Countless problems with Droid Charge...

[eternal_deed]

I dont usually write in forums, but im going to make an exception this time.

I have several things to say about the Droid Charge model. So this might be a bit long.

Basically, i purchased my new phone last year in June because i was eligible for upgrade and i wanted to pick a phone before july 7th so that i could be grandfathered to the unlimited data plan. i wanted to wait for a better phone, but i wanted the unlimited deal. So i picked the Droid Charge because of 4G, beautiful display and 1600 mah battery being the best of that time. Overall it was the best model back then.

i was a little dissappointed with the outdated hardware in the phone; it had only a single core processor and 512 mb ram (only 328 mb ram available for apps). For $300 i expected the phone the phone to atleast have 768mb of ram like the Droid incredible 2; Not to mention a dual core processor like the Droid 3. I decided not to think much of it because it was my first smartphone and didnt expect the outdated hardware to have any noticable effects on the functionality.

Now it has been nearly 8 months and i have every possible issue u can have with a phone. im going to list them.

1) Within the first week i noticed lost text messages. With my old phone, i wud send myself a text nd receive any messages that might have gotten stuck or lost. i cant do that that with this phone. Also, there is no notification light. an advanced smartphone with no light notification?

2) Constantly drops data: I can understand the phone dropping 4G since it's a new technology, but 3G?. The phone cant even hold on to 3G whether im sitting in one spot at home or driving around near downtown. I cant use youtube, Netflix or the internet for too long without being interupted.

3) GPS is horrible: I want to use google maps naviagation and it wont get a lock on my location. for the next 20 minutes in the car, all i see is "your location is temporarily unavailable"

4) WiFi is weak all the time: my router has really good bandwith and no matter how close i am to the Wifi unit, i will only have 1 bar. 2 bars if am lucky. The 3rd bar is pretty much non existant.

5) This phone has lag in almost everything i use it for: I cant visit websites with flash content without disabling Java and Plug-ins. Also, sometimes i press the application button and it takes forever to load my application list. i have to keep clearing memory in my task manager to make space for other applications since i only have 328 mb ram available (3 quarters of it being used up regardless if i have anything running or not).

6) Random rebooting: i will play a game for about 20-30 minutes and when press exit on the game, it exits to my application list and then it goes to a black screen with the buttons lighting up. i cant turn it off or on with the power button; i have to remove the battery.

7) Drops Calls: i will be on a call with my friend and after a certain amount of time it drops the call. i call him again and it drops again. when i look at my screen to see what happened....there is no notification tht said my call ended nd how long it lasted. just my home screen. This *SMART*phone cant even handle a basic function for a phone?

😎 Extended battery: The battery life of the original battery is not enough for handling 4G or games. So i decided on finding an extended battery. Finding one has been impossible. i need a battery tht comes with an extended battery cover and extended battery silicone cover. Trexcell and Hyperion have all 3, but with bad quality covers that chip and crack easily. even though the reviews said that, i bought one from trexcell anyway and it turned out to be true. the back cover chipped because i had to keep removing the cover when the phone stops responding and goes to a black screen.

With all these problems...i have been very patient with this phone. i was told that software updates would fix my phone's problems. so far i have received 2 updates for this phone. 1 regular update in the summer and a gingerbread update in early december, yet i see the same problems continue. I have been reading the forums for my phone for the past 2 weeks and all i see are other people who are frustrated with this phone for the same reasons that i am. i also have read that other droid charge owners have received their 5th and even 6th refurbished replacements and still have the same problems. I met someone at a wedding last month with the same phone. the discussion came right to the problems with the device and he was on his 2nd refurbished replacement with continued issues.

I am fully confident that the Droid Charge model is defective. It is unfair to me that i paid $300 and am paying $30 a month for a phone that doesnt work properly in any feature i want to use. i beleive i atleast deserve a replacement phone of a different model. I think i have been robbed enough.

I apologize for the long complaint.

[keitoflan]

Is the phone within warantee? Do you have insurance?

Have you tried any troubleshooting or discussing options with tech support?

[eternal_deed]

Yes i have insurance. i am paying for it monthly. and i thought the warranty ends within 14 days after purchase?

i am in a family plan and my father is the primary line.

i decided to make this post before i go to the verizon store this weekend just to see if any of the administrators can tell me my options for a new phone.

[keitoflan]

If I recall correctly and manufacturer's warranty lasts a year. The 14 day period is how long you have to return the phone before you're stuck in the contract for good and can no longer get a refund. If you are under warranty they will replace your phone regardless if tech advises there's no hope for the phone. If you have insurance they'll do it via asurion's insurance coverage.

I had to have them replace my droid 2 three times under warranty and they eventually gave me a droid 3.

[eternal_deed]

Oh i see. Well this sort of gives me some hope. i mean...im still prolly going to have to pay for a different model phone, but atleast i'll have a functioning device. My only concern is that they'll try to give me a refurbished droid charge. That is absolutly not an option for me because a refurbished device can mean that another customer had problems with it and returned it, and now theyr going to try to give it to me. From what i have read in the reviews...the refurbished ones are worse than the new one u already had. i already mentioned my experience about that guy i met at a wedding  with the same phone who had 2 replacements with continued issues. so id rather keep the new one that i have taken rly good care of. And a new droid charge wont solve the problem either because this model in general is defective and the hardware is outdated. So if they gave you a droid 3, im expecting and hoping that they'll let me purchase a Droid Razr because i checked the reviews and specs and that phone seems to be very up to date with minimal complaints.

And i really appreciate your feedback. Thank you.

[keitoflan]

No problem. 🙂

If they replace it under warantee or insurance it will be a CLNR model (certified like new replacement... aka. Refurbished). I don't know what it was about the droid 2 but I had screen issues all the time and eventually told them after so many factory resets and having to set up a new phone all the time, I nicely refused any other droid 2s and nicely also asked if they would consider sending another model. (This was call center tech, not in store. In my experience the store people just wanted me gone so they could get to the next customer and therefore their next commission.) Another piece of advice is to stay calm and nice. If you're rude and overbearing the agent will just want to get away from you ASAP. I did get a choice of a few models and I chose the droid 3 because I loved my droid 2 but the screen would get frozen on a black screen. The droid 3 was also another CLNR version but I have not had any issues besides the GPS being wibbly on the rare occassion which isn't a big enough issue for me to consider replacement since if I power cycle the phone it works immediately. I love my droid 3.

CLNRs aren't horrible if the device is solid but with models that are very prone to issues I'd be wary.

Best of luck. Always wait a few weeks after a new phone release also so that you can get accurate reviews and reports of constant errors on the phone. I'd only consider upgrading to the droid 4 once it's released and recieves the promised ICS update and even then wait a period to make sure the model is solid and dosen't have wide reported issues. The original droid line is positively reviewed and the droid 1 is still loved by their original owners.

[eternal_deed]

Well im glad that they gave u the option for the droid 3 and not continue to replace you with the same model. Im also having the black screen issue right after i exit a game. it doesnt happen every time because it's random, but because of the black screen...i have to remove the battery over and over. And because of constantly removing the battery....i cant buy any extended batteries because they sell cheaply made back covers that will chip or crack if i take the cover off. one problem leads to another lol.

As for the CLNR models, i'll consider taking your word for it. Getting a CLNR droid charge is not going to fix anything, but i might consider a CLNR of a different model. im interested in the Droid Razr Maxx because it will solve my extended battery search problem. So i guess i should wait until they have CLNR's of those. i might still make tht trip to the verizon store this weekend just to see wht kind of luck i have. If no luck, maybe the Droid 4 sounds nice since ur saying uve had 2 of those phones with minimal problems.

[rcschnoor]

eternal_deed wrote:

So if they gave you a droid 3, im expecting and hoping that they'll let me purchase a Droid Razr because i checked the reviews and specs and that phone seems to be very up to date with minimal complaints.

Verizon will 'let' you purchase a new phone anytime you would like. If you purchased your current Charge last June, though, you will have to pay full retail for the new device, and currently the Razr is selling for $599(16GB model) or $649(32GB model). Having purchased your Charge last June, you will not be eligible for a discounted upgrade purchase until Feb of 2013.

[eternal_deed]

Yes i am aware of them letting me purchase anytime at retail price. But if they are putting a defective device on their shelves...it's not my fault. i signed a 2 year contract for a phone that is supposed to work. That pretty much means that my eligibility of a discount was wasted anyway. With all the complaints on that device...im surprised they havent taken it off their inventory yet. Even more surprised that it's still 200 bux.

[rcschnoor]

eternal_deed wrote:

But if they are putting a defective device on their shelves...it's not my fault. i signed a 2 year contract for a phone that is supposed to work. That pretty much means that my eligibility of a discount was wasted anyway. With all the complaints on that device...im surprised they havent taken it off their inventory yet. Even more surprised that it's still 200 bux.

You can find people saying this about EVERY phone that Verizon sells, INCLUDING the RAZR which you would prefer to get. There are even threads about the RAZR where people think Verizon should provide EVERY owner a FREE upgrade to the new RAZR MAXX in exchange for the RAZR because the RAZR is a defective device which Verizon sold them. There is not a SINGLE phone which Verizon sells which does not have SEVERAL people which claim it is a defective device which was sold by Verizon, it isn't their fault and Verizon should give them a different phone.

[eternal_deed]

Yeah i understand what you are saying, and i am appreciating the feedback. i mean i can live with a few defects here and there...

Phones dropping 4G data is understood since it's new technology, but 3G i expect to stay locked on if im in one spot. A dropped call every now and then is understood, but im not gonna tolerate it on almost every call. And probably the worst of em all is the lag and black screen. notice how every phone after the charge came with dual core and double the ram. most likely because previous phones were not able to handle multiple apps? idk.

And ive been with verizon for several years. ive had 2 previous phones from them before the charge. they both had problems, but not in every feature. i was able to tolerate them.

But if the texting, data, gps wifi, phone calls are all going to randomly fail on me, wht am i supposed to do with this device?

if the 2 updates i received in 8 months of owning this phone had fixed atleast half of those problems....i honestly wouldve been satisfied and tolerated the rest.

[jco23]

can you confirm what software version you have? 2.2 vs 2.3.6 (the latest GB).

GB suppossedly fixed all of that except for the led flash indicator.  i'm glad my Charge does not have that, as it would get annoying.

but keep in mind your singal could be related to your area and that closest tower - so really any VZW phone would have connectivity issues.

but certainly take it in and ask for another one.

good luck.

[eternal_deed]

Yeah i have the 2.3.6 version. I downloaded that update as soon as it was available for my phone.

Most of the problems with the charge are because of its outdated hardware; The lag when web browsing and black screens after exiting a game are mostly a result of the phone not being able to handle it. I have a game called Asphalt 6 Adrenaline by Gameloft and half of the time after i exit the game it goes black.

As for the Data, it drops randomly no matter where i am. And the Gps has a lot of trouble locking onto where i am.

Web browsing on sites with lots of flash cant be used without disabling java and plugins or else u get tht checkerboard lag.

i will say...that the gingerbread update did give my apps access to 45mb more of ram (328 to 373).

It made the phone a little bit faster, but not much.

im glad to hear ur phone is working well though. idk why most of us other charge owners r having the same issues.

[mistygirl]

i agree

[eternal_deed]

Well finally someone who seems to understand this device's issues.

Are you also a Droid Charge owner?

[Wildman]

This is just a opinion but from what I figured out is that all devices seem to work our better for some than others so you have to not make a quick decision and your decision is what will work with you because you are locked into the device for 2 years..

One of the main issues is users make impulse choices, the charge had some good features but the device had issue reported from the get go so this should have been something that should be concidered,

Now as for the outdated hardware... If you looked in the device with more memory or a dual core processor the prices for all of them would have been comparable any it was your decision to pick the device that you decided on so its kind of hard to blame anyone but your self on this decision.

As for the Wifi, 3G, 4G and GPS.....   All of these items all share the same radio software and it simply sounds like the device simply has a poor pick of radio drives for the device and also this is a common issue with Samsung devices so once again this was something that could have resolved with a bit of research.

I would go for a replacement device and see if that resolves your issue because maybe you are having some hardware issues..

Also try booting into Safe Mode and see if it works any better for you...

[eternal_deed]

1st of all, *research* is exactly what i did. Phonearena, Cnet, Endgadget and other sites reviews were wht i took into consideration.. The thunderbolt , revolution and htc trophy were all 4G and cheaper compared to the charge. Those 3 phones all had issues reported as well. Thunderbolt and revolution's battery life was weaker and the trophy had windows os, which i didnt want. The charge was the best and most expensive at the time and i expected the phones functionality to live up to its price tag.

2nd of all...reviewers like Cnet, Endgadget and Phonearena base their reviews on a simple level and show off the features on their review videos. They can never tell whts deeply wrong with a like an actual owner who has been using his/her phone for several weeks to months.

And finally, it is not my job to do this *deep research* in the first place. it is Samsung and verizons job to test their devices nd make sure they function correctly and satisfy the customer. My job is to spend the money on a device that has features which interest me. It is their job to make those features functional. They should know that their customer will be tied down for 2 years and should sell them a reliable product. if they accidentally release a defective product..they should take it off their shelves nd atleast let customers pay contract price for a different model.

So i dont see how the customer can be blamed here. Our job is to spend the money. Their job is to give us a functioning product that we paid for.

[Wildman]

Forgive me if you took my post as a jab at you because it was not intended that way, I am simply reporting the results that I turned up when I was investigation devices for my upgrade...  When I spoke of comparing the devices I was speaking of the ones you spoke of in your OP...

I have learned that not all devices are for everyone, there was a number of bad reviews about the Thunderbolt but I have the device and I love it and cant report the number of problems that was reported.

What I was point out about research was more along the line of understanding what you are purchasing other wise you would be stepping int the situation blindsided, I am sure you would not walk into a car dealer and get a vehicle without asking some question and understanding what you are buying, you should do this with everything to avoid you being upset and feeling taking advantage of.

Final, I respect all the sites you spoke about for reviews but end the end, what works for them dont always work for you because it is not like there is a market with thousands of apps that you can install on your device and they tested all those as well.....  The largest know issues for devices usually come from a stray application or a simple item being changed that the device doesn't like..

The electronic game isn't perfect and their is no way to predict all issues and it just amaze me that users always blame the device before verifying...  Not saying its your case but it does happen a lot...

[Tidbits]

Want to know something funny? I just bought a Charge for $50 because this guy hated his phone so much... I have had it for 4 days... Not one of the problems has arised yet he was complaining about. I still have not passed judgement yet about the phone. 3 of my coworkers have not complained about theirs yet and have had them since release.

[Wildman]

Actually Tidbit I bought a Charge off Craiglist for about 50.00 also and I used it to test some software that I was beta testing and I thought the devices wasn't that bad of a device but I did have to do a number of battery pulled after I installed some the apps that I use regularly..   This is one of the reason I really seeing a stray app causing the issues.

I also did the "R" word to it and tested out a few custom roms and I still had issues with the device after I loaded apps onto the device, when the device was clean and still stock the device worked flawless.....  For some reason the software hogged resources with some apps placed on the device.

Oh and the craziest part, I ended up keeping the device as a spare because I could not get anyone to bit on buying it for what I paid for it..  Those devices has been going cheap for a reason..

[Tidbits]

I have a ton of apps loaded. I think if the problem arises has to be the RFS format. I understand Samsung using the format, but in the end the life may be extended for the device, but if they are not going to support their product after a year then what does it matter if the flash memory could potentially last 5x longer?