Screen Scratched :( Need Replacement!?

[gadgetluva]

Just as a word of caution...put your phone in a separate pocket. Items such as keys, coins, etc. CAN scratch gorilla glass given enough pressure/time. Why take the risk? As such, your 3 month old device is scratched due to this.

 

[Dixie]

The OP could wait until the next 'open enrollment ' (can't recall the correct term) that Sprint offers for the insurance, add it, then replace the glass.

 

[davis.rob]

Depending on how bad it's scratched, you might try a screen protector. Some of the stick on protectors actually do a good job of hiding existing scratches. I used a Phantom Skinz on an older Palm Pre and the existing scratches pretty much disappeared.

 

[AddversitY]

I highly doubt that the screen was scratched by the coins in your pocket. Glass is a very hard substance and as such can only be scratched by something harder. The metal the coins are made of is much lower on the hardness scale. I suspect you had some sand in your pocket (probably specs of sand mixed in with lint/dust). I have been using smartphones since the iPhone 3G came out and never have used a screen protector. I accidentally scratched one of my Evo 4G phones using my tungsten wedding ring, but that has been the only screen scratch in over three years.

You're right, I'm lying?

Anyhow, I thought the purpose of Gorilla Glass was to specifically avoid these types of scratches from keys, coins, and other small potentially dangerous threats to the phone's screen. It's how it was advertised, to say the least. I put a screen cover back on, but obviously I can still see the scratches which were on it because they are not minor but at the same time no huge gashes. It's an inconvenience at the least and it bothers me that my brand new phone has scratches on it and it is in no way replaceable.

 

[QuantamPulse]

Was it ever actually confirmed that the phone has gorilla glass ? I ask because I ran with a Droid X for a long time with no cover. Constantly tossed it down in my pocket with pens, coins, keys and other items and never had so much as a mark.

The first time I put my 4GT in a pocket with a pen it got a few small scratches after having been in there for less than 10 minutes. I have a screen protector on now and its enough to cover the scratches so I cant see them.

If it is gorilla glass the quality has definitely changed. Before I tossed out my X I did the knife test and it took a sizeable effort to make a mark on the screen. Definitely more than just a pen in the pocket.

 

[Biggnaa20]

To the OP:

I'm sorry your phone got messed up. Regardless of whether you pay for insurance or not, that sucks.

I'm at work and don't really have time to research, but look up iFixit to see if they have a guide or can show you how to replace the screen.

Also, you can always ask a sprint technician. You might get a nice/useful one who will do the switch for not to much. I got some of my older phones fixed when I thought I was out of luck this way.

Good luck

 

[DroidXcon]

XO skin claims to fill in scratches good

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

 

[AddversitY]

XO skin claims to fill in scratches good

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

Looks good, thanks for the mention!

Guess I'm stuck scratched though. =[

 

[apinkel]

It does look like removing the screen is a bit of a pain since it require a heat gun:
Samsung Epic 4G Touch Teardown - Page 2 - iFixit

Screen also isn't cheap:
Samsung Epic 4G LCD and Touch Screen Digitizer Replacement

 

[chazglenn3]

That link is for the original Epic 4G screen...the screen for the Touch is probably more money. And to the OP, I wasn't saying that you were lying, I was saying the coins did not cause the scratches..I'm sure that your glass got scratched, and that is a bummer.

 

[Mikey47]

Sand is perhaps the biggest cause of scratches to screens in pockets.

I know it's not glass, but three years ago had a neighbor who washed and waxed his mustang every week. One time while buffing the car with a power buffer he set it down in the driveway to answer a phone call. Picked it up and didn't notice the sand on the pad. Scratched the heck out of his hood.

 

[dude9000]

My OG Droid was invincible. I have slammed it off walls thrown it in parking lots. Even tossed it out of a moving car going 50 onto the street, came and got it the next day. The case is all scratched and busted but the screen is flawless. It still opens and closes like the day I got it. I'd get drunk and it would freeze or the battery would die and off a wall it would go. Had the phone since a couple days after it was released. Gorilla glass is some strong stuff or at least it used to be. I just put it into retirement when I got my nexus.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

 

[AddversitY]

It is just a phone, and eventually I will find some sort of repair for it as the months progress...hopefully. Thanks for the help though guys, I appreciate it.

 

[handsomeprince#AC]

CORNING? GORILLA? GLASS | SAMSUNG

Well I don't know if that's just the international-gsm version that has it

 

[IAmSixNine]

I'm just a kid man, I don't need unnecessary payments that I can't make.

Welcome to the world of $500 phones.
To replace the glass means replacing the whole front assembly with LCD included. 100 insurance deductable is a fair price.
If you dont have insurance which i think you said you didnt, then the part is probably around 100-200 bucks. Depending if its OEM or aftermarket. BUT since your dealing with a SAMOLED display your better off getting OEM.

 

[nathy321]

Personally I don't think this phone has gorilla glass, my phone has a couple of scratches and ive only had it a couple of times in my pocket with keys so either it doesn't have gorilla glass or or gorilla glass sucks!

 

[dm3ready]

Re: Screen Scratched - E4gT doesn't have Gorilla glass

I concur - if the E4gT had Gorilla glass then I'm certain they would promote that on the Samsung official website. I can't find any mention of it.
Specs - Sprint Cell Phones SPH-D710 | Samsung Cell Phones

I would love to be wrong, however I have only seen mention of Gorilla glass on non-official sites/blogs.

 

[davis.rob]

Re: Screen Scratched - E4gT doesn't have Gorilla glass

I concur - if the E4gT had Gorilla glass then I'm certain they would promote that on the Samsung official website. I can't find any mention of it.
Specs - Sprint Cell Phones SPH-D710 | Samsung Cell Phones

I would love to be wrong, however I have only seen mention of Gorilla glass on non-official sites/blogs.

FWIW, the Corning site says the "Galaxy S II" has Gorilla glass. Doesn't specifically call out the US variations. Also, there's a "semi-official" post from a Sprint rep saying it is Gorilla glass here:

[Confirmed] Epic 4G Touch DOES have gorilla glass - xda-developers

No scratches on mine yet, but I don't put it in the pocket with keys/coins.

 

[hawaiijedi]

FWIW, the Corning site says the "Galaxy S II" has Gorilla glass. Doesn't specifically call out the US variations. Also, there's a "semi-official" post from a Sprint rep saying it is Gorilla glass here:

I foolishly started a new thread for the same topic and I am sorry about that. I also have a scratch and cant figure out how the scratch was even made. I don't have insurance and I guess I am stuck with a phone with the scratch even though I was meticulous about babying my phone. This fully sucks. I wish I could just swap it one for one like tmobile allows.
[Confirmed] Epic 4G Touch DOES have gorilla glass - xda-developers

No scratches on mine yet, but I don't put it in the pocket with keys/coins.

 

[crzycrkr]

I highly doubt that the screen was scratched by the coins in your pocket. Glass is a very hard substance and as such can only be scratched by something harder. The metal the coins are made of is much lower on the hardness scale. I suspect you had some sand in your pocket (probably specs of sand mixed in with lint/dust). I have been using smartphones since the iPhone 3G came out and never have used a screen protector. I accidentally scratched one of my Evo 4G phones using my tungsten wedding ring, but that has been the only screen scratch in over three years.

This guy is absolutely right. Everyone else saying keys/coins should do a tiny bit of research.