Front camera is broken

[briancook451]

I got my S5 3 days after launch and I recently discovered my front camera doesn't work well. It is partially blocked behind the screen and when I try to take pics the top half of the screen is blacked out. I am with Fido and I was wondering what my repair or exchange options are now that I have had the phone for almost a month? Am I **** out of luck for an exchange or do I have to send it for repair? If I have to send it for repair what is the best course of action? Should I just take it to a samsung store?

 

[Sophia Zhao]

Take it to where you bought the phone and get a exchange.

 

[Chief G-Hawk]

Since you said you got it 3 days after launch, I'm not sure what their return/exchange policy is. In the U.S we have a 14-day return policy on most places. Some stores have 30 day window period for return/exchanges. But I would take it to the place you purchased it and see what they can do for you.

 

[here4kids]

it's still under the one year warranty.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using AC Forums mobile app

 

[briancook451]

I went to fido and they told me I could ship out the phone and it would take 3-6 weeks. I could get a loaner phone for a deposit of $100 charged to my credit card that I do not have. The loaner phone would be a 5 plus year old nokia flip phone. I could also go to the Samsung store and they could send it out to there repair centre but the issue there is I would have to pay $200 for a loaner phone for a Note 3. My phone would be sent to the repair centre but there is a 3 week wait for seals to reseal the screen to make it water resistant. either way it looks like going through those channels I would be without my phone for a long time and using a cheap nokia replacement or a note 3 if I had the money for the deposit. I was given a number for another repair centre and they told me that I could bring it in and they would repair it in about 4-5 hours, which is the best option for me.
If I wanted to I could have gone through my device protection plan on my phone but I would have to pay $200 for the new phone. After this phone I am going back to Iphones because anytime I had an issue with an IPhone I would just go to an Apple store and get my phone fixed or replaced. It is to much hassle with Samsung. I do love the phone though so once it is fixed I hope there are no more issues

 

[eyecon82]

Agreed, warranty is a hassle with samsung. Much better with Apple since you can just go in a store

-Sent from Tapatalk

 

[bmoore28]

My S5 was identical. top half of camera was blocked in some way internally. I called Samsung they told me to just send it in and they will fix it free. i sent it in 2 weeks ago and am still awaiting its return. so far pleasant experience with Samsung just miss my phone.

 

[motron3000]

I'm having the same issue, a small crescent piece has come down and is blocking the front facing camera, partially blacking out the screen.
Brian, were you using a phone case? If so, which one?

 

[eyecon82]

My S5 was identical. top half of camera was blocked in some way internally. I called Samsung they told me to just send it in and they will fix it free. i sent it in 2 weeks ago and am still awaiting its return. so far pleasant experience with Samsung just miss my phone.

You call being without your phone for 2 weeks and no loaner is a pleasant experience ?!?

-Sent from Tapatalk

 

[D2G3]

Samsung also has what is called "Samsung Experience Shop" located in Bestbuy. There are Samsung trained agents that can help trouble shooting device, reflash, updates and repairs. All you need to do is look up your nearest bestbuy and see if they have one !!

 

[troshs]

I definitely would. But In my case I have a couple decent Blackberries laying around so they can shove their $100 stone age loaner phone where the sun shines the least

Posted via Android Central App

 

[eyecon82]

Samsung also has what is called "Samsung Experience Shop" located in Bestbuy. There are Samsung trained agents that can help trouble shooting device, reflash, updates and repairs. All you need to do is look up your nearest bestbuy and see if they have one !!

Too bad they can't do hardware repair under warranty like apple stores

-Sent from Tapatalk

 

[Christopher David2]

I am also having this same problem.

Considering I bought the phone the day it was available in stores I'm just blown away that there is an issue already with the phone. I actually have been very loyal to Samsung despite all of my friends having iPhones so its upsetting. My Asurion insurance is completely useless for this unless I lose my phone or someone steals it. I have only lost my phone twice in the many years I've had a cell phone. Anyway I just wanted to post here so that people can be aware there is some sort of issue with the phone. I had heard that the camera was an issue particularly with people who bought it through Verizon, but I assumed since I bought it through Tmobile (and it was to late I had already bought the phone) maybe I was safe. It seems that was an incorrect assumption.

Very upset with Samsung and I think this will probably make me switch over to an iPhone the next time I buy a phone.

The issue that I am having is the front facing camera is able to take pictures, but the top portion of the frame is blacked out now. I considered for a moment that maybe I had dropped the phone roughly, but I have not. I have always kept a robust case on the phone since day one and the farthest it has fallen since I've had it these two? three months? is from my lap to the floor.

 

[Asurioncares]

I am also having this same problem.

Considering I bought the phone the day it was available in stores I'm just blown away that there is an issue already with the phone. I actually have been very loyal to Samsung despite all of my friends having iPhones so its upsetting. My Asurion insurance is completely useless for this unless I lose my phone or someone steals it. I have only lost my phone twice in the many years I've had a cell phone. Anyway I just wanted to post here so that people can be aware there is some sort of issue with the phone. I had heard that the camera was an issue particularly with people who bought it through Verizon, but I assumed since I bought it through Tmobile (and it was to late I had already bought the phone) maybe I was safe. It seems that was an incorrect assumption.

Very upset with Samsung and I think this will probably make me switch over to an iPhone the next time I buy a phone.

The issue that I am having is the front facing camera is able to take pictures, but the top portion of the frame is blacked out now. I considered for a moment that maybe I had dropped the phone roughly, but I have not. I have always kept a robust case on the phone since day one and the farthest it has fallen since I've had it these two? three months? is from my lap to the floor.

Hi Christopher!

In addition to loss and theft, we also cover physical and liquid damage! If your device is less than a year old, your camera malfunctioned and no physical or liquid damage has occurred, it may be covered by your manufacturers warranty. You will want to check with your carrier to determine eligibility.

However, if the problem with your device occurred as a result of physical damage, such as when you dropped the phone, it may be covered by your insurance policy. If this is the case, we welcome you to file a claim online at Welcome to Phoneclaim.com. Please let us know if we can be of further assistance. We're happy to help!

 

[Joe McNally1]

After many years of being with apple I finally decided to solve the iPhone vs android argument for myself by fully switching and buying the new s5. While it's a worthwhile phone with some perks I know have the same problem for the second time. That's right, my first had a broken front camera that only had about half the screen available to view now the replacement t-mobile sent me has the same problem. Neither was ever dropped or abused. T-Mobile was great but Samsung has been awful to deal with. Rude and unreasonable as far as I'm concerned. When you sell a $600 POS it should work or be immediately replaced with a brand new phone, not sent to a factory for months on end. As soon as the iPhone 6 is out this goes in the trash.

 

[Kel M]

The iPhone is not the only phone, there are many other great Android phones if you want to try another brand.

Sent from my Galaxy S5

 

[Zylograth]

I had the same issue with my original S5. Some type of O-ring gasket fell in front of the camera. T-Mobile exchanged it but I can see this is happening again with the replacement S5. They are sending me a third S5 for a different reason which should arrive today.

That is why I always keep a spare just in case my daily driver goes out on me. Currently I keep a Nexus 5 on hand so that I can play with the latest version when Google releases it, and if I need a back up device.

 

[TriBeard92]

The iPhone is not the only phone, there are many other great Android phones if you want to try another brand.

Sent from my Galaxy S5

This. My m8 has been pretty much flawless, and the g3 looks very nice as well.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[thehoffaman]

My sprint galaxy s5 is doing it as well, the front camera is now half blocked it started maybe a month after i got it. I'm going to try to take it back to sprint after I return from my vacation.

 

[binettemichael]

I had the same issue with my original S5. Some type of O-ring gasket fell in front of the camera. T-Mobile exchanged it but I can see this is happening again with the replacement S5. They are sending me a third S5 for a different reason which should arrive today.

That is why I always keep a spare just in case my daily driver goes out on me. Currently I keep a Nexus 5 on hand so that I can play with the latest version when Google releases it, and if I need a back up device.

I got my S5 in July and had to replace it within a month due to this issue. My replacement S5 developed a finger scanner issue in which I was unable to register my fingerprints despite factory reseting the device. I am now on my THIRD Galaxy S5, and the camera malfunctioned in the same way that my first phone did. AT&T is going to have to issue me a 3rd replacement making that FOUR Galaxy S5s over the course of six months. iPhone, here I come.