Moto X fragile screen?

[Guysakar]

Where are you reading that a short drop onto a carpet will break the glass? I am reasonably careful with my phones, but I've let it slip out of my lap onto carpet several times. It never occurred to me to worry that it might break. (And it hasn't.)

I am using a wet-mount screen protector, and nothing else. I like the way the phone feels, and don't want a case to make it bulky and awkward.

Here is just from a quick cursory search:

https://community.republicwireless.com/thread/19717

https://community.republicwireless.com/thread/19476?start=0&tstart=0

https://community.republicwireless.com/thread/22017

http://www.ifixit.com/Answers/View/146018/Cracked+screen,+Whole+assembly+or+Glass+Lens+Cover

Look at the comments at the bottom of the next page:

Moto X beats out iPhone 5S, 5C, and Galaxy S4 for durability | Mobile - CNET News



Tell me if I am over reacting. I would love for that to be the case. I want this phone very badly, but being the digitizer is affixed to the LCD (thanks Some Guy for clearing up exactly what that means. I thought it was like a chip or something), and a new LCD is over $200, I am a bit worried and am thinking of just going with the HTC One, which I don't really want to do.

 

[Haalcyon]

There aren't much choices for the Moto X.

I use this one: Amazon.com: i-Blason Motorola X Moto X Smart Phone by Google [ Ultra-Thin 0.24 mm Tempered Glass ] Premium Minimal Bubble 8 H Scratch Free Screen Protector (Glass-uT): Cell Phones & Accessories
Its rated at 8H hardness, so it's not the best. However it's very thin, very smooth, good sensitivity and crystal clear.

This one is rated at 9H: Moto X Ghost Glass Screen Protector | MIME

One by Cruzerlite: http://www.cruzerlite.com/truglass-...otectors-for-motorola-moto-x-retail-packaging, no info, but since they say it's flexible that means its 8H.

Then there's this brand, but looks overpriced without much info: https://www.znitro.com/motorola-moto-x-nitro-glass-clear.html

I would go with MIME from those choices, but I'm pretty happy with the i-Blason.

ZNitro makes good glass protectors. My local mall sells and installs them.


Sent from my liberated iridium rMini LTE

 

[Puzzlegal]

I think you are over-reacting. All cell phones have some risk of breakage. A friend broke his Galaxy S3 the second week he had it in a weird freak accident in the security line at an airport. (It didn't drop far, although I forget the exact details.) Basically, any of them can break if you hit it exactly wrong, and most of them never break despite that.

Get a sturdy case or a bumper if you are really worrried -- those should protect against corner drops.

 

[jcg5862]

I just put mine in an Otterbox Defender. Not the "naked" feel so many freak out over. But my phone goes everywhere with me - from mowing on the tractor to working in the yard, woods or barn. You drop your naked phone from 5' onto my concrete barn floor and see what happens. No thanks. The odds are in my favor.

Posted via Android Central App on my Moto X

 

[vzwuser76]

Thanks for the reply. From what I am reading, falling on the corners/edges is what breaks the glass, not actually falling on the glass. IN fact, you could (according to my research) throw it with force, and if the screen absorbs the impact, you're probably fine, but if it hits a corner, it's going to break.

I'm looking into the tempered glass screen protectors regardless of my phone of choice (hearing good things about them) but do they actually help prevent broken screens from corner impacts?

I am still wondering how well a TPU or bumper guard will prevent a broken screen from a corner impact. I know that on a "normal" phone they will help out a lot, but this phone seems to be a very special case (breaking on carpet is unacceptable). Maybe it's the bezel, edge to edge glass, etc... but there definitely seems to be a lot of complaints regarding.

I've used tpu cases (Verizon calls them high gloss silicone) on all of my phones. The first one I used it on was my OG Droid Incredible. Awhile after i got the case it fell out of my pocket and bounced down a flight of stairs (baggy shorts and running up stairs), to land on the concrete floor. And this was not a short flight of stairs either, it was around 10 feet above the ground. It came out of my pocket right at the top of the stairs, and picked up a lot of speed by the time it got to the bottom. I picked it up and inspected it...nothing. Since then they're all I go with. I think the tpu offers more cushion that solid plastic cases. I also put screen protectors on as well. I haven't used the tempered glass ones, but just the anti scratch ones from Verizon. The only screen I ever replaced was on that same phone, but that was due to a tool hitting the screen.

 

[b_slow1]

Tiny, delicate electronics with glass screens are going to break if you drop them. Even if you put screen protectors, and cases, and bubble-wrap all over the phone, if you drop at at the right angle, it will break. Of course, if you do all of that, you get a bit more protection, but you also don't get to enjoy the device you just spent a lot of money on.

The screen on the Moto X is the same Gorilla Glass that is used on all of the other smartphones out there. It is no more or less durable than any other device. The key is to not drop it.

Since I don't skydive or cliff jump, I "live dangerously" by not bothering to put a case on my phone, or get insurance from the manufacturer or the service provider. Just try to be careful and enjoy your device.

 

[techitrucker]

I can tell you that mine is constantly getting dropped every which way and banged up pretty mercilessly on concrete floors at jobsites and I don't have so much as a scratch on the screen. I do have a Seidio Surface case with kickstand on it but don't use any kind of screen protection. Most of the time it resides in my back pocket where it gets sat on and bumped into. My experience after 5 didn't Motorola devices is that they don't do fragile. The only phone I've owned that ever broke the screen was a Droid Incredible from HTC that regrettably replaced and OG Droid.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[someguy01234]

I am a bit worried and am thinking of just going with the HTC One, which I don't really want to do.

You should consider the HTC One Google Play Edition, it's still a very good phone. I still think from all the consensus the Oppo Find 5 is most likely a little more durable than the One though, but it's over a year old so I would get something else.

sent via Le Motonovo X

 

[Aquila]

I've had a few heart pausing drops (I have toddlers), but so far no damage.

 

[STC09]

Never damaged any of my cell- or smartphones over a fifteen year period, despite a spectacular fall onto the OG Droid in my back pocket and several drops. Never, that was, until dropping my X a lousy 18", shattering the screen.

The next one will have a bumper. Absolutely love the phone otherwise.

 

[kobolila]

I am in the same boat as STC09; I have had a cell phone since around '97, mostly Moto's and, despite some major falls and bouncing on concrete floors. I never broke one. I have had them die but never broke one. I had my X for exactly 80 days when it took a tumble of about 2 1/2 feet, landed on the bottom right corner and shattered the screen. Usually I have it in a portfolio style case; just works better for me sitting in my pocket, the one time I take it out it gets destroyed. Also i n the 1st week, before I could get the screen protected, something did put a 3/32 long nick in the screen, which surprised me.

One of the great things about the hands free capability of this phone is that it saves me from running my fingers over the shattered surface when I need to make a call, send a text; or route a way to my next destination with google maps; the voice commands work pretty darn good.

Moto wanted around $200 to replace the screen, and a local shop quoted me even more than that. Fortunately I bought the phone using an American Express card and they include a 90 day buyer protection plan; since the phone broke within that period they refunded the entire cost of the phone and I bought a new one.

FWIW

 

[STC09]

I am in the same boat as STC09...Fortunately I bought the phone using an American Express card and they include a 90 day buyer protection plan; since the phone broke within that period they refunded the entire cost of the phone and I bought a new one.

Wow, we really were in the same boat - AmEx came through for me too.

 

[David Coconut]

I've had smart phones since 2007 and I have never had a broken screen. I'm pretty careful with my electronic gadgets and when it comes time to sell them I always get top dollar. If you really like the X then go for it. Don't let the slight possibility of a screen breakage dissuade you from getting the phone you want. Any screen can break and I wouldn't lend much credence to that video showing the X as the winner. Each phone hit the concrete differently hence the differences in damage. I bought a nice case on Amazon for around $6 landed and it adds virtually no bulk to the phone. It actually has a nice feel to it. It is called bear motion. Great case and will give you an extra measure of protection without forfeiting the form factor of the Moto X.

 

[Matt Potter]

I had mine a couple weeks with a good case that closes on the front , fell out of hand getting in car, pick it up and the screen has a crack from top left to bottom. Can't believe it, never have had a cracked screen and have had worse drops than that with my razormaxx. Still can't believe it cracked with a full case on it. It is like an eggshell, .really bucks because it seems like a cool phone otherwise.

 

[copycat kakashi]

I have dropped a phone a few times before on laminated wood flooring and it hasn't got a dent or a scratch on the screen. Personally I like this way better than apples turd.

 

[ScottMGS]

A couple weeks ago I dropped my X as I was walking. The phone hit the ground right in front of my foot as I was taking a step and I ended up drop-kicking my phone face-down 5 feet across the cement and another 10 feet across brick. My TPU case got a little scuffed, the bezel around the glass was dented in two places (it hit hard enough to push the case up) and there was one scratch on the screen protector that I don't think went through to the glass (I haven't replaced it yet). Any glass will shatter if it hits wrong. I got lucky. Others... not so much.

 

[stanleywinthrop]

My X has survived several drops that I know for sure would have cracked my old GS3.

Sent from my XT1056 using AC Forums mobile app

 

[Cane Prevost]

It's the edge to edge glass that's a problem. The glass is strong unless it gets a hit to the edge. That's just how it works. If you take a hammer to a glass shower panel and hit it as hard as you can it will likely not break. A light tap to the edge of the glass though and it will shatter to pieces. The strength of the edge bumper on the phone makes a huge difference. The Moto has more edge than some. Take a look at the Google Nexus. That one is super fragile. The metal ring around the edge of the iPhone gives it better than average protection.

 

[KWKSLVR]

It's the edge to edge glass that's a problem. The glass is strong unless it gets a hit to the edge. That's just how it works. If you take a hammer to a glass shower panel and hit it as hard as you can it will likely not break. A light tap to the edge of the glass though and it will shatter to pieces. The strength of the edge bumper on the phone makes a huge difference. The Moto has more edge than some. Take a look at the Google Nexus. That one is super fragile. The metal ring around the edge of the iPhone gives it better than average protection.

This.

Any device will break if dropped at the right angle. My mother broke an iFone that landed on its face on a tile floor from about 3 feet up. I've never broken a screen. I also don't drop my devices.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[Snake Griffin]

To the OP:

Holy over reaction Batman! Might as well buy a phone made for construction sites wrapped in one inch of rubber.

As far as smartphones go this phone is pretty tough. It's very well put together. For every person that complains about a broken screen because of X,Y or Z there are a hundred or more that have never had any of those problems and don't chime in on the internet to tell you that their phone is doing well after one or more drops. I've dropped mine several times around the house and not a scratch or even a rattle in it. I've also had it fall out of my hand from between waist and chest height onto hard pavement and land face down and the screen is in perfect condition; the corner of the phone hit first before landing screen down so there is a small scratch on the corner that doesn't bother me one bit. I do not use a case and I do not use a screen protector. If you really want this phone and then get it - don't let this be a deterrent.