Droid hardware variations

[JetsamRover]

I know there have been a few manufacturing variations in the droids, but I recently traded mine in for a new one and its different in every variation:

Got my first droid shortly after it was released. It had the bubbly keyboard, and a great screen. I started having headphone jack issues where it would pause pandora because it thought the headphones were removed, and would not play calls from the mic because it thought they were still plugged in. After trading it in yesterday, I have mixed feelings about my new droid.

For one, it has the new and much more common flat keyboard, which so far I actually like better because the keys are much more clicky and have less travel. The bubbly one had a lot of travel to make the keys register, and they didn't click, just kind of mashed.

The difference that really disappoints me is the screen and hard key back-lights. The search key is white, but the other three are lavender. Also the screen doesn't look as good as my old one. The colors look washed out, and there is a lower contrast.

Does anyone have advice on this matter, as I doubt verizon would trade it in because the screen looks washed. It took three visits to get them to believe me about the headphone jack problems. Also, I would expect a replacement to have the same problems. Any insight? The screen is really bothering me.

 

[Barkleyfan]

If you're not happy with it, take it back. Don't let them push something on you you don't want. Aside from lack of Flash and incomplete bluetooth profiles, I am real happy with mine. Make them get it right, or give you your money back. Longer you let it drag out, the harder they will argue.

 

[JetsamRover]

Its not them pushing me I'm afraid of, its that I think its out of their control. If they give me a new phone, it will probably have the same "quirks." I think its caused by variations of hardware batches. Has anyone else noticed differences in color quality between Droids?

 

[Brendanmurphy]

I found this with the milestone aswell. First one i got had an amazing keyboard. Just as good as the dream/g1 imo. I had to exchange that because of problems with the touch screen and the touch buttons. The next one very hard to press keyboard and screen wasn't very bright. I just had to exchange that one today because the slider was creaking and messed up. The one i just got is pretty good. Good build quality, keyboard is decent and nothing wrong from what i can see

 

[johnlgalt]

I know there have been a few manufacturing variations in the droids, but I recently traded mine in for a new one and its different in every variation:

Got my first droid shortly after it was released. It had the bubbly keyboard, and a great screen. I started having headphone jack issues where it would pause pandora because it thought the headphones were removed, and would not play calls from the mic because it thought they were still plugged in. After trading it in yesterday, I have mixed feelings about my new droid.

For one, it has the new and much more common flat keyboard, which so far I actually like better because the keys are much more clicky and have less travel. The bubbly one had a lot of travel to make the keys register, and they didn't click, just kind of mashed.

The difference that really disappoints me is the screen and hard key back-lights. The search key is white, but the other three are lavender. Also the screen doesn't look as good as my old one. The colors look washed out, and there is a lower contrast.

Does anyone have advice on this matter, as I doubt verizon would trade it in because the screen looks washed. It took three visits to get them to believe me about the headphone jack problems. Also, I would expect a replacement to have the same problems. Any insight? The screen is really bothering me.

I assume that with the contrast / brightness issues you've disabled auto brightness?

 

[Barkleyfan]

Your trade will most likely be a refurb, so it won't be linear batch numbers anyways. Most of the time, refurbs are actually better than OE builds anyways. I would at least go in and make them fire one up so you can do a side by side comparison, and judge for yourself if you should swap out.

 

[tebower]

I traded in my Droid three times because of purple keys. This was a major flaw to me, as I didn't pay for purple buttons on my $200 phone. Take it back and call it a manufacturer defect. Clearly, they are supposed to be white.

 

[JetsamRover]

I assume that with the contrast / brightness issues you've disabled auto brightness?

Yes, its not the brightness that's the issue, it is color saturation. I think I need to compare mine to another droid, because the better saturation might just be a difference in my very early model. It had the very rare bumpy keypad too. So maybe all droids since the very first batch look like this? and I'm just spoiled. I'll have to compare side by side to another droid before I can confirm anything.

But again, anyone else with insight please chime in, especially anyone who maybe works for Verizon and has seen a lot of different Droids.

 

[mully]

I am now on my second Droid (1st had tons of dust under the screen) and I, too, am unhappy. My new one (refurb) also has a less "vibrant" screen. The auto brightness is off and I have it set the same as my 1st one.

Also I have noticed that the software is much more "laggy" in this phone. When I swipe to answer or unlock the phone, the swipe key doesn't slide smoothly. It shutters, then dissapears halfway through the swipe. Also when I pull the phone away from my face on a call, the screen does not always come beck on. I'm not covering the proximity sensor. And it works sometimes....sometimes not.

 

[DanSan]

my girlfriend just got a droid today..

the box is completely different than mine which was a long skinny one. i bought mine back in early december. hers was boxed in a short, wider box. first off her keyboard is now completely flat and mines bubbled. also her screen is a lot brighter than mine is and i had them both set to auto brightness. was holding hers right next to mine and mine looks washed out and dull while hers is really nice and bright.

kinda pissed, i like the more vibrant screen

oh and my search key on bottom row is white, the others are an off white

 

[b3nder]

im on my 5th right now and considering getting a replacement but i have mine rooted and am worried about getting a new 2.1 that i won't be able to re-root as easily.
i love the droid but the headphone jack keeps on crapping out after around a month of use. if its in my pocket and i move the headphone jack a little -- it makes a static noise and is very annoying..

 

[Mipmap]

I got my Droid on launch week and mine has a really vibrant screen, great sharpness and color depth. It is really strange how there seemed to be so many variations in build quality despite when people bought the phone.

I'm starting to wonder if they have different factories building them and if certain ones are having better quality parts than others.

My problem is despite the phone itself seeming to be great quality from a physical standpoint, I have random issues with apps and the OS crashing. I'm afraid to take it back and get a crappy phone in exchange for my crashes being fixed.

 

[Brendanmurphy]

I got my Droid on launch week and mine has a really vibrant screen, great sharpness and color depth. It is really strange how there seemed to be so many variations in build quality despite when people bought the phone.

I'm starting to wonder if they have different factories building them and if certain ones are having better quality parts than others.

My problem is despite the phone itself seeming to be great quality from a physical standpoint, I have random issues with apps and the OS crashing. I'm afraid to take it back and get a crappy phone in exchange for my crashes being fixed.

The apps crashing and the os is a software issue not hardware. Wipe your phone and install applications 1 by 1 and see which causes the problems.

 

[Bobarazzi]

im on my 5th right now and considering getting a replacement but i have mine rooted and am worried about getting a new 2.1 that i won't be able to re-root as easily.
i love the droid but the headphone jack keeps on crapping out after around a month of use. if its in my pocket and i move the headphone jack a little -- it makes a static noise and is very annoying..

if you have 40 bucks, Bluetooth headphones will solve your problem. Did for me.

 

[Amaroth]

im on my 5th right now and considering getting a replacement but i have mine rooted and am worried about getting a new 2.1 that i won't be able to re-root as easily.
i love the droid but the headphone jack keeps on crapping out after around a month of use. if its in my pocket and i move the headphone jack a little -- it makes a static noise and is very annoying..

hey how did you go about getting that many replacements? i bought my droid in november from best buy with the black tie warrenty. i returned it twice for different reasons and am on my 3rd now. My sister just got one in january, and her droid is all sorts of better. Her screen is VERY brighter and MUCH more colorful. Very vibrant as to mine is washed out like the OP's phone. Also her phone feels heavier than mine, and is much more sturdy. Hers doesnt budge at all or slide open not one bit when handling it. Mine slides so easy just by holding it. I really want to get another new phone but the lady at best buy told me that after that last exchange all future problems I have would have to be sent in for repairs.
Maybe i should just actually call best buy about it..