yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Tinderbox (UK):
I think a new thread asking for the serial numbers of cracked amoled screen when the GG3 is still intact, might be able to see a pattern.

John.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] gcosmin:
same issue

Today at work I took the phone out from my front jeans pocket and exactly the same issue. I can swear the crack looks exactly exactly like yours. 3 days ago I've update my contract.. I was so blody happy until today. I start searching on google and I've seen this post... Honestly if I would read it before I was thinking that is a hoax, and I seen some people stating that "This is what happens when grown men wear skinny jeans .. LMAO..." ... I use normal jeans... I woudn't believe my self either if would not happen... I don't know what I'm going to do now... but I'll go in the morning back to the shop... :crying: ...
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] BarryH_GEG:
I think that's a logical conclusion. But there are a bunch of people convinced (and wanting to convince others) that the SGS4 is a ticking time bomb of fragility just waiting to go off. People need to read through the thread as painful as that is to understand the magnitude of the issue and form their own opinions.

Case in point...

Here's the updated list. 55 broken AMOLEDs and 9 "other."

Hendrickson (OP)

raidenuk

beatmag (discoloration)

jdashford

scriptx

pitapart

murrowxda (AT&T)

Shadowcash ("friend's broke")

greenandroid.sb

_Supernaut

zoroko

blader0109

nevillejb75

Ace 272

epsilon8888

SSTaLoN

kuribo67

danniibxn

Toshanda (screen died)

minipcpro (YouTube video)

saspi

saspi (broke again after repair [drop])

mmessina

AMDERS17 (AT&T)

SAShady (Sprint)

ostrow30

Trax_

LadyDiana0265

XsonicX

Gash128

TeeeJaay ("friend" - GG3 cracked, not AMOLED)

rallyfan1986 (GG3 cracked, not AMOLED)

glynnd

tricki

SATAN999

asorsa

vassalle

ynr (GG3 cracked, not AMOLED)

Davidesan

johncros

kblevins1985

jamieridler

xenoninja

astbok

solwretep

mileskl (GG3 cracked, not AMOLED)

daniesq

surfsanctum

Ronis_BR (discoloration)

natsureg

MezManiac

cputoaster

RNAIL

lore-mordred

ipsthorne

hendeeze

JC604

aarontbrooksjr

ArneFW

paddy01 (“friend”)

TommyUnderwear

marcomnia (GG3 cracked, not AMOLED)

Puglis17

gcosmin

And the SGS4 isn't the only device where owners are claiming "mysterious cracks." So some degree of what's being discussed should be considered "normal." And the AMOLED cracking when GG3 isn't doesn't necessarily mean anything where a device has experienced some type of shock; even one the owner may not be aware of or be willing to admit to.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Reversephase:
Add Another
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] BarryH_GEG:
The people you guys are talking to probably aren't even Samsung employees. They most likely work for some third party Samsung's outsourced first-level support too. Even if they work at a Samsung-run contact center they are either reading off a script a decision tree leads them to or making stuff up as they go along. The latter is why there's so much inconsistency and kind of hard to prevent with a lower-paid workforce with high turnover. Add to that the each region probably runs their own support infrastructure and that adds to the inconsistency. So we have no idea what Samsung Corporate's position is on this or if they even know it's an issue.

Every time someone calls, e-mails, or chats with Samsung the issue is categorized and stored in a database. Same thing when devices are repaired or autopsied in the case of an exchange. If an issue repeats enough it'll come up on the radar. The frequency of this issue is pretty low so it probably hasn't even registered yet (and may never). If it is an issue with the AMOLED itself it'll probably be caught during Samsung's QC process on the assembly line. They pull "X" out of 1K devices off the line and subject it to rigorous testing. If some AMOLEDs are breaking as easily as people are saying one of the samples off the line will eventually fail QC. I know none of this helps anyone but it's kind of how the process works.

Here’s an example. The One X had a h/w antenna fault that screwed up Wi-Fi. After hundreds maybe thousands of reports HTC’s contact centers were still saying “they never heard of it.” HTC admitted the issue in the media and said customers should send their devices in to have a fix applied. They never told the contact center who continued to say “never heard of it” and had no idea what to do with a customer's defective device. It took a couple of weeks for HTC’s contact centers to get on the same page and begin handling the issue appropriately and consistently. Big companies with a global presence all kind of suck at communication.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] gcosmin:
back from the store

... I just come back ... they said because the screen is cracked they can send it back to be verified but it would cost me £20 delivery + repairs. The guy in the shop then advised me to go down the road as I would find a mobile shop that would repair it for less, stressing that he is helping me suggesting to go somewhere else to have it fix. The shop down the road are charging 150 £ to have the screen replace, that includes the labor. Had a look on ebay and only the screen alone + delivery is 150 £, on other websites I found it 10 £ cheaper.

I love everything that this phone brings with it's sensors, and voice commands, etc. I am going to change the screen because I don't have another option, but I am scared that would happen again, and it is not a nice feeling.

In the store they said that the screen cracked because of pressure or I have drop it. As I have said before if it was me instead of them I would say the same thing, even for my is unbelievable, but then if for some people this would be unbelievable how can they explain the screen cracked in exactly the same way? (I didn't add photos as I am a new member and the website would not let me yet to add external links in my message but today when I get home I will find a way to post the links as text ).

Apart from that I am disappointed by my network services as I believe they should verify the issue and take a conclusion that should be sent as feedback to Samsung. I felt that they are looking after me only when I would like to spend money with them and when is about an issue that I have they would not look after me at all, sending me to the shop down the road, like I am a crazy person inventing stories...

I don't speak very well English and apart of that I am not informed enough what I can do to race it as an issue to Samsung. At my expenses I would send them the broken screen after I have it replace, to have it verified/tested and to look in to it, but as I believe we don't live in a fair world, it would be a waist of time and money and I would not have any recognition of doing this if they will realize that there was a problem with the screen.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] MichelN:
Glad my phone is still working after 2 months :good:. I feel sorry for the people who had a bad phone
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Swanseatom:
My s4 took a tumble today from the 1st floor in our work lobby, i was walking fell with it in hand and it slid under the glass railing things surrounding the lobby/stairs and hit the floor on the ground floor.

Absolutely s$% £ myself. Only when i went to get it, I was presently supprissed.

Pic below of damage.

Guess Samsung QC works for most.

NO case

NO screen protector.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] msavic6:
A drop like that probably exerts twice the amount of force on the AMOLED compared to being in a pocket and in your case the device survived.

Looking at all the reports of users dropping their devices and not experiencing cracking just makes me believe even more that this phantom cracking is an isolated manufacturing defect.

It sucks for the people who experienced this but it is still a miniscule number compared to the overall Galaxy S4 sales which reached 20 million today. You can argue that people who aren't geeks won't post anywhere about this issue but those people are bound to tell someone about this be it a friend or a news station. After all, if your device cracks randomly you aren't going to keep quiet.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] MichelN:
Every product in large sales has a faulty product, even with cars, laptops, computers, navigations etc.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] jay7862:
Happened to mine aswell exact same spot. URRGGH
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] MezManiac:
u know... a lot of people are posting that the crack in the first post is that same as theirs. i would also like to add that my cracked lcd was the same as well. i think this might be due to a lack of stability in that part of the phone. or a defect with the digitizer in the upper left corner.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] paddy01:
Well guess what.. just got a phonecall from my vendor who said the repair people got back to them and they're calling it a "crush damage" and it is not covered by guarantee!

So.. guess it's payup time to get the phone back in working order :( thing is I need to pay even if I don't want it repaired, altho at a lower cost but still...

I though one of the ideas with gorilla glass were that any crush damage would be on the glass not the amoled behind it, or at least the glass would get damage if the amoled behind it got damaged somehow !?

and as I stated earlier the phone has not been treated any different then any of our prior smartphones..

<irony>So anyone know of any good titanium capsule I can buy and put my phone in ?? :|</irony>
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] chalid:
Dropped my SGS4 on a barbell today, from waist-height. The phone did hit the plate right with its glass front. I was sure the glass must have cracked, by the looks of the impact. But guess what: Nothing happend. Not even a scratch :good:
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] leeomendes:
me too man! I actually feel so lucky to be honest... ALWAYS on my front pocket and nothing happened.

try the old method: "ooh my phone was charging and it just happened, I have no idea how" :P *joking*
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] MichelN:
Same here, since a few days i even protected it better with a otterbox defender case :good:
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Mahdi786:
Just buy some insurance, forget all these cases.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] paddy01:
And an extra phone to have every other week when the phone on for repair ?
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ButtsPoopington:
i do take issue with samsung build quality, my power button broke on my SGS3 and i went to AT&T and they said it was "Physical abuse" as outlined in their warranty.

The tech at AT&T was shocked, she said to the lady on the phone that my phone was in perfect condition, never dropped and no visible scratches and that they should replace it.. they didn't.

I was "given" the ability to upgrade at the 2Year contract rate,$212 later, i wish i would have just gotten another s3 for free..

Now i'm just waiting for my SGS4 to break in some way.. Which i wish it won't it smokes my s3
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] msavic6:
Just wondering, did anybody who went to a Samsung service center to repair their cracked AMOLED show them this forum thread? It might help your case?
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] BarryH_GEG:
That's probably almost as big an issue as cost. In the U.S., Walmart has a 15-day return policy on prepaid phones so you can "rent" one while your SGS4's in the shop. Target's 30 days.

I was in Best Buy yesterday and it was a ghost town. The "Samsung Experience" center was empty and there were about six SGS4's on display. I twisted and bent all of them and they seemed incredibly sturdy. I didn't bend them until they cracked but exerted enough force that if they were weak I would have expected the AMOLED to have cracked. I wouldn't do to my device what I did to those SGS4's. ;) Certainly not scientific but interesting nonetheless.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] msavic6:
The demo devices seem really sturdy, I would have to put quite a bit of force too break the amoled and a pocket simply can't apply that much force. The only reasonable hypothesis is a manufacturing defect which leads too the decreased durability of the AMOLED panel.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] $p4rksten:
In India its $125 to replace the Front Housing officially from Samsung. :D Cracked my AMOLED too.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] evivbulgroz:
hello

how did you crack your?
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Pho3nX:
Same for me, use all the days (work and cie) and no problem :confused:
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] tclocki:
Ok, so my phone dropped for the 4th time... last night, I was charging my phone just above my bed. For some reason, I woke up at 11 PM and saw my phone lying on the ground, face first! My girlfriend must have moved her arm or something and she might have caught the cable or something. It must have dropped by a good 3 feet. I was so damn scared to open the screen!

To my relief, the phone did not sustain any damage whatsoever. I believe there's really a good batch that came out and some pretty bad ones too...
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] evivbulgroz:
Hello,

I made a poll in this thread : http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2353399.Maybe It will clear things up.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] BarryH_GEG:
With 50-some people having the issue you're polling for the thread you started is going to end up on page three by tomorrow. I think a lot of people that joined XDA just to comment in this thread are gone also so there will be even less interest. Want something to go by? This thread's been on the front page since it was started over a month ago and has a title designed to attract interest. It's also been viewed 74K times. So the answer to the poll is "X" thousands of XDA'rs with SGS4's don't have cracked AMOLEDs compared to 50-some that do. And those that don't aren't going to take the time to vote in a poll that doesn't affect them. You're intentions are good but polls aren't really that effective for things that don't affect large numbers of people.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] hbt15:
Can we safely say that the majority, if not all of the people experiencing this "pocket cracking" problem do NOT have any protective case of any sort of their GS4's? Rad most of the pages here and doesn't seem any of them were in cases.

I am about to get one going from a One-X but screens cracking doesn't give me confidence as 99% of the time my phone is in and out of my pants pocket (jeans pocket = loose, work pants = tighter). Having said that, my phone is never without a proper hardcover case such as otter box etc so if problem seems to be limited to GS4's without a case then i guess i'm good to go!
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] msavic6:
Some peoples device's were protected with cases and still experienced cracking. I personally wouldn't let this issue detur you from getting this phone. The 50 or so people who experienced this may seem like a large number but it is actually quite miniscule in comparison to the devices that did not experience cracking. This issue was most likely an isolated manufacturing defect that Samsung has rectified in the newly manufactured devices.

Buy the S4 and enjoy it.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] xenoninja:
Just an update on my phone repair. Contacted Samsung support and they refused to reduce or waive the repair fee, which ended up being $175 US. I did spend quite awhile arguing with them and asked to speak with the manager/supervisor. Mentioned this site and several other things. They basically kept reading their script about what is and isn't covered by the warranty, claiming to be powerless to help. He told me putting the device in my pocket was a risk and would put extra stress on the device. Then he told me I could purchase a case or a belt holster for it. When I said it was already in an OtterBox case he went back to reading his warranty.

I still believe the device had a defect that caused it to be weaker then the vast majority of S4's. However I am disappointed in Samsung's unwillingness to help its customers and the apparent lack of power it gives to its customer service representatives. I will probably end up selling it at a loss and avoiding Samsung devices. I only wish they would stop worrying so much about grams and millimeters and design a smartphone meant to actually be used and not just look pretty on my desk.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] valentinrascu:
Samsung: free metal bumper for everyone...

Inviato da mio iPad usando Tapatalk
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] androgyn:
Delivered at 11am

Cracked at 1 pm in my pocket. Just in my front pocket and driven with my my car. Left car, showing co workers my new gadget.

Haha...everybody was amused to see it.....
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Kazzor7492:
I'm always worrying about my S4 when I read stories like this. I'm a person who really looks after such expensive devices and I'm asking myself if this would happen to me too, what would Samsung say if I would reclaim this product? In fact anybody who has dropped his or her S4 could do so too or not?
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] tonytonydavis:
unfit phones

This is not just an expectation that we have. Even in the online release of the S3 and S4, Samsung were (on stage) placing these items into their pockets and even commented how "comfortable" they are in the pocket. So if they are breaking in the pocket that was mis-selling as they were selling the S3 and S4 as an item that can be stored in the pocket.

But I do agree with you on the release of the Samsung Active
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] surfsanctum:
A follow up to mine: I also was refused by samsung. They ask for $200. I don't want to offer a company that won't honor a warrany on a 3 week old phone any more of my money. Nor ATT for that matter since they did not let me return it either.

What kind of Mobile device can't be carried in a pocket?

who wants to build the 9gag post that shows the developers laughing at purpously installing a cracked screen to make more money?
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Diamond 2 owner:
I did not experience any screen damage, but it seems, that Samsung starts to see this problem.

In one of the accessories threads, somebody mentioned about special promo for Indian customers (free S View Cover). I went to this special page (https://www.samsungindiamarketing.com/galaxys4/home.aspx), and it seems that except this cover, every customer gets additional Screen Replacement Plan for a period of one year. Interesting...

12. For a period of one (1) year from purchase of the Product, the Customer is also entitled to avail Screen Replacement Plan, which can be availed by visiting Samsung Service Center. Replacement of damaged screen, subject to payment of INR 500 as handling charges payable at the time of replacement to the Service Center shall be available. This Benefit is available only to the broken screen and the Customer must visit the Service Center to avail this Benefit. A screen with a broken glass will be considered as a damaged screen. Screen with scratches will not be considered as damaged screen.
​

Maybe just Indians used to wear extremely tight pants:), I don't know, but I hope it will help some of you when placing warranty claim at Samsung, when they will pretend that is your fault.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] XsonicX:
Hey Guys!

After 2 weeks i have news about my S4. My Display also cracked 3 weeks ago. Yesterday Samsung AUSTRIA wrote a email to me that they'll repair my display for free because they saw the problem and it's not my fault.

I Hope that they'll fix this problem in newer versions of the S4 ;)
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] xman63:
Screen problems Galaxy S4

Same thing happened to me.. had the Galaxy S4 for 7 days.. did not drop it.. did not bump it.. then all of a sudden the screen goes dead... take it to Verizon and show them.. they refused to replace.. It took 30 minutes of yelling and explaining that it must have been a defective phone before they agreed to exchange..
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] paddy01:
So I'm finally about to get the phone back from my vendor.

Question arise tho - can I mail somewhere to Samsung and complain about this and try to get my money back ? pretty sure it's impossible but at least I can put a voice in into this issue officially not only here..
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] chalid:
Did you buy it with contract? If so, which provider?

I'm curious, because I'm from austria too :cool:
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] qum:
That's a bad luck.

I can say i keep my phone inside my pocket and don't have any issue with it.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] tomqman:
just picked up my 3rd s4 today :/ . the first one lived for 30days, then the bluetooth / wifi chip burned out :( . the 2nd lasted 20ish days until it died on me and would not turn on or charge. if the 3rd dies thats it i will demand a refund or exchange and get a one or padfone 2.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] BarryH_GEG:
The PadPhone 2 doesn't have data bands that work in the U.S. As for your bad luck: A) it doesn't appear to have anything to do with a cracked AMOLED (this thread), and B) all phones have ad hoc issues; even the One. Actually, from a a launch perspective, the One's had a lot more h/w and build issues while the SGS4's had more s/w-related issues.

A promotion offering free insurance on the most likely component of a phone to be broken by its owner doesn't necessarily have anything to do with the issue we're talking about. And there were only 1.2MM smartphones in total sold in India last year with a ASP over $400 so it would be odd that if the two things were related Samsung would pick India to address the issue.

Updated list. 59 cracked AMOLEDs, 9 "other."

Hendrickson (OP)

raidenuk

beatmag (discoloration)

jdashford

scriptx

pitapart

murrowxda (AT&T)

Shadowcash ("friend's broke")

greenandroid.sb

_Supernaut

zoroko

blader0109

nevillejb75

Ace 272

epsilon8888

SSTaLoN

kuribo67

danniibxn

Toshanda (screen died)

minipcpro (YouTube video)

saspi

saspi (broke again after repair [drop])

mmessina

AMDERS17 (AT&T)

SAShady (Sprint)

ostrow30

Trax_

LadyDiana0265

XsonicX

Gash128

TeeeJaay ("friend" - GG3 cracked, not AMOLED)

rallyfan1986 (GG3 cracked, not AMOLED)

glynnd

tricki

SATAN999

asorsa

vassalle

ynr (GG3 cracked, not AMOLED)

Davidesan

johncros

kblevins1985

jamieridler

xenoninja

astbok

solwretep

mileskl (GG3 cracked, not AMOLED)

daniesq

surfsanctum

Ronis_BR (discoloration)

natsureg

MezManiac

cputoaster

RNAIL

lore-mordred

ipsthorne

hendeeze

JC604

aarontbrooksjr

ArneFW

paddy01 (“friend”)

TommyUnderwear

marcomnia (GG3 cracked, not AMOLED)

Puglis17

gcosmin

Reversephase

jay7862

androgyn

xman63
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Diamond 2 owner:
If it is nothing unusual, than tell me: how many times have you seen that some manufacturer, for some model of smartphone, in some country is offering Screen Replacement Plan for free???

I have seen NONE. NULL. ZERO.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] BarryH_GEG:
Here's smartphone sales in India by price point. Of all the markets the SGS4's sold in I assure you, if Samsung's worried about the impact of the defect we're discussing, India's the least of their concerns. AT&T and VZW have sold more SGS4's since launch than India will this year. If they wanted to react to this issue all they'd need to do is silenty offer a hidden warranty and start repairing AMOLED's for free rather than replacing screens that are cracked by drops, falls, and abuse too.

Are the interest free financing, Smart Cover, and entertainment package also listed related to defects too? And at Rs 41,500 the SGS4 is still twice the price of the Micromax C4 at Rs 18,000.

I get the association you're trying to make but it doesn't make sense.