Fragile Screen?

[JohnMcG]

I've just broken my second Droid Razr in 2 months. In both cases, it seems I broke it while it was in the hip pocket of gym shorts and I stood up. In the first instance, I thought I banged into a handlebar of a recumbent exercise bike at the gym, so with the second one, I was careful to always keep the screen facing me in-pocket.

Today, there did not seem to be any trauma, I think it was just pressure. I got up, heard a sound in my pocket, then looked at the phone, and it was cracked and unusable.

I don't think I'm particularly hard on my things -- I never broke my three previous (non-smart) phones, and had them until I had a subsidized replacement.

Posting to see if there's a general problem with this phone, or if there's a strange mismatch between me and the phone's make-up. I'm a big guy, so maybe I just can't keep it in a pocket.

I have insurance, which covered this first replacement, and will cover this one, but I think they only cover 2 replacements a year, and I'd rather not live in fear.

 

[FoxKat]

I've just broken my second Droid Razr in 2 months. In both cases, it seems I broke it while it was in the hip pocket of gym shorts and I stood up. In the first instance, I thought I banged into a handlebar of a recumbent exercise bike at the gym, so with the second one, I was careful to always keep the screen facing me in-pocket.

Today, there did not seem to be any trauma, I think it was just pressure. I got up, heard a sound in my pocket, then looked at the phone, and it was cracked and unusable.

I don't think I'm particularly hard on my things -- I never broke my three previous (non-smart) phones, and had them until I had a subsidized replacement.

Posting to see if there's a general problem with this phone, or if there's a strange mismatch between me and the phone's make-up. I'm a big guy, so maybe I just can't keep it in a pocket.

I have insurance, which covered this first replacement, and will cover this one, but I think they only cover 2 replacements a year, and I'd rather not live in fear.

John, I've read of stories like yours where the phone seemed to break under very little stress, and I've read of phones that have fallen from a ladder and showed no damage. Yours though is especially unfortunate. I don't think there's any rhyme or reason to it other than that the phone was in your front pockets if I'm not mistaken. Since this phone is particularly thin, it may be uniquely susceptible to flexing along its length.

ANY glass will eventually fall if bent or flexed beyond a certain point. Other phones you had were likely both considerably thicker and also likely not as tall or long top to bottom, making them less flexible and therefore less likely to crack the glass under similar pressures. I would certainly refrain from placing in any location where flexing could occur such as in front of your hip joint or in a back pocket as some have mentioned they do.

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[LoneWolfArcher]

John, I've read of stories like yours where the phone seemed to break under very little stress, and I've read of phones that have fallen from a ladder and showed no damage. Yours though is especially unfortunate. I don't think there's any rhyme or reason to it other than that the phone was in your front pockets if I'm not mistaken. Since this phone is particularly thin, it may be uniquely susceptible to flexing along its length.

ANY glass will eventually fall if bent or flexed beyond a certain point. Other phones you had were likely both considerably thicker and also likely not as tall or long top to bottom, making them less flexible and therefore less likely to crack the glass under similar pressures. I would certainly refrain from placing in any location where flexing could occur such as in front of your hip joint or in a back pocket as some have mentioned they do.

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This. Completely. You've had two. Both broke in your hip pocket. I wouldn't put my third one in my hip pocket.

 

[Raydee35]

That is why I wear mine on my hip in a holster, I don't care how gay it looks either.

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[Arodnum1]

That is why I wear mine on my hip in a holster, I don't care how gay it looks either.

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Doesn't look dumb at all, I did it with my otter and its convenient and boss, as well as I work construction and this phone has not one scratch and neither did my dx

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[Raydee35]

I am not sure if is a younger generation thing or what but I catch crap all the time for wearing my phone on my side. My 12 year old niece laughs at me every time she sees me with my phone on my hip. I always tell her to show me her beat up I phone and then I show her my phone without a scratch on it. I have been very lucky over the years, I have never broke a phone yet.

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[skennelly]

I am not sure if is a younger generation thing or what but I catch crap all the time for wearing my phone on my side. My 12 year old niece laughs at me every time she sees me with my phone on my hip. I always tell her to show me her beat up I phone and then I show her my phone without a scratch on it. I have been very lucky over the years, I have never broke a phone yet.

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That's funny. I would have told her that I'll stop wearing my phone on my hip when you start buying them for me.

________________________
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[mountainbikermark]

The crystal structure of Gorilla Glass is so that it is VERY strong unless the structure is hit a certain way, then it is as fragile as single strength glass, especially when warm. Usually a corner hit can do it. If anyone remembers Corning Visionware you know what I mean. If warm and just touched the wrong way, sometimes it would shatter violently while in use.
Think of a raw egg. Squeeze it from the side or drop it on its side, it will break easily. Squeeze it from the top and bottom it is very strong. So it is with Gorilla Glass. Slightly hitting it at the correct angle will break it easily.

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[Dweib]

Yep. Remember Corelleware? We had bowls that would break apart in an odd spiral pattern easily when bumped a certain way after cold then hot washing. Wife used to freak.

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[FoxKat]

The crystal structure of Gorilla Glass is so that it is VERY strong unless the structure is hit a certain way, then it is as fragile as single strength glass, especially when warm. Usually a corner hit can do it. If anyone remembers Corning Visionware you know what I mean. If warm and just touched the wrong way, sometimes it would shatter violently while in use.
Think of a raw egg. Squeeze it from the side or drop it on its side, it will break easily. Squeeze it from the top and bottom it is very strong. So it is with Gorilla Glass. Slightly hitting it at the correct angle will break it easily.

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A very good analogy - the egg. Also, what makes Gorilla Glass highly scratch-resistant is a process of infusion of salt ions into microscopic depths of the surface off the glass. It does enhance its surface strength properties, but doesn't make it shatter-proof and may be somewhat misunderstood.

From Corning's website;

" WHAT MAKES GORILLA GLASS SO DAMAGE RESISTANT? The unique composition of Gorilla Glass allows for a deep layer of high compressive stress (created through an ion-exchange process). This compression acts as a sort of "armor",making the glass exceptionally tough and damage resistant.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE ION-EXCHANGE PROCESS? Ion exchange is a chemical strengthening process where large ions are "stuffed" into the glass surface, creating a state of compression. Gorilla Glass is specially designed to maximize this behavior.

The glass is placed in a hot bath of molten salt at a temperature of approximately 400°C. Smaller sodium ions leave the glass, and larger potassium ions from the salt bath replace them. These larger ions take up more room and are pressed together when the glass cools, producing a layer of compressive stress on the surface of the glass. Gorilla Glass's special composition enables the potassium ions to diffuse far into the surface, creating high compressive stress deep into the glass. This layer of compression creates a surface that is more resistant to damage from everyday use."

You may notice they mention the word "surface" several times in the FAQ. NOWHERE does it say it is shatter-proof. It does make it more resistive to cracking from flex due to its more uniform compressive surfaces which leaves the surface with less places for cracks to start from, but again, if flexed beyond the limits of its design, it will break. Also as mentioned by others, temperatures - and especially temperature shock (sudden or rapid change from cold to hot or vice versa) can help to push the glass's engineered stress higher, effectively temporarily reducing its ability to resist impact and flex failures.

Anything that is harder is also generally more brittle, whereas flexibility comes with softer materials. Perhaps a good analogy would be Concrete and Steel. Concrete is very stiff and strong but also brittle and susceptible to cracking. Steel is flexible and resistant to cracking. The two when formed into one common structure as its done in Steel-reinforced Concrete, enhance each others' beneficial properties and reduce their undesirable ones.

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[LoneWolfArcher]

I refuse to wear my phone on my hip. Just isn't hip.

But to each their own.

 

[JHOOPS2]

I'm 34 and there is no way you will ever see me wearing my phone on my hip. I group that right with the fanny pack wearers. Just my opinion. I got my Razr the day before launch and have to scratches on it what so ever.

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[Dweib]

I'm 59 and 20 year military veteran. Work in factory. Explain what the issue is of carrying the phone on a belt clip? My grand daughter also tried to tell me that "nobody tucks their shirts in". So I had to take her around town pointing out the fact that anybody that actually works for a living does. Young people today are influenced by too much MTV b.s. or Disney channel. I do however have a friend that insists on wearing shorts in the winter time that to most of us looks really dorky gay. Which my teen age granddaughter may or may not say looks "retarded" depending on whether or not she can bum a cigarette.
So, yeah, it's a generational thing. Which generation do you want to be associated with? Does it depend on the people your with at the moment? When does "fashion" give in to practicality? Any way enough of all that. Off my soap box.

I hope your all having a merry Christmas!

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[iGrizz]

MTV? Are you serious? That network is dead in the water. As for in shirts yes I do it for work but outside of work I do not. It is uncomfortable and I do not associate with anybody who happens to tuck in their own shirt.

I have nothing against belt other than I do not like them personally. I would rather put my phone in my pocket.

 

[SallyC]

LOL. It's a tad off topic but I'm really enjoying this discussion guys. :-D

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