Galaxy S3 screen cracked by itself.... anyone else? Verizon..

[meb050175]

screen crack

I have had my s3 for 10 days. I had mine in my back pocket and went to the rest room it fell 3 inches, THREE inches and cracked. This is unbelievable. I have dropped other phones from waist height and not even a chip on the screen. I called Samsung and they were no help. Being that it was from an "impact" it is not covered by warranty. IF the screen is going to crack this easily I would believe that it is a manufactures defect. I'm not with Verizon, I am with T-mobile so I don't know what they will do I am going to call T-Mobile and find out what they will do for me. I Googled screen crack on this phone and it is very common. I am thinking class action lawsuit. This is absolutely rediculious that this is happening. Samsung needs to stand behind their product and admit there is a problem with the design of the phone if the screen is cracking so easily! I expected better from one of the top electronics manufacturers.

 

[firstG1]

The Gs3 is defiantly fragile. I wonder if many of the screens that appear to crack on their own, had something happen to it that the owners never noticed, or if they did would have never thought that it would crack the screen. One thing that I notice is that the top and the bottom look very much alike and I have found myself try to wake it up by pushing on the earphone on the top, when I get in low light situations. It is human nature to apply more pressure to a button when you do not get a response. If you look at some of the pictures on this forum, you can see that many of the cracks are coming from the top opening where the earphone is located; some others are coming from the bottom botton. I think that the top and the bottom opening on the Gs3 digitizer is defiantly a week spot and a manufactures defect. If some smart attorney decided to start a class action suit, I would defiantly participate in it.

 

[Redsand187]

I've been nervous about how fragile everyone says the s3 screen is, but I haven't had any trouble... yet. :icon_ lala:

 

[Crankintopwater69]

I've been nervous about how fragile everyone says the s3 screen is, but I haven't had any trouble... yet. :icon_ lala:

No trouble with my screen.



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[bsweetness]

I've been nervous about how fragile everyone says the s3 screen is, but I haven't had any trouble... yet. :icon_ lala:

With well over 30 million devices sold around the world, if it was really any more fragile than most smartphones out there, it would be a huge PR disaster for Samsung and everyone would know about it (similar to the whole antenna issue on the iPhone 4 which was was reported everywhere). But the fact is, while some people certainly have had issues, the screen isn't any more fragile than the screen on pretty much every other phone out there.

 

[k1ngr4t]

I've been nervous about how fragile everyone says the s3 screen is, but I haven't had any trouble... yet. :icon_ lala:

And just to ice the cake, you say how fragile everyone says it is, when really hardly anybody says that. If you only read this thread, then you might find more than others. But even in this thread you'll find at least 3x as many users saying they DON'T have this problem. Granted it is an ISSUE which happens more than it should, but it's not a problem with the phone itself, just circumstance. Moral of the story is don't believe everything, or anything really, that you read on the internet. Particularly if its about smartphones. Just sayin...

 

[stolen678]

On the GS3, you have to be very careful. When I had a Blackberry Storm, I destroyed the screen with the hand brake in my car, but it was a durable phone. Most phones have a large border around the screen, and I am not talking about the glass that has no display. Most current phones, when you run your fingernail off the side, have an edge you will catch your finger on. That protects the phone quite a bit and absorbs some damage in direct screen falls. The GS3 doesnt have that border, which makes it much more susceptible to being destroyed. I had my S3 in my breast pocket, and bent over to look at my bike wheel. It fell out from about 3 feet and shattered the screen and LCD. Luckily, I was able to use my ex wifes upgrade and keep my unlimited data plan, but I will forever treat the S3 with much more of a fragile mind.

 

[k1ngr4t]

Well on that note, I dropped my GS3 on the tile floor of my bathroom, probably about 3-4 feet (I'm tall) and not a single scratch (this was before the case). With my case but before the screen protector, it fell off my lap onto asphalt when getting out of the car. Not a single scratch. I did pretty much the EXACT same drop with my Rezound and the screen shattered so bad it was unusable. So I wouldn't write the GS3 off as being "fragile" just yet, but it does seem like some models aren't built quite as well. So the phone itself is solid, I know it feels light and plasticy but my experience and many youtube comparison videos show otherwise. Look em up, it's fun to watch expensive gadgets that aren't yours get mindlessly destroyed.

I'd be willing to bet there was a factory in China that wasn't quite up to standards and there was a hefty batch of faulty phones released in the US.

Oh and you're right about the screen, but that doesn't factor in quite as much as you might think. I'm not sure how you destroy a phone with your hand brake, but it couldn't have been much more intense than a 3 foot fall onto asphalt, the smartphone screen's mortal enemy. I would highly suggest getting a case. They have a great TPU case on Amazon that you don't even realize is on, but adds a good level of corner protection as well as makes the phone less slippery.

 

[k1ngr4t]

Oh one more thing for those who are a little worried.....screen protectors. They're not just for keys anymore.

There's also a lot of cool comparison videos of trying to break the exact same phone but with a screen protector on. I think there's one with an iPhone 4 or something where it was dropped from the top of a building. One obviously shattered completely, while the other's screen was untouched. Corner scratches but perfect screen. There are more videos like it I'm sure. I've never been a fan of screen protectors, but with the case I have, after having it on for a few days I can't even tell anymore.

 

[cybertec69]

I have had my s3 for 10 days. I had mine in my back pocket and went to the rest room it fell 3 inches, THREE inches and cracked. This is unbelievable. I have dropped other phones from waist height and not even a chip on the screen. I called Samsung and they were no help. Being that it was from an "impact" it is not covered by warranty. IF the screen is going to crack this easily I would believe that it is a manufactures defect. I'm not with Verizon, I am with T-mobile so I don't know what they will do I am going to call T-Mobile and find out what they will do for me. I Googled screen crack on this phone and it is very common. I am thinking class action lawsuit. This is absolutely rediculious that this is happening. Samsung needs to stand behind their product and admit there is a problem with the design of the phone if the screen is cracking so easily! I expected better from one of the top electronics manufacturers.

I have dropped my s3 numerous times and no damage to phone or screen.

[video=youtube;rGQOhVGFbyk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGQOhVGFbyk[/video]

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[FoxKat]

I have had my s3 for 10 days. I had mine in my back pocket and went to the rest room it fell 3 inches, THREE inches and cracked. This is unbelievable. I have dropped other phones from waist height and not even a chip on the screen. I called Samsung and they were no help. Being that it was from an "impact" it is not covered by warranty. IF the screen is going to crack this easily I would believe that it is a manufactures defect. I'm not with Verizon, I am with T-mobile so I don't know what they will do I am going to call T-Mobile and find out what they will do for me. I Googled screen crack on this phone and it is very common. I am thinking class action lawsuit. This is absolutely rediculious that this is happening. Samsung needs to stand behind their product and admit there is a problem with the design of the phone if the screen is cracking so easily! I expected better from one of the top electronics manufacturers.

Having carried the phone in your back (or front), pocket - especially in tight pants places repeated stresses in the glass as you sit down, bend over and even walk, that otherwise wouldn't be there. Like most anything that is bent repeatedly, the repetitive stress weakens the crystal structure, imparting microscopic fissures in the glass along the edges that are so small you can't see them except under a microscope with highly directional light. The addition of these fissures increases stress on the glass and makes them more susceptible to what would otherwise be small infrequent stresses. Over time these fissures can become so fragile that a small bump is enough to send them across the screen as a full-blown crack. Think of the stresses that build up over time along fault lines in the earth, and that eventually they release and we have earthquakes. It's not much different in theory.

I've never had a phone screen or digitizer crack and I've never used a case of any kind. I've had probably a dozen phones that had full front glass faces. I have NEVER carried any of them in a back pocket, rarely carry them in a front pocket, and typically carry them in a jacket pocket, top shirt pocket, or in the past - a belt case. I've dropped them at one time or another, though as I've moved into the expensive smartphone arena, I've been very conscious of the phones and made sure to prevent accidental dropping. I've not yet dropped my Droid RAZR MAXX, never dropped the RAZR before it, and never dropped either the D2 or OGD before them. I've handed down my D2 to my son, and after numerous drops, he's still not cracked the screen though the bezel shows dings. By the way, he doesn't carry it in his pants pockets either.

I am not saying that these phones aren't more fragile than those of previous designs...quite the contrary, which is WHY you SHOULDN'T carry them in pants pockets if at all possible, and if you do USE A CASE, such as an Otterbox or other flex and bump protection.

 

[hydro79]

I found this forum when searching for people with the S 3 that have been having a problem with the screen cracking on its own. I pulled mine off the charger this morning and the screen had a diagonal crack alone the upper left corner. When I got to work, I looked at it again and it developed another crack that go’s from the middle of that crack up to the corner. This phone is only five day old, I have never dropped it, I only have the flip cover on it, and I always carrier it in my coat pocket since it has started getting cold up here in the upper Midwest. I will call Verizon today and see if they will do anything for me, if only to get the complete registered. I will post back and let you know what happens.

I'm sad to say my phone developed a crack last night. Interesting thing is that It happened within ten minutes after installing a brand new Flip Cover (made by Samsung). I'm quoting you only because you also have a flip cover. I have had the phone for five months and never dropped it. I believe the screen was not up to par to begin with and the new cover exposed the weakness. This cover actually replaces the battery cover with a thicker one that has almost no flex. It installed fine and flush just like it should as it is a Samsung product but I'm 100% sure this caused the problem as it was not dropped or even put in a pocket. It was in my hand from the time it was installed until the screen showed the crack ten minutes later when I looked at the time. However, the screen MUST have been weak to begin with. Contacted Samsung and got the same answer as most everybody else with this issue... "the screen is damaged and not covered under warranty". Interesting that both the phone and the cover are made by Samsung and they won't cover an issue that was obviously caused by one (or both).

So frustrating. I really love this phone and have taken great care of it. Didn't have a single scratch on it...

I have the white SG3 by the way. My crack is on the top right corner from between the camera and sensors to below the power button.

 

[k1ngr4t]

Damn sorry to hear that Hydro. I seriously can't believe even at this point Samsung will do nothing. Though because it's at this point, that's kind of proof that this is definitely not a widespread issue. With the Bionic, Verizon admitted they were getting calls all day long about the data issues. Or when the iPhone 4 had all the reception issues, that was all over the news and clearly a widespread problem.

I know Radioshack offers a screen replacement service for like $70 or something. Not sure how effective it would be cause it's still not known if this is a screen/glass problem or a backing/too tight problem. Or both. But it's definitely cheaper than buying a new phone or opening a new line.

Another thing I've noticed is it always seems to happen in someone's pocket. This has to be a "clue" of some sort...but what is it Watson?!

 

[Crankintopwater69]

Damn sorry to hear that Hydro. I seriously can't believe even at this point Samsung will do nothing. Though because it's at this point, that's kind of proof that this is definitely not a widespread issue. With the Bionic, Verizon admitted they were getting calls all day long about the data issues. Or when the iPhone 4 had all the reception issues, that was all over the news and clearly a widespread problem.

I know Radioshack offers a screen replacement service for like $70 or something. Not sure how effective it would be cause it's still not known if this is a screen/glass problem or a backing/too tight problem. Or both. But it's definitely cheaper than buying a new phone or opening a new line.

Another thing I've noticed is it always seems to happen in someone's pocket. This has to be a "clue" of some sort...but what is it Watson?!

Note to self,don't put phone in pocket.



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[hydro79]

Damn sorry to hear that Hydro. I seriously can't believe even at this point Samsung will do nothing. Though because it's at this point, that's kind of proof that this is definitely not a widespread issue. With the Bionic, Verizon admitted they were getting calls all day long about the data issues. Or when the iPhone 4 had all the reception issues, that was all over the news and clearly a widespread problem.

I know Radioshack offers a screen replacement service for like $70 or something. Not sure how effective it would be cause it's still not known if this is a screen/glass problem or a backing/too tight problem. Or both. But it's definitely cheaper than buying a new phone or opening a new line.

Another thing I've noticed is it always seems to happen in someone's pocket. This has to be a "clue" of some sort...but what is it Watson?!

Well it's hard to tell because many people here and other forums (and the comments on the youtube video linked to earlier on this thread) have had the screen crack while charging, while using it, and like me while just holding it. In my case I almost certainly say that it was due to flex (incredibly light flex). The original battery cover was very flexible and if the screen was not perfectly straight or the right cut (exact size and dimensions) I would think the phone itself would flex a bit to compensate due to the forces against it from the screen. However, when I installed the flip cover the phone might have "straightened out" and cracked the screen...

I think you are right about a sub-standard factory releasing a bad batch. Doesn't Corning make the screen anyway? I would think they get the dimensions and just send the screens to the factories where the phones are assembled.