a Sena case, its brown leather with DROID laser engraved on it, Sena Cases - Designer Leather Cases : Motorola-Droid -UltraSlim oh and here is a 20% off coupon code PCWIPNK11

Thanks for the heads-up on the coupon code, just ordered a black one for the phone I dont have yet.....

 

[anjoga]

Found a second dust speck under my screen in a different place than the first. I'm probably being OCD about this, but I've got two dust specks under the screen in only two weeks of ownership. However, I bought my phone through AmazonWireless.com, so it's not like I can walk into a Verizon store and exchange it. I have two weeks left on my 30 day warranty, and I'll probably be watching for any more dust specks like a hawk. If I see any more, I call Amazon, but I'm not sure if they do exchanges for issues like this. If they don't, should I contact Motorola? Should I just live with it as there is no guarantee that a new phone won't get dust specks under the glass?

 

[bugeyeblue]

I bought my phone used, and I was told that it was 3 months old then. I've had it for about a month, so it's about 4 months old. Pocketed by both me and the original owner, not one speck of dust under the glass. The first droid I had did have a LOT of dust under the screen after only the first week.

 

[lr1517]

With my own experience: EXCHANGE IT! I had the same problem with my first Droid a got dust in the same location after just a couple weeks, it took me to attempts before one store manager agreed to replace it, your device shouldn't collect dust under the glass period, imagine how is gonna look in one year from now, this a $600 piece of equipment, and is very annoying to see that kind of quality issues specially when you take care of it so good, again is not cheap, my advice go to a store, be nice and show them if the Rep doesn't wanna work with you, ask for the manager, if the boss is the same, return it, and get a new one later, but don't wait any longer, remember you can't return after 30 days

 

[kraze0g]

hmm.. a lot of this sounds like someone i know that has OCD. he always complains about the tiniest little things that no one else would notice but HE WOULD because he takes his possessions to be a reflection of himself (as many do with expensive materials) so he expects things to stay perfect. so when he saw dust under his screen he spent literally hours trying to 'figure it out', asking me all sorts of weird questions (and using a whole bottle of compressed air)...
personally, if its just one speck i wouldn't take it back - i mean, when u start to focus on specks u will begin to see more specks because ur looking for them (maybe not consciously). then the next phone u get, and a speck appears r u gonna run back to the store?

as for me, when i got the phone there were no specks and right now im not sure if there are specks because i dont carry a microfiber towel around with me all the time i handle the phone. im just going to go with the motto that nothings perfect..
now if its a significant amount of dust that u could just notice (without looking under a bright light or staring blankly for a minute at the phone) then maybe u should take it back. i just think if its not significant then its bound to happen again and your paying too much attention to the minor quirks (lil scratches/marks/etc) to keep it ABSOLUTELY pristine (spelling?).

As for the cases above mentioned, i use the 'expensive' sena case. i love it, fits like a glove, and just feels good. the only thing i noticed is that the interior is made of felt, thus when u slide the phone out there is an excess amount of 'dust like' stuff that comes out with it -- but blow on it and it comes off.

im just wondering -- for those that have dust under the glass, are you sure it was there when u bought the phone or do you believe that it slid under there from usage?

 

[kraze0g]

Found a second dust speck under my screen in a different place than the first. I'm probably being OCD about this, but I've got two dust specks under the screen in only two weeks of ownership. However, I bought my phone through AmazonWireless.com, so it's not like I can walk into a Verizon store and exchange it. I have two weeks left on my 30 day warranty, and I'll probably be watching for any more dust specks like a hawk. If I see any more, I call Amazon, but I'm not sure if they do exchanges for issues like this. If they don't, should I contact Motorola? Should I just live with it as there is no guarantee that a new phone won't get dust specks under the glass?

definitely sounds like OCD lol (from experience) -- looking for dust specks like a hawk is not how to enjoy your phone. if its noticable w/o being hawk-eyed on it then maybe its a problem, but dont go looking for trouble because then trouble will always find you nothings perfect ;p im gonna try to find out more about this dust problem because now you guys are gonna have me looking for dust specks!!! (and a psychologist for OCD)