Screen Flicker - Possible issues/reasons.

[ResDog]

Hello all,

I have seen a lot of posts about the screens backlighting giving out lately.

I am having screen flicker issues on the EVO today and I think I know the cause of the problem.

Everything was fine until I installed a screen protector. This protector required a light soapy water solution to apply, which I'm VERY paranoid about. I applied it with the slightest amount of moisture... it was barely even DAMP. Everything was fine for about an hour, and then.... flickering all over the place. It would get so bad the screen would go completely dark, even though the fours keys down below were lit like the display should be on.

Batt pulls, resets, screen brightness going from Auto to a set level... nothing worked.

Then I started reading about the light bleed/uneven epoxy on the glass mount issues and it hit me... When the application process tells you to squeegee the air bubbles out from the film, you are pushing ANY amount of moisture you have to the edges of the glass. ANY amount pushed towards the bottom of the screen has a SIGNIFICANT chance of getting between the glass and the screen. The backlight circuit board is on the lower part of the screen and this issue becomes a nightmare.

I've read a few posts where people have reported the flicker issue subsides after a day, I can only assume the amount of moisture was minimal and it had finally evaporated. I will be praying that I am in that boat tonight. If not, I will have a first-hand experience of going through Best Buys warranty service!



So just to recap: Do NOT use ANY screen protector on your EVO that requires a moisture solution to apply! This should be common practice to begin with, but I just want to restate this fact from first-hand knowledge.

I hope this post saves even ONE EVO from getting hurt like mine did.

Thank you for your time. I love this board and wanted to pass this experience along, no matter how bone-headed it may have been.

 

[slopokdave]

You are exactly right, and a few others have experienced this same issue. Sucks.

Will need to be extra extra careful or just stick with non-solution based screen protectors. Or go naked.

 

[ResDog]

I have a video of the screen freaking out. (I took it on my Blackberry Storm, LOL)

I'll post a link to it when I get it uploaded to a video server somewhere.

 

[ResDog]

And now with video goodness:

YouTube - EVO 4G Flickering screen

 

[EVO Navian]

And now with video goodness:

YouTube - EVO 4G Flickering screen

 

[YBCold]

I used on that needed spray and had no problems. I did tear it off today though after seeing the scratch test. No need to have one if someone can do all that and not have a little scratch. Especially since I would never let mine get that abused.

Are you sure its not the sensor having some haze over it from the liquid drying?

Was the auto screen adjust on as well?

 

[dtg755]

Sorry to hijack the thread but what kind of case is on your evo?

 

[ResDog]

I used on that needed spray and had no problems. I did tear it off today though after seeing the scratch test. No need to have one if someone can do all that and not have a little scratch. Especially since I would never let mine get that abused.

Are you sure its not the sensor having some haze over it from the liquid drying?

Was the auto screen adjust on as well?

I agree about the scratch test. Made me feel better after I took the screen guard off.

It was very clear the the backlight was shorting out. If you see in the video, I go to the screen brightness screen and slide the brightness all the way up THEN turned on auto adjust afterward.

 

[ResDog]

Sorry to hijack the thread but what kind of case is on your evo?

No worries... It's the "Platinum Series" GunMetal color case. I got it at Best Buy on launch day.

I figured it would hold me over until the Siedio Innocase II came out, but I've liked it so much, I canceled my Innocase order! It's just as good, IMHO (without having tried the Innocase for the EVO). I've had the Innocase on my Blackberries before and I liked them (whoa, THAT sounds WRONG!), but this Platinum Series case does a great job.

My only 2 issues with the case:
- It makes the phone standing on the kickstand a little wobbly, but liveable.
- I used a razor blade to shave down the leading edge of the power and volume cutouts. As ships, it's a little too sharp and needed to be shaved down ever so slightly to make my fat little fingers happy.

 

[ljm42]

I'm having a screen flickering issue as well - but it seems to be isolated to when a call is in progress, which makes me think that it's not from a screen protector (Zagg Best Buy installed). Really weird. Did a hard reset this morning (for battery issues), and that didn't help either.

I may take it back to BB and see what say unless anyone has any more miracle fixes here.

 

[kruglovus]

flickering to full brightness

I had almost the same issue, only the opposite. My EVO's screen was randomly flickering to full brightness and back to the set level. I just got my white EVO yesterday, and it started flickering between full brightness and dim. At first, I thought it was faulty ambient light sensor, because the brightness was set to automatic. Then I set it to manual and flickering continued. The only time it was not flickering (actually, I simply did not notice it) was when the brightness was set to full.

Then I found out that if I hold the phone by the edges, so that not touching the screen, and gently push the back door, the screen goes to full brightness and stays until I release the pressure. I never applied any screen protector or used wet hands or anything related to moisture.

Today I went back to BestBuy and exchanged it for another one. The second does not seem to have the screen issue.

 

[jessicacmu09]

Screen Flicker

Hi everyone,

I'm having the same screen flickering issues on my HTC Evo Shift. Whenever I take it off the charger with a full charge, the screen flickers (looks like lightning). I recorded it with my camera because the service man at the Sprint store didn't know what I was talking about, and of course it wasn't doing it when I wanted to show someone. However, unlike everyone else on here, I did not use a screen protector that required water, and I have not gotten my phone wet at all. The flickering stops after about an hour or so after taking it off the charger, so it's not that big of a deal. I'm just wondering if I should deal with it or take it in and show someone the video so I could help others who are having the same problem. What do you think?