Reliability Thread. Where/How the Blade Cracks...

[Guest Jon_V]

I second that! Has anyone dismantled their SF?

If so, can someone post a video of taking an SF apart and putting it back together again?

It has no moving parts except for the buttons, so there isn't much to go wrong mechanicaly which can't be fixed.

Tried this earlier - removed the screws under the batter cover, but it was difficult to remove the front case and I didn't want to force it. If anyone's done this i'd appreciate any tips..

[Guest jimmy2x2x]

My back panel has developed a very small gap around the usb port, it doesn't clip together properly and has an annoying creak when you grip that corner of the phone. I might take it back to the shop and see if they will swap the back part for me.

[Guest balb0wa]

my volume button squeaks when i press down or move my finger over it

[Guest deweylewie]

My home button now seems to have become slightly detatched/raised. If I lightly put my finger on the plastic, I can spring it up and down before it touches the button underneath. Everything else on the phone is fine, including the MENU and back button.

[Guest intlrc]

fck you guys are kinda scarying me, looks like this cellphone is a time-bomb

i got impressed by the pulse's construction and reliability, but the san francisco has got me rethinking that chineses brands are not that reliable, with so many failures and flaws

Edited October 23, 2010 by intlrc

[Guest zerosignull]

My home button now seems to have become slightly detatched/raised. If I lightly put my finger on the plastic, I can spring it up and down before it touches the button underneath. Everything else on the phone is fine, including the MENU and back button.

I have a similar issue with my home button. But its the other way around IE the home button has sunk a little below the level of the screen. Not a big issue just anoying when you realize ...

My biggest issue with the SF is the size of the HOME/MENU/BACK panel. Its too small for western fingers! needs to be made atleast 50% bigger. However, compared with the T-Mobile Pulse I would say the SF has a better, more expensive build quality and finish.

[Guest Winston69]

My power button has become completely knackered - orange best exchange it...

[Guest dadashi]

My power button has become completely knackered - orange best exchange it...

you mean it doesn't work? or have you worn the finish?

[Guest Winston69]

It doesn't wotk 90% of the time, have to REALLY push it and most of the time that doesn't even work anymore

[Guest dadashi]

my volume buttons have loosened a little, they were very stiff two weeks ago when I got the SF. I'm not sure if they have little metal springs under them or just little plastic wedges. I think plastic because its obvious they've given away a little. Which would only mean they're going to get even looser overtime untill the plastic part under the button just snaps off one day...

We'll have to build a little wiki-SF repairs website to help people do little jobs on their SF's seeing as Orange isn't really going to be supportive. I wouldn't think orange have a repair workshop for their OEM Blades. Most probably they'll just refund peoples money or swap them during the one year guarantee...

Edited October 23, 2010 by dadashi

[Guest LouisUK]

Well my SF has gone fubar on me. Screen is completely unresponsive nor working at all.

Ive only owned it for a week, worst thing is i cant find my receipt! Whats the odds that i could get it replaced with my receipt?? Bought in store.

Just to update this. Took the phone in to the Orange shop, it also developed a Mic fail problem too. Guy in the shop asked which day i bought it and with the simcard mobi number found all he needed on the system. No problem that i didnt have a receipt. He gave me a brand new SF there and then.

Great thing is the new one doesnt have the squeky rocker switch that the last one had too. He mentioned that the first batch of SF's had build quality problems and this current batch was much better.

[Guest jimmy2x2x]

I hope thats true about the 2nd batch and not just marketing speak for we have a 80% return rate for this phone :P

[Guest dadashi]

My teenage kids both like the SF and want one, is this phone good for teens? will the phones make it thru the first year....?

I think not! They've had nokia music phones for over two years and they're still working...

[Guest goatee]

Admittedly, mine is only 3 days old, but I'm really impressed by it. Build quality is "good enough" for me, as I'll look after it. What has struck me, is that ok, the QC may not be the best by ZTE, but at the end of the day, this is a £99 phone, which aside from the plastic screen, and frame, performs worlds ahead of my Hero, which was top dog when I bought it a year ago. Even against all of the other Android (and non-Android) handsets out there, the San Fran is streets ahead in terms of performance. ZTE had to cut costs somewhere, and I think they've got it spot on!