Technology
Breaking a Smartphone Screen: Causes and Warranty Claims
Breaking a Smartphone Screen: Causes and Warranty Claims
Mobile devices, particularly smartphones, have become an essential part of our daily lives. However, despite the durability advancements, phone screens still break from time to time. While manufacturers often provide warranties to cover accidental damage, there are cases where such damage may not fall under the warranty coverage.
Understanding Smartphone Warranty Coverage
When a mobile device is purchased, the manufacturer typically provides a warranty that covers defects or malfunctions due to internal components failing. Common examples include motherboard issues, onboard flash memory failure, and RAM malfunctions. These issues are considered manufacturer-related and are often covered under warranty. However, when it comes to external damages like screen breakage, the situation can be more complex.
Common Causes of Screen Breakage
There are several reasons why a smartphone screen might break that would typically not be considered accidental damage suitable for warranty claims. These include:
Emotional Outbursts: Extreme emotions can lead to users mishandling their devices. For example, Michael’s incident where he slammed his phone after an argument clearly falls into this category. Such behavior is not accidental but rather deliberate and emotional reactions. Heavy Users: Regularly playing high-impact games or videos that shake the phone can cause screen damage. Users should be cautious with the use of their devices. Carrying Methods: Placing a phone in a back pocket of jeans and then sitting on it is a common scenario where the phone experiences undue stress. This is not an accident but rather a conscious and forceful action by the user.Problems with Warranty Claims for Phone Screens
When a phone screen breaks under circumstances that are not deemed accidental, warranty claims can be difficult to process. Here’s why:
Manufacturing Standards: Most warranties for accidental damage are based on the assumption that the phone was dropped or damaged under normal circumstances. If the damage is due to user actions like the ones mentioned above, it’s challenging to prove that the damage was not intentional.
Product Liability: Manufacturers often have specific guidelines for what they consider accidental damage. Actions that are seen as intentional or misuse of the device, such as sitting on the phone, would typically be excluded from coverage.
Customer Service Policies: Brand-specific customer service policies also play a crucial role. Some manufacturers have stricter policies for warranty claims, especially if the damage can be attributed to the user's actions or negligence.
Conclusion
In summary, several factors can cause a smartphone screen to break that might not be considered as accidental damage under warranty coverage. Emotional outbursts, heavy user actions, and poor carrying methods all fall into this category. When these situations occur, it is important to understand the limitations of the warranty and the specific policies of the manufacturer.