HTC EVO suffering from glass separation issues?
By Tim Stevens 
posted June 13th 2010 6:17PM
posted June 13th 2010 6:17PM
Update: Still no word from HTC, but Troy, a Sprint employee, e-mailed us to say he's not seen any phones being brought in for this issue at his store. He also indicated the phone is a "repairable device" so, if indeed this is something HTC deems worthy of repair it could be something able to be fixed without requiring a replacement. Here's to hoping...
[Thanks, Brandon; image courtesy of Ryan/Selfdestruct]
More and more bad news for EVO...
@Almo I know, right? Every other phone launch up to this point has been completely free of any issues or errors at all!
@Unverified User
I think engadet likes to point out the very few problems of phones that aren't iPhone. This is the first I've heard about hardware issues from the EVO. Mine works perfectly!!!
@Android looks Hacked Together
Hmm, bit uncalled for, HTC builds are actually, usually, quite solid. Manufacturing defects occur with any brand and any product. What's all the hate for? If the device isn't for you, so be it, go elsewhere... Having said that, this may deter potential purchasers and worry current ones.
@Almo
Should have got a iPhone.
@benthe1 Yup at time I feel that engadget is one Apple's payroll, sure as hell seems that way. Did it cross anyone's mind that this is a fluke one?
You cant judge that the entire batch of them is going to go like this based on ONE phone on a guy who was probably going out of the way to make it happen.
Damn, the only reason ive been rockin with HTC and Sense UI is because of the badass hardware but with shit like this poppin up Sammy and Moto are startin to catch my eye
@Almo
Not every unit is affected by this. The dude clearly have a bad Joojoo.
Next article "Glass shatter when drop". Ok, that belongs to the iPhone 4.
@benthe1
Wrong. The point out flaw in all devices. Just don't take it personally when they point out a flaw in own you own.
@benthe1 Oh, yeah, because engadget never ran an article like this about the iphone.
http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/30/are-iphone-3gs-cracking/
@fionn
Let's see if you say the same thing when there's a similar issue with the Iphone.
Doubtful, eh?
@Almo
It really does seem that gadget blogs like to make a big issue out of nothing. Gizmodo did the thing with how sharp the Pre edges are, I remember everyone complaining about the original Nano breaking, there was that whole deal with iphones overheating in the car, etc.
9 times out of 10 it is just idiots with more money than sense buying gadgets they have no business using.
@DrDr
Idiots buy EVOs? From reading Engadget I was under the impression that all Android users were smart, tech-savvy consumers, and all the idiots used Iphone
@benthe1 A typical android fanboy statement. Engadget has mentioned all types of issues with a wide variety of phones. Wake up clown.
@AckbarsFist
FWIW HTC build quality in general is lower than Nokia, Sony Ericsson or Apple. I've owned HTC phones for 7 years now and the hardware never lasted more than 6 months at most. However, I put up with it since they had the best windows mobile phones (my OS of choice at the time) and I liked upgrading every six months.
The only exception was the Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 that HTC made and it was just a fantastic hardware - best phone from a hardware perspective I've ever owned. Too bad Sony's support was so pathetic that I'll never buy a SE product ever again! Interestingly HTC also made the Fuze which was like the Xperia but with a lower res screen. It was made with the cheapest plastic around. No wonder no one bought it.
I recall back in 2008 my local ATT store was billing the Fuze as an iPhone 3G alterntive. But later so many people traded in HTC win mo phones for the iPhone that they just started recommending iPhones. In 2007 when I went to ATT, they actually told me that the Tilt was the better phone and would be more popular! The Tilt was selling out like crazy!!!!
I even bought it. It was heavy plastic.
Now when people say ATT is all iPhone. I am sure they were led there by their consumers and not the other way.
That's the reason why phone operators want the iPhone. Good hardware, build quality, software and price. With HTC you have to give up on one- usually build quality.
@Android looks Hacked Together
Fanboi should be spank... In the face.
@jaffreywali
simply disassemble, use a hair dryer to melt the adhesive and use a stronger adhesive to bond the two. (I use gorilla glue on my iPhone, works wonders)
of course, I've yet to see a disassembly video...
@fionn I read this article and checked my Evo, and it is doing the exact same thing. You can't feel it, but if you press on the screen you can see it move.
So this can't just be a one-off problem. And I've babied this phone since I got it.
Maybe all the Android fans can lighten up about the Engadget-Apple love fest? Maybe they're just reporting on Apple stuff because that's what the people want to see. I understand that if you don't like Apple you might get tired of hearing about them, but frankly they dominate the scene because they almost always get their shit right the first time. And this is coming from an ardent non-Apple guy so get at me.
@AckbarsFist
Ahem.....
http://www.ifixyouri.com/blog/?p=59
@Almo
Squaretrade warranties FTW
@Android looks Hacked Together
@Almo
What terrible build quality.....
android fanboys will of course make excuses for it.
@Almo Funny how engadget doesn't show the story going around on other sites that shows the iPhone 4 with a shattered screen after testing out its durability.
@Almo
I think HTC phones have good material, but NOKIA and MOTO has best.
Some are not going to like this but u can take a look in GOOGLE!!
@BrookLynnsFinest You idiot, this has absolutely nothing to do with Android. It's exclusively referring to HTC.
@Wesley Because those were 3rd party after market parts. Until someone shows that with a real iPhone its not an actual story.
@AckbarsFist
Agreed. Every phone has problems. Those denying these issues are idiots, as are those who use this as a springboard to say how much Android and HTC suck in general.
As others have said, insurance FTW.
@AckbarsFist
yep
seems that the current phone manufacturers are skipping the standard quality testing (almost all of them: not the old ones, not too much though: like Nokia and S/E)
that or they outsource to asia, forgetting the number one rule:
you MUST have your own employees there to do the quality control.
without it, you end up with products made that way, as I heard in aisia too often: "same same" where people are satisfied with "good enough"
@AckbarsFist
Last I checked there was a problem or two with the Nexus 1...
@Mike10010100
Com to think of it, my iPod Touch 64 gig has the exact opposite issue. The glass, despite my continual babying in a crushed velvet case, is actually getting pushed in on the edges, resulting in sharp metal that has repeatedly caused me superficial cuts (chops off some outer skin).
@John Locke
You, sir, are a troll and a liar.
Allow me to quote one of your earlier posts:
"for sure, I will be paying for an iPhone 4 and NOT an EVO 4G."
Fail troll. Just get your iPhone 4 and STFU. No need to lie.
C'mon people, stop hating on the EVO. The iPhone sucks because it doesn't have user replaceable glass, and iPhone 4 doesn't address that. The EVO doesn't only have this feature but also an automated reminder, with glass starting to separate, to the user for when to order replacement glass. Very cool.
@MegaJapan
The Nexus One had a few minor issues, and this was actually one of them. People over at XDA were reporting dust under the screen, and HTC said it was an issue with the glue not setting properly to hold the glass in place. Anyone who had this issue could get a replacement handset for no charge. Some even had unlocked their bootloaders and HTC still honored the replacement.
@pukerocket That makes a lot of sense.
@fionn
lissen up guys, u people luv ur evo's nd we luv our iphones. Y dnt we jus stick to our own likes and let engadget do their job by bringing us the best an worst for
all devices. If u dnt like it den bugger off
@Almo What hate? Engadget noted that they loved the EVO and they noted this in their review =P So stop calling other people biased.
I must be one of the LUCKIEST EVO owners out there. I remembered the engadget review regarding light leakage and noticed no problem at all. I also get fantastic battery life, can easily use for the entire day without charging. Now I will say this, I had received a refurbished HTC Touch Diamond phone from Sprint and it had this exact same issue a few months after having gotten it, so the issue is real (my original (NEW) HTC Diamond never had this problem in the year and a half of having it. Will be interesting to see how widespread this issue is. Maybe it is and maybe it isn't but I know ENGADGET likes to blow things way out of proportion even if there is initial scant evidence.
@Android looks Hacked Together I've had my g1 since the beginning and have thrown it many times while tying ties or running down the stairs and its sustained minimal damage. So solidly built? Id say yes its outlasted a lot of peoples iphones
@John Locke
HAHA owned, your post history proves you're full of shit.
This is happening to my evo as well, but its not as bad as the unit pictured. Luckily I opted for the protection plan!
@Almo
I agree, engadget need suit up for like this, every phone has issue, my iPhone has crack just behind above charging part above, you can fin from so man usuers, guraeented.
I feel these Tach sites are all favor to iPhone or mac too much, I don't like this and Max and iPhone becoming a monopoly company!
@Android looks Hacked Together
Nop, G1 was quite solid. I used it for more than a year. Slow - yes. But quite solid construction. The same may be said about Nexus One.
@Almo: I don't understand what the big deal is. All phones have build issues, HTC more the most.
That said, the stress is beginning to show in more than poor build quality. You have to wonder what will happen to HTC after Apple sucks all the growth of the room when Android collapses under its own weight from fragmentation and Win Pho 7 is DOA.
Only another six to twelve months until Apple drops the entry-level/outgoing model price of the iPhone to $49, then free within 24 months.
@Ariel Bender
Amazing how you keep materializing with your time machine during every non-Apple post. People have been ringing Android's death bell since it was announced.
I'm sorry. I should let you get back to your delusional dreams where the iPhone is the only successful phone and the industry suffers from severe stagnation due to lack of competition. That IS what you're talking about, right?
@Rob The iPhone sucks because it doesn't have a user replaceable glass? Pfft users shouldn't even have to worry about replaceable glass it should just work the first time. Maybe there's a book out there for you. "user replaceable glass for dummies"
@Android looks Hacked Together
I used a g1 all the way up until tthe day I got my evo thank u very much.
That's 2 years on a g1 with no problems and my evos just fine
@Almo
my itouch screen seems to both up and down a bit on the one corner
just a tiny bit but i hope i dont have a similar issue
@fionn
Ummm... just to let you know, the article clearly states "We're seeing plenty of reports from folks"
I'm not an english major, but last time I checked "plenty" means "more than ONE!"
@Almo This whole article is based off of the scratch test video where the guy abused the hell out of the phone. You did notice that Engadget hasn't been talking up the fact that the iPhone 4 couldn't even survive a 3 1/2 foot drop. My EVO on the other hand has stood up very well in the two year old grandson throwing the thing down the stairs onto a natural wood floor test as well as the let's beat grandpa on the forehead with his phone to wake him up test. Add to that the fact that the battery lasts for a lot longer than the reviewers claim. I have gone for 12 - 16 hours between recharges using it while bouncing between 4G while outside, and WiFi inside. Both WiFi and 4G would usually eat the battery, but with the screen set to about half bright it works like a champ for a good 12 hours.
@Almo
Must be the poor adhesiveness of the Elmer's glue they used. Look for a massive recall. Disheartened buyers will have to return their rapidly disintegrating Evo 4Gs and get an iPhone 4 instead. It makes sense to buy quality products from a reputable company.