The kinda-official LG G4 bootloop thread

[DJCBS]

Mine died for good (after a few warning with the screen vertically splitting out of nowhere) in the beginning of February. I took it last week to the LG authorized repair centre and I'm now waiting for them to repair it.
Today they told me they were waiting for a new motherboard...but quite honestly...I think they were just waiting for an order from LG to actually replace the phone (which they normally don't do. They normally only repair them). Let's see what happens when I get it back.

 

[D13H4RD2L1V3]

Do you guys think LG would let this happen again? Seriously, what are the odds they would let something like this cripple God knows how many phones? I just don't see it happening. I think the G5 had a good chance of being LG's best device, given that this happened. A company that ships globally with their track record? This is the first thing I can remember on this scale with an LG device. I read post saying they'll never buy about LG product, but I'm going the other way. I think the G5 will be a home run given that this happened to the G4. Maybe I'm too optimistic, but that's how I feel.

I don't know. I know LG will make things better but honestly, this whole thing is making me pretty weary.

 

[Mooncatt]

I've resigned myself to thinking all modern smartphones are fragile (and the only durable spec ones are low on performance). Before this, I had two M8's that died with bad USB ports. That seems to be their weakness and other phones have their own common problems. I wouldn't swear off an entire brand over a problem because they all have them.

 

[D13H4RD2L1V3]

I've resigned myself to thinking all modern smartphones are fragile (and the only durable spec ones are low on performance). Before this, I had two M8's that died with bad USB ports. That seems to be their weakness and other phones have their own common problems. I wouldn't swear off an entire brand over a problem because they all have them.

That's actually true. It seems like lots of modern smartphones suffer from issues, usually related to batches.

However, LG's case doesn't seem to be isolated to a single batch. It looks to affect multiple batches, especially since yours was one of the G4s newer than S/N 508 that failed. I wouldn't call it minor either, since it's the total failure of the device without any warning whatsoever.

A small loan of a broken G4

 

[maclancer]

I've resigned myself to thinking all modern smartphones are fragile (and the only durable spec ones are low on performance). Before this, I had two M8's that died with bad USB ports. That seems to be their weakness and other phones have their own common problems. I wouldn't swear off an entire brand over a problem because they all have them.

I will say that is not at all true... Before I got a G3, I was using a Lumia 1520 from 2013... Never have a single hardware or software issue other than lack of apps in the store. I sold it in October 2015. I used it for almost 2 years.

 

[DJCBS]

I will say that is not at all true... Before I got a G3, I was using a Lumia 1520 from 2013... Never have a single hardware or software issue other than lack of apps in the store. I sold it in October 2015. I used it for almost 2 years.

Yes but that was Nokia.
In 15 years of Nokia phones, I never had any hardware problems with them (except for the 930, already produced under Microsoft's watch). When Nokia went away and I switched first to Sony then to LG, both phones gave me hardware problems (both with the motherboards curiously).

 

[ieee_raider]

Happened to me in December. Sent back to Verizon and they sent me a refurbished unit.
I was using google maps when all of a sudden it froze for a while then rebooted and stuck in boot loop.
Oh well, new one has been ok... so far...

Actually the only smartphone I've ever had break on me after several samsung, htc, and nexus (lg) phones

 

[mc4nam]

It's on its way out, bruh. Those were the exact same symptoms I saw before my G4 died on me. Back up EVERYTHING frequently and wait for the imminent failure.

I know man. It would be the second one to die in 2 months. I am backing up in too many places. LG, Google, and Mybackup pro....plus SD Card.

Tmobile would swap out for another one right now but I am just going to wait I guess. I am hoping this one will hold on until S7 and G5 reviews hit the street.

 

[D13H4RD2L1V3]

I'm still pretty queasy over my S/N 512 G4.

I hope it doesn't fail, but if it does, I'm ordering a Galaxy S7 if it comes with a bigger battery. Maybe the Edge if I can afford it.

Or the LG G5 if it impresses greatly.

 

[maclancer]

I'm still pretty queasy over my S/N 512 G4.

I hope it doesn't fail, but if it does, I'm ordering a Galaxy S7 if it comes with a bigger battery. Maybe the Edge if I can afford it.

Or the LG G5 if it impresses greatly.

512 does not suffer from the issue... It's actually one of the newest batches.

 

[tardus]

512 does not suffer from the issue... It's actually one of the newest batches.

Exactly - with 512 no worries...but keep everything backed up anyway. Good practice for any phone.

 

[qz0xr3]

I have the G2, pleased with it overall. The camera could be better, but the big seller for me was the volume buttons on the back. After Samsung took away the microSD support, been sitting on the fence on whether to get the G4 or wait until the G5 came out. My cousin has the G4 and had been pleased with it until he really experienced the boot loader issue. Didn't realize how widespread the issue was until I Googled it. My confidence in LG phones took a big hit.

I had high hopes for the G5 and maybe I should wait until the G5 officially releases. But based on what I've read/seen so far, think I'll pass on the G5 and take a good look at the Galaxy S7.

 

[D13H4RD2L1V3]

512 does not suffer from the issue... It's actually one of the newest batches.

I hope so, but the recent failures of 509 batches have made me worried

A small loan of a broken G4

 

[maclancer]

I hope so, but the recent failures of 509 batches have made me worried

A small loan of a broken G4

I think the G4 is a great device to buy... I am thinking in upgrade from my current G3. I will wait longer... Possible to next year until all new G4 batches are available everywhere.

 

[mkdevo]

Ugh I think this just happened to me this morning. Just seeing this thread for the first time. S/N starts with 505.

Was using it fine this morning - made a call, sent a text, took some pics. Had it in my pocket and pulled it out a while later, and it's super hot and stuck on the LG boot screen. After going nowhere for a while, I tried to remove the battery and put it back in, and now the phone won't turn on at all.

Is it hosed? Any way to retrieve data off the phone??

 

[gendo667]

Ugh I think this just happened to me this morning. Just seeing this thread for the first time. S/N starts with 505.

Was using it fine this morning - made a call, sent a text, took some pics. Had it in my pocket and pulled it out a while later, and it's super hot and stuck on the LG boot screen. After going nowhere for a while, I tried to remove the battery and put it back in, and now the phone won't turn on at all.

Is it hosed? Any way to retrieve data off the phone??

Yeah, your phone is done. Some people have had success with a freezer, cooling the phone off for time enough to get some date off it. At least I've read as much.

I'd take to back to your carrier. T-Mobile got me a referb in two days. Sorry man.

 

[D13H4RD2L1V3]

A little update.

I've noticed some niggling issues with this unit.

• Touchscreen just failed to respond in anything but the home screen. Had to reboot the phone.
• Battery life is mediocre. <3h of SOT on light-medium use. Original unit fared better.
• Lag in a few places where the original unit didn't

They're just minor stuff, but some of them have made me worried, especially the touchscreen. Hope they get better over time.

 

[mkdevo]

Yeah, your phone is done. Some people have had success with a freezer, cooling the phone off for time enough to get some date off it. At least I've read as much.

I'd take to back to your carrier. T-Mobile got me a referb in two days. Sorry man.

Wow, THANK YOU for the freezer tip. Would have never thought to try the freezer trick on my phone. I tried freezing it for a few hours, took it out, and it worked for a few minutes, but right back to the boot loop after thawing out. So I decided to put it in and leave it in there, and was able to backup all my texts with SMS Backup & Restore, and now getting any unsynced photos off of it - all while it's in the freezer! This is a huge relief. Thank you.

 

[Guatiao]

So my phone is in TX now at the LG repair center, arrived today (Friday). $30 less rich as the FedEx label took forever to get here, and I was not told FedEx was the way to send it over in the first place, just for the return trip to me. Oh well.

I am looking at this weekend's MWC G5 and S7 announcements, which may or may not cause me to use my TMO Jump! exchange option...

Any more feedback from repaired unit owners?

 

[gendo667]

My wife's G4 died yesterday so both of our G4's bit the dust. Getting another referb.

She picked up this cheap Windows Phone and I gotta say, the OS is hideous IMO but as far as function it seems kinda killer. She logged in to Gmail and most of her contacts popped up. Keyboard is awesome. Makes me wanna see the OS with a beefed up processor.