Should you buy a refurbished HTC One from aliexpress? - One (M7) General

A refurbished HTC One from overseas is pretty cheap, but is it worth it?
I have both an original and a refurbished (aliexpress) model.
I tested the refurbished one with HTCs hidden function test (*#*#3424#*#*, dialer) and everything worked flawlessly, but I found some flaws afterwards:
-the IR-remote doesn't work
-the glass of the front camera isn't flush with the case
-button backlight bleed on the bottom of the front:
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I also opened both up to see if there are differences inside (the gold one is refurbished and the black is original):
-there was no glue holding the back in place, only clips:
-some tape, covering the connectors, is missing:
-looks like corrosion on the headphone jacks soldering points:
-two pins(antennas maybe) missing which should touch the back cover(GSM and HSPA work, can't test LTE though):
-back cover comparison:
-top:
-front:
Conclusion:
I think I made a good choice, the two noticeable flaws(IR-blaster and backlight bleed) don't bother me. Alse unlocking the bootloader via htc-dev worked flawlessly. But your mileage may vary, as there are so many different shops on aliexpress.

I too am about to buy a refurbished M7, but no one is prepared to say just how are they refurbished, and why!
Are they second hand, or factory seconds that failed an acceptance test?
Anyone know?
Barry

I would advise you not to get a second hand m7. I got one last year around July for very cheap (€270) but I faced lots of issues relating to overheating and REALLY BAD purple tint on the rear camera. So if you REALLY need to then go second hand but it can be a hit or miss

You must have gotten a poorly refurbished one. Here what's sold in China on Taobao are new in looks (though you can get slightly worn-out ones too) and perfect in function when you get your hands on it, but the bad thing is the internals are usually swapped, such as repaired motherboard, third-party headset port... These won't show in the beginning but will gradually give headaches to anyone who plan to use it as a daily driver.
Sent from Google Nexus 4 @ CM12.1
[WARNING: XDA Premium 4.0.13+ lacks Signature function - do not update]

bccollin said:
I too am about to buy a refurbished M7, but no one is prepared to say just how are they refurbished, and why!
Are they second hand, or factory seconds that failed an acceptance test?
Anyone know?
Barry
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The description stated that the housing, glass and battery gets renewed(the phone looked completely new). And it looks like the motherboard is from an repaired RMA'd model (picture in the 1'st post, sticker on the mainboard).
No purple tint issues on the camera.

Imei
Hello forum!
Pls I have an HTC One M7 Verizon.
It has been rooted already.
How can I change the IMEI.
THANKS

bodmasjd4eva said:
Hello forum!
Pls I have an HTC One M7 Verizon.
It has been rooted already.
How can I change the IMEI.
THANKS
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why do you want to change your IMEI?
You will at least need S-OFF to change it.

The htc m7 just arrived 2 days ago, refurbished from DHgate. And its better to buy from DHgate then aliexpress. I just got scammed there with a fake track and trace code. Its just fine that i can easely claim it back. And also, im super happy with the phone. Looks like new when i recieved it. Also it looks on all sides so nice. It is really worth your money.

Thank for review

Related

HD2-hardware-buttons losing laquer and looking crappy - known problem?

Hey guys,
Since a couple of weeks I kept an eye on the HW-keys of my HD2. The laquer on them is vanishing more and more - it looks really crappy and somehow like it was an ugly full-plastique Nokia-phone...
Here some pics (quality isn't too good because the angle is quite tough):
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Has anybody had a problem like this before and if so have you contacted HTC about this?
I'm definitely planning to notify HTC about that and want them to replace these HW-keys on warranty... I cannot accept this on a 600€ phone after 6 months...
My aunt has bought the HD2 recently and I realised that HTC obviously has already brought a new version of HW-buttons (also with phone-button clearly green and the off-button red - which I don't really like much).
Cheers!
Mine are also slowly coming off, but it isn't as 'present' as on yours. I barely use them buttons, but I think with my future switch to Android, they will indeed come off too..
I'm also interested in knowing whether HTC will be liable for this.
de Wolfe said:
HTC obviously has already brought a new version of HW-buttons (also with phone-button clearly green and the off-button red - which I don't really like much).
Cheers!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is the US HD2, the european still has the uncoloured buttons. I have had mine HD2 since januari, and do not has this issue with the buttons.
Halle said:
That is the US HD2, the european still has the uncoloured buttons. I have had mine HD2 since januari, and do not has this issue with the buttons.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, it's a German Vodafone-device (my aunts one).
Now I contacted HTC telefonically and I have to say: I never heard such a piece of rubbish from any mobile-manufacturer.
"Jenny" told me, that this is a "blamish" (in German "Schönheitsfehler") and I have to live with that, but I'm free to pay for a replacement - it is not a warranty-issue...
Sorry HTC, but if these are your last words, I'm gonna kick my HD2 to ebay and will NEVER buy a HTC-device anymore.
all i have done is scrap it off with my nail job done looks fine now no marks or nothing
That's because of misuse!!
You could protect your phone by placing it in a leather pouch, looks elegant, has the htc mark on it and cheap from ebay
http://cgi.ebay.com/New-PO-S510-HTC...037509?pt=PDA_Accessories&hash=item2a09436285
I've been using it for a while now and the phone is still brand new
sevoflurane said:
That's because of misuse!!
You could protect your phone by placing it in a leather pouch, looks elegant, has the htc mark on it and cheap from ebay
http://cgi.ebay.com/New-PO-S510-HTC...037509?pt=PDA_Accessories&hash=item2a09436285
I've been using it for a while now and the phone is still brand new
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
HA HA
Sorry, but I NEVER "misuse" my phones or any electronic devices. I took and take care of my HD2 like it was made of 24 carat gold. And I of course carried my HD2 ALWAYS in a leather case that definitely does not scratch the hardware keys (checked it of course). I even didn't use the HW-keys at all for some time.
Everything I can say is, that I'm VERY dissapointed about HTC's customer care. I mean, the HW-keys are the only part of HD2 that is not made of better material than plastics - and I haven't ANY other signs of ANY usage at ANY part of the phone apart of these HW-keys (photos looking worse than it really is because of the flashlight of my digicam). I paid € 600,- for the phone and I definitely won't accept this barefaced answer from HTC.
the keys are covered and it feels cos of the edges and once it chips it continues all over they shouldn't have done them.
they should have just left them as they are

samsung epic 4g parts

Found this website that sells spare parts incase you damaged your epic. I myself was looking for a replacement for the rim around the screen as it fell out from my hoodie pocket into the street and the rim was dented. Phone works ok but the dent is an eye sore...lol. anyways here's the link : http://www.globaldirectparts.com/Samsung-Epic-4G-Replacement-Repair-Parts-s/6425.htm
Cool. Nice find. I always try to stick with OEM much as I can.
Great find
Supposing I keep this puppy as long as I kept my HTC Vogue, this will really come in handy. Thanks for passing this one along to everyone.
neato, must keep this one
No prob guys, hope it help anyone that has isues with hardware.
Im in soo need of this part:
http://www.globaldirectparts.com/Sa...ic-4G-D700-Keyboard-Ribbon-p/smsng6085455.htm
They are completely out of stock and might not even get it ever as they said it is hard to get. Anyone know where I can get one? Please!
Ughhh why do they have a minimum order?
Also, question about the digitizer + LCD replacement. Do you only need to buy the digitizer + LCD combo or do you also need to buy the front housing too?
arashed31 said:
Ughhh why do they have a minimum order?
Also, question about the digitizer + LCD replacement. Do you only need to buy the digitizer + LCD combo or do you also need to buy the front housing too?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The one I ordered is seen here, http://cnn.cn/shop/samsung-epic-c-26_1118.html - I bought mine from cnn.cn about 3 months ago and it was $75, not this $120 crap, terrible.
it is the same part as your website (cnn.cn, when I ordered my screen from them, had a LOT MORE Epic4g parts). What I got in the mail was a NOT CRACKED and NOT BROKEN equivalent of my old one which is this:
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Good find man. That thanks for posting.
Sent From My Evo Killer!!
Is there any website from where external speaker/loudspeaker replacement OEM is available, cannot find any on EBay.
digitalnirvana said:
Is there any website from where external speaker/loudspeaker replacement OEM is available, cannot find any on EBay.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The link in the OP has a loudspeaker for sale. A little note: if anyone believes they have a bad antenna, the loudspeaker contains part of it, replacing it has the potential to solve the issue.
Also, I'm a coporate Sprint tech. If anyone has any issues or needs advice or a helping hand with the guts of their epic, I'm always available.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using xda premium
Could someone tell me what their price on the LCD and digitizer is for the Epic? Don't have time to register atm =/
They are whole sellers so you may have to buy parts in bulk in order to get stuff from them, I see that even to create an account you need to get it "approved"
But great find man!
squshy 7 said:
The link in the OP has a loudspeaker for sale. A little note: if anyone believes they have a bad antenna, the loudspeaker contains part of it, replacing it has the potential to solve the issue.
Also, I'm a coporate Sprint tech. If anyone has any issues or needs advice or a helping hand with the guts of their epic, I'm always available.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks but it requires 5 quantity purchase minimum and I only need 1 external loudspeaker. There was one selling on EBay but no longer. I am in India and bought the phone online so cannot claim warranty repairs.

Another suddly broken back glass

It was fine before putting it on the charger. I know because i was looking at the back and front before. When i took it from the charger suddenly i see a vertical crack from the top to the right center. No force No drop No back pocket nothing like that! Bring it back for repair and see how Sony treats his new Sony Smartphone User. Hope i do no regret abandoning Samsung....:crying::crying::crying:
(S3 not for sale at the moment)
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bullseye said:
It was fine before putting it on the charger. I know because i was looking at the back and front before. When i took it from the charger suddenly i see a vertical crack from the top to the right center. No force No drop No back pocket nothing like that! Bring it back for repair and see how Sony treats his new Sony Smartphone User. Hope i do no regret abandoning Samsung....:crying::crying::crying:
(S3 not for sale at the moment)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What's this?
haha sharp eye. Looks like a hit.
bullseye said:
It was fine before putting it on the charger. I know because i was looking at the back and front before. When i took it from the charger suddenly i see a vertical crack from the top to the right center. No force No drop No back pocket nothing like that! Bring it back for repair and see how Sony treats his new Sony Smartphone User. Hope i do no regret abandoning Samsung....:crying::crying::crying:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's unfortunate and all, but why would you even create a new topic? Aren't there enough topics regarding this subject?
CollinsJ said:
What's this?
View attachment 2971365
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Seems a hit or a drop..
What if all these guys who say that their glass cracked by itself but they have actually dropped it?
This guy said he didn't drop it but their is a hit!
Sent from my C2105 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Here is another photo without any dust particles.
What is the week, your phone was made ?
Week 37
Well, mine too.
Luckilly no cracks so far, but I'm curious if any appear.
On one side, I want to return it, and get a refund, OTOH the phone is everyhing I ever wanted, until a better one comes out.
wayne_sk said:
Well, mine too.
Luckilly no cracks so far, but I'm curious if any appear.
On one side, I want to return it, and get a refund, OTOH the phone is everyhing I ever wanted, until a better one comes out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly my dilemma. I've seen enough reports of cracks to be convinced Sony cheaped out or did something wrong with this phone. But mine hasn't cracked yet and I actually like it a lot (other than terrible low light camera). I'm hesitant to reward companies when they skimp on something and then fail to acknowledge the problems they've created though which is why I'm considering a return even though I like it.
If reports start coming in of Sony fixing the cracks for free under warranty, then I'll be satisfied and keep it, I think.
Sent from my D5803
Mine is week 37 too, have it since 2 weeks went on holiday with it - no issues so far.
As already mentioned, there are already some existing threads regarding this issue, so please use them instead of opening up a new thread.
Thanks
---> thread closed

Cracked Camera Lens Cover Repair (Super Easy)

So this happened:
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I always keep my G4 in a clear tpu case, but when I took it out of the case to change the battery, I dropped it, and I cracked the lens cover. I was terrified at first since one of the main reasons I bought the phone was for the camera. But, after I took the battery cover off and looked at the camera lens housing, it appeared that the lens housing would come off pretty easily.
So I went on ebay and found a $15 "OEM" replacement cover.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/151794398884?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
Who knows if it's actually an LG part, but I put the replacement on last night:
I accidentally ordered a gray colored one instead of the silver, but I think it looks fine.
The only issue I ran into was getting the part back into place. I can only tell you that you need to put the top of the piece in first, and work your way down.
PS: Wow, I just realized how different those pics look. The first pic (the cracked pic) was taken with another G4, and the 2nd pic (the repaired pic) was taken with an iPhone 6s. The shot taken with the 6s really misrepresents the case/color of the phone.
The question here is how did you take the photo with the 6S ?
atljatl said:
I always keep my G4 in a clear tpu case, but when I took it out of the case to change the battery, I dropped it, and I cracked the lens cover
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its kinda ironic that this happens only when it was out of the case. which case was it btw ?
Could have been worse and been the screen.
I accidentally ordered a gray colored one instead of the silver, but I think it looks fine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You ordered the silver one instead of gold.
But otherwise well done. its easy to repair this thing
DoKaTSuYa said:
The question here is how did you take the photo with the 6S ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i turned the knob. it's cumbersome, but it was a design choice.
atljatl said:
i turned the knob. it's cumbersome, but it was a design choice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think the point is that the 6s was only just announced yesterday and won't be available for pre order until this weekend/next week?
Mr. Pedantic is highlighting that you meant 6 Plus??
Ps. I spotted that too and wished I was the first to pick it up ?
To keep this post somewhat on topic. I have to say one of the reasons I bought this phone was because of the iFixit review highlighting how easy it is to repair. My last phone (HTC One M8) basically required i remove the screen from the case and then split the screen from the circuit board to get to the stuff I needed to repair.... Well that went so wrong I had to buy a new phone...
rav101 said:
I think the point is that the 6s was only just announced yesterday and won't be available for pre order until this weekend/next week?
Mr. Pedantic is highlighting that you meant 6 Plus??
Ps. I spotted that too and wished I was the first to pick it up ?
To keep this post somewhat on topic. I have to say one of the reasons I bought this phone was because of the iFixit review highlighting how easy it is to repair. My last phone (HTC One M8) basically required i remove the screen from the case and then split the screen from the circuit board to get to the stuff I needed to repair.... Well that went so wrong I had to buy a new phone...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My bad. The 6s was on my brain
Sent from my LG-H811 using Tapatalk
rav101 said:
I have to say one of the reasons I bought this phone was because of the iFixit review highlighting how easy it is to repair. My last phone (HTC One M8) basically required i remove the screen from the case and then split the screen from the circuit board to get to the stuff I needed to repair.... Well that went so wrong I had to buy a new phone...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Definitely, ease of repair is a selling point with this device. Not one that is mentioned very often by reviewers who only want to praise or bash the designers that only come into the picture after the engineers are done with their work.
I think the LG engineers who built this this thing should be proud
There used to be another korean company that until recently had the same philosophy, sadly they seemed to have lost their way this year. Was playing with various S6 variants in the shop yesterday and i hate the way the camera lens protrudes from the back, that lens is just begging to be scratched, smudged or cracked. but no, thin is in (!), its got a glass back so thin and slippery is a good recipe for dropping. Will be much harder to fix that thing by yourself.

Canadian release April 8th? Who's in?

I'm with Wind Mobile (who's vague as an abstract painting about their release), but they're only giving out phones to new accounts.
The trick is to go to one of their corporate offices (which would be a "warranty repair centre") where they can't deny you a sale of said new device.
So, tomorrow, bright and early, this guy's going into town with the hopes that they have one in stock.
Wind doesn't lock their phones like other carriers do (not at all), so it's going to be interesting to see whether we can get full root on this thing or not (fingers crossed).
Who's going in on said device here in Canada?
Post phone lock states and whatnot to this thread! For science, and curiosity. :fingers-crossed:
0verdaflow said:
So u get a new device in canada ?
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Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Apparently the Wind shop closest to me is backordered on said G5 for at least one week, rep would not confirm anything else (still vague).
Roommate snagged one up at a Bell kiosk just as they got a shipment of camera modules in stock. He spent an hour there between the kiosk rep and on the phone with "customer loyalty" trying to get a better deal since he's been with them 10 years, and nothing came out of it other than the standard free attachment.
His phone warmed up a fair bit during initial setup and charging but he seems happy with it overall. His only gripe is -- why can't the camera attachment hardware buttons snap a photo while screen off?
I got mine - here in Manitoba.
Picked mine up earlier today with the cam plus module for free! I thought they were only giving these to those who re-upped for two years.
Got the "Free Gift"
CRA5HER said:
Picked mine up earlier today with the cam plus module for free! I thought they were only giving these to those who re-upped for two years.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
- But I did re-up. Sweet, fast phone with some refined MM goodness. Watch out for the edges of the screen protector.
The screen "tapers" or is slightly thinner at the edges/corners - looks like a recipe for frustration as the screen protector will not remain perfect for long. I noticed the after enabling Dev Options I have the "Enable OEM Unlocking" function. I have no illusions that anything would be this simple.....
Yeah but still no Bootloader unlock.
That oem unlocking is just part of os
Sent from my LG-H812 using XDA-Developers mobile app
Wind does have the LG G5 for existing customers too. I found it in the list of upgrade phones. Perhaps I will wait for a proper root before upgrading...
Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk
my plan was to get the device as soon as it came out, but when I got our demo device in store, I put off my decision till hearing more about the HTC 10.
The things I have noticed with the demo at my store is
1: The module at the bottom does not line up with the device, it might not be lots but it is enough. Plus worry about the future if the gap will get bigger
2: Audio quality is really weak. After using the G4 for the last while, I find the G4 has better placement and a better speaker all together.
3: The phones "metal body" feels weird. It does feel solid but at the same time it does not. Hard to explain
Those are my main issues, now with the camera, I do like the idea with the wide angle lenses but i wish the dual lenses was to help with zoom. Also I wish they upgraded the 16MP shooter. Dont get me wrong, the sensor is great with the G4 and G5, but I would have liked to see it improved even more. One other thing I would loved to see is before the phone was even released, LG going to the different accessory makers to give them the module access so when the phone launched they had more modules.
I dont know, maybe I am just being nit picky but I think LG dropped the ball a bit on this one. My final decision will be when I get my hands on the HTC 10 and G5 at the same time.
Got mine on Friday morning. Comparing this with the G3, G4 and Note Edge I find this thing to be ultra fast. Camera is pretty good although bright, its very noisey. Audio quality is ok.
Waiting for a root method,. unlocked the oem part, hopefully we will see root soon, Cant wait to seeing v10 camera app ports and custom kernels with exposed stuff

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