HTC One (M8): Camera Lens Issue

[Mooncatt]

Re: HTC One (M8): Camera lens cover issue

It thankfully hasn't happened on mine, which is the Verizon red version that was released later than the initial batches. I have a case on it that would protect it from some contact, but it's often in my pocket and I'm sure the fabric can still rub against the lens and potentially scuff the coating. So I don't know if I've been extremely lucky, if the coating may still scratch off, or if newer phones had this issue address at the factory.

 

[ruslah]

Re: HTC One (M8): Camera lens cover issue

I don't know how everyone got theirs off so easily!

I spent a good 15-20 minutes the first time with a few different types of alcohol/solvents, toothpaste, glass cleaner... You name it.

The next week or whatever, I spent a fair while using the corner of a credit card and toothpaste. Used a fair bit of force too, thought I was going to break the lens. Finally came off. Crazy some are just removing it with spit and a shirt etc!

 

[Sophia Zhao]

Re: HTC One (M8): Camera lens cover issue

Buy the new camera lens replacement here, but really failed to start to replace it. Remove the rear case or not? Anyone has idea?

 

[oditius]

I just sent mine back to htc and they replaced it free, but I have a backup phone to use when it was gone. I guess it would have been cheaper to replace it myself, but not worrying about messing something else up made it worth the shipping cost.

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk

 

[patstar5]

Re: HTC One (M8): Camera lens cover issue

I am having same problem, actually got oneplus one today and went to take picture of it with m8 and it was blurry, my phone does get constantly hot and the lens is really scratched. I am rooted and have s-off and unlock bootloader so I don't know what would happen if I send it to htc. I could try to lock bootloader and turn s-pen but don't want to brick the phone. I am planning on selling it on eBay (actually purchased it from there too) and don't want to sell it with scratched lens. What to do?

 

[Mooncatt]

Re: HTC One (M8): Camera lens cover issue

I am having same problem, actually got oneplus one today and went to take picture of it with m8 and it was blurry, my phone does get constantly hot and the lens is really scratched. I am rooted and have s-off and unlock bootloader so I don't know what would happen if I send it to htc. I could try to lock bootloader and turn s-pen but don't want to brick the phone. I am planning on selling it on eBay (actually purchased it from there too) and don't want to sell it with scratched lens. What to do?

The scratched coating is obviously a material defect. As others have said, your best bet is to just remove it instead of trying to get a warranty claim. That said, if you're in the U.S., the scratched coating would be legally covered under warranty. One provision of the Magnuson–Moss Warranty Act is that a manufacturer cannot deny a warranty claim due to user actions that don't directly affect the specific defect claim in question.

In other words, there's no way you could do anything to the programming of the phone that would cause the coating to scratch, so they can't decline the claim. If you somehow bricked your phone due to programming changes you made but shouldn't have, then they absolutely can deny a warranty claim for the brick. They may try to fight you on the scratch claim if they see you've unlocked the boot loader and s-off'ed, but they would be in the wrong.

They could, of course, say the scratches are due to user abuse. That one you may have a hard time fighting. That's why you may as well remove the coating and be done with it. Besides, I think there were several people here that reported successfully getting the phone warrantied, only to have the new lens scratch too.

 

[James E1]

Re: HTC One (M8): Camera lens cover issue

I am having same problem, actually got oneplus one today and went to take picture of it with m8 and it was blurry, my phone does get constantly hot and the lens is really scratched. I am rooted and have s-off and unlock bootloader so I don't know what would happen if I send it to htc. I could try to lock bootloader and turn s-pen but don't want to brick the phone. I am planning on selling it on eBay (actually purchased it from there too) and don't want to sell it with scratched lens. What to do?

Did you read this thread at all? You could try and clean the film off the lens rather than go to all that trouble just to send it to HTC and get another lens that will do the same thing in a month or so.

 

[oditius]

Re: HTC One (M8): Camera lens cover issue

I just sent mine to HTC, rooted and custom Rom, s-off. They replaced the Rom as I started earlier. They hook it to a computer install the latest stock Rom then repair it. Plain and simple as that, they don't boot it up to see what you did to it because it isn't a software issue.

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk

 

[patstar5]

Re: HTC One (M8): Camera lens cover issue

I just sent mine to HTC, rooted and custom Rom, s-off. They replaced the Rom as I started earlier. They hook it to a computer install the latest stock Rom then repair it. Plain and simple as that, they don't boot it up to see what you did to it because it isn't a software issue.

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk

So if I nandroid backup of htc rom and leave it s-off with bootloader unlock they will still replace it?

 

[oditius]

Re: HTC One (M8): Camera lens cover issue

So if I nandroid backup of htc rom and leave it s-off with bootloader unlock they will still replace it?

They did mine, returned it fixed and just like I bought it. Unrooted, s-on and totally stock. The only thing I didn't care for was firewater wouldn't s-off it, I had to pay the $25 for sunshine. Once rooted and TWRP installed, it was a matter of doing a nandroid restore and I was back.

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk

 

[patstar5]

Re: HTC One (M8): Camera lens cover issue

They did mine, returned it fixed and just like I bought it. Unrooted, s-on and totally stock. The only thing I didn't care for was firewater wouldn't s-off it, I had to pay the $25 for sunshine. Once rooted and TWRP installed, it was a matter of doing a nandroid restore and I was back.

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk

They fixed it or replaced it?

 

[patstar5]

Re: HTC One (M8): Camera lens cover issue

Will htc still fix it if I don't have receipt?

 

[oditius]

They fixed it or replaced it?

They fixed it, I know because it still had my tempered glass screen protector on it. The EMRI number will show it's less than a year old and still under warranty. As long as it isn't reported stolen you will be fine. But I went the free route, meaning I sent them my phone, they fixed it and returned it. For about $30, they would have sent me a replacement phone, then I would have like 10 days to send mine to them.

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk

 

[patstar5]

Re: HTC One (M8): Camera lens cover issue

Well I contacted htc and should be getting an email with shipping label. How much does usps charge for boxes, or are they free? Going to send it and they should replace it. Paid $19 for shipping.

 

[oditius]

Re: HTC One (M8): Camera lens cover issue

You would have to ask UPS, but any box that will be big enough for the label 8X5.5" should be fine. Lots of crumbled up newspaper will suffice for padding.

 

[patstar5]

Re: HTC One (M8): Camera lens cover issue

You would have to ask UPS, but any box that will be big enough for the label 8X5.5" should be fine. Lots of crumbled up newspaper will suffice for padding.

Well should ship tomorrow, I took it to ups today. I hope they honor warranty and replace it. Really like the htc one m8 but when I get it back I will have to sell it to keep my oneplus one. The speakers were much better on m8 and it had ir blaster but the OPO feels great and it is a rare phone. Look forward to m9,if htc makes better camera and waterproof they will have a hit.

 

[anon(596177)]

Re: HTC One (M8): Camera lens cover issue

Ok, I spoke too soon about my phone not having this issue.just noticed my front lense had a lot of scratches.

10 mins with nail polish remover and a Qtip and its all clear

 

[Travisimo]

Re: HTC One (M8): Camera lens cover issue



Well I've had my One M8 for about a month now and have loved it... until a few days ago. I was out taking photos and when I came home to view them, I noticed the objectionable glow/blurriness. I looked at my lens and it was full of scratches and smudges. After wiping it with a micro fiber cloth didn't do much of anything (got rid of some smudges but not the scratches), I opted to use the alcohol + qtip method. Unfortunately, after several attempts, my lens is in worse shape than before. Not only did the scratches not go away, there is now some kind of halo under the cover. I think what happened is that the alcohol must have gotten under the lens and then when I rubbed with the qtip, it just made things worse underneath. It's not like I dumped the alcohol on the lens itself (it was just on the qtip), but it may have gotten underneath anyway. No amount of rubbing with the qtip or cloth will remove this and I can pretty much tell that it's underneath instead of on the surface.

Well at any rate, I am getting an advanced replacement. The replacement should be here early this week and then I will be sending in my old one. The CSR I spoke with during chat assured me this would be covered (I did mention I attempted to clean the lens but the scratches would not go away, and I also mentioned the forums where other people are experiencing the issue). I'm thinking it's getting replaced using the HTC Advantage program because it mentioned something about the "screen replacement" in the terms and conditions. I asked him why it said screen when my issue is with the camera lens, and he said they were covered together. Which is fine. I don't mind it being covered under HTC Advantage since it was partially my fault (not the initial scratches, but the stuff underneath). I'm just hoping they don't turn around and charge me.

By the way, my phone is bootloader unlocked, s-off, and converted to GPE - but I'm not worried about the invalidating my warranty. It's obviously a hardware issue that has nothing to do with my conversion. The bad news is that I'll have to pay another $25 to s-off my phone with Sunshine.

 

[Legobricke]

Re: HTC One (M8): Camera lens cover issue

The scratch go away if you remove the coating. Trust me... If it just appears more scratched, then the coating still hasn't been removed. Some have used the edge of a credit card to assist in removing with alcohol.

Sent from my HTC One (M8).

 

[Travisimo]

Re: HTC One (M8): Camera lens cover issue

The scratch go away if you remove the coating. Trust me... If it just appears more scratched, then the coating still hasn't been removed. Some have used the edge of a credit card to assist in removing with alcohol.

Sent from my HTC One (M8).

I appreciate the reply, but if you look at my photo, it's the circular smudge (or whatever you want to call it) that won't go away. I've tried repeated attempts with alcohol/qtip as well as credit card. There is definitely no coating left and if I shine a flashlight into the lens, I can tell with depth perception that the center area is problematic underneath. At any rate, my replacement is already in transit so I will be sending this one back. And I have order a couple of lens protectors from Slickwraps and will keep one of them on the lens at all times. At least that way when I need to remove fingerprints, smudges, and scratches, it'll just be from the protector (or I can remove the protector). I've owned quite a few Smartphones over the years and this is the first one I've ever had this problem with. Such a great phone with great materials - it's too bad they fudged this part up.