yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[myTouch 4G General] btbuck1:
Yes, the policy just changed on mytouch branded phones ONLY. They usually do replacements called "ISE returns" (ISE = In store exchange) But for these phones they process them as regular returns. They don't use "ISE Return" Phones (special new or like new phones), they use new-unused inventory. If you have a problem, speak to the manager. The Manager should atleast be aware of the policy change.

Also, you DO NOT NEED THE RECEIPT. The phone is under MFR Warranty and they can replace in store. That said, it has to be a Corporate store, or Kiosk.

I'm pretty sure even T-Mobile Limited stores can do it, but doubtful on any authorized retailers.

Even if you bought yours at Wal-mart or Radioshack or whatever, you should be able to take it to a T-Mobile Corporate store. They look up your account, verify warranty (which all of them are less than 1 yr at this point) and they process it.

I got mine through an Employee who purchased it for me, as a gift. And, I don't have a receipt....but they have processed 3 returns for me.

I Used to (very recently) be a manager for T-Mobile. I still have LOTS of friends who are reps and managers with the company. They have all informed me of the recent changes....i,e...they were all aware. But some part time reps may not know the policy change. This is also true on mytouch 3g. If your rep gives you grief...tell him to check in streamline (employee site) for the policy change...or they can call CARE for the updated info.
[myTouch 4G General] netter123:
Can you exchange in a corporate store even if you ordered over the phone?
[myTouch 4G General] kfgtboypsp:
according to policy. u must return it where u got it from. btw was it shipped to u? or did u pick it up?
[myTouch 4G General] jjjackson56:
I dont know apparently according to these pictures I have a washed out screen but in comparison to my past phones its a beauty. Also I have an offset camera but Im not really that particular. Once again it is just a phone (as badass as it may be) so is it that much of a concern?
[myTouch 4G General] ArcticWolf91:
Well I might ask and see what they tell me. Thanks though.
[myTouch 4G General] ArcticWolf91:
Yeah unfortunately since I bought my phone on Ebay I can't go through T-Mobile. My only hope is HTC if I actually want to get it replaced...
[myTouch 4G General] ArcticWolf91:
Ok so looks like I'm not covered by HTC's warranty:

"This Limited Warranty may not be sold-on, assigned,

transferred or given to any subsequent purchaser or acquirer of the

Product."

According to HTC: http://member.america.htc.com/downl.../Android/0525_G_WarrantyEULA_76x126_US-BP.pdf
[myTouch 4G General] markimar:
I think I'm just spoiled because I'm coming from a n1
[myTouch 4G General] jriv:
The n1 got a good screen but I think if you get a mytouch with the good screen there isn't a difference between the two

Sent from my icey cold glacier 4g running on froyo
[myTouch 4G General] Lakeshow423:
I didint even think about checkin until I saw your posted pics :eek: I have read about it but never knew what to look for! I am a happy camper though... Black model w/ superior screen! Thanks for the informative post!
[myTouch 4G General] bobsbbq:
Your welcome glad it helped you. Hit the thanks button if you liked it.
[myTouch 4G General] onyonees:
for those of you who are taking the phone into a corporate store to exchange, are you taking the original packaging as well and switching out everything? or can you just take your phone in and switch?
[myTouch 4G General] kyuza:
Yea, same here. Hadn't heard of bad screen till I saw this thread. Lucky us I guess.
[myTouch 4G General] mike21pr:
I got my second myTouch 4G yesterday... I went from a white myTouch with a bad display and couldnt overclock over 1.2ghz without it locking up, to a black one with a GOOD display and a cpu that handle anything i throw at it

wow :eek:

just when i thought it couldnt get any better. the viewing angles are phenomenal on the good display
[myTouch 4G General] gio-bobbito:
is it possible to have a panel type 1 screen but it have the good screen, just got a replacement today and it looks better imo
[myTouch 4G General] cappyone:
I've had three phones changed under warranty, and the first three were all type 1 displays. When i put it next to my wife's mytouch, which has a type 2 display it was laughable. On my fourth mytouch and this one finally has the good display, type 2. Can't say for sure if any type 1 displays are good, but all mine were bad.
[myTouch 4G General] chipmaniac:
Type 1 and a Good Screen?

I bought my MT4G used and I'm off-contract with T-Mobile. I didn't notice anything strange with the screen but came across the discussion of the screen problem with some of these devices. My device turns out to have panel type of 1. Yet, the screen seems fine to me. It does have some off-axis wash-out with extreme angles, but that's the case with all LCDs to a greater or lesser degree. I took my phone down to the local T-Mobile store and compared it with the display model. I set the screen up in the same way, with the same brightness settings and wallpaper. The screen of the display model seems to be washed-out and low-contrast compared to my phone. This gave me some hope that my screen is fine.

Is it possible to have a panel type of 1 and still have a good screen?
[myTouch 4G General] cappyone:
Could be that the display at the store is a type 1. Honestly when you compare the screens; one is vibrant and colorful even when viewed from an angle, the other is washed out and unviewable from an angle. When i let my kids play Angry Birds on the type 1 display, i could not see the screen from a 45 degree viewing angle, if i stood behind her it was fine. However, i noticed that my wife's phone didn't have this issue. From 45 degrees her phone was completely viewable, colors were bright and vivid compared to mine. Also, the blacks are truly black on here phone whereas mine are black-gray combination.
[myTouch 4G General] chipmaniac:
My blacks look good straight on. They do gray-out some at extreme angles (greater than 45 degrees). I have confirmed that my panel is a type 1, according to dmesg. I just don't know it's a bad screen or not as it seems ok to me, and I'm ususally picky with this sort of stuff.
[myTouch 4G General] chipmaniac:
Exchange On the Way

OK. So, I'm now convinced that the screen is inferior. I had already confirmed that the panel type was 1 and now I'm thinking there are some washout issues. I looked at a colorful icon dead on and then tilted the screen 10 degrees left, back through center and 10 degrees right over and over again. What I observed is the colors change to a muted hue (though not horribly so) when tilted left or right and back to the more vibrant center when dead center.

I think the key is to turn the brightness up to the highest as that seems to bring out the flaws more readily. In actual use I kept it on auto and didn't notice the problem, or at least it didn't bother me enough to bubble up into my consciousness.

I chatted with T-Mobile and described the problem as I see it. Namely, that the colors are washed out at angles. I didn't bother making up a problem. If they rejected the exchange, I would have just stuck with my entirely usable existing phone. I didn't mention that it was bought used, nor that it was rooted and running CM7.

The rep asked me about temperature extremes and physical damage, and had me check the liquid damage indicator dot. Once all those were ruled out, she processed an exchange. I chose the ground method so I should be getting it in a week. It will even be another plum one (though I didn't care if they replaced it with black) so that probably means it's going to be a refurb since they don't sell plum anymore. I'll definitely check the panel type right away when I get the device. My hope is that it's a panel type of 2 and I will see a huge difference with my current one and I will finally know what everyone is fussing about. In any event, I can't lose.

Gosh it's going to suck if AT&T is allowed to swallow up T-Mobile. I doubt will get this kind of service if that happens.
[myTouch 4G General] cappyone:
I hope you get the type 2 with the exchange and not go through the headache i had to go through. If you get the type 2, compare the two screens and you'll be pleasantly surprised.
[myTouch 4G General] kalel33:
You got a rep that was lazy, which was good for you, because T-mobile states in their Mytouch 4g policies to not do a handset exchange for the screen. Even HTC won't fix it, though I offered to send it in. I just don't really want to do an exchange and run the crap shoot of getting a good exchange or have the chance that it'll be a problem phone and then you take the chance of getting another after that. My phone works great, besides no spring in the power button and the type 1 panel. I'll deal with it just to feel secure in it's performance in everything else.
[myTouch 4G General] Jack_R1:
You're wrong. If you look back 1 page at my post, you see that HTC accepted my phone and changed the screen for me.
[myTouch 4G General] cappyone:
I didn't read Tmobile's terms on the screen. I actually took my two MT4Gs to a local Tmobile store where i showed them the differences in the screen, my wife has the vibrant one and I have the dull one. The representative did a warranty exchange for my phone. I got the new phone, still bad display, went back down to the store and he ordered me another MT4G. Anyhow, the rep ordered 3 phones for me until i received a good one.
[myTouch 4G General] kalel33:
No, your wrong, and I'm wrong at the same time. You had a lazy rep, good for you, that didn't look up the information. The rep I talked to looked it up and specifically stated that their policy is to not replace the screen for warranty. The rep said the only way for me to get the new screen was to sell my Mytouch and buy a new one.....that isn't happening. I wish I would have talked to a lazy worker and not one that actually looked up the info.
[myTouch 4G General] chipmaniac:
It's a no-lose situation for me. If the replacement comes and doesn't have a better screen and/or has other problems, then I send it back instead of my original phone.

It doesn't cost me anything to try and improve my screen. The only thing I risk is disappointment if the replacement turns out to not be any better.
[myTouch 4G General] kalel33:
There's always a risk, you could get a refurbished phone that constantly has issues and you end up sending that in and hoping you get a good one on the next shot too. I'd rather send my phone in, use my backup flip phone for a few weeks, and get the phone back that has worked so great for me.

I don't do it just because of cases like this guy's.

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1035516
[myTouch 4G General] chipmaniac:
I'm not going to send my current phone back until I confirm that there are no issues with the exchange.
[myTouch 4G General] kalel33:
If a refurbished phone has issues, it won't show up in the first week or two, it usually shows up later and T-mobile won't keep sending you out phones because it doesn't have the right screen, because you're going to get a CSR sooner or later that actually looks up or knows the policy and then denies the exchange because HTC and T-mobile don't consider that it is covered under warranty.

Why don't you just send it to HTC and have them replace the screen, if you get lucky enough to get a lazy rep that doesn't look up the info?
[myTouch 4G General] ps3play:
im on my 6th replacement already.. i got 2 mt4g's for free from tmobile.com a week ago and one had the good screen but the second had the washed out screen. So i called and they sent out 2 phones so i would have better chances of getting the good screen, but it turned out the 2 replacements both had the washed up screen. Now im getting 2 more sent out and they said i cant go to the store to do an exchange because of some inventory crap.. so in 2 days i will have 6 mytouch 4g's in my possession with a 2 line account... if the replacements again have the washed up screens as well im just gonna put all the phones together and light them on fire and just wait for the next iphone
[myTouch 4G General] Jack_R1:
Read the last post with HTC's response:

http://community.htc.com/na/htc-forums/android/f/101/p/8180/37485.aspx

You should have asked for this worker's manager, explain that this is the info you've read on their forum, and demand replacement.

Moreover, I've included a letter with the phone, a perfectly working phone with old screen, that explains in details that the only thing I'm not satisfied with is the screen. So how do you explain I have - 1 lazy worker opening RMA ticket, another lazy worker checking the phone for damage before proceeding with warranty repair, and one more lazy worker exchanging the screen on otherwise perfectly good phone? Isn't that way too many lazy workers?

I think you're talking about T-Mobile representatives, and I didn't go to T-Mobile. I opened a ticket directly at HTC. I don't even know if my phone was once registered with T-Mobile or not.
[myTouch 4G General] michael2041:
My guess is doing a screen replacement with tmo would be best in store. You can be more convincing and they'll have less time to look up policies
[myTouch 4G General] kalel33:
No, I'm a rep myself with T-mobile, couldn't do a replacement with myself, per policy on the issue, and then I tried HTC. The guy looked up the policy and stated that the issue is known but the policy states not to do a warranty repair for the situation. He told me the only way I could get the new screen was to sell my current Mytouch and buy a new one.

Just to ask, did you guys unroot your phone before sending it into HTC?
[myTouch 4G General] dragone5:
I did. Its better to be safe just in case they decide to check and void ur wrrty. Its really easy too, no reason not to do it.
[myTouch 4G General] michael2041:
I would to either way, I'm not sending my phone to some random repair place without wiping it...
[myTouch 4G General] chipmaniac:
Um, that's a generalized assumption that is not backed up by facts. There's no reason to assume that an issue will hide out and suddenly pop up in a week or two. Some issues will be apparent immediately and some may not but to say, carte blanche, that they won't show for a week or two is presuming facts not in evidence.

If the replacement doesn't have the right screen, then I'm not going to swap them out as there's nothing else wrong with my current phone (including cosmetically). It's not that hard to understand, but you seem to be having trouble understanding this simple concept.

Once again, I am assuming zero risk.
[myTouch 4G General] chipmaniac:
Update

I got my exchange today. It was made in Taiwan which dashed my hopes on initial inspection. However, the screen looked good. Not a knock-my-socks-off improvement over my existing phone but good. I ran dmseg and was relieved to see panel type=2.

Now, the only problem I see with the unit is that the FFC is off-center a bit. I don't even use the FFC, so this really isn't a deal-killer for me.

I just rooted it and installed CM7. I'll be running it through its paces in the next few days and will probably keep it.

By the way, I don't see any color degradation or washout at angles like I did with my other one. I don't think my other phone was that bad. It certainly wasn't as bad as the floor model at the T-Mobile store. However, this is certainly an improvement.

My take on this whole situation is that HTC used type 1 panels initially, some that were defective and some that were ok but had average off-axis viewing (like my initial phone). I think they switched to type 2 panels part way through initial production either due to quality control issues or simply as a natural transition of vendors. The type 2 panels were superior. Some units in the stores were just 'OK' and others were really good. Those with the OK ones saw examples of the good ones and demanded replacements. It's a good lesson for vendors to not switch parts mid-production or you risk having a situation like this where some customers legitimately feel like they are missing out.
[myTouch 4G General] erickdj:
In the last week I've got two Red mt4g's through warranty replacement, both have been brand new units(taken off a retail package and mailed naked without accessories in a bulk ups box. Both of them were made in Taiwan and had the good screen. So far, since January, I've had four different mt4g's (all red) and none have had the bad Type 1 screen, so I'm guessing HTC must have stopped using the bad screens in their latest production lines.
[myTouch 4G General] kalel33:
I believe I'm in a position to give a generalization on issues that arise from refurbished phones, because I deal with calls about them on a daily basis. Just my preference, based upon the thousands of calls I've taken about replacement phones, but I'll send my phone to HTC to get fixed instead of doing a warranty replacement. The chance something is wrong with the phone right off the bat is very very small but I've seen 2 weeks, month or a couple of months but if you received a problem phone then it almost always shows up during that time. If you get a good one then you probably never have to call in again, but it's definitely not zero risk with refurbished phones.

It could be just because I hear all the calls come in that I have a negative perspective on the refurbished phones but maybe a majority of them are completely fine. When I was a customer, my replacement phone didn't last either.
[myTouch 4G General] BCD90:
Great Screen!!!

I have had my MT4G for about 3 weeks and the screen is flawless. Today my friend with an iphone4 looked at me and told me my screen was better and made him jealous. Well this made me very happy!!:cool:
[myTouch 4G General] chipmaniac:
"but it's definitely not zero risk with refurbished phones."

I never said there was zero risk with a refurb. What I said was that there was zero risk in getting an exchange and seeing if it's better. There's a difference.

Since T-Mobile doesn't tell you that the phone is a refurb or not, they are actually still on the hook for the whole warranty. So if something goes wrong later they have to fix it like it was the original item.

By the way, I bought the original phone used on Craigslist. I was taking a risk there because when you actually purchase it there is limited time to test it out and determine if there were problems. I know because my girlfriend bought me an iPhone 3G for Xmas off of Craigslist and it had a bad Wi-Fi chip and ate batteries. I took various steps to fix it but I ended up parting it out on eBay for about half of what she paid for it and took the money and applied it towards the MT4G.

Now that I'm on record of getting a replacement from T-Mobile, I'm actually in a slightly better position from a warranty perspective because there is a paper trail now. I highly doubt something will go wrong, but if so they will hear from me.

Note that in my experience (long-time PC builder, 15 years as a professional in the software industry, computer user over all for almost 30 years) most solid-state electronics problems will show up in a relatively short period of time. That's why people burn-in new CPUs etc. The exception is issues brought about through overheating. If there were any moving parts, then I would say the reverse with failure the inevitable outcome. Heck, I recently sold a 10-year old GSM Nokia phone on eBay that still worked.
[myTouch 4G General] chipmaniac:
Final update

OK. I've been using my new phone with the superior screen for a couple days now. I've gotten used to it. I went to unroot my old phone and revert to stock and the bad screen is now very apparent to me. I'm now especially glad I took the chance and pushed for the exchange.

My old phone goes back tomorrow. Aside from the screen, it's in perfect condition. I treat my phones better than I do my own children! T-Mobile/HTC is lucking out in that they won't have to do much to refurb the unit. My wish is that they replace the LCD with a good variant to provide as a replacement for someone else. One would hope they wouldn't, at this point, leave it as is increasing the chance that someone else will get the inferior screen. However, with big business you never know. They are almost by definition immoral.

For those still unsure how to check a screen to see if it's bad, here is my suggested technique:

1. Show a screen with a lot of colorful icons and/or widgets

2. Turn up the brightness to 100%

3. Hold the phone straight on and slowly tilt the phone right and left 10 to 15 degrees and back to center. With the bad screen, you should see a sort of a subtle flashing effect as the vibrancy of the colors mutes as the viewing axis changes. With the good screen, there is little to no change in vibrancy at those modest angles.

4. Next hold the screen at an extreme angle, 45 degrees should be enough. With the bad screen you should see the colors fade out on some icons (it seems color dependent) and the details will disappear. It's like a digital photograph where you've cranked up the brightness way above natural settings. With the good screen, the colors will not change at all and there will only be a slight dimming effect but only as the angle approaches 180 degrees.

I agree with some people's suggestion that the bad screens are probably TN panels and the good ones IPS or another premium LCD technology. I can tell you that the viewing angle on the good screen is far superior to my 3-year old 52" Mitsubishi HDTV and are probably even better than my 24" Dell IPS computer monitor. It may not be AMOLED, but the good screen is probably close to the peak of LCD technology. Here's hoping that HTC is using this technology in the Sensation and doesn't even think about using the inferior screens.
[myTouch 4G General] kwonkimok:
To be honest, I couldn't really tell a difference... between the bad one and the good one...
[myTouch 4G General] ps3play:
out of 8 mytouch 4g's only 1 had the good screen and now im out of replacements.. because you can only do 3 returns on a line.. The first 2 that i got had one good one bad screen.. but i still called and asked to replace both to have more chances of getting a good screen but after going through 8 mt4g's only 1 good screen rest all washed up garbage.. now since i cant exchange anymore and i dont want to wait till warranty replacement kicks in because theres no way i signed a 2 year contract to use a refurb phone im going to close my lines... what can i say this is just sad :mad:
[myTouch 4G General] erickdj:
what color were your mt4g's? I've gone through four different red mt4g's and not one has had the bad screen. About the "refurbs", hurry up because right now they don't have very much stock and what they're doing is taking phones right off the retail boxes and shipping them in a bulk packaging box. I just went through a few replacements in the last two weeks and very single one was brand new, but packaged in a plain box, and it was just the phone without battery/sdcard or any accessories. Right now is the best time to get a replacement.
[myTouch 4G General] erakat1:
Good Screen

Hi everybody, new to these forums. :) Luckily, after checking using Terminal Emulator, I found out I had the good screen. I think also I read somewhere it depends on the manufactur location. Mine says made in China. :)
[myTouch 4G General] RussianSpring:
Mines China too but I have Panel 1.

I have some wash out, at least I think I do.
[myTouch 4G General] sgyee:
I have 3 MT4G's in my family. I have a Dev unit, a daily beater, and my brother has one.

My daily beater has the washout screen. It works great. My Dev unit has the better screen, and has been swapped by TMo twice. My brother has a better screen and has had no issues.

I'd rather have a washout screen and a well performing unit than a great screen that I've had to swap.
[myTouch 4G General] kalel33:
That's the reason I don't want to send mine in. My phone is perfect, besides the power button and the screen. I may have to call up HTC so they'll replace the glass, because it seems to be the glass coating and not the LCD itself.
[myTouch 4G General] Phateless:
It does NOT depend on manufacture location. Good and bad screens come from both places.