HTC Aria Cracked Screen

[Ambictus]

I've had my Aria for about forty days - The first day I got it, the corner cracked from just me taking off the back cover. I thought, "Awesome! Whatever, this phone's glass is flimsy but it was my fault, I won't bitch." Three days later I stuff it in my pocket with a paper clip, scratches all over it. "Awesome! Whatever, my fault." I never put my phone in my pocket with other things again. Learned my lesson. Yesterday? I sit my phone down and the corner taps the table first, BAM! Cracked the opposite corner. I thought, "Motherducker. This phone is so fragile! I have to be careful." And right after I thought that, I go to set it down but knock my hand into a lamp and drop it from about six inches from the table, the corner hits, the entire screen shatters.

I know that dropping phones breaks them. But I had an iPhone for just about ever and it never cracked, never chipped, and hardly ever scratched. In my opinion, the Aria phone itself is great. But the glass screen blows. It's made out of thin, flimsy, soft, wannabe glass that should never be put on a phone. I called ATT and they did nothing for me. I wasn't offered insurance when I bought mine, so I tried to explain to them that they need to either stop selling them if they break so easily, or start reimbursing people for their money. They told me there is no insurance or warranty that covers "broken screens" in the first place and there's nothing they will do to fix it. WTF? That's the number one cause of broken phones and there's no coverage for it? The guy was a jerk. "Ma'am, I actually have the Aria and it's worked perfectly fine with no cracks or chips. I don't know what you're talking about." Yeah, you motherducker? In a month when it breaks, I hope you feel like a dick.

It really sounds to me like you got a faulty phone. I've pulled the back off my phone countless times and have never had a crack or even once thought something bad might happen to the screen. I'd contact HTC directly and see what they can do for you.

Also... the term 'motherducker' is so awesome I think you should use it with HTC. That's a guaranteed phone replacement!

 

[Klemmons]

I bought a replacement screen for forty bucks online. It wasn't too hard to take apart and put back together with a YouTube video walking me through it. The screws inside are the tiniest screws in the entire world - so I grabbed my eyeglass screwdriver (it was still too big!) and went at it for twenty minutes until they finally unscrewed. The end result is an 8/10. There's a weird glow from the menu buttons that shines through the black paint and even shines up and around the screen which discolors your pictures at the bottom slightly. My glue almost came completely off inside, so my screen's pretty loose - but my case keeps it held together nicely. I also have some dust particles under my screen that I can't get rid of. Overall, I was very pleased with the replacement screen.

 

[repairsuniverse]

I bought a replacement screen for forty bucks online. It wasn't too hard to take apart and put back together with a YouTube video walking me through it. The screws inside are the tiniest screws in the entire world - so I grabbed my eyeglass screwdriver (it was still too big!) and went at it for twenty minutes until they finally unscrewed. The end result is an 8/10. There's a weird glow from the menu buttons that shines through the black paint and even shines up and around the screen which discolors your pictures at the bottom slightly. My glue almost came completely off inside, so my screen's pretty loose - but my case keeps it held together nicely. I also have some dust particles under my screen that I can't get rid of. Overall, I was very pleased with the replacement screen.

You can find the perfect size small Phillips screwdriver on our site here - Repair Tools for Replacement Part Installation - Torx Screwdrivers, Safe Pry

For the "glow" if you transfer the backing from the old screen to the new on this will resolve this. It's easy to do.

And for holding the screen in place we recommend using the adhesive strips we provide with the part, you will also find this keeps out dust from getting under the screen.

 

[bitshift]

I got a new screen off ebay, and then found and followed the video instructions here (thanks to repairuniverse)

However, after getting everything put back together, the phone turns on but the touch screen will not respond.

help?

 

[repairsuniverse]

First thing to do is check the connections. Make sure the touch screen is connected correctly. If it is still not responding you nay have a bad screen.

All our screens are quality checked before dispatch to ensure this doesn't happen but this probably isn't the case with your eBay seller and it could be one of the cheaper imitations about.

Check over the connections and hopefully that will get you up and running and your phone working again.

 

[bitshift]

there are two ribbon connections involved. One is very tiny (i think this is the screen ribbon cable) and the other I think is the digitizer ribbon. On the tiny one, is there any particular place the other side of the ribbon has to go, or interact with, other than its connector? I am confident that I managed to get both connectors back together because I "felt" them snap into place via the plastic pry bar.

 

[numbersman]

At $5 per month and a $50 deductible, the insurance would seem to be a bargain, but you are limited to 2 claims/year. My screen lasted about 2 weeks before a short drop to the garage floor did it in. This phone is really touchy. First broken screen for me ever. Good thing I had a screen protector on it so it did not end up falling apart. I will be able to use it while I get a replacement. I got this phone for its small size. Now I have to get a case and lose the size advantage. Sucks.

 

[repairsuniverse]

there are two ribbon connections involved. One is very tiny (i think this is the screen ribbon cable) and the other I think is the digitizer ribbon. On the tiny one, is there any particular place the other side of the ribbon has to go, or interact with, other than its connector? I am confident that I managed to get both connectors back together because I "felt" them snap into place via the plastic pry bar.

No, if the connector is fully "snapped" in place it sounds like it is connected correctly.

You may wish to contact your supplier as if it is installed correctly as it sounds you may have a bad screen.

 

[Thefoodman52]

My fixed phone:

Not to be a party pooper here... you did a great job with all the instructions!! However... it looks like the screen's on backwards...

 

[SysAdmNj]

Not to be a party pooper here... you did a great job with all the instructions!! However... it looks like the screen's on backwards...

lmao, i'm hoping thats just the camera making it look like that

 

[DalenaPointer]

I got my Aria around the end of August and I kept really good care of it until one day I pick it up and it flies out of my hands and cracked. I was about to cry. So the next day I called (which is my advice to anybody) AT&T and told them my phone was STOLEN. If you call AT&T and say you cracked your phone, the insurance won't cover it. If it's stolen, they do. Now here's what I did (because I can't go without a phone cause I drive everyday to school an hour away and my husband is a marine and I like being able to talk to him) so...

Option A: If you HAVE to have a phone and don't want to wait for another phone... When you say that somebody stole your phone, they will disconnect your number so that way the person who "stole" it won't be able to use it. BUT if you UPGRADED your phone and used your original SIM card (not the one that they give you in the box), call AT&T, say your phone was stolen, and instead of them canceling your number, tell them to put it on the backup SIM card that you have, and put it in one of your old phones (if you have any). Then tell them to send you a new phone, and you'll be transferred over to the insurance department and then request a new Aria and they'll send it to your house by the next business day (or two).

Option B: If you CAN go without a number for a few days, just call AT&T and tell them your phone was stolen and you want a new aria, and they'll disconnect your number until you get the phone in the mail (again in about a business day or two) and then you call and activate it to your number/service.

Seems like a lot of work, but one phone call and you don't have to pay for a whole new phone, you don't have to pay for a new screen, and you get the new Aria the very next day or two. It's worth it. Trust me.

 

[atak]

I replaced my digitizer last night and every thing seems to work fine, only when i make calls now I cant hear anything but people can hear me. Did i mess something up with the earphone speaker? is this possible to fix?

 

[Ambictus]

I replaced my digitizer last night and every thing seems to work fine, only when i make calls now I cant hear anything but people can hear me. Did i mess something up with the earphone speaker? is this possible to fix?

I'm going to guess you have the speaker covered somehow. Does speaker phone work ok?

 

[atak]

I'm going to guess you have the speaker covered somehow. Does speaker phone work ok?

no not even speaker phone works

 

[Ambictus]

no not even speaker phone works

Perhaps there's a loose connector in there somewhere. That's the only thing I can think of that would affect you like that.

 

[Slkuehn]

What kind of adheisive should I use if I do not have enough on the phone?

 

[jrmd]

Just got digitizer and tools from RU last night and after some stressful operation time everything works great except--

I replaced my digitizer last night and every thing seems to work fine, only when i make calls now I cant hear anything but people can hear me. Did i mess something up with the earphone speaker? is this possible to fix?

having this problem to a lesser degree- if i have headphones plugged in or put the phone on speaker i can hear the other person, but when I'm using the phone regularly I can't hear anything.

Also, i did as follows--

For the "glow" if you transfer the backing from the old screen to the new on this will resolve this. It's easy to do.

and the glow is still there. wondering if i should just do trial and error with the backing to get it in the right place? would prefer not having to completely take apart and reassemble the phone over and over, obviously. I thought i put it in the same place as the original but I guess not... anyone have any tips on where to place this?

 

[atak]

Well now the speaker phone is working but im still not able to hear anything without the speaker phone turned on were you able to fix this?

 

[repairsuniverse]

Well now the speaker phone is working but im still not able to hear anything without the speaker phone turned on were you able to fix this?

Sounds like you both have a connection issue with the earpiece speaker. Check over the connections for the speaker and this should resolve your problem.

 

[KayseeP]

I got my Aria replacement and immediately bought the cheap rubber case, wel not so cheap, that At&t sells plus I had left over screen protectors. This until seido puts out a nice innocase for this which I'm a fan of.

The rubber case, and any case for that matter, protects the edges of the glass all around. If I had this the first time my phone flew across the room, the screen wouldnt have cracked. I'm pretty sure of it. The way these cases come over the edge of the glass just a bit is enough.

I feel like such an idiot. Sweatshirt pocket, phone slipped out and hit the ground. It's not durable for sure, doesn't make it a bad phone. Just has thin glass. My touchscreen still works brilliantly. I just have it cracked and can't text around my mom or she'll see it and flip.. Once I get this thing repaired I'm going to be SO careful..tight pockets and bra only.


Also I think it would just be best to cough up the extra cash and have HTC do it...safer and they'll do it right. then we don't have to worry about mixing things up and tweaking something that shouldn't be tweaked..I mean...for the time we/you all are putting in to try and replace it yourself..wouldn't it just be better to put up and extra 20-40 bucks to get it done right?

I had the rubber case on mine and it didn't do much..I think it's just the impact that no matter what will hurt the thin glass.

 

[troc]

I've been following this thread and managed to install the replacement screen on my Aria. However, during the install, I must have touched the LCD, because while the glass is now replaced, the LCD is completely broken. This is just a warning to those who wish to follow the instructions for taking apart your phone. Be EXTREMELY careful when prying the glass from the LCD, as apparently barely any pressure on the LCD will break it.

At this point, I'm not sure as to whether I should order an LCD and try and replace that as well, or just bite the bullet and ask HTC for an OOW repair...

 

[tiga2001]

I guess I'm lucky, but when I dropped by Aria from about 3 feet off the ground, the glass didn't break. Actually, it kind of flew out of my hands as I was taking it out of my pocket. It ended up face down on the concrete and I was afraid that the glass would crack. Amazingly, the screen didn't even have a scratch when I turned it over. So I guess it just depends, maybe some of the phones use better glass than others? When I dropped it, I didn't have a case, so I bought a case just in case I dropped it again. Incidentally, my sister dropped her Aria, and the screen cracked, but she is going to fix it herself. I think HTC should go for stronger glass, still, even if it means the phone will be heavier and cost more. I'm not sure if iPhone/iTouch screens are more durable, because I have never dropped my iTouch, but it's a fact that people have cracked iPhone screens by dropping it, too, so we all just have to be more careful. I hope in the future there is some way to make a glass/plastic hybrid that has the same feel of glass with the durability of plastic for the same price as these ultra-thin glass.

 

[chloe1827]

My screen is shattered. Where can i get this fixed. and how much will it cost?

 

[repairsuniverse]

My screen is shattered. Where can i get this fixed. and how much will it cost?

You can find the part here - HTC Aria Touch Screen Digitizer Glass Replacement Part

The prices on these are changing a bit currently so check the site for the latest prices.

 

[jcawesome87]

Not to be a party pooper here... you did a great job with all the instructions!! However... it looks like the screen's on backwards...

lol no, the screen is correct. The camera on my computer inverts the image.
It would have been an interesting thing to try to explain that if I had put it on backwards.