Nexus 5 green spot - Nexus 5 General

I am experiencing problems in the display of my new Nexus 5 for the past couple of days and am stunned by the pathetic quality of after-sales service provided.
The device is only 5 days old and there is a green spot on the device which looks like a dead pixel. This pixel does not change its colour in accordance with the screen and is clearly visible on darker background. It is present in the upper part of lower right quadrant of the screen. I tried to do the troubleshooting tips (delete cache, factory resest, etc.) but the spot still appears.
This is a manufacturing defect in the device and I have tried to speak the Google contact centers for support. Surprisingly, the support agents tell me that the device needs to be sent to Google/LG service desk in Mumbai and it will be inspected. Post the inspection, they would decide if the device needs a replacement or repair. After which, they would send me the unit back. The overall process should take approximately 2 weeks.
When I asked about a loaner device in the absence of my Nexus 5, they clearly denied it saying that such a policy does not exist. I have used an HTC, Nokia and Samsung devices in the past and have been satisfied with their after-sales. Moreover, I stay in the capital of India and supposedly Google/LG do not have any service available for Nexus 5 in Delhi!!!
I was one of the first ones to buy this device in India but I think I am being punished for being an early adopter. I had high expectations from Google/LG but they feel that I should be left without a device for 2 weeks! 14 days without a phone is a long long time in todays age of telepresence!! I had purchased this device with great hopes of quality, trust and satisfaction levels associated with Google brand but today I am left helpless.
While the device has been launched with great pomp and show, the standards for after-sales service are abysmally low and can even not match the ones by the local Indian brands.
I would suggest new users of Nexus 5 to be careful of Google and buy devices on their own risk!

I have a stuck green pixel as well, but I wouldn't return it for that. You practically need a magnifying glass to see it. Exchange it and you run the risk of getting a device with even more dead and/or stuck pixels.

I had the exact problem as well. Greenish blue pixel, upper left corner. Downloaded this app, https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.htc.chris.blackspotdetect&hl=en, ran the fix for about 12 minutes. No luck. Pixel still there. Uninstalled the app, restarted the phone and pixel gone!!! Might be worth a shot.

Better replace it. I had a white spot
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Related

[Q] Samsung Galaxy Note screen artefacts - strange discovery

Hi all, this is my first thread.
I would like to share my recent discovery with you. Three days ago I bought Samsung Galaxy Note I (one) and I love it. However, I immediately noticed a large circle in the middle and a small one in the lower right section of the screen. It can only be clearly seen when there is a grey background (I noticed it when starting Market for the first time). I immediately installed a couple of screen test applications and realized that all the colours are fine, there are no dead pixels, just these kind of "imprinted" circles that I cannot erase. I did search the Google and this forum and realised that some users have the same issue with the SII (http://forum.xda-developers.com/show...1087236&page=4), although at the different places of the screen.
Today I found out the cause of the circles. By looking at the advertisement sticker that I peeled off the Note, I realised that the Samsung original sticker is the cause of the deterioration of the screen at these places!
Look at the two attached pictures and see for yourselves. Just to be clear, they are not dust or grease or something like that, the circles are "inside" the screen. And it is obvious that the patterns are the same as coloured adds on the sticker.
How can that be possible? Can it be that the phone spent a lot of time under the marketing glass at the store and that some kind of chemical reaction occurred under exposure to light?
zukinjo said:
Hi all, this is my first thread.
I would like to share my recent discovery with you. Three days ago I bought Samsung Galaxy Note I (one) and I love it. However, I immediately noticed a large circle in the middle and a small one in the lower right section of the screen. It can only be clearly seen when there is a grey background (I noticed it when starting Market for the first time). I immediately installed a couple of screen test applications and realized that all the colours are fine, there are no dead pixels, just these kind of "imprinted" circles that I cannot erase. I did search the Google and this forum and realised that some users have the same issue with the SII (http://forum.xda-developers.com/show...1087236&page=4), although at the different places of the screen.
Today I found out the cause of the circles. By looking at the advertisement sticker that I peeled off the Note, I realised that the Samsung original sticker is the cause of the deterioration of the screen at these places!
Look at the two attached pictures and see for yourselves. Just to be clear, they are not dust or grease or something like that, the circles are "inside" the screen. And it is obvious that the patterns are the same as coloured adds on the sticker.
How can that be possible? Can it be that the phone spent a lot of time under the marketing glass at the store and that some kind of chemical reaction occurred under exposure to light?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow!!!!
The only thing that comes to my mind is that your particular Note was some sort of display unit behind a counter or glass shelf.
Let me explain... Since our super-mega-screens are AMOLED (meaning organic) based, they tend to deteriorate every time we use them, specially blue colors are the quickest to deteriorate when we use the device.
However, UV light (normal sun light and even fluorescent tubes like the ones in offices and stores) when shined directly to our screens tend to degrade the quality of the display even quicker!
I bet your Note spent way too much time under UV light while the sticker was on the screen, thus creating a ghost image or shadow over it.
Unfortunately, there's no way to fix this.
If I where you, I would return this Note ASAP to the store and explain your findings...
Cheers!
Rayan
exchange within 7days for new phone
zukinjo said:
Hi all, this is my first thread.
I would like to share my recent discovery with you. Three days ago I bought Samsung Galaxy Note I (one) and I love it. However, I immediately noticed a large circle in the middle and a small one in the lower right section of the screen. It can only be clearly seen when there is a grey background (I noticed it when starting Market for the first time). I immediately installed a couple of screen test applications and realized that all the colours are fine, there are no dead pixels, just these kind of "imprinted" circles that I cannot erase. I did search the Google and this forum and realised that some users have the same issue with the SII (http://forum.xda-developers.com/show...1087236&page=4), although at the different places of the screen.
Today I found out the cause of the circles. By looking at the advertisement sticker that I peeled off the Note, I realised that the Samsung original sticker is the cause of the deterioration of the screen at these places!
Look at the two attached pictures and see for yourselves. Just to be clear, they are not dust or grease or something like that, the circles are "inside" the screen. And it is obvious that the patterns are the same as coloured adds on the sticker.
How can that be possible? Can it be that the phone spent a lot of time under the marketing glass at the store and that some kind of chemical reaction occurred under exposure to light?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes my friend it clear show the reaction of that colourfull amoled n dark pitch green of androi logo.
Within 7days of purchase yr always liable for exchange with the service centre. rush tomor to service centre n follow there exchange procedure n get it replaced. Demand for it u will get a new phone in a day or 2 or same day aswell..
^^^ What they said !!
I would by no means accept this ! After buying this phone BRAND NEW it should not have been taken out of its box since the day it was manufactured.
Definitely take it back and show them the very obvious proof that this has occured since before you even set eyes on the device !
Strange
Envoyé depuis mon GT-N7000 avec Tapatalk
did you get it replaced ? I'm eager to know..please update the thread
and why the hell is the store trying to pawn off a demo unit to a customer ?
@ zukinjo
was the phone in a sealed box when you bought it ?
Search for the burn in thread...you will see how commin this js...since u bad a demo it burned that in
Sent from my Amazon Kindle Fire using Tapatalk 2
Hi all,
My nightmare continues... After bouncing a couple of times between service store and the seller's store I finally got my brand new Note. Not. I got a new one, but it turned out to be a demo model from another store, and guess what, it also has the same circles and shadows imprinted in the screen. The dealer said that this one has also been in display for almost half a year and to me no wonder it has the same screen issues. So, no luck here.
But the thing gets even more complicated because they do not have another Galaxy Note anywhere, in any store, so they cannot replace it (they returned them all and are starting to advertise Note II, which is a lot more expensive at my carrier's tariff). So I am stuck. I tried to get the DOA form and hopefully will get it through the day and go to the authorised importer here in Croatia and hopefully get a new one or at least have my screen repaired. However, I am not happy to see my new phone going to repair shop, I know that I must get a fresh new one if I return it in a weeks time.
More strangely, the store said that if they return the phone to the authorised dealer they will need to give me the new one and since they don't have it they are willing to cancel my two year contract? And that is the only thing they will do. And I do not want that, all I want is a perfectly working Note.
I will try to go to the importer myself with all the papers and will post back the results. Of course, I do not need to mention that I am very disappointed with the customer service....
I wouldnt have left the store with out either a Brand spanking new Note (Not display model) or without a contract termination.
I know you dont want to cancel, But your paying for a service which isnt being delivered !
Cancel that motherfu*ker and take out a new one with a better provider, Your current one sounds awful !
Tell your new provider that your old provider are offering you XXXXX handset for XX amount per month and if they can beat it, you will join them !
It worked for me I got my mummy the Nokia Lumia for £20 a month (free phone too) as opposed to her old provider wanting £35 per month.
These people dont give a $hit about you, They just want your money, So dont think the promises they make instore will keep because they wont!
Its time to play hard ball if you want a decent outcome!
PS: What sort of provider sells Ex Display models as 'Brand New' ones ? Over here in the UK we call these people 'Rogue Traders' !
Keep us informed :good:
You shouldn't let them do that to you
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk 2
---------- Post added at 06:34 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:09 PM ----------
Read your post again. YOU NEED TO RETURN IT. PERIOD. these people are taking major advantage of you. CANCL NOW BEFORE ITS TOO LATE. What if the service center says they won't fix it and it isn't their fault.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk 2
asf58967 said:
You shouldn't let them do that to you
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk 2
---------- Post added at 06:34 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:09 PM ----------
Read your post again. YOU NEED TO RETURN IT. PERIOD. these people are taking major advantage of you. CANCL NOW BEFORE ITS TOO LATE. What if the service center says they won't fix it and it isn't their fault.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well if they give you note2 for price of 1 its not to bad. Its majorly bad they gave you 2 faulty units.
Like above posters, cancel or claim working unit alternative.
Whats the namr of the store? So people can avoid it
Did you get a discount for using a demo product?
Also, always test screen in store. That way you can often exchange on the same visit.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk 2
That is completely unacceptable! They can not sell it as New by any chance! As soon as the product leaves the box it becomes B stock!
B stock usually pays off and you can save a lot of money, but not with smartphones, unless aesthetic if the only flaw, which is rare...
I have a 7 string guitar I bought in B stock, it is completely fine, except for a dent on the finish on the back and the electronics were a bit messy so I got a HUGE discount!
Latter that month bought new pickups and redid all the electronics, taken from an older guitar I barely used, and got myself a limited edition Cort X-7 for 185 euros (something like 200dll)! (which is just plain ridiculous) xD
Be on the look for B stock items guys! You can make really great deals!
Hope you get your problem fixed! Good luck!
RubenLockheart said:
Be on the look for B stock items guys! You can make really great deals!
Hope you get your problem fixed! Good luck!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good tip thanks! I guess I need the balls to ask for discount lol.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk 2
Hi all, just to let you know how everything turned out for me... After a couple of weeks of complaining and arguing and loosing my nerves with the store where I bought the Note I, I decided to cancel the contract. So no luck there.
But, in the spirit of a nice Christmas story, I was given a brand new Samsung Galaxy Note II by a friend of mine!
And I am forever thankful and just want to say that the phone is amazing!
I hope you will file a consumer complaint against the store.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk 2
Bravo majstore You got GN2 instead of a demo GN1 you have the best christmas gift ever I wouldn't trade my GN1 for nothing (only for GN2) and btw on my note on the back it says Not For Sale lol but it works normally
Cheers
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda app-developers app

dying pixels :(

I just wanted to pop in and remind everyone to check their screens for dead pixels. I ordered my N5 on launch day and it was perfect except for one dead pixel at the top 25% of the screen, right in the middle.
Since the pixels are so small this was something I could overlook but it still annoyed me to see it every now and then while thinking I had some dust or dirt on screen. The other day I noticed another dead pixel at the bottom 25% of the screen, right around the middle again. This made me paranoid that the screen was dying or something so I downloaded an app to check and make sure.
When I opened the app I noticed a 3rd dead pixel. These last two pixels couldn't be more than 2 weeks old. The device is old enough that I doubt Google will accept it for a return so I went ahead and ordered a new Nexus 5. I'll be giving this one to my father or maybe a family member as long as the new one doesn't have any defects.
So download an app to check your device for dead/stuck pixels. I'm not sure if my issue is related to launch day panels or if I'm just an isolated incident. Positive thoughts that my new Nexus 5 will be defect-free! :fingers-crossed::fingers-crossed::fingers-crossed:
Enddo said:
I just wanted to pop in and remind everyone to check their screens for dead pixels. I ordered my N5 on launch day and it was perfect except for one dead pixel at the top 25% of the screen, right in the middle.
Since the pixels are so small this was something I could overlook but it still annoyed me to see it every now and then while thinking I had some dust or dirt on screen. The other day I noticed another dead pixel at the bottom 25% of the screen, right around the middle again. This made me paranoid that the screen was dying or something so I downloaded an app to check and make sure.
When I opened the app I noticed a 3rd dead pixel. These last two pixels couldn't be more than 2 weeks old. The device is old enough that I doubt Google will accept it for a return so I went ahead and ordered a new Nexus 5. I'll be giving this one to my father or maybe a family member as long as the new one doesn't have any defects.
So download an app to check your device for dead/stuck pixels. I'm not sure if my issue is related to launch day panels or if I'm just an isolated incident. Positive thoughts that my new Nexus 5 will be defect-free! :fingers-crossed::fingers-crossed::fingers-crossed:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Warranty covers your phone for a full year from hardware failures. You could have it replace up to November if you ordered in November.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
Enddo said:
. . .The device is old enough that I doubt Google will accept it for a return so I went ahead and ordered a new Nexus 5. . .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wait, are you serious?? The device was released October 31st 2013. It isn't even a year old yet...You still have manufacturer warranty from LG. They offer 12 months...Did you even try contacting them? [emoji85]
RoyJ said:
Wait, are you serious?? The device was released October 31st 2013. It isn't even a year old yet...You still have manufacturer warranty from LG. They offer 12 months...Did you even try contacting them? [emoji85]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sadly, i never even thought about contacting LG. I looked over the Google page and read that returns were only allowed for 15 days after purchase
Well you could always send in your 5 for repair. Just list the new one on eBay with a NIB tag. (New In Box). You could probably get your money back or even make a profit from someone buying it where play store doesn't offer it.
---------- Post added at 10:23 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:14 PM ----------
Or swappa.com is a good place as well
Enddo said:
sadly, i never even thought about contacting LG. I looked over the Google page and read that returns were only allowed for 15 days after purchase
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No questions asked returns are the first 15 days. There is still the regular 1 year warranty for defective products (excluding user created).
Call the Google line, and tell them you have multiple dead pixels and would like to RMA for a replacement. They will charge your CC with a temporary hold for the amount of a new phone and send you a new one. You keep yours until the new one arrives. Return the old one in the shipping box they shipped your replacement in, and once the tracking is up on their system they will remove the temporary charge from your CC.
A replacement is super easy to get if your phone is defective.
As mentioned you can always RMA during the 1 year warranty. You just can't get your money back after 15 days.
Still a good idea to give it to your dad, just remember to RMA it before the warranty expires.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
Just checked the RGB colour background including black. Perfectly fine?

Dead Pixels

I received my brand new Note 8 on Saturday and was disappointed to see that I had a small cluster of dead pixels right at the bottom middle of the screen (near the "home" button). After running a "stuck pixel fixer" app for an hour I managed to get this cluster back to one dead pixel that was showing no signs of life.
Given the price of the phone I decided to return it for an exchange, so have sent it back today and will not get a Note 8 back until later in the week.
Has anyone else had any dead pixel issues? I know it bad luck and can happen to anyone at any time, but I would like to see if anyone else has had problems, just out of personal interest.
Lennyuk said:
I received my brand new Note 8 on Saturday and was disappointed to see that I had a small cluster of dead pixels right at the bottom middle of the screen (near the "home" button). After running a "stuck pixel fixer" app for an hour I managed to get this cluster back to one dead pixel that was showing no signs of life.
Given the price of the phone I decided to return it for an exchange, so have sent it back today and will not get a Note 8 back until later in the week.
Has anyone else had any dead pixel issues? I know it bad luck and can happen to anyone at any time, but I would like to see if anyone else has had problems, just out of personal interest.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
pic?
You want to see a picture of a dead pixel? I didn't have another phone to hand to take one (and a screenshot doesn't work, because you know...it's a hardware issue!) Imagine a tiny black dot somewhere on the screen on all colours except black - it really is very small and can easily be mistaken for a spec of dust on your screen until you notice that it never goes away.
Lennyuk said:
You want to see a picture of a dead pixel? I didn't have another phone to hand to take one (and a screenshot doesn't work, because you know...it's a hardware issue!) Imagine a tiny black dot somewhere on the screen on all colours except black - it really is very small and can easily be mistaken for a spec of dust on your screen until you notice that it never goes away.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Rotten luck especially as you now have to wait even more time for a replacement. Mine, so far, is fine but I bought the Nexus S that was made by Samsung way back and that had a dead pixel problem. I returned it to the outlet the same day and got a new one. Its a pig when this happens.
At least you are intelligent and reasonable enough to realise that a lemon will happen with all such devices. Shame you have to wait though. :crying:
Ryland :highfive:
None here. I would immediately return the phone for an exchange.
i have the same issue on my phone, but it is on the top of my screen
This happened to me. Received my phone on the 7th, placed another order on the 8th, which I received today, and returned the defective one.
Just return it, be done with it.

Green Verticle Line From TOP to BOTTOM, Left-Middle side of Display

So a little over a week ago i noticed a faded GREEN LINE from the top to the bottom of the 1 month old Google Pixel 4XL. I did some research and apparently its a problem other users are having as well. For the past week, Google pointed their finger at T-Mobile and T-Mobile at Google. T-Mobile attempted to send out a warranty replacement which was a Factory Refurb and I refused due to the fact that the device was under 30 days old, even though buyers remorse is (20) days when ordering ONLINE, Through Care or TMOHelp.
This evening i was contacted by the T-Mobile Escalations Dept. and he seemed like a descent guy, and i explained to him that it took my (7) brand new Pixel 4XLs to get them to finally Carrier UNLOCK the device. How many devices will I need to return before i am giving a NEW replacement device and he couldnt answer it. He advised me that if other people are have said issue, to contact Google and have Google tells the Carriers that the dispay's may be defective and he almost assured me a new replacement.
I am currently awaiting a phone call from Google Escalations Dept regarding my device and these other devices shown on the Pixel 4XL Support Site : https://support.google.com/pixelphone/thread/17476247?hl=en
FYI : I first noticed faded GREEN LINE on a white background page, it cannot be seen if background is dark.
Attached is a photo of my personal Pixel 4XL with faded green line which was sent to Google Support.
Do i smell another Class action Lawsuit???
I added photos from the Pixel Support Group...
I've had my Pixel 4 XL since October 25, 2019 and no green line here.
Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk
TeeJay420 said:
Check out the photos in the link and what model /variant?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I checked out the post before replying the first time. I have the Not Pink in 64GB. Funny people mentioned they had it with the Pixel 2 XL as well but that wasn't ever mentioned as one of the major issues with that screen. I had the Pixel 2 XL for 2 years exactly and never had it appear on that phone either. While 16 or so on that thread seems like a lot, it really isn't in the whole grand picture. Yes that's some quality issue but if it was much more common, it would've been mentioned with all the other issues people had with the phone in the following weeks of it's release.
Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk

Question Should I be worried about the Pixel 5a BSOD issue?

I'm thinking of purchasing a Pixel 5a off of eBay, but I just started seeing all the (very large number of) threads on reddit about the BSOD/motherboard issue with the 5a. How widespread is this problem? Is it better to avoid this phone and get the 4a5g instead?
cb474 said:
I'm thinking of purchasing a Pixel 5a off of eBay, but I just started seeing all the (very large number of) threads on reddit about the BSOD/motherboard issue with the 5a. How widespread is this problem? Is it better to avoid this phone and get the 4a5g instead?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's widespread enough that Google officially extended the warranty from 1 year to 2 (https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/11833075?hl=en)
I don't know if it's a bad idea or not. I've been running the phone with the hope that it won't happen.
i´m using my 5a in Argentina from more than 1 year now, all ok, never any fail
I got mine in November 2021. Still using it. I'd be more concerned about getting one off of eBay myself.
Dopamin3 said:
It's widespread enough that Google officially extended the warranty from 1 year to 2 (https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/11833075?hl=en)
I don't know if it's a bad idea or not. I've been running the phone with the hope that it won't happen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I saw that they extended the warranty. It doesn't seem like a great sign. Although I suppose it's possible Google did that because of the level of complaining, rather than because the problem is greater with the 5a than other pixels (there also are some, though far fewer, reports of the 4a5g and 5 suddenly bricking themselves).
I sort of wish I'd never looked at reddit. I also wish there were good statistics on the actual failure rate. But now I think I may always be wondering if it will just suddenly fail one day.
miguelAr9 said:
i´m using my 5a in Argentina from more than 1 year now, all ok, never any fail
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Quite a few people say it happens around the 14/month mark. Some people say they got more than one replacement from Google and they all failed. It's a little crazy if you look at reddit. If you search on simply "5a" in the pixel reddits, literally just about every post is about the phone suddenly dying. It is interesting that you don't see that here on xda so much (although the reddit threads are much more active, with many more people).
mikehd1959 said:
I got mine in November 2021. Still using it. I'd be more concerned about getting one off of eBay myself.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hear you. But I'm pretty careful about who I buy from on ebay and ask lots of questions first. So far I haven't had a problem (fingers crossed). I know people like Swappa. But Swappa seems to have been completely taken over by businesses, selling the same type of refurbished/open box inventory as you see on ebay. And you can't ask businesses questions on Swappa, which I just find bizarre.
I just picked mine up after second mothboard replacement. First mobo replacement has radio issue. My wife's just died too. We bought exact same time from google store unlocked. Glad to hear about the warranty extension.
Welp, mine just died yesterday. Got the RMA approved by Google. Pretty sad, I only used my Pixel 5a for a few months before switching to other devices. Then I switched back to it. Probably had less than 6 months total power on time.
I was using the phone and screen went black. At first you could tell it was still on, like it would still vibrate. Then it just died and won't power on. Battery was at ~68% and trying numerous chargers/cables did nothing.
Google also gave me a single use 20% off coupon towards Pixel 6a, 7 and 7 Pro. If they were still on sale for $100 - $150 off it would've been a no brainer for me, but they went back to full price and decreased the trade in value on the 5a.
I'm going to dump this phone as soon as I get it back. I've never had a phone die like this.
scottybweyy said:
I just picked mine up after second mothboard replacement. First mobo replacement has radio issue. My wife's just died too. We bought exact same time from google store unlocked. Glad to hear about the warranty extension.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry to hear that, but thanks for the feedback. Interestingly, it seems from reddit that this doesn't really happen with the 4a5g or regular 5 (though failures are not entirely unheard-of with those phones). I wonder if that's really true and why that would be considering how similar the three phones are?
Dopamin3 said:
Welp, mine just died yesterday. Got the RMA approved by Google. Pretty sad, I only used my Pixel 5a for a few months before switching to other devices. Then I switched back to it. Probably had less than 6 months total power on time.
I was using the phone and screen went black. At first you could tell it was still on, like it would still vibrate. Then it just died and won't power on. Battery was at ~68% and trying numerous chargers/cables did nothing.
Google also gave me a single use 20% off coupon towards Pixel 6a, 7 and 7 Pro. If they were still on sale for $100 - $150 off it would've been a no brainer for me, but they went back to full price and decreased the trade in value on the 5a.
I'm going to dump this phone as soon as I get it back. I've never had a phone die like this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow, that's crazy that your's died three days after you replied to this thread. Sorry to hear that. It's such a bummer, because the 5a really seems like the best of the 4a5g/5/5a trio. Especially the giant battery is nice.
The way your phone failed, from reading a lot of posts on reddit, sounds exactly like what people have been experiencing: screen goes black, you can interact with it even though you can't see anything, and then it completely won't power on. Some people seem to only have the black screen issue, others it just goes straight to dead and won't power on, it's interesting that you went through both in quick succession.
I would get the 6a, even though I don't like the size (the new phones are so large and chunky) and a hate the visor, except the 6a/6/6pro/7/7pro are all notorious for their poor signal/recpetion issues. The modem in the Samsung exynos chipset that Google uses as the base for Tensor is just crap. Tons of people say they get the worst reception they've ever gotten on any phone, with the 6a/6/6pro/7/7pro.
The rumor is that the 7a will have a Qualcomm modem, which says a lot that Google is only going to use exynos for the CPU and not the entire chipset, modem included, as is normally done in cell phone designs. I wonder if that will make sticking to five years of updates hard, since Qualcomm sucks so much at providing driver updates. Anyway, I would hold out for the 7a and see if the rumors are true, before getting another Pixel device.
I'm sort of trying to find a phone that can tide me over until the Pixel 8, which hopefully will have a better design, smaller, thinner, drop the visor. Probably I'll pick up a 4a5g, since it seems like the 5a BSOD issues are definitely real. I like the 5 better, sizewise, but the under screen earpiece is just too poor quality; it's really a shame Google went for that gimmick on the 5.
I bought mine off eBay barely a month ago and so far I have no issues. Is there anything I should look for? I've never heard of this BSOD issue.
Vision919 said:
I bought mine off eBay barely a month ago and so far I have no issues. Is there anything I should look for? I've never heard of this BSOD issue.
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I don't think there's any way to tell if you will have the issue or not. Reports are that after typically about a year the phone will just suddenly stop working, wih a black screen, like Dopamin3 describes above. It's a problem with the motherboard failing. If you want to get a sense of it, search for Pixel 5a in the r/GooglePixel reddit. Most recent posts about the Pixel 5a concern this. It seems to clearly be a problem with this phone model in particular, that the similar 4a5g and 5 don't have (or it is much less common). What I can't tell is, okay yes, this happens to a lot of Pixel 5a phones, and so there are a lot or reports online, but what precent? How likely is it? On the other hand, it happens enough that Google extended the warranty on this phone for an extra year, as Dopamin3 points out above.
Mine just died. Going through the process of having to send it in. Wish me luck.
cb474 said:
I'm thinking of purchasing a Pixel 5a off of eBay, but I just started seeing all the (very large number of) threads on reddit about the BSOD/motherboard issue with the 5a. How widespread is this problem? Is it better to avoid this phone and get the 4a5g instead?
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Problem just happened to me, 16 months owned. I'd say stay away, not only because of the mobo problem but honestly, the phone isn't all that great anyway. It's pretty slow. And I don't know if this is related to the mobo issue but there are times when I would screen press an icon 4-7 times before it responded.
cb474 said:
I don't think there's any way to tell if you will have the issue or not. Reports are that after typically about a year the phone will just suddenly stop working, wih a black screen, like Dopamin3 describes above. It's a problem with the motherboard failing. If you want to get a sense of it, search for Pixel 5a in the r/GooglePixel reddit. Most recent posts about the Pixel 5a concern this. It seems to clearly be a problem with this phone model in particular, that the similar 4a5g and 5 don't have (or it is much less common). What I can't tell is, okay yes, this happens to a lot of Pixel 5a phones, and so there are a lot or reports online, but what precent? How likely is it? On the other hand, it happens enough that Google extended the warranty on this phone for an extra year, as Dopamin3 points out above.
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Phone went black on me about 4 days ago. It took about an hour but I was able to get it started again. Plugged it in to recharge overnight and in the morning, found it had shutdown again. Was able to reboot immediately, this time. It worked for 2 more days and then yesterday, while on a hike, it died and has not come back since then.
It's almost funny how they tell you to backup the phone and then erase it before sending it in. Hard to do when you can't get the phone to turn on!
I spoke to one of the uBreakiFix stores here in Silicon Valley and the guy told me that he doesn't have any mobo's in stock and that they are difficult to get. If I brought the phone to him, he has 5 or 6 people ahead of me and he is only allowed (by Google? or store management?) to order one 5a mobo at a time.. So I am sending mine into Google for repair.
I had been thinking of trading this phone in back in Dec for a Pixel 7, when they had those good offers. It would have cost me $150 for the P7 with the trade in then. Wish I had done that now!
@joe99joe Sorry to hear your phone died. The way you were able to get your phone to come back a couple times, I wonder if you have a battery issue, rather than it being the motherboard. It sounds a little like how I experienced a bad battery replacement in an OG Pixel. Anyway, good luck, whatever you do.
I ended up getting a Pixel 4a5g. It doesn't have anywhere near the kind of reports of dying on people as the 5a. I'm hoping it will be good for a couple years and then maybe I'll get a Pixel 8a or 9 or something. I'm still waiting for Google to sort out their low quality modem issues in the Pixel 6 and 7 series, causing really bad signal/reception.
cb474 said:
@joe99joe Sorry to hear your phone died. The way you were able to get your phone to come back a couple times, I wonder if you have a battery issue, rather than it being the motherboard. It sounds a little like how I experienced a bad battery replacement in an OG Pixel. Anyway, good luck, whatever you do.
I ended up getting a Pixel 4a5g. It doesn't have anywhere near the kind of reports of dying on people as the 5a. I'm hoping it will be good for a couple years and then maybe I'll get a Pixel 8a or 9 or something. I'm still waiting for Google to sort out their low quality modem issues in the Pixel 6 and 7 series, causing really bad signal/reception.
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No, it was power. I sent it to Google on Monday, Arrived Tuesday and was confirmed power problem. They are working on repairing it now and should have it back in a few days. No charge, no postage fees. Sometimes Google does good. Meanwhile, I am using my od Pixel 3XL, which truth be told, is a better phone than the 5a. It's lighter, speedier but the battery is dying and the screen is cracked.
This happened on my 5a. No signs of life. Since I needed a backup phone for my Xperia, I'm gonna get the Nothing Phone 1 today.
I actally thought 5a will stay with me for 3 years, but no.... Only a year and one month. Damn you Google
I would just get the 4a honestly I took mine to ubreak today and they replaced the screen a bunch of times then told me there was nothing else they could do even though the receptionist told me it's Google's policy that they have to fix any phone they open. I contacted live chat and they told me to send it to them and it would still be covered even though it said my warranty expired in October.
I cannot believe it's happened to me again (first was august last year). i should've traded it in for a pixel 7 when i had the chance, although idk about using pixels anymore. this is ridiculous. last time it looked like they installed a better display, because this one looks free of scratches without using a screen protector. but i wish they knew why this happens. also looks like they allow an extended warranty for this kind of damage. they should honestly at least upgrade me to a 6a.
For those who have experienced this, how heavily do you use your phone? Like how often do you have to recharge, and do you run things where it heats up much? I am wondering if the typical failure is some problem with thermal cycling and fractures, or flash degradation. I assume its not just the battery/power supply if they have to replace the MB to fix it.
I bought mine direct from Google back in Aug 2021, so have been using it about 20 months. But I am a light user and typically get 7-10 days on a charge... I was originally assuming the hardware would last longer than Google is going to support the firmware.
k, so i'm really p*ssed off right now. the inspection came back saying audio problems that would cost $99 to repair. got nowhere in chat, so i called. she said there was a speaker problem and a volume button problem (they would have had to occur concurrently with the main problem, cause i would have definitely noticed em) no mention of the display or power issue. how? when i sent it in, the display would simply not work. i tried re-flashing stock firmware using google chrome's flash tools, and it would fail at booting into fastboot. i could tell the phone was on, though, because i felt the vibration and the usb connect sound on the laptop. so how was there no mention of those problems? i'm not sure if i should just assume that the phone's display is working. she would only say that the phone powers up properly and there was no mention of a display problem. the language seems too vague, and knowing full well what happened this time *and* how it's exactly what happened last time, i'm skeptical. how last time they replaced the motherboard, but this time, there's not even a mention of a display or power issue. and when i asked what the trade-in value would be if i forgo the repairs, she said $25. if it powers on and is free of scratches, it should be the normal value. should i just take my chances on getting it back without repairs and take the trade-in value, whatever it'll be, for the 7a?
edit: i see the trade-in value is $25. idk why it went down so much, but i'm sure it'll go back up for 7a deals

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