The foldable phones have revolutionized the tech smartphone industry with their unique features and a futuristic appeal.
However, their introduction also brings issues and challenges for repair technicians. For example, they can have annoying crease appearance, complex hinge mechanisms, and software glitches, and there is always concern about their durability.
This article is all about the common issues with foldable phones and mechanisms for how to fix them featuring OPPO Find N5 as an example.
Common Issues with Foldable Smartphones and How to Fix Them Easily
Despite their innovative design and build, impressive capabilities, and versatility, foldable phones also come with some common issues. Below are some of the that users face:
Screen Durability Concerns
The foldable phones have flexible OLED displays with complex hinge mechanisms that are more delicate than traditional scree. That’s why they are prone to scratches and damage from impacts, excessive bending, and even prolonged use. Some foldable phones lack resistance to dust and water which also raises durability concerns about them.
How to Fix Durability Concerns?
Fixing a foldable phone’s screen’s durability issues can be complicated due to its flexible nature and the presence of crease in it. Replacement of the damaged screen can be a reliable solution. However, it often requires excellent expertise and specialized equipment. Only authorized centers to can handle such repairs.
OPPO took the durability issue seriously and introduced the Find N5 with an OLED LTPO/COE durable screen made with the latest materials. Its hinge FPC sealing, battery cover sealing, and aviation-grade aluminum alloy yield strength and make the phone durable.
Moreover, the device features the IPX6, IPX8, and IPX9 ratings, making it highly resistant to water and dust. Similarly, the wear and corrosion-resistant film on its surface prevents this phone from overheating, thus further improving its durability.
Hinge Mechanism Issues
The hinge is an important component of foldable smartphones that lets these phones open and close smoothly. However, this can be a potential weak point as it can wear out or become misaligned over time.
Users can encounter problems such as stiffness or failure to lock into place that can hinder the functionality of the device and may require professional assistance.
How to Fix Hinge Mechanism Issues?
Fixing hinge mechanism problems involves disassembling the device carefully to access internal components. Technicians can fix the misalignment and stiffness issues with appropriate adjustments or part replacements.
The foldable phone fixed hinge mechanism issues by incorporating a Titanium alloy flexion hinge. The part features first-generation super-strong steel to support load-bearing parts and prevent them from bending. The Torsion part is made of WR-1 material that increases its strength and resistance by many times. In addition, its inclined panel increases modulus for better support.
Software Glitches
Though foldable phones feature unique software, some of the apps may not be optimized for these new form factors. This leads to software compatibility issues and reduces the phone’s performance.
With software glitches, users may face issues with multitasking, screen transitions, and app scaling, thus leading inconvenient user experience.
How to Fix Software Glitch Problems?
Regular updates and patches from the device manufacturers can resolve software-related issues, including app compatibility or reduced performance.
For example, the OPPO Find N5 Flip introduced split-view screen functionality in its latest version that ensures app continuity and supports multitasking. Its Boundless view allows users to keep at least 3 apps running in parallel and move around the screen seamlessly.
Annoying Crease
All foldable smartphones show a crease on the screen over time that looks annoying when it appears in the middle of the screen where the phone folds. The crease is often less visible when the phone is on, but can be irritating for users.
As the main screen of the foldable is covered in a soft, plastic protective layer, the crease can become more pronounced with time. This potentially affects the visual appeal and usability of your device.
How to Get Rid of Annoying Crease Issue?
Although it is difficult to completely get rid of creases, but you can diminish their appearance by using a screen protector and preventing your phone from overheating.
The recently launched OPPO Find N5 tackled this issue by enhancing screen rigidity. The company changed the hinge deco material of this model from aluminum alloy to 3D-printed titanium alloy. Similarly, the middle board’s material was upgraded from amorphous to stainless steel to improve hinge rigidity and prevent creases from forming.
Internal Components Repair Issues and Limited Battery Life
In foldable smartphones, the internal components like batteries, circuit boards, and connectors are divided between different segments of the device. If, unfortunately, a fault occurs in them, it becomes difficult to repair them due to the complex foldable design.
In addition, the complex design of foldable smartphones also affects battery life as it has to support a larger display and folding mechanism.
How to Fix Battery Issues and Other Internal Components Repairing Issues?
Replacing the faulty components such as batteries, circuit boards, and others can be the best solution to fix this issue. However, replacing the battery or any other part requires expertise for careful disassembly to reduce the damage to the least.
The OPPO Find N5 tried to overcome this issue introducing a 5600mAh long-lasting silicon-carbon battery. The increased silicon content in the battery improves its energy density and life. That’s why, it can last almost up to 18 hours when folded and up to 14 hours while supporting a large display.
Conclusion
Though foldable smartphones have unique designs, large displays, and innovative features, but they come with some common issues that need to be solved.
Their common issues include durability concerns, hinge mechanism defaults, software glitches, annoying creases, and others. The parent companies have tried their best to solve these issues in their latet models.
One such example is OPPO Find N5 that has fixed the durability, hinge mechanism issues, creases, and software glitches by using advanced materials.