In short
My FP4’s screen went off after it started flickering while watching videos. Phone worked flawlessly since I replaced the screen, camera and battery with brand new module 6 months ago and installed a screen protector bought from Fairphone.
Note this first diagnostic, parts ordering and repair took many weeks as no local repairshop wanted to do it and the closest FairphoneAngel was 250 km away. Having the phone unusable again 6 months later is all the more annoying: I use an e-SIM card, and can’t be called at all.
In details
Phone worked flawlessly untill Sunday when the screen first flickered while watching a video, but gently pressing the screen had the display works fine again. Then no issue for a couple days. It flickered again on Wednesday and no manipulation could help incl. removing & reinserting the battery.
Looking closely with the phone powered, one can see the screen is very lightly and uniformely illuminated with a dim blueish light.
Disassembling my phone carefully revealed all connectors firmly in place and no peculiar damage or even dust. Except for a loose small copper part that you can see in attached photos. I used “wind” (dunno the English term) and a dust-removal soft cloth before assembling it back, with no change at all.
Yeah, thanx FPAngel @Volker; in short , I followed Support advice but Orange company’s policy made me turn around in circles with zero results. Local phone workshop found the screen module to be faulty; it is 6 month new.
More details:
Contacted Support on May 6th.
FP Support answer #1, May 8th: “We’ll have it inspected; please provide invoice etc.”
I provided said information May 9th.
FP Support answer #2, May 16th: “Phone was bought from Orange, and Orange wants phones to be repaired by them (even those having another provider).”
Orange shopp where my phone was bought → “Go to our website to take an appointment.”
Took an appointment to have my malfunctioning phone tested → Orange shopp 2: “We do not do test or repairs (sic)” – Me: “Why having me take an appointment and come, then?” – Orange shopp: “We will do nothing, okay?”
Local phone repair workshop: “We’ll have it tested in 2 business days” → “Tested: screen module’s broken” – Me: “How sure are we sir?” – Technician: “99.99%.”
Updated my Support request. Note: Screen module was six month old and I bought it from FP.
EDIT: the loose small copper part comes in addition to the antenna to reinforce the signal in some occasions; nothing to do with the issue according to the local technician.
“Since the screen seems to be malfunctioning, and it is still covered by our manufacturing warranty,” Fairphone will repair it!
I choose option 2: " Full examination (at our repair center)" over option 1 “DIY repair (at home)” → However I’d like doing the repair myself, better be sure (as we say in French « Chat échaudé craint l’eau froide »).
FYI, Fairphone’s France repair center just sent me their diagnostic and invoice: Oxydized SOC; 634 € for repair or 38 € to send it back to me “as it is”.
For the record over 18 months with this phone:
500 € purchase (Santa Claus Christmas 2022),
250 € (purchase of 3 modules + a Gorilla screen) and 7 weeks without it after a heavy fall August 2023,
20 € (diagnostic testing at my local repair workshop: “faulty screen module”) and 3 weeks without it after Orange had me go round in circles, May 2024,
634 € (according to Fairphone diagnose) and 3 more weeks without it, July 1st 2024.
In total that was 3 months without my phone, and 1400 € expenses not including the water proof holster I bought for it. I’m a bike mechanics and commuter, and this type of smartphone (size, weight, ingress protection aka “IP”, far-off support) is simply too large, heavy and fragile for manual workers and outdoor people. Unless they can fit it in a case protecting it from all-sides then have a hand large enough to handle it one hand when needed.
If such is offered I would always take this when its more or less clear what is broken, because this is often found
However does not mean its the root cause for your issue. I think once they find some indication for water ingress, so will not search further and just offer to replace the core module as the repair center does not repair they exchange modules.
Dear FP Angel I need a (modern) phone at some point.
DIY is what I did last autumn. The far-off physical support (300 km in this case) makes one think twice or more before buying the modules that may-or-may-not-be-faulty.
most “modern” phones would not have survived last years accident. If you mean modern=widespread and repair shops know it and repair it, then yes a niche product like the Fairphone is not a modern phone. And also yes a Fairphone is modular and not completely glued and therefore water will get inside easier, however as you can easily dismantle it, corrosion could probably be removed and a new screen still might do the trick now. It seems you found a good technician who might be able to support you further.
Last year: you’re absolutely right, also that one was last year.
“To have a (modern) phone” means having a phone that works. Which a papperweight sitting at home for weeks while doing as FP Support advised me to do (themselves doing as Orange advised them to do), then for more and possibly more weeks as I order the module(s) that may-or-may-not-be-the-culprit, is not.
Fairphone France repair center writes: Electronic Card 184,47 €; Camera 77,20 € and Other parts related to dismantling (screw, adhesive…) 223,88 €. Note that my FP4’ camera was working just fine, but while I get what you say 5/5, I suppose the Fairphone affiliated Repair Center knows their job: Am NOT ready to handle a new fault and the process-to-try-find-out-what-s-causing-it a few month from now on.
Hello @tuk0z
I am very sorry to hear about your troubles.
I got pretty enthusiastic about the fact that much of your phone survived the crash but now it feels like hitting the wall.
I don’t know what I would have done as the price of reparing is higher than a new FP4.
I understand your point of view, I got all these cases for my FP5 to keep it going for long without some damage as it is a pretty expensive phone and not that rugged (the waterproof case, the bike case, a sturdy case for outdoors, lanyards, popsockets, etc). Only accessories cost me more than my previous phone;-)
I am not sure what to advice but spending so much money on the repair does not feel optimal.
