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Motorola’s Defy was to be the first “life-proofed” Android handset. Having taken a spin of it for ourself to test their claims and seeing countless crazy videos displaying the toughness of this thing, we believed them. But no one ever said anything about it breaking due to problems with engineering. Loads of users – after having extensively used the device for weeks since its launch – have experienced a horrible issue with their phones: the earpiece doesn’t work.
It makes the phone practically useless if you actually want to talk on it and not use headphones, a headset, or the speaker phone. Those familiar with the device say it’s because the headphone jack is so close to the earpiece. Repeated use of the jack may either contribute to a shortening of the component’s circuitry or it may be dislodging the entire thing from the circuit board altogether.
There’s no way to tell unless one of these brave souls open their devices, but we hear that’s about as hard to do as getting Motorola to release Android 2.1 for some of their more “uninspiring” devices. (Hehe.)
But they’re aware of the issue and are investigating it, thankfully. If you’ve fallen victim to these issues, I’m sure Motorola will have no problem fixing or replacing your device. And should they give you any crap, here’s a nice link to a support forum you can give them to prove it’s their issue and not a fault of your own. [via Android Police]
If my Defy ends up having this issue I’ll duct-tape it to a can of napalm and chuck it in their office window, see how life-proof it is then.
so it’s “life-proofed” but not “user-proofed” :)
I don’t think Verizon carries the Defy.
I would expect a full refund no questions asked if you take it to the store and demonstrate the problem. Cell phones should be phones first and foremost. This will damage what little image the Motorola brand still had left.
Defy is on T-Mobile not Verizon.
I don’t think the Defy is on Verizon…
anyone else see this article’s summary for every article on the front page?…
Either my PC has a virus or Phandroid is bugged, a lot of entries show this same story on the front page “Motorola’s Defy was to be the first “life-proofed”
All phones should be ‘life’ proofed. It’s ridiculous that your phone is ruined the second it drops and falls into a puddle (especially this time of year)
That was a mistake.
Moto should spend less time making useless Blur and concentrate on what they supposedly know best, making phones.
The countless development $ spent on blur could’ve been spent on making sure shit like this don’t happen.
Hey moto: u really think ur gonna out do google with their own os? Gimme a f’n break. How bout some updates u lazy swine.
Why is everything Moto produces for gsm complete garbage while all their cdma stuff is top notch? Really starting to dislike that company.
That’s really terrible.. I’m glad that I got my wife an Optimus T instead of the Defy. Even though the defy is built better and has better hardware specs.
I wonder why this issue is happening primarily to non-US users.
@mindo, your comments are right on the money. Blur is a pointless waste of time. Everyone I know (including me) with a MotoBlur phone just installs Launcher Pro. If they must meddle with things they don’t understand, they could license Sense from HTC and get something that is half decent.
speakerphone works great.
bluetooth headset works great.
from what i gather the problem is people putting 3 conductor jacks in the 4 conductor hole.
I had my Defy for about 3 months now and I have no problems with it! Im thinking people are using the wrong size jacks for the Defy! Its A 3.5mm size not a 4mm. I do gotta agree with the blur! its useless and its slows the phone up and I never used it anyways! the blur also eats the hell out if your battery! Motorola needs to get away from the blur and start making good phones!
definately not a jack problem – mine had the problem out of the box, sam e for a lot of other users – this is a motorola issue and they are dragging their feet sorting it out…
Okay I’ve got the same problem I use the head phones that came with the phone so I don’t know if it’s the audio jack or what but i do think it’s something to do with the circuit board. Who should call to have it replaced motarola or tmobile?
I own the defy and have had it several months. I have had no issues at all with it. LOVE my phone.