yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] 3Shirts:
I don't understand why people expect the phone to be super resilient anyway. I have only dropped a phone (from standing height) once in the last three years. I had an Xperia S and dropped it down some steps at Thorpe Park. Fortunately I had a case on it so it only suffered a small chip on the exposed edge.

This is glass front and back so I have ordered a similar case for this and will practice a special damage-prevention technique I use called being careful.

Honestly, what the hell do you people do with your expensive high end equipment?!
[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] bakron1:
I crack up when I see all these folks worrying about the quality of the phone and the glass back issue?. I have had my N4 for two days and two years from now my phone will look the same because I take care of it. Any device is not going to withstand dropping it and this is not a 600-700 dollar device, it's 349.00 which is a steal for this type of phone.

For me Google did a great job and I would hardly think they would risk the Nexus name by putting out an inferior product. Give the LG a chance please, the product has only been out for two days, lets talk about the glass and quality issues a year from now, just my opinion.
[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ptrm2:
At least the backorder gives time for the chinese cases to arrive:p
[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] nebsif:
Its really ironic. Lets make a really good looking, fragile phone that you must put in an ugly bulky case for it not to break.:rolleyes:

WHATS THE POINT?!

I currently have a GS3 and been runing it "naked" for like 6 months or more and theres no chance im gonna buy a (thicker) phone that absolutely must be used with a case like the iPhone4/4s.

Hopefully there will be "alternative" back covers made of polycarbonate or what ever.. :good:
[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Qbsti:
the thing that realy bugs me, is that the back glass covers the camera. putting the camera lense under glass, that is likely to break/shutter is a stupid idea :/
[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] 3Shirts:
This is why I keep phones in sleeve type cases. I want to keep it safe but I also want to appreciate the design when I'm actually using the phone. I'm sure 90% of drops happen when you are getting out or putting away the phone so the sleeve/sock cases will protect against that. The rest of time I'm just careful!
[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] kindiboy:
No it's not.
[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] mayurgawde31:
better use double case protection :p
[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] James.UBC:
no, just correcting you.

Polycarb presents it's own problems but yes, I'd consider something like the One X it to be a superior solution. If google spat out the One X+ people would still be crying foul about the staining and flex. I they made it glossy people would complain that it's annoying and cheap like the s3.

no, not really. most of the cracks so far have been near the camera/flash, a structurally weak spot and opening onto a hole thing (spreads the force around perim), so once it's gone the crack is unlikely to spread.

plastic scratches easier, I don't see your point.

you can always apply a protector if you really care

it's a tradeoff.

nobody is forcing you to buy a nexus

okay

1. grip

2. process difficulty/scaling

3. way way way way way worse durability, not only to major drops/accidents.

actually, a one piece glass shell would be super durable if done right.

except it's not a problem if the back cracks/has microfracture. the phone still works.
[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ynrozturk:
Exactly this, thank you.

Oh and another thing.. don't drop it. Most phones would break, crack, get messed up regardless of what they're made of.
[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Richieboy67:
I think with a bumper and a plastic cover or screen protector on the back it should be pretty safe. Can we get screen protectors for the back? I mean the transparent ones just like for the touch screen?

sent via xda premium with nexus 7-Xbox live-loneleppard add me
[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] stratax:
i dont understand the people complaining about the phones back durability being glass, saying they would rather have a plastic (uglier) phone since they are more durable. then when suggested to get a case they say "it ruins the design".. literally makes no sense to me.

this phone with a "barely there" case like from Case Mate, or Incipio would be just like having the Galaxy Nexus since it would still be thin, but the back would be plastic. thats the best solution i can think of, or just stick with the galaxy nexus lol.
[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Richieboy67:
I think the glass is awesome. Part of what makes it feel like a good solid device..I'm guessing because mine is backordered..

I think it would still feel like glass with just an incipio on it..and the cool visual will still be there.

sent via xda premium with nexus 7-Xbox live-loneleppard add me
[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] kickokim:
The glass back is just stupid, it's a fragile and heavy material, it was a stupid design choice on the iphone and it's even worse that LG decided to copy it. Ok, it's gives a premium feel to the device, but there are a lot of other materials that are just as nice and stronger. Plus this is a nexus device, what's with the non removable battery?? Also 16 gb max? They put 2 gb of ram because apps are becoming more demanding but they don't think of giving it more storage?? Apart from the chipset and the price, this phone is a disappointment. Ok the software updates are going to be fast, but it's not enough and not what I expected from Google.
[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Richieboy67:
Well if you think the glass is stupid why would you buy the phone?

The glass is awesome and yes, it is Gorilla glass. That is what i hear. If you hate it so much simple...don't buy..

Apparently you hate the phone. Is your reason for posting here just to bash it? I wonder..iPhone guy?

The battery can be removed with 2 screws..
[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] alyaba:
I got two small scratches on the back and one scratch on the front of the phone, never dropped it or put anything else in my pocket with it. Pretty disappointed, never had this issue with any other phone.
[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Fuzz Pucker:
Not impressed

I already have a fairly good scratch on the back plate of my N4, and I haven't even had it a full week yet. I thought that that the front and back glass on these things was Corning Gorilla Glass 2?

Other than that, excellent phone. Even coming from the Gnex, this thing is lightning fast in everything it does. Theres no way I could go back.
[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] movielover76:
I've had my nexus 4 for about a month, I think the glass back means that at the very least this phone should have a screen protector front and back and a bumper case.

My phone's had a screen protector and tpu case on it the entire time and it's still pristine. I don't think the glass back should deter anyone willing to use a case, for those people who feel they have to go caseless and in some cases screen protectorless, because they still think smartphones are some sort of status symbol, they may want to double think the nexus 4

btw, everyone has a smartphone and no one cares which phone you have or if it's got a shimmery back, put a case on that thing so you don't have to replace your $350 toy.

Most people who have smartphone have a case, even the kings of smartphone status seekers "iPhone users", theirs a reason that even they have given into cases.

Dealing with worrying about carefully protecting your smart phone at all times is impossible, one day you'll screw up and drop it.
[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] FallN:
More than six weeks of naked, daily, heavy use and I don't have a single scratch, nick, dent, scuff or any other blemish anywhere on my phone.

It's factory new, mint condition. And I'm loving it! :D

Sent from my Nexus 4
[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Pasmero:
I've recieved my N4 on the 6th Dec..

Since that day i was using a Case. Yesterday i thought i should clean the case and removed it and saw a crack from the upper right to the middle left, although my phone did never fall down.

I phoned with Google Support and they told me, i can send it in and will recieve an RMA - but they will check and if its not a case for guarantee i will be charged for the RMA and will not recieve my old phone back.
[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] droidmeup:
A month of heavy usage with no care whatsoever, my nexus doesn't have any scratch. No protective film! but I use bumper case for better grip. I trust gorrilla glass technology and its delivering what it supposed to do.
[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Bektar:
Despite my paranoia I've dropped mine several times or knocked it off the bed so it's pretty resilient to 2 to 4 feet drops! Also survived a spill onto hard wood kitchen floor no harm done. I do have a bumper case however.
[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Wolfy9247:
I've had my N4 since release day, and as of today I've finally discovered a new hairline scratch going horizontally and diagonally down the back now. I don't remember dropping it from any high distance, or being particularly rough with it, but I don't really know when it broke so I don't know whether to blame poor design flaw (as others have done) or myself... probably both. It's unfortunate, but oh well. I guess.
[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ruzkay:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2oNGDBrdGs

this should explain the situation very well...
[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] nellisere:
Had my Nexus 4 since the 28th December, had a TPU case on since Day 2, had the same screen protector and back protector on (replaced front one 3 days after getting the phone as the icons were annoying me) and still have the back protector on for those now and again times I decide to go "naked", currently got a Poetic Bumper on order so I can show off the back, but I have no scratches or cracks at all :)
[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] wirelezzz:
mine cracked wtf

top left corner cracked over nite while charging .

woke up looked on back see a hairline crack 1 inc

i used phone while charging and corner warmed up.
[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] zephiK:
One month usage. Perfect back still (as well as front)

Poetic Borderline Case and used Rearth Slim.
[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] tengen:
Over a month now, and still pristine. No scratches, no cracks. Tried the bumper case for a while but just didn't like the way it felt in hand compared to naked phone. Now I just use a sleeve/pouch from Waterfield Designs to protect against grit and such.
[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Androyed:
That's what I'm going for. A nice sleeve/pouch and a naked N4.
[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] berz:
Naked n4 , just front and back screen protector from gadgetshieldz .

0 scratches and bumps :)
[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] MidtownHD:
my screen doest have scratches YET, but the upper metal rim does have several hairline scratches
[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] androidfoshizzle:
Get a seude pouch its the best thing to keep it from getting any scratches

"Vanilla android >jail broken iOS>90" TV's"
[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ikeabuchi:
Just notice hairline crack and nick on my Nexus 4s back . Not sure how it happen. The thing is like an oiled pig you can put it down on practically any surface with a miniscule gradient then after a time "bump" turn around and its on the floor. Ironicially I've ordered a case beforehand only had the phone for a week. and i am very careful with all my gadgets I've never broke or even scratched a phone before.. I really like the nexus alot. I am starting to suspect that there is a quality issue with the glass used eevn though it is using the corning gorilla glass 2. They may be a possible batch issue. Thats probably why LG are reluctance to mass produce this because of the MTBF of the glass exterior. Also I think LG are aware of this problem and dont want a Class action suit against them .. watch this space.:cool:
[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] dirtyhamster73:
I bought this pouch. It's made by a xda member, who I don't know, but it's professionally made, great quality, very soft, and it comes in a few different materials. I'm super happy with it.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nexus-4-Sle...799371?pt=PDA_Accessories&hash=item19d81a864b
[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ikeabuchi:
Looks like my sneaking suspicion was correct about the glass back :good: I just had a gut feeling apparently the new batch of Nexus dont have the shimmering effect and are more durable http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2077415
[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] dirtyhamster73:
That was a rumor, it's not true, the N4 has not lost the glittery back. Did you read the whole thread?
[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] indradha:
only 10 days usage and got my first 2mm hairline scratch, but i got many very-thin hairline scratches... NO scratch in the front though...

Now i'm 99% sure that the back is not gorilla glass, it's very vulnerable to scratches

i do love the glitter effect, i do love the glass back feel, but i think i will order screen protector for the back only... if it's available
[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] PROGUERAM:
Could u tell us your HW rev number plz?
[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] sebbo90:
Yeah I've got a crack on the back too. Had it inside took it outside, looked at the back and it has a hairline crack at the top. Very annoying, anyone know what's lgs stance on this in terms of warranty?
[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] jsho31:
Mine fell off my bed and landed on my laptops power brick but it didn't crack or have any scratches. No case at the time either.
[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] dirtyhamster73:
I was getting ready to pack up my n4 that was going back and I put it down on the night table and walked away, 6 steps later and I hear."boom", I look, it's the n4! How it ended up on the floor is beyond me but I was cringing thinking it was cracked. Nothing. I've read about suicidal n4's on here but I thought people were just messing around.
[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] PROGUERAM:
I'm guessing both u (very very lucky) guys have a HW Rev 11.

Sent from my DROID RaZr on JB.
[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] yyz71:
Sent mine in yesterday to Lg repair center. Bent over phone in my top jacket pocket fell right out kiss the concrete face first :crying: Spiderweb all the way screen not responding to touch.. They informed me it should be about three days i should have my phone back:fingers-crossed: Oh ya the price about $180.00 +taxes and labour... They just got my phone:good:UPS...
[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] jsho31:
Where do i check?

Sent from my Nexus 4
[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] PROGUERAM:
Power off the device. Press vol up + down + power button...

Sent from my DROID RaZr on JB.
[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] dirtyhamster73:
The one that fell was 10.
[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] PROGUERAM:
Did it crack? Cause if it fell and did NOT crack it shud b Rev 11.

Sent from my DROID RaZr on JB.
[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] dirtyhamster73:
It fell and did not crack. It was a hw version 10. And what are you basing your "it should have cracked" on???
[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] PROGUERAM:
Many people with HW Rev 10 version are reporting cracks ...lesser though are then ones with V 11. So I thought...

Sent from my DROID RaZr on JB.
[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Rusty!:
H/W rev 11 refers solely to a small change to the internals relating to wireless charging.
[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] PROGUERAM:
Well if u guys his head over to Android Central, most of the people with Rev 10 are reporting cracks unlike the rev 11 gang...

So I thought..I may be wrong.

Sent from my DROID RaZr on JB.
[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] dirtyhamster73:
Do you know exactly what that change was? My wireless charger doesn't charge to 100%, only 97%. I know a few other people who notice this as well. If I leave it on there long enough the battery icon does show 100%, the second I take it off it goes top 97%. Curious to know if they attempted to touch on that as my new phone is a 11.

Figured it had something to do with hw, since it says "hw" and all. :D
[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] jsho31:
Could've just said go into bootloader. Lol. But I'm on version 10.
[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Rusty!:
My Maxell Air Voltage charges to 100% just fine.

Anyway, as for the change, it says is to fix nothing being displayed on wireless charging:

Before: When you charge by wireless charger, it does not display anything.

After: When you charge by wireless charger, you can check status in LCD.

I presume that is when you charge it whilst powered off.
[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] dirtyhamster73:
Yeah it must be the lg wireless charger with this issue, I know a few other people with the energizer wireless pad that goes to 100%. Thanks for the explanation.
[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Fencesitter:
I don't know about anyone else, but my phone has been doing well. It's fallen maybe a half dozen times from 2 feet onto a hardwood surface and even a couple of times from 4 feet onto a cushioned wood surface.

Heck, I even attacked the inside of the back glass with a razor blade because I didn't want the big, silver "nexus" logo.

Here's what it looks like now.

That glass is some pretty durable stuff. No cracks, no scratches. The imprinting (logo and speckle dots) are still visible when viewed just right- I only tried using alcohol to get that off- no harsher chemicals (yeah, hydrogen fluoride would have made short work of it).

Here's the ghost imprint on the back:

I didn't follow the whole thread here, but conceivably, with the whole glass adhered to as much plastic as possible (I forget, I think the adhesive covers the whole back of the glass except the camera lens), maybe the differing coefficients of expansion could have put undue stress on the glass. If so, then the parts with the largest contact area and most reinforcement (upper right and bottom left corners in the photo) should be the most stressed and the most likely to start breaking.

Yeah, my unpainted glass back could be better looking- I'm trying to figure some good artwork to put on the inside of the glass, besides the "In case of emergency" number obscured at the bottom. But it's still pretty distinctive and hopefully less likely to be stolen then (I've just got to remember not to leave it in any bars in Silicon Valley ;)

I did only put adhesive on the side 2 or 3mm besides the NFC/wireless charging sticker and the adhesive remnant just above that. Not because I was worried about the stress- I hadn't even come across this thread before today- but because it's easier to pull off and rework this way.

One final interesting thing to note is that there are two slightly recessed areas on the back of the phone's plastics right down the centerline. It seems as though they were supposed to be clearance around the "nexus" logo on the top and the LG logo on the bottom, probably to keep the adhesive from pulling off the ink/paint overlay and ruining the lettering. However the Nexus logo is bigger than and just slightly below the pocket and the LG logo is smaller and a bit too high.

For what it's worth, I've got a HW version of 11.
[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] kioshi:
wow......so not difficult removing the glass eh?

Just thinking for the future when i have to replace the battery after 2 years.
[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Rusty!:
Replacing the battery is a piece of piss.

Two torx screws hold the back cover on, and two Phillips screws attach the battery connector. It's got nothing to do with the glass :)
[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Fencesitter:
Remove SIM card, take off the back cover (following the iFixit instructions), remove the NFC sticker from the inside, press out the glass, and optionally remove the camera lens gasket. The speaker grille may also stick to the glass. You also have to be careful of the shielding (black matte sticker) attached to the NFC sticker- it's thin and tears easily.

But yeah, you don't need to remove the glass to replace the battery- Remove SIM card, take off back cover, remove battery. 4 screws vs. 2. Note that IFixit does mention that there's a lot of adhesive holding the battery in. But if that battery is dead, I guess you don't have to worry about damaging it that much (besides the usual fire hazard if you damage the casing :) You probably don't need that much adhesive on a replacement battery, just enough to keep it from wiggling around and work hardening the flex tail.
[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] PROGUERAM:
Hehehe..sorry. I'm wondering what causes the cracking apart from lethal falls??

Heating? So of I keep my use to a minimum of 3G and WiFi, will my back be just fine?

Sent from my DROID RaZr on JB.
[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] simo.sacchi:
Shuttered back glass

Ok, here's my story, I was using my phone and wanted to close a window, so I placed the phone on the internal window sill.

I heard a weird noise form the phone and when I picked it up the back glass was completely shuttered (pictures attached). I never dropped the phone, never hit the phone with anything for 2 months.

My only guess is that the cold window sill shuttered the glass (even if now I also have problems with the battery not lasting as long as it used to, so I don't know...).

Google of course does not cover the back glass under warranty, not does LG as you all probably know. Now I have a 2-month old phone that loses glass crystals all the time (and btw, I asked google also about the battery and they said that because I called before for the broken glass they cannon cover a potential fault battery)

This is so annoying and frustrating: how is it possible that they made such a poor quality construction????
[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] simo.sacchi:
Windshield repair kit?

BTW, do you think it would be possible to use some kind of windshield repair kit like this:

http://www.amazon.com/Fix-A-Flat-Fix-A-Windshield-Do-It-Yourself-Windshield-Repair/dp/B000EA5WLS/ref=pd_sim_auto_1

to avoid at least the glass to crumble away?

There is this (sort of) guide for IOS devices:

http://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/51905/can-auto-glass-chip-repair-kits-fix-cracked-ios-device-screens

What do you guys think? Any other ideas (I cannot afford a replacement right now...)?

Thanks for any reply.
[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Jessecar96:
Well I wound up with a cracked back today. Still trying to figure out how though. Took it out of my pocket, put it on my desk and left it. Came back later to see the back shattered from the speaker. Most likely happened while it was in my pocket.

I got the back removed now; is there any place in the US to buy a replacement one? I'd rather not go though LG and be without the phone for a few weeks.
[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] undercover:
This is stress break. Glass doesn't shutter like that if it's hit. Get them to replace it on warranty.
[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] simo.sacchi:
Hi, I wish I can, but at Google they seem not accept this reason... or at least that's what they told me (three times).

If you have any idea on how to approach them differently, I am eager to hear it!
[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Ace4692:
Bumped into someone at work and they broke my holster that was carrying my phone. Fell waist-high onto a tile floor..

Luckily no damage. I'm using a Diztronic case with a Seidio Holster for the Galaxy Nexus.
[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] androidfoshizzle:
If you haven't watched "Next Friday" highly suggest watching it...

"Vanilla android >jail broken iOS>90" TV's"
[Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Saj326:
I actually received the phone with the glass already damaged, hope they don't give me the same reply/excuse and charge me for the replacement phone...