Nexus 4 screen cracks - defective - Google and LG do not take responsibility

[Tall Mike 2145]

My Nexus 4 has survived my not having dropped it on occasions too frequent to number.

 

[bosshaug12]

It's not a design flaw. It happens on all of LG's Optimus G's and Nexus 4's. I haven't looked at the tech specs on the digitizer/lcd assembly but i've examined LS970, E970, and E960 assemblies and it seems to me that the thin digitizer layer is manufactured directly to the top layer of glass and is made of a brittle substrate. So when the top layer cracks the digitizer layer cracks as well, resulting in a touch screen that does not respond. It sucks for the average consumer that's clumsy/drops their phone but being in the repair bi'nuss it is great because it makes an semi-expensive repair worth it to get their phone functional again.
Kind of sucks but then again I applaud LG for this design.

As far as it cracking/breaking from such a small drop it was probably a defect in the screen during manufacturing or it was assembled with a piece of debris under the screen. However, since it has a crack and you did drop it, it is understandable that they will not warranty it, as my company wouldn't either. But you could always repair the device yourself for around $130!

 

[ChromeJob]

Note that the users claiming manufacturing faults are 1-post wonders. Le sigh.

// Tapatalk HD for Android - Nexus 7 //

 

[Fairclough]

Chrome I noticed the same.

Read post #8 here:

Broken Screen Replacement

It's a design flaw. Nexus 4 has thinner glass than any other phone on the market (including Nexus 4 Optimus). I've already replaced the front screen, and, to add insult to injury, the back cover just went - all within a month and a half of purchase. This is really poor build quality. My old Galaxy S lasted 3+ years and continued to work fine even after I managed to crack the screen (two+ years into its life).

Now I am curious, did you make a second account to back up your claim?

 

[David Brady]

I have found the same thing and will be going back to the Iphone . i dropped my iphone off a semi truck(about 14 feet) and it still worked even tho the screen was cracked these nexus phones are crap. I called lg they told me to call another place and they were rude and i am very unsatisfied with the customer service. When i bought the phone they told me it had the strongest glass of all phones they lied so now it will cost me over 1000$ to pay for this crap phone and buy a new iPhone all i can say is wow.

 

[return_0]

I have found the same thing and will be going back to the Iphone . i dropped my iphone off a semi truck(about 14 feet) and it still worked even tho the screen was cracked these nexus phones are crap. I called lg they told me to call another place and they were rude and i am very unsatisfied with the customer service. When i bought the phone they told me it had the strongest glass of all phones they lied so now it will cost me over 1000$ to pay for this crap phone and buy a new iPhone all i can say is wow.

Lol, your iPhone will break from a 2 foot drop.

Sent from my pure Google Nexus 4 using Android Central Forums

 

[chubb]

Lol, your iPhone will break from a 2 foot drop.

Sent from my pure Google Nexus 4 using Android Central Forums

Don't waste your breath. Just signed up and one post and its a post bashing Google/LG/Android.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Shannon Flood]

Well, I guess I will be yet another "1 post wonder" that believes there is some form of a design flaw in the N4's glass.

I have had mine now for about 2 months, and I have treated this phone like a newborn baby. I have always had second hand, or second rate phones. I finally decided after playing around with a friends N4 that the time had come to finally treat myself to a quality phone.

Since the day it came out of the box, it has had front and rear, quality (spigen ultra-clear front, and xtremeguard back) protectors on it, as well as being in a Body Glove case. The phone has never been dropped, never been sat on, and has always been carried in a belt case, so never even been pocketed.

Tonight, I decided to remove it from the Body Glove case, just to give it a good wipe down, and guess what? Back glass is busted all around the speaker, and cracks have started to extend from that point, and have reached almost to the camera.

Honestly, I am at a loss. People actually make fun of me for the way I treat this phone. I carry a Muck-off microfiber cloth with me, and wipe it down practically after every use. To put it lightly, I am downright OCD about the way I handle it.

I have searched, and I am not alone in this type of break. I am not crying foul here (although crying might make me feel better at this point), but I do believe there is an issue with the back glass, especially around the speaker. From what I have read, the newer N4's have had the back glass redesigned with some "nubs" to help with breakage. It would be really nice if LG would offer a replacement, especially if it is obvious that the phone wasn't dropped or crushed. I am going to try, but I am not keeping my fingers crossed.

 

[return_0]

Well, I guess I will be yet another "1 post wonder" that believes there is some form of a design flaw in the N4's glass.

I have had mine now for about 2 months, and I have treated this phone like a newborn baby. I have always had second hand, or second rate phones. I finally decided after playing around with a friends N4 that the time had come to finally treat myself to a quality phone.

Since the day it came out of the box, it has had front and rear, quality (spigen ultra-clear front, and xtremeguard back) protectors on it, as well as being in a Body Glove case. The phone has never been dropped, never been sat on, and has always been carried in a belt case, so never even been pocketed.

Tonight, I decided to remove it from the Body Glove case, just to give it a good wipe down, and guess what? Back glass is busted all around the speaker, and cracks have started to extend from that point, and have reached almost to the camera.

Honestly, I am at a loss. People actually make fun of me for the way I treat this phone. I carry a Muck-off microfiber cloth with me, and wipe it down practically after every use. To put it lightly, I am downright OCD about the way I handle it.

I have searched, and I am not alone in this type of break. I am not crying foul here (although crying might make me feel better at this point), but I do believe there is an issue with the back glass, especially around the speaker. From what I have read, the newer N4's have had the back glass redesigned with some "nubs" to help with breakage. It would be really nice if LG would offer a replacement, especially if it is obvious that the phone wasn't dropped or crushed. I am going to try, but I am not keeping my fingers crossed.

Sorry for your loss, but it's a defective unit. Not design flaw.

Sent from my pure Google Nexus 4 using Android Central Forums

 

[TheLibertarian]

I have a tiny scratch that showed up on my front glass. Not a clue in the world how it got there.

The only thing I'm certain of is that Google, LG, and the Boogeyman are not responsible.

 

[JHBThree]

Sorry for your loss, but it's a defective unit. Not design flaw.

Sent from my pure Google Nexus 4 using Android Central Forums

I also don't buy that it was never dropped or force was never applied to it. Glass doesn't just break. Something was done to it (whether intentionally or not) that caused it.

Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk 2

 

[snookasnoo]

They often do. But if you drop your phone and break it I can't see how anyone can expect the manufacturer to fix it.

I've read plenty of stories of people dropping their N4 from waist level and having nothing break. You just had some bad luck and it has nothing to do with Google or LG. If you want to go back to apple over this, do it. Buy I doubt that apple would replace your broken screen either.

 

[shahali]

Guys, this is a true story:

Yesterday my son dropped a porcelain plate onto our Granite floor.... Kabooom... not a single chip on the plate despite a hight of 3 foot or so. My wife dropped a similar plate onto our glass table and... Kaboom... the plate shattered from a hight of about 15cm.

Moral of the story is you may drop things and it may not crack.... you may drop things and it may crack. Best not to drop things.

 

[anon(5719825)]

Guys, this is a true story:

Yesterday my son dropped a porcelain plate onto our Granite floor.... Kabooom... not a single chip on the plate despite a hight of 3 foot or so. My wife dropped a similar plate onto our glass table and... Kaboom... the plate shattered from a hight of about 15cm.

Moral of the story is you may drop things and it may not crack.... you may drop things and it may crack. Best not to drop things.

I hope you complained to the manufacturer because I would be upset because both plates didn't break as I would have expected. How else will you get new plates often?

 

[mset]

Sorry for your loss, but it's a defective unit. Not design flaw.

I have to agree. I've been trying to be very careful with my N4 because of the 2 glass surfaces. I found my iPhone to be decently drop proof. I don't use protectors.

This weekend, I had the inevitable heart-stopper as the phone slipped out of my hand and landed on a tile floor from about 2 feet. No damage. The next day, the same thing happened on a hardwood floor. Again, no damage.

There will inevitably be some units with component or manufacturing defects. I admit that it would suck to get one and then have Google/LG leave you hanging out to dry.

 

[RickInHouston]

I dropped mine onto concrete from about three feet. I shattered the back by each bottom corner on the back. The front held up. Found a store that replaces the back for $85. The new back should be in sometime this week. You can also get them on eBay. Replacing it looks quite easy provided you have the proper torque screwdriver set.

 

[JHBThree]

I dropped mine onto concrete from about three feet. I shattered the back by each bottom corner on the back. The front held up. Found a store that replaces the back for $85. The new back should be in sometime this week. You can also get them on eBay. Replacing it looks quite easy provided you have the proper torque screwdriver set.

The back is insanely easy to replace. All you need is a torx screw driver and a plastic spudger tool to undo the clips.

Just make sure they replace all of the antennas on the back. If you want NFC you'll need them.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

 

[ivanscott]

same thing happened with my galaxy nexus except the drop was about 10cm onto thick carpet. There are now 2 huge cracks in it. Phones 4U Samsung and Google are not interested. Crap phone (great OS) BUT crap phone. Im going to switch to Apple

 

[DrJRA]

Sorry for your loss, but it's a defective unit. Not design flaw.

Sent from my pure Google Nexus 4 using Android Central Forums

hmm, sure, I may be a new poster, but I typically spend my time doing other thing rather than posting. I come to these sites when I have a problem not to hang out and make cyber buddies. So, yep, glass broke on both sides of my N4. A small crack should not render the phone entirely useless. Especially when the phone was in a protective case? how is that not a design flaw? I know many of you will go to the grave defending this phone, and I love the damn thing, too. But having such a thin glass that is unsupported in certain areas is a design flaw. If the windshield of your car was struck by a rock you would expect it to crack. If that crack renders your entire car useless and you cant even start the engine, that would be a design flaw. Others are picking up on this too..... Nexus 4 sees small design changes in newest models | Android and Me
The new 'nubs' haven't address the unsupported areas of glass, but they address relieving the stress in those points by "lifting" the phone off the surface a little. What happened to mine was not because the glass surface hit something and shattered. Rather, a side impact caused the edge of the glass to fracture. To me, I understand having the thin glass and its unique characteristics...very cool, but the side of the phone is weak and unsupportive of such a fragile edge of glass. Either LG or whomever makes the next nexus will hopefully address the plastic casing that wraps the thin glass to beef up its support and help to resist side impact shatters.

 

[Captainbob767]

The back is insanely easy to replace. All you need is a torx screw driver and a plastic spudger tool to undo the clips.

Just make sure they replace all of the antennas on the back. If you want NFC you'll need them.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

This is a video that shows how to replace the battery, but in order to do it , you have to remove the back. So if you watch the video, you will see how easy it is to pop the back. You just need the tools to do it. How to Replace Your Nexus 4 Battery - YouTube