I've been looking around to get a Nexus 4, but the play store was just inconvenient and the fact that they charged shipping and tax was a major put off. So, I've been scouring both CraigsList and eBay to find a N4 that was closer to my price range.
I found a 16GB n4 for about $320 and a 8GB n4 for about $300. They both have a reported 1-2 months of usage and I'm going to go check out these two handsets tomorrow morning and I have a few questions as to what I should be wary about buying a N4 second hand.
By the way, should I be suspicious of the price points that these sellers have offered me? Are they too good to be true?
I know the obvious things to check for:
- Make sure all physical buttons are working.
- Make sure there are no screen defects (scratches, alignment, etc)
- Make sure that the seller will do a full factory reset before handing over the phone to me.
- Make sure there are no physical damages to the phone.
I'm still a little bit confused as to some of the more "N4 - specific" things.
- How would I find out what hardware revision it is and which revision is the best to have?
- Could these sellers have any "manufacturer defect" that they are not disclosing and are neglecting to return to Play Store, but selling to me?
- Is there anything else I should do before buying the N4? Any tests to run? Any particular feature or setting or readout?
And just some secondhand phone buying questions..
- Could the IMEI of the device be locked, disallowing me from being able to activate it with my carrier?
- Is there anything I can do to "officially" transfer the ownership to my name? What can I do to avoid being sold a stolen phone?
- Is there a chance the seller could report the phone as stolen after selling it to me?
This my first time buying a Nexus/Google phone or even a second hand phone so I'm really apprehensive and I have a lot of questions, but really excited to have a Nexus 4. Also, this is my first post at xda-developers! Thanks in advance for all the help, guys!!
For that price I think its better if you buy it directly from the Play Store play.google.com
349.00 16GB
299.00 8GB
Thanks, but I can't afford to pay for Credit Card fees and tax&shipping, so I just have to stick to buying something local just to make it easier and not have to jump through a lot of loopholes.
I have been through a couple of nexus 4's so i'll try and list some things to look for.
1. Look for a yellow hue/tint on the screen. open up the browser and messaging app and turn the phone sideways (landscape) and look for a uneven tone/hue/tint, use around a 50% brightness sometimes its noticable at %100 brightness some very dim.
2. Look for light bleed. Restart the phone and watch the black areas around the edge of the screen, also look for light bleed on different colored backgrounds.
3. Start the camera app. check BOTH front and back cameras for spots, and take a picture to make sure it works.
to answer some of your questions:
Q - How would I find out what hardware revision it is and which revision is the best to have?
A - While the phone is OFF hold down the power and volume down button, it will say HW version - rev_xx, some say rev 11 is best, i have had both 10 and 11 and notice no difference.
Q - Could the IMEI of the device be locked, disallowing me from being able to activate it with my carrier?
A - The nexus 4 is a unlocked phone and should not be locked, you should bring a working simcard with you to test the service. also i good thing to do is call your service provider and give them the imie of the phone to make sure it is not blacklisted/reported as stolen.
Q - Is there anything I can do to "officially" transfer the ownership to my name? What can I do to avoid being sold a stolen phone?
A - Get the Original receipt for it.
Q - Is there a chance the seller could report the phone as stolen after selling it to me?
A - They could, but hopefully you got the original receipt for it when your bought it or made a legal note declaring transfer of ownership with signatures from both partys.
I hope this helps, i wrote it kind of fast, also welcome to XDA
I really appreciate the heads up on the light bleeding issue and yellowish hue/tint.
I'll also make sure to get a copy of the receipt or make the seller sign that they're selling the phone over to me.
I'm really hoping that I will end up with a rev 10 or a rev 11 device.
I appreciate the help, XxSilent22xX!
I would honestly recommend bucking up and buying from the play store. Worth it.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
andybfmv96 said:
I would honestly recommend bucking up and buying from the play store. Worth it.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is there any reason you say this because I'm hoping I can get a 16GB on for about the price of an 8GB one lol
I guess being able to take it out of its original packaging does have its perks.
Ask for the persons gmail account so you can transfer the warranty to yourself. You'll be able to call Google and get a replacement if anything goes wrong.
Sent from my Nexus 10 using Tapatalk HD
I'd ask for an invoice and some personal information to transfer the warranty, a signed receipt would be good too.
Yes the IMEI can, will and is being blocked by ATT/Tmo and I don't know of any way for sure that you can check to make sure the phone isn't stolen.
Those prices aren't at all out of line for a 6mos. old device (yes they say theirs are <2mos old but the n4 itself isn't new) actually to me they are a little on the high side ($250 and $300 respectively is what I would be willing to pay used) but I'm guessing the early shortages have kept prices up.
SWow! That sounds really awesome to be able transfer warranty from the previous owner. Could you please give a little edit more detail on how I would do that?
So the manufacturer warranty is transferable from Google, then? So, do you think I could make them call the number at the point of sale to make then transfer warranty to me on the spot? Of so, what would be number to call?
Thanks! And I apologize for any typos since I'm on my DROID incredible 2.
Got my 8gb nexus for 250 on Craigslist. It's one of the 302k versions
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
bargain them down or buy it new. when u buy new, it comes with warranty and no chance of imei block.. tax and shipping makes $300 phone $335 phone, it's really not that bad.
Proud Owner of A Nexus 4!!
I bought the 8GB version!! I ended up liking how the 8GB version had been upkept with screen protector, case, and no scratches anywhere, so I ended up buying that for $270 and I am now a very proud owner of a Nexus 4 8GB version rev. 10!
I'm still deciding whether I should root or not, but for now I seem to have everything I need without rooting and the vanilla Android is the best thing I've ever experience and battery life too seems to be pretty decent for me. I got about 3.5hrs of screen time (on an 7.5 hour charge) while I was playing around with the device for most of the day and I was at about 33% before I started charging, that seems pretty good to me.
I got a copy of the original receipt and will hopefully be transferring the warranty over soon.
Thank you all for your help and advice!! And hopefully I can get started on continuing writing apps for Android now that I have a good device to code for.
Congrats on the new n4! As for rooting your phone that is up to you, you can root unroot anytime but I think you should atleast unlock the bootloader now because that will erase data and that's better to do now instead of later.
Sent from my Nexus 4
Related
Hello Guys
I am a very very happy owner of this amazing device, the allmighty HD2. As one of the early adopters I really know the true value of this beast, ahem, baby
Recently i've decided to sell this device as I need the cash for upgrading to a samsung nexus. I thought I would have enough cash to upgrade without sacrificing this device (i even had plans for putting it in a glass showcase and keep it in my living room ) bcoz i've taken care of it as if it was a part of me
It really looks like new after 2something years...
Anyways, I thought that I wanted to give you guys a shot before i put it on ebay, if someone is interested to buy this phone because i believe that only people in this community can really appreciate this device and its specs, history and future.
I intend to put it on ebay after xmas if nobody is interested here but because i have love thing for this device i would prefer to know it falls into good hands and not some kiddo that cant afford an idevice
The screen is new without a single mark, spotless and i have a ton of accessories to give to its new owner...
I will provide tons of pics later on if there is some interest about this.
If you got any questions just shoot!
How much are you planning in selling it for
Sent from my HTC HD2 using xda premium
Hi!
I'm interested! My own was recently lost/stolen and I think no other device will be good enough for me
I can asure your beloved HD2 will be in good hands Can you show some pics? How much will it cost including shipping costs? (I'm from Portugal)
Thanks!
I hope your talking about a galaxy nexus... lol just saying and I think there's a section here for this kind of thing
Hi guys, thanks for the interest.
The phone in ebay ranges from £100ish up to £200+ for perfect condition.
Mine comes with accessories though. 2 extra batteries, one genuine htc and another extended battery plus the one that's on the phone
Desk dock for the phone that charges a second battery, 3 silicone gel cases in various colours, a wall charger for the spare battery, it also has a vinyl skin applied to it. Plus its box and accessories that came with it the only thing I've lost is its original pouch.
I think for all the above a price of €200 / £165 is a fair price.
I will post pics of everything as soon as I get home coz I'm at work now...
One requirement only : the transaction will happen through ebay and paypal so we can both have a peace of mind. Upon agreement here, I will post it on ebay with a ridiculous price and then you can make an offer which I will accept of course
Also will post fully recorded / insured around Europe for €10
Sent from my HD2 using Tapatalk
So, we're talking about 210€ including shipping costs, right? Won't you make it 200€? Or maybe could you sell it without accessories for a lower price? The one thing that I would really appreciate is the pouch, because that's the only thing that was lost/stolen with my HD2... Either way, if the device is in good condition I'm interested, please tell me what you are willing to do and show some pics!
Also: I'm supposing we're talking about an european device (given that you have a flag from Greece).
Oh, another thing I remembered: does it come with an SD card?
djsnakezinho said:
So, we're talking about 210€ including shipping costs, right? Won't you make it 200€? Or maybe could you sell it without accessories for a lower price? The one thing that I would really appreciate is the pouch, because that's the only thing that was lost/stolen with my HD2... Either way, if the device is in good condition I'm interested, please tell me what you are willing to do and show some pics!
Also: I'm supposing we're talking about an european device (given that you have a flag from Greece).
Oh, another thing I remembered: does it come with an SD card?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its the European Edition bought originally from UK. Bought it sim-free so it was completely unlocked and unbranded (not that it matters now in android world, just saying )
I will provide an 8gig class 4 microsd which is already in the device and if i remember it right, there should be another one 2gig which came with the phone, which should still be in its box, but i will let you know for sure later tonight with the pics.
I will gather all accessories and make some pics tonight from home, its my lunch break now so not enough time for this
sorry for the late update, its a really busy period at work these days...
i managed to get some pics of the accessories which you can find in this picasa album here: htc hd2
please note that the desk dock supports 2nd battery charging and it also has a 3.5mm plug so you can use the phone for playing back music in a pair of desk speakers with 3.5mm input, for example pc speakers. i didnt like that so i opened the dock (just 4 ordinary screws) and pulled this 3.5mm inwards in the casing. of course if you like it its very easy to pull it back out again. The headphones which can be seen in their case there have been opened and used twice, because i have another pair from my desire that i use daily and at some point i thought i lost it, opened this one, two days later found the desire one and its been in its case since then. whoever gets he phone will confirm this, the headphones do look unused.
pics of the actual device will be uploaded first thing in the morning in the same folder (with the same link) and i will update my post here as well
As promised, multiple pics of the device can now be found on the same picasa folder i linked above...
same link here if you are too lazy to look above Da Album Link
htc hd2 is a beast.i heard some of my friends regrets of selling their phone because its capability of flashing any os available .but time wait for no man.technology will leave us behind .cheers
putra91 said:
htc hd2 is a beast.i heard some of my friends regrets of selling their phone because its capability of flashing any os available .but time wait for no man.technology will leave us behind .cheers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Trust me i know what this phone is capable of... believe me its a very hard decision to sell it. If i had enough money i would never sell it
even if development dies in a couple of years still its one of the most historic devices ever created, if not THE most historic...
Allright, the device seems to be in good condition. Just 2 questions:
- It's got a screen protector applied to it, right? Is it easy to remove? Not that I don't recognize that it's important, but I might not like to see it live
- The skin in the background: is it easy to remove (leaving no bits or glue)? Once again, I might not like to see it live like that
Also tell me your thoughts about selling the device by itself only.
The screen protector is very easy to remove, i have changed many protectors and same quality as this one (the phone has never been without screen protector).
The vinyl in the back should be removed without leaving residues of any kind. Its the first i have applied and i havent removed one yet to know for sure, but its advertised as "easily removed without leaving any glue residues". Its made by Gelaskins.
Finally i dont want to sell the phone by itself as the rest of accessories have no use for me afterwards and i selling them by themselves one by one have no real value in ebay...
so its sold with everything pictured
Ok, I think everything's clear and fine concerning the device. Concerning the rest, that's what I was thinking, but it didn't harm to ask
So, what's next?
Goodmorning and Merry Xmas
I believe that the safest way for both of us, is ebay, especially for you with the buyer protection act. So i will post it there with a ridiculus price of buy it now something like £500 and i will leave the "make offer" option open. I will PM you the link of my listing and you can go there and make me an offer of 200€ which of course i will accept
I will backup my stuff and take it out of the device as i'm still using it, factory reset it and pack it so it will be ready for the post office as soon as the ebay transaction is cleared.
PS: right now I'm with Hyperdroid's CM7 rom with dorimatrix kernel do you need another rom flashed or should i just reset to factory defaults and leave the rest to you?
Good morning, Merry Christmas!!!
OK, I'll be checking my inbox for the link. As for the ROM, you can leave it like that, I like to flash and try new ROMs anyways
Hi guys! after my speakers blowing out on my nexus 7 and my Wi-Fi being rubbish on my unit, I am wondering if I can get a replacement however the reason I am posting is that since I purchased my 16gb unit for £199 from the play store, they have changed the memory sizes, so would I get a 32gb replacement? Also I cannot find anything helpful to me on the play store support page, just a US number to call which isn't practical since I am in the UK.
This is also a bit of a kick in the nuts because I have previously opened my unit, would they turn around and tell me that they will not replace it?
Thanks for any comments,
Prox32.
Anytime a place looks at exchanging an item it is for equal or lesser value. To get more than what you paid for is not usual business philosophy. Doesn't mean it couldn't happen, just not likely, especially with them very likely still having Nexus 7 8gb's in stock.
As far as being opened, just the back cover? or more? If just the back cover, no worries about that unless something inside is broken that only could be broken from the back not being on it. All depends on what you mean by opened the device. (I know Adam Outler would not consider taking the back off something as 'being opened' lol)
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium
16gb, not 8!
The device is a 16gb version, so I am thinking they may replace it with a 32gb version as that is now at the price of which the 16gb was? Surely that is only fair. Also I removed the back cover but as far as I know that doesn't make the speakers stop working lol !
Can anyone give me an email address to message? I cant find it on the google play site, just a phone number in the us!
You won't get a 32gb, unfortunately. I know because I rma'd recently and asked the same thing. The only compensation you get for the price change is refund of the difference provided you got your device no more than 15 days before they changed the price.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium
Hi guys. I finally made up my mind. I was looking for a phone to upgrade from s2 and had N4 and used s3 as options.
So I want to buy N4, I found one used for a week at a good prize and 16 gb so I will not have to buy the 8gb any more.
Question is there a code like *#0*#? on samsungs to check the phone?
I will get the proof of purchase as well, do I need to register anything else on google?
Ashan85 said:
Hi guys. I finally made up my mind. I was looking for a phone to upgrade from s2 and had N4 and used s3 as options.
So I want to buy N4, I found one used for a week at a good prize and 16 gb so I will not have to buy the 8gb any more.
Question is there a code like *#0*#? on samsungs to check the phone?
I will get the proof of purchase as well, do I need to register anything else on google?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If I had a phone I used for a week and did not want it I would return it for a refund. Unless I did something to it that would not allow for a return. Then I would sell it "at a good price" to someone on say craigslist. Just saying.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
Exodian said:
If I had a phone I used for a week and did not want it I would return it for a refund. Unless I did something to it that would not allow for a return. Then I would sell it "at a good price" to someone on say craigslist. Just saying.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Except you can sometimes make a profit on craigslist if they don't realize they are back in stock or don't want to wait. And then you don't have to wait for Google to receive the device and refund you.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
First of all, I do not recommend buying the 8gb version, since you come from a S2 with expandable memory. I use 5 out of my 13gb free space for apps.. then I still need to download stuff and roms, take pictures and make backups. And also i stream music via spotify instead of downloading and keeping songs.
If you don't need the 8 extra gb, go for the 8gb version.
Then, I would look for scratches! If there are too many, I would allways make a lower offer to save some €.
If you can see that he obviously dropped it, check functionality eg. touchscreen responsivness, camera, speakers etc.
Do you mind if it's rooted? You will see an unlocked lock right under the google Logo on booting the device.
George_Mn said:
First of all, I do not recommend buying the 8gb version, since you come from a S2 with expandable memory. I use 5 out of my 13gb free space for apps.. then I still need to download stuff and roms, take pictures and make backups. And also i stream music via spotify instead of downloading and keeping songs.
If you don't need the 8 extra gb, go for the 8gb version.
Then, I would look for scratches! If there are too many, I would allways make a lower offer to save some €.
If you can see that he obviously dropped it, check functionality eg. touchscreen responsivness, camera, speakers etc.
Do you mind if it's rooted? You will see an unlocked lock right under the google Logo on booting the device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks, I payed for it and i will have it Friday. I will check everything very closely. It's the 16Gb version so it's perfect for me, when I had s2 I didn't ever filled the 11.5 GB .
I actually don't want to root but I have to, one of the reasons is that I want to get full screen 4.7. What I was thinking, aren't there secret codes for testing the unit like *#0#?
So I got it today, I guess I won't buy used phones ever again. It came with a delivery note from play store but the IMEI is different on that one vs the phone and box, also the seller has wiped the name and address from it (I feel like I was lied and cheated, it's not fair), the delivery note says 7 february, but the screen protector shows me that the phone was used more than 7 days, who knows, I might never find out. It has bleed kinda of a lot of stage effect there (ok all the lcd panels have, no problem) but it has also something like whiter mini blotches on the screen (I have those on my laptop from presure) very tiny maybe microns but yeah I saw them... All of this make me regret I did not chucked a little extra pound and bought a new phone. It will go back to the seller, I will loose on postage but learned my lesson.
I think I can't ever make a RMA request with that useless paper, even if I could I feel lied and cheated...
AW: [Q] What to check when buying used N4
I don't know about law in your country, but in Germany I would have threatened the seller, making him either sending me the right device (I think he just ordered a new one and gave you his old one with the new bill) or at least make him pay the postal charge (for both packages). We take fraud really serious over here.
I once ordered a s3 from an eBay seller and waited over 2 weeks just to find out that he didn't pay his amazon bill so that he never actually had the s3 I payed for. He was quite cooperative once I found out..
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
Ashan85 said:
So I got it today, I guess I won't buy used phones ever again. It came with a delivery note from play store but the IMEI is different on that one vs the phone and box, also the seller has wiped the name and address from it (I feel like I was lied and cheated, it's not fair), the delivery note says 7 february, but the screen protector shows me that the phone was used more than 7 days, who knows, I might never find out. It has bleed kinda of a lot of stage effect there (ok all the lcd panels have, no problem) but it has also something like whiter mini blotches on the screen (I have those on my laptop from presure) very tiny maybe microns but yeah I saw them... All of this make me regret I did not chucked a little extra pound and bought a new phone. It will go back to the seller, I will loose on postage but learned my lesson.
I think I can't ever make a RMA request with that useless paper, even if I could I feel lied and cheated...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I called Google play store and they told me all that was needed was the phone's imei. As the warranty is attached. Though it might be stolen, who knows. If it isn't then just say you bought it online used and you have proof of purchase. Make sure you already have a Google wallet account and tell them you would like to transfer the warranty. They can send an email to the original owner asking for permission if they need to, but you should be good.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium
Anyone have success RMAing a phone in with an unlocked BL but no other mods? With all the red light of death stories I've read in the past couple of days I sure don't want to spend over $700 for one N4 that could do the same thing. (kind of wishing I got a Note II now!)
ThaBrickah! said:
Anyone have success RMAing a phone in with an unlocked BL but no other mods? With all the red light of death stories I've read in the past couple of days I sure don't want to spend over $700 for one N4 that could do the same thing. (kind of wishing I got a Note II now!)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
tiny bump
ThaBrickah! said:
Anyone have success RMAing a phone in with an unlocked BL but no other mods? With all the red light of death stories I've read in the past couple of days I sure don't want to spend over $700 for one N4 that could do the same thing. (kind of wishing I got a Note II now!)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
$700 dollars??? Jeez, someone ripped you off. Did you buy it from eBay? I bet you did.
The Nexus 4 is available on the U.S Play Store as of time.
( it would be more expensive if it was in another country, but since you're using the dollar sign...)
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD
scream4cheese said:
$700 dollars??? Jeez, someone ripped you off. Did you buy it from eBay? I bet you did.
The Nexus 4 is available on the U.S Play Store as of time.
( it would be more expensive if it was in another country, but since you're using the dollar sign...)
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, I'm sorry. I had edited down my original question and now it doesn't make complete sense. What I meant was that my phone died on me but I left my bootloader unlocked after reflashing with the image from the developer.google site. I never rooted it but failed to lock the bootloader after reflashing. Now I have the red light of death.
The $700 comes from them holding $300 on my credit card during the RMA process, only to find that I've voided my warranty by having an unlocked bootloader and them charging me for it. That would be over $700 for an N4 that could just do the exact same thing again.
I honestly don't want this phone anymore if all of them are going to die after only a couple weeks use.
The phone is designed to be unlockable via a simple command, so the fact that you have done that should in no way invalidate your warranty. You should have no problem with an RMA.
Sent from my Nexus 4
There is a fix for the red light of dead... It's a hardware problem tho, let me find the youtube video.. brb
I can't find the video (i'm at work) and I have it bookmarked at home, it's on xda tho, you must take out the back part and release a part of the hardware.. It's easy and the guy who found out made several examples, in which if he pressed that chip = red light appear, leaving it without much pressure = normal
I guess take the back off , remove the battery connector , reconnect the connector after a few minutes and put it on charge
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2
If the phone is dead, what does it matter if the bootloader is unlocked?
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2
Most everyone says that an unlocked BL voids the warranty, but it doesn't specifically say that in the warranty documentation. I think I'm going to let this thing run down as much as possible then try to connect to it over the weekend, then call Google on Monday if I have no success. Wonder if I should be upfront with the unlocked BL?
you haven't voided the warranty. Honestly, these companies rarely check for those kind of things. They don't have much time to investigate so they go straight to fixing it. I sent my rooted epic 4g w/ screwed up NV items (screwed em up while flashing) in for a fix and they fixed it for me no charge. You should be fine.
i have sent a few devices back for rma from google. each one of them had an unlocked bootloader, root, custom recovery, and a custom rom/kernel. google never gave me any issues with the process, and exchanged my devices within days. if its a hardware issue, they wont have any problems with an unlocked bootloader.
simms22 said:
i have sent a few devices back for rma from google. each one of them had an unlocked bootloader, root, custom recovery, and a custom rom/kernel. google never gave me any issues with the process, and exchanged my devices within days. if its a hardware issue, they wont have any problems with an unlocked bootloader.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hope you're right. I went through the RMA process on Monday after them having me try all the various button press combinations that I've tried a million times before. The return sticker they sent me was addressed to an LG repair center in Texas instead of any Google entity - that worries me.
I got my replacement on Thursday but I'm not even going to open the shipping box until I see the pending charges from Google drop off my credit card. If I do get charged then I'll try and sell this thing and cut my losses.
I'm very disappointed in the quality of the N4. I decided to only buy Nexus devices from here on out so that I can get the OS updates, but if they break after a couple of weeks then the only other option is to abandon Android altogether. Too bad because its the Google ecosystem that I like.
ThaBrickah! said:
Hope you're right. I went through the RMA process on Monday after them having me try all the various button press combinations that I've tried a million times before. The return sticker they sent me was addressed to an LG repair center in Texas instead of any Google entity - that worries me.
I got my replacement on Thursday but I'm not even going to open the shipping box until I see the pending charges from Google drop off my credit card. If I do get charged then I'll try and sell this thing and cut my losses.
I'm very disappointed in the quality of the N4. I decided to only buy Nexus devices from here on out so that I can get the OS updates, but if they break after a couple of weeks then the only other option is to abandon Android altogether. Too bad because its the Google ecosystem that I like.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's pretty radical to drop Android altogether, if you just wanted quick updates, why didn't you just leave it locked and stock?
ThaBrickah! said:
Hope you're right. I went through the RMA process on Monday after them having me try all the various button press combinations that I've tried a million times before. The return sticker they sent me was addressed to an LG repair center in Texas instead of any Google entity - that worries me.
I got my replacement on Thursday but I'm not even going to open the shipping box until I see the pending charges from Google drop off my credit card. If I do get charged then I'll try and sell this thing and cut my losses.
I'm very disappointed in the quality of the N4. I decided to only buy Nexus devices from here on out so that I can get the OS updates, but if they break after a couple of weeks then the only other option is to abandon Android altogether. Too bad because its the Google ecosystem that I like.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First of all, I don't get it. Nexus has been great to me, and the 3 others I know who bought it, love it too. Build quality is good, and stock, no issues. Even if you root it, chances of something like that happening are low. I used to have all kinds of phones, from gs2&3 to note 2 to HTC one x. None of them were as hard to mess up as the nexus.
But as far as your original question goes... I rmad galaxy nexus to Google because my earpiece became very crackly. Mine was rooted and unlocked. I kept on putting it off until I realized that the label they sent was only good for 14 days. Ended up sending it rooted and with custom ROM on it, figured might as well try. No issues at all. They didn't say a word.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
chrisMBP said:
That's pretty radical to drop Android altogether, if you just wanted quick updates, why didn't you just leave it locked and stock?
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Click to collapse
I reflashed stock firmware onto it in hopes of improving battery life - per a thread on this forum. For me, rooting is unnecessary on the Nexi because there isn't any manufacturer or carrier bloatware to get rid of. I honestly did consider rooting it to try an underclocking app to maybe improve battery life, but it seemed too much of a PITA.
They got my old phone last Wednesday, but the charges are still pending as of today. I decided to go ahead and open the replacement and not worry about it anymore. I noticed the replacement has a higher number serial number, so now I'm off to read the thread that tries do decode it!
Thanks all.
Well, my screen broke after 5 days, and the digitizer is completely unresponsive. It was barely a 2 foot drop! Here are a few pictures: one, two, three.
Anyways, with the sad story aside, I have looked into my repair options, and I have decided the most economical thing to do would be to order a replacement front assembly and do it myself. In another thread, I found this link. The drop resulted in a few scratches on the metallic frame, so I want to make sure that's also included in my replacement. Now, that link looks very promising, but I'm trying to save as much money as possible. I have browsed though Ebay, and found similar items that cost about $30-40 cheaper (after shipping) coming from China, but I'm a little skeptical about it. $100+ is expensive for a repair, so I want to make sure I'm getting quality parts. A couple examples are here and here. Are these parts directly from LG, and if so, how do they become available for sale through third parties? It's the quality of the parts that concern me the most. All said and done, I want the phone to look and feel as if it were brand new out of the box.
On another note, I'll be buying this as soon as it's available. I had one of those on my Nexus One back in the day, so I know my N4 will be well protected, even though it's going to effectively turn it into a cinder block. Such a shame that I gotta cover up such a beautiful device, but apparently it's too risky to leave the phone naked...
So basically, I just want some opinions about the cheaper Ebay options, or if anyone has a better recommendation. I've ruled out sending the phone to LG's third-party repair center due to the costs. I'm comfortable doing the repair myself, so I'm happy saving a few bucks in the process.
Why not send it it for a new device instead?
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2
Bloodflame said:
Well, my screen broke after 5 days, and the digitizer is completely unresponsive. It was barely a 2 foot drop! Here are a few pictures: one, two, three.
Anyways, with the sad story aside, I have looked into my repair options, and I have decided the most economical thing to do would be to order a replacement front assembly and do it myself. In another thread, I found this link. The drop resulted in a few scratches on the metallic frame, so I want to make sure that's also included in my replacement. Now, that link looks very promising, but I'm trying to save as much money as possible. I have browsed though Ebay, and found similar items that cost about $30-40 cheaper (after shipping) coming from China, but I'm a little skeptical about it. $100+ is expensive for a repair, so I want to make sure I'm getting quality parts. A couple examples are here and here. Are these parts directly from LG, and if so, how do they become available for sale through third parties? It's the quality of the parts that concern me the most. All said and done, I want the phone to look and feel as if it were brand new out of the box.
On another note, I'll be buying this as soon as it's available. I had one of those on my Nexus One back in the day, so I know my N4 will be well protected, even though it's going to effectively turn it into a cinder block. Such a shame that I gotta cover up such a beautiful device, but apparently it's too risky to leave the phone naked...
So basically, I just want some opinions about the cheaper Ebay options, or if anyone has a better recommendation. I've ruled out sending the phone to LG's third-party repair center due to the costs. I'm comfortable doing the repair myself, so I'm happy saving a few bucks in the process.
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Click to collapse
The Chinese make a dead on imitation of the N4. The only way to be sure you have a real N4 is to call Google and ask if your IMEI is legit. I'm guessing what you're looking at are screens for the copies. If you're worried, what's another few dollars for the real thing? I can see if they were half the price, but they aren't.
Also, why not get a bumper or a Ringke case? They still show of the phone.
scream4cheese said:
Why not send it it for a new device instead?
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2
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I bought it from my carrier, and declined a $7/month replacement plan... I could get in touch with them, but I'm pretty sure they're just going to tell me it's my own fault and nothing they can do about it.
estallings15 said:
The Chinese make a dead on imitation of the N4. The only way to be sure you have a real N4 is to call Google and ask if your IMEI is legit.
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Mine is real. I didn't buy a Chinese fake. I was just wondering if the replacement front from those Ebay listings were real or not. I know it's hard to tell, but I want to make sure I'm getting original LG parts.
estallings15 said:
I'm guessing what you're looking at are screens for the copies. If you're worried, what's another few dollars for the real thing? I can see if they were half the price, but they aren't.
Also, why not get a bumper or a Ringke case? They still show of the phone.
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Click to collapse
I was originally considering the official bumper, but I'm not sure if it will really be enough. I don't want to go through the same thing again.
I don't like the design of the Ringke case, either. I know Seidio's cases are great quality, but at the same time, they make the phone huge.
Bloodflame said:
Mine is real. I didn't buy a Chinese fake. I was just wondering if the replacement front from those Ebay listings were real or not. I know it's hard to tell, but I want to make sure I'm getting original LG parts.
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Click to collapse
You misunderstood. I wasn't questioning whether or not your phone was real. I was telling you that the fakes are really good. Those are probably REALLY good fake screens. Understand?
Hi guys,
I have the same problem on my Nexus 4 which is now completely useless. Funny enough, the phone is still on but the touch screen doesn't work anymore... Let me tell you how annoying it is when the alarm rings at 7am on a Saturday morning and you can't turn it off...
Anyway, I hope I'm in the right topic and not posting something that has been answered already (I did a research...) but can you let me know if you managed to change your screen Bloodflame? If so, was it easy with the replacement kit that usually comes with the screen you buy. I don't want to go to a dodgy shop that will take me £20 for just a simple screen change... I'm sure I can do it myself.
I recently found one on eBay for £85, which is pretty much the best deal I saw so far (I can't send you a link as I'm a new member, sorry).
Thanks in advance for your help and apologies if the English isn't perfect (I'm not a native).
estallings15 said:
You misunderstood. I wasn't questioning whether or not your phone was real. I was telling you that the fakes are really good. Those are probably REALLY good fake screens. Understand?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, I see what you mean. Just when you mentioned verifying my IMEI with Google made it sound like you thought mine was a fake. I understand the Chinese knockoff's could be hard to tell apart, and I understand that those replacement parts on Ebay may be fake. That's what I was skeptical about. They might be real, but maybe it's not worth the risk...
At first glance, the price appears similar, but the one from EtradeSupply comes to about $152 after shipping, whereas the Ebay ones are about $115 shipping included. I was just hoping I could save a little cash - that's all.
michaelvitello said:
Hi guys,
I have the same problem on my Nexus 4 which is now completely useless. Funny enough, the phone is still on but the touch screen doesn't work anymore... Let me tell you how annoying it is when the alarm rings at 7am on a Saturday morning and you can't turn it off...
Anyway, I hope I'm in the right topic and not posting something that has been answered already (I did a research...) but can you let me know if you managed to change your screen Bloodflame? If so, was it easy with the replacement kit that usually comes with the screen you buy. I don't want to go to a dodgy shop that will take me £20 for just a simple screen change... I'm sure I can do it myself.
I recently found one on eBay for £85, which is pretty much the best deal I saw so far (I can't send you a link as I'm a new member, sorry).
Thanks in advance for your help and apologies if the English isn't perfect (I'm not a native).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I only made this post last night, so no, I haven't fixed my phone yet. I haven't even placed the order for my replacement parts yet. But I can update this thread later on with my progress. Heck, I can even post pictures of the repair process and make note of any details pertaining to how easy/hard it is, a specific step that might be a little more difficult (ribbon cables come to mind), or anything like that.
FYI, you can disable your alarm from ADB as long as you have USB debugging enabled. It's a bit of a pain, but I was able to get a few things done using ADB. For instance, I was able to turn off mobile data, enable wifi, and make a full backup of my internal storage among a few other minor things, just in case.
Code:
adb shell
svc data disable
svc wifi enable
input touchscreen tap [x] [y]
input keyevent [#]
Google those commands for more details.
Bloodflame said:
I only made this post last night, so no, I haven't fixed my phone yet. I haven't even placed the order for my replacement parts yet. But I can update this thread later on with my progress. Heck, I can even post pictures of the repair process and make note of any details pertaining to how easy/hard it is, a specific step that might be a little more difficult (ribbon cables come to mind), or anything like that.
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Click to collapse
OK I see. No problem then, I ordered the screen yesterday and will also give updates when I'll change it. Hopefully, I'll receive it and change it before you and will therefore give you a few tips (if needed). I'm sure it's not that difficult but we'll probably need to be very cautious. There's probably a few videos showing how to do it. If I find a good one, I'll post the link here.
Bloodflame said:
FYI, you can disable your alarm from ADB as long as you have USB debugging enabled. It's a bit of a pain, but I was able to get a few things done using ADB. For instance, I was able to turn off mobile data, enable wifi, and make a full backup of my internal storage among a few other minor things, just in case.
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I didn't know this tip, thanks for the help! It finally went out of battery, so nothing to worry about anymore )
Just a general heads up:
I recently had the exact same problem, wanted to keep my nexus naked but it cracked after about a month. So I ordered a replacement last sunday of eBay for about $135 with shipping, it was not from China, from California. I received the screen yesterday, and successfully replaced it by my own, it was pretty simple and took me about an hour. I have never before disassembled a phone. The screen works fine and seems just as good as the one before. I could have sent it in to LG but they said they would remove all data from the phone for some security reason and I didn't want to do that. But if you have any more questions just ask me, I will be glad to help you.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
michaelvitello said:
OK I see. No problem then, I ordered the screen yesterday and will also give updates when I'll change it. Hopefully, I'll receive it and change it before you and will therefore give you a few tips (if needed). I'm sure it's not that difficult but we'll probably need to be very cautious. There's probably a few videos showing how to do it. If I find a good one, I'll post the link here.
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Click to collapse
Sounds great! Yeah, I've already briefly looked up a couple videos and guides (see this one on ifixit) and it doesn't looks terribly difficult. Also, I recall reading about someone who successfully replaced their screen, but ended up cracking the back glass in the process. Might be worthwhile to take a little extra care to make sure that doesn't happen to you. You've been warned
aanonymoushuman said:
Just a general heads up:
I recently had the exact same problem, wanted to keep my nexus naked but it cracked after about a month. So I ordered a replacement last sunday of eBay for about $135 with shipping, it was not from China, from California. I received the screen yesterday, and successfully replaced it by my own, it was pretty simple and took me about an hour. I have never before disassembled a phone. The screen works fine and seems just as good as the one before. I could have sent it in to LG but they said they would remove all data from the phone for some security reason and I didn't want to do that. But if you have any more questions just ask me, I will be glad to help you.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
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Click to collapse
Yeah, I could understand why you'd want to leave the N4 naked - it's certainly a beautiful device! But on the other hand, stuff like this happens and it becomes an expensive mistake, as we've learned.
So just tell me, was there any one or two specific disassembly/assembly steps that were more difficult? If so, did you figure out any tricks to overcome the difficulty a bit? I understand working with small parts and flimsy ribbon cables can be a bit of a pain. I've taken a couple phones apart before, but never had too much difficulty as long as I was being careful and patient. I suppose the same is true here but I don't intend to take my N4 apart until I have my new screen and I'm ready to get to work. Payday is a week away, so it's just a waiting game for me at this point.
The most hard part I've encountered was taking the back cover away, that by it self took me about 15 minutes, if you looked at any videos you will know what I mean. Also when you take out the battery make sure to use a hairdryer to loosen up the strong glue below it, also be very careful taking it out, I found out it bends a little its basically made out of strong tinfoil, but if you do bend it a little don't worry it will still work
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
$120 ain't too bad, hell the deductible for at&ts insurance is $125. I'll have to keep that in mind should the unthinkable happen.
Google could make everyone's life easier and just offer 2 year replacement plans for a flat cost. No you should never drop it, but we're all human, it's bound to happen at some point. Thing is I want a flat replacement plan like what you would get from a retail store on consumer electronics, not scam insurance. Whats irritating is if you buy a tablet, you can get a replacement plan from square trade, but since the nexus 4 has a radio, it's $10 a month, $99 deductible. Ridiculous!
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2
I had the same problem, first i tried to send the phone to a tech guy to try to remove the digitizer but he couldnt make it, then i bought a screen assembly and installed it myself. I live in Argentina so finding the replacement was not easy. The problem came afterwards when the screen touch was a bit floppy, i tried a Pointer Location app and i discovered that now the screen can read up to 2 fingers and it works really bad (it used to read up to 5 fingers). Is it possible that it is one of the chinese imitations? I didnt know there were copied parts for the N4 up to now
The only visual difference i spotted is that the original screen had little integrated circuits in the screen forming tiny nearly-invisible squares inside the front glass, and the replacement one has no such things.