More claims of cracked Zune screens

While earlier reports of Zune screens cracking from battery pressure didn't exactly prove to be widespread, that hasn't stopped others from supposedly finding new cracks of a different sort, although the cause of them remains unclear. As the shot above courtesy of Cliczune.com shows, at least one of the cracks appears to have occurred on the LCD panel itself, with the Zune's screen protector remaining intact, which would seem to preclude damage as a result of direct impact. What's more, according to Cliczune, another of its readers reported hearing a popping noise just before their screen cracked, and yet another reportedly sent their cracked Zune back to Microsoft for repairs, only to have the newly replaced screen crack a week later. That said, the problems still appear to be relatively few and far between, so if anyone's had some unfortunate Zune experiences of their own, feel free to let us know about 'em.

[Joe V @ Mar 5th 2007 1:10PM]

Sure, three or four broken Zunes doesn't sound like a lot, but that's like a 10% failure rate!

[Nick @ Mar 6th 2007 1:47PM]

Best. Comment. Ever.

[AW @ Apr 18th 2008 3:11PM]

I just had mine last week and I took very good care of it. Never put pressure on or dropped it, I swear.

The screen just cracked yesterday for no apparent reason. When I called Zune support team, the person who answered my call said he had the same problem too (his was a spiderweb crack, whereas mine was a single line crack). I was told that there's no authorized repair dealer for this device yet, and MS is not taking responsibility anyways.

[Christie @ May 28th 2008 12:56AM]

I have had my zune for a lil over 2 months. While not using the zune, i put it in my purse. About maybe an hour or two later, i attempted to use the zune and noticed the internal crack within the screen (spiderweb looking), but the screen itself is not cracked. When I called microsoft to inquire about this issue, microsoft said that when this happens it voids the 1 year warranty, but the guy couldn't tell me how this occured, so basically everyone is screwed. It would be nice to know the cause of this internal screen crack issue, and you would think Microsoft would have the answers. Maybe we should call the news or aware the public about this issue. More than likely it will cost more to fix the damn thing, that what we paid for it.
Be thankful for those out there with zunes that are not experiencing this problem. It sucks when you know you did nothing wrong, and there is nothing that can be done about it.

[Matt @ Mar 5th 2007 1:10PM]

Two Zunes here in front of me, I bought them in December and both the screens are perfect, my wife even dropped hers onto a concrete floor and it still works perfectly.

I hope we don't have issues :)

[Nick @ Mar 6th 2007 1:49PM]

Your wife probably thinks you're a cheapskate because you didn't get her a custom-engraved iPod Nano in Pink... so act smug all you like until the divorce papers come through ;)

[Grimsleyy @ Sep 19th 2008 2:11PM]

Has anyone ever gotten a new one after reporting a cracked screen? Because I used mine nearly everyday since Christmas kept it in a case and everything and it cracked! I'm so upset. I want my zune back.

[Samuel Wat @ Oct 17th 2008 11:52PM]

@Nick
Your obviously an idiot first. What makes you think iPods are better than Zunes? They both play music, video, pictures and radio. Oh wait. iPods don't have radio or WIFI! All that Apple advertising is poisoning your mind to think iPods are the best, well buddy your wrong.

- Proud zune owner.

[Jake B @ Mar 5th 2007 1:57PM]

My zune always gets tossed into my pocket and the screen is scratch free. I also have dropped it onto the concrete floor in my garage as well as dropping it a good amount of times will running in the gym. It was a christmas gift and I debated taking it back because of the bad rap, but I used it and am in love! Much better than my iRiver H320, but then again, what isnt.

[AC @ Mar 5th 2007 4:37PM]

Ahhh crap, those Microsoft marketing people are back at Engadget again!

[Covert @ Mar 5th 2007 2:00PM]

"...yet another reportedly sent their cracked Zune back to Microsoft for repairs, only to have the newly replaced screen crack a week later."

Wow, that person must just have extremely bad luck...or is seriously mistreating his or her Zune. Come on - I've seen no indication that the Zune would be any more susceptible to screen damage than any other portable device. I've used mine daily since Christmas and my biggest complaint are two isolated specs of dust under the screen.

[Tim @ Mar 5th 2007 2:05PM]

I'm wondering if this has anything to do with Zune's being left outside or in cars when the temperature drops well below freezing. The last group of liars who claimed their battery broke their screen were already proven wrong, we'll see if this bunch are also crying wolf.

[AW @ Apr 21st 2008 7:17AM]

For those people whose Zune doesn't have a problem, good for you! But yours is fine doesn't mean that others' claims are false.

[tiuk @ Mar 5th 2007 2:37PM]

"at least one of the cracks appears to have occurred on the LCD panel itself, with the Zune's screen protector remaining intact, which would seem to preclude damage as a result of direct impact"

I've never even seen a Zune in person (I don't think they're even being sold in Canada yet), but is it possible that the screen protector is flexible enough that it could crack the un-flexible glass LCD screen, while itself remaining intact?

[Barracuda @ Mar 5th 2007 2:59PM]

Its a fake ... he found some douchey picture of a crack, opened it on the Zune, put it to sleep and woke it up with it still loaded. The video is chopped. I have a Zune, and I LOVE it.

Stupid people suck.

[Jimmy @ Sep 19th 2008 6:18PM]

Not a fake, happened to me. but i had a reason my fault really, girl friend sitting on my lap, zune in back pocket with headphones wrapped around it. Kinda weird that it just randomly broke for him, all though the battery is right behind the screen, and if over heated it could expand, so i guess that could crack the screen on the inside. but im pretty sure mine was my fault, because my girlfriend and i both heard it crack.

[Derka @ Mar 5th 2007 3:05PM]

Happens all the time with the Ipod as well.

[Bolivar Baez @ Mar 5th 2007 3:46PM]

All I see is an impact crack, you can clearly see the place of impact.

[B-Mo @ Mar 5th 2007 3:56PM]

I just don't see how this happens. Are these folks using a third party AC adapter? I leave mine charging overnight all the time and nothing happens... It can't be the temperature change because I take mine with me every time I go to work, and that's a 45 minute walk in the Minnesota winter each way. The battery thing got shot down real quick, so I'm calling shennanigans.

[michael @ Mar 5th 2007 4:25PM]

This is absoultely ridiculous. I've had a black Zune since the beginning of December, and not even a scratch has marked it, much less a cracked screen. Most likely these people are just fanboys that like to show off how the zune is "inferior" to their ipods. I bet they all use the same pics or send broken Zunes by mail to other comrades. This just happens to a few people by the way. Just like there are many ipods that have been broken in the past years. I bought 2 of them before, 1 broke, and the other just really lost it's quality. So Engadget, it's not use making up these Zune stories.

[James @ Mar 5th 2007 4:31PM]

This has already been proven as inaccurate.

[James @ Mar 5th 2007 4:32PM]

Just go look at http://www.iwantapinkzune.com/?p=172

[Bobiii @ Mar 16th 2007 8:21PM]

There has been no proof of any form to say that a zune screen cannot break due to a battery defect. The simple qualitative analysis provided in the previous posting is of such 2 dimensional thinking it cannot be offered as any sort of prove only MS propaganda. Now I'm not going to sit here and call anybody Liars as many other posters have done already. What I would say is unless any of you have actually seen a cracked Zune, disassembled it then performed a full 3d stress analysis on the device to find out how it cracked in the first place then please reserve all judgment on the issue as you are not qualified to make such an assessment. I have offered speculation already on the possibility of these devices breaking and potential but that is still speculation I would love to actually dismantle a cracked device for evaluation at my lab.

What I will say is this I am happy that many have had great experiences with there zunes. I have used them myself and despite some bugs in the software I think the zune is a good device. That does not mean, though that other users have not encounter cracked screens. I would surmise that there are some customers who have had these issues, and I hope that these incidents are in the minority. But do not think that just because you have had a great experience that someone who has not had such a satisfactory experience is simply making things up.

[Jake B @ Mar 5th 2007 4:53PM]

AC, maybe you should ask for a raise @ apple. We arent trying to market the Zune, most people just try tell the truth when they have experienced a decent product. Anytime I experience a good product I try to spread the word, just as I would when something goes wrong. The problem is that most people dont let it be known that they had a good experience with a product, only the bad experiences get broadcasted. If you trusted everything you read you would be under the impression that nearly all electronics, cars, everything, are absolute pieces of crap.

[AKBlade13 @ Mar 5th 2007 5:58PM]

I've actually seen a cracked screen at school and from what a kid said, MS deems it not economically sound enough to actually repair the screen.

AKBlade13

[An o Neamus @ Mar 5th 2007 6:38PM]

Ahh... I remember when I was young... We used to buy portable music players to listen to our music on... Kids nowadays seem to use them for identity...

[Nubaeus @ Mar 5th 2007 6:57PM]

It's true, mine cracked but MS replaced mine within 2 weeks. I'm very happy with my Zune.

[FlashGordon520 @ Aug 30th 2007 12:14AM]

I called customer support because of an LCD crack on my Zune, not knowing that it has been a common problem. The guy said they would do nothing for me even with my warranty. I have not dropped it or hit it in anyway. I used it last night, there were no problems, it sat locked in my room all day, not being charged or anything. When I tried to use it tonight, 3 different cracks go across the LCD panel (with an almost perfect condition protector screen), and colored strips are all the screen will display. The cracks seem to radiate from the bottom of the screen, near the buttons, across the screen. So why won't Microsoft do anything for me?

[Steve @ Sep 9th 2007 9:16PM]

Charged my Zune turned it on and my screen was cracked. Be aware all you who doubt that this will happen to you!! MS is up for a huge case in the courts. Go buy a Creative Zen Vision M They are much better!!

[Steve @ Sep 9th 2007 9:18PM]

How did you get them to replace it?? Mine cracked too.

[Earl @ Mar 5th 2007 9:36PM]

First the 360 and now this...
Maybe they should just stick to what they are good at: selling software.

Oh wait... maybe they should just shut down shop altogether.

[steelmonster303 @ Mar 5th 2007 10:24PM]

I leave my Zune in the dock all the time and I've never had a problem.

[Mrmean @ Mar 6th 2007 8:54AM]

wow, excellent product...NOT

[rich @ Mar 9th 2007 12:25PM]

I'm a small electronics repair tech--mainly cell phones and pda's. Units come through all the time with a cracked screen under glass/touchpanel with no other signs of physical damage and intact warranty seals--even with no obvious pressure point like the one in the pic. I think it's shock damage on a unit that was kept in a leather/rubber case. They drop and break it, go oh crap, then remove the case and try to send in for repair. PS what's a zune anyway? :P

[Dorian @ Mar 12th 2007 1:55AM]

I got my Zune in december as a gift. I never dropped it, but I have a scratch on the screen. How it got there I have not a clue. Funny this is when the screen is on, you can't see the scratch. When its off, you can see it if the light is at the right angle. Other than that, I love this thing and don't have a problem with it. I wonder what the upgrade will be like.

[Isaac @ Apr 10th 2007 10:17PM]

My Zune screen cracked after being in overnight. Microsoft better do something about this, because I'm not paying $250 for a new Zune, of $185 to have it repaired. Not when I didn't do anything to cause the problem.

[Presharrized @ Apr 24th 2007 11:42AM]

I don't understand why people think that they are entitled to a replacement when they physically damage electronic devices. If you get in a car accident that is completely your fault and total your car, do you bring it back to Honda and expect them to replace it?!? Give your head a shake!

[A. Barrett @ Jun 4th 2007 7:21PM]

Obviously you don't know what you are talking about. My zune was not dropped it was charging and all of a sudden the internal screen cracked. If it was dropped then you would see a crack on the outside of the screen. This is a design flaw with the Zune product and Microsoft should be held accountable.

[Medley @ May 31st 2007 2:58AM]

I got a Zune on memorial day and today I suffered a mystery crack. Any luck returning/repairing at Best Buy?

[Tracy S @ Jun 24th 2007 1:51PM]

We bought my son a ZUNE the middle of May and the screen is cracked. I am not debating how it got there...who knows. But can anyone tell me how to get it repaired. Best Buy said no go. Zune says they don't fix broken screens and yet people here have gotten them fixed..help!

[Virginia Frazier @ Jun 30th 2007 12:34PM]

My Zune cracked on the LCD panel with nary a mark on the screen protector. I put it on charge on my desk, went to the store and when I got back the screen was cracked, so it must have something to do with the charge. I was using the charger that Do not ridicule people with a cracked screen just because yours has not cracked ....YET! This is definitely a Manufacturer's defect. Could be they were made in different factories in China, who knows? All I am saying is there is no physical damage to my Zune except the cracked LCD Screen.

[Andrew M. @ Jul 2nd 2007 4:46AM]

I've have my Zune for a month now and the screen just cracked today. It's a huge spider-web crack that completely prevents the screen from working. I have no idea what caused it, but I assure you that the crack is real. I've already ordered a replacement, and will give the old one to a friend if I can get it fixed.

[Jordan D @ Jul 3rd 2007 9:49PM]

That exact thing happened to my zune and it looks identicle to the picture here and I just called to ask about a replacement and the lady told me it was considered physical damage even though it is internal,then she told me to "look for third party companies for a replacement screen", I just now looked and I find this article.Lets just say I'm "steamed".

[Dr. Rockso @ Jul 20th 2007 6:07PM]

These has to be intentional
I mean who would take his or her Zune and
actually take a picture of it, then
unsuspectingly have it damaged.
Total BS!

[josh @ Jul 29th 2007 4:54PM]

this happened to my zune, im sitting the, playing zelda on my wii, and without me knowing my zune slips out of my pocket. i come back the next day, to see my zune sitting there. I pick it up and put it back in my pocket. the day after that, im in the car, and want to am to some tunes, so i grab my zune, flip it on, and WTF! there a freakin crack in the lcd panel!!! my screen has a scratch in it from my ear buds, because my case doesnt protect the screeen, so where the earbuds were, so theres a scratch there, but about a 1/4 in bellow that is where the cracks are, and that IS covered by the case, so theres no way this can be an impact damage. the crazy thing is, its usually "it cracks from overheatin while charging" or, at least while their listening to music because people say they heard a popping noise. MINE WAS OFF! WTF!!!

[Kim @ Aug 3rd 2007 2:01PM]

Zune support says the cracked LCD screens are not covered under warranty, but they have no repair mechanism in place because Zunes are still in the warranty period. Talk about a Catch 22!! What I'd like to know is how in the heck the LCD screen can crack BENEATH the screen protective covering without any damage to the protective covering??? Does anyone have any idea how to get this to the media's attention to force a recall or something? (like with the Wii controllers slipping off people's wrists last winter)

[Me @ Aug 3rd 2007 4:40PM]

I've had the Zune since December and have not used it that often and left it sitting on a bedside table for a month before trying to charge it today only to find a splintering crack on the lcd screen no popping noise but the crack was only visible when charging or the power was on. The rest of the screen is flawless. To those of you who think this is "crying wolf" or b.s. it's only a matter of time before it happens to you.

[Richard @ Aug 16th 2007 8:38PM]

Put my Zune on to charge last night and woke up today with a broken LCD screen. Top screen is completely undamaged. I purchased this at Walmart, along with a 3-year warranty. The crack is a star centered about a half-inch up from the control button and a little to the right. Neither Microsoft nor Walmart will cover.

[Anthony @ Aug 17th 2007 9:33PM]

My Zune has a cracked screen and i am not sure what caused it but i just bought a new one, but i think the Zune 2.0 is about to come out

[Barbara Begley @ Sep 9th 2007 6:50PM]

I purchased a Zune in July 2007 also have a unexplained crack.I received no results from the Zune Manufactured or Best Buy.They hide behind the Accidental clause.Therefore do not have to be resposible.for poor quality.