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LG G4 malfunctions: Difference between revisions

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Cleaned up language a bit. Still needs quite a bit of work and a lot of citations. I am having difficulty finding citations for some claims, so since I know little about this topic, I am skeptical if all the claims are true.
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Grammar edits to improve tone.
 
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{{IncidentCargo
|Company=LG
|StartDate=2015
|EndDate=
|Status=
|ProductLine=
|Product=G4
|ArticleType=Product
|Type=Poor Quality
|Description=
}}
The '''LG G4''' [[Android]] smartphone, developed by [[LG]] Electronics as part of the {{Wplink|LG G series}}, was released in April 2015.


The LG G4 phone was discovered to have defects, which caused it to become unstable or inoperable. Despite the widespread problems in the phone, LG did not issue a recall when millions of customers were affected.{{Citation needed}}
Shortly after its release, issues were found that made the device unstable or inoperable, resulting in {{Wplink|data loss}}. LG released a series of forced updates, which were automatically installed without the user's consent.<ref>{{Cite web |first=Nicole |last=Arce |title=AT&T LG G4 Users Complain Of Automatic Update: What's Happening? |url=https://www.techtimes.com/articles/59241/20150610/at-t-lg-g4-users-complain-of-automatic-update-whats-happening.htm |website=Tech Times |date=10 Jun 2015 |access-date=11 Jul 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150612201958/https://www.techtimes.com/articles/59241/20150610/at-t-lg-g4-users-complain-of-automatic-update-whats-happening.htm |archive-date=12 Jun 2015}}</ref>


This issue in the phone was caused by heat which would detach the soldering, with the most common result being a bootloop issue where the device would be stuck in a cycle of booting but never post.[https://www.trustedreviews.com/opinion/lg-g4-bootloop-problem-how-to-diagnose-and-fix-2946272] This would result in all user data being lost, and the device being unusable.{{Citation needed}}  
==Issues==
===Touchscreen===
In 2015, it was identified that the G4 was experiencing touchscreen issues, leading to the device becoming unresponsive or restarting.<ref>{{Cite web |first=Ketan |last=Pratap |title=Some LG G4 Users Reporting Touchscreen Issues; LG Says It's Investigating |url=https://www.gadgets360.com/mobiles/news/some-lg-g4-users-reporting-touchscreen-issues-lg-says-its-investigating-704572 |website=Gadgets 360 |date=17 Jun 2015 |access-date=11 Jul 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001181541/https://www.gadgets360.com/mobiles/news/some-lg-g4-users-reporting-touchscreen-issues-lg-says-its-investigating-704572 |archive-date=1 Oct 2022}}</ref> LG released several patches to address the issue, though some had to be pulled due to causing more problems for the device. By November 2015, LG released a series of software updates to address the issue.<ref>{{Cite web |first=Anu |last=Passary |title=LG Outs Fix For LG G4 Touchscreen Issues |url=https://www.techtimes.com/articles/62417/20150622/lg-outs-fix-for-lg-g4-touchscreen-issues.htm |website=Tech Times |date=6 Jun 2015
|access-date=11 Jul 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150623144513/https://www.techtimes.com/articles/62417/20150622/lg-outs-fix-for-lg-g4-touchscreen-issues.htm
|archive-date=23 Jun 2015}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |first=Cory |last=Gunther |title=LG G4 Touchscreen Problems Fixed in New Update |url=https://www.gottabemobile.com/lg-g4-touchscreen-problems-fixed-in-new-update/ |website=Gotta Be Mobile |date=25 Nov 2015 |access-date=11 Jul 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305201051/https://www.gottabemobile.com/lg-g4-touchscreen-problems-fixed-in-new-update/ |archive-date=5 Mar 2017}}</ref>


Other problems included touchscreen issues, where the screen would stop responding permanently (or until restart for some users), charging port death, speaker function damage, and double tap features no longer functioning, which was an early precursor to the touchscreen issues.  When abnormally high failure rates were reported in the first few months,{{Citation needed}} LG hid the issue and refused warranties. When public outcry became too much of a wave for them to deny, they told outlets it was a very small subset they would look into, all the while having confirmed many months before that it was a universal issue.
===Boot looping===
From around September 2015, users reported an issue with the device where it would continuously cycle between booting and restarting, rendering it inoperable (known as a "{{Wplink|Booting#Bootloop|boot loop}}").<ref>{{Cite web |first=Andrew |last=Williams |title=LG G4 Bootloop Problem: Global Software Upgrade Centre the final fix? |url=https://www.trustedreviews.com/opinion/lg-g4-bootloop-problem-how-to-diagnose-and-fix-2946272 |website=Trusted Reviews |date=12 Apr 2018 |access-date=11 Jul 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180604022107/https://www.trustedreviews.com:80/opinion/lg-g4-bootloop-problem-how-to-diagnose-and-fix-2946272 |archive-date=4 Jun 2018}}</ref> Initially appearing to affect only a small number of devices, the issue quickly spread, and by the end of 2015, it was apparent that it could afflict almost any model.


The issue was exasperated by the device's Snapdragon 808 processor, which famously had overheating issues (along with the 810), but it was LG's devices (including the G Flex) that suffered these desoldering issues en masse.  
Users either complained that the devices were not receiving appropriate repairs or called on LG to acknowledge a major fault with the devices. In some cases, users launched online petitions calling on LG to address their concerns.<ref>{{Cite web |first=Santiago |last=Archila |title=Launch a replacement program for defective LG G4s |url=https://www.change.org/p/lg-mobile-launch-a-replacement-program-for-defective-lg-g4s |website=change.org |date=2016 |access-date=11 Jul 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161016135326/https://www.change.org/p/lg-mobile-launch-a-replacement-program-for-defective-lg-g4s |archive-date=16 Oct 2016}}</ref>


LG did not recall the devices, as the G4 was its best-selling phone to date. LG instead continued to marketing the device (the G4 was marketed for over two years at bus stations in Canada, well after the release of the G5).{{Citation needed}} The company later launched a replacement scheme with US carriers,{{Citation needed}} which did not address the phone's systemic problem of breaking down and losing all user data.
In January 2016, LG acknowledged the hardware issue causing the boot loop and announced that they would repair or replace affected devices.<ref>{{Cite web |first=Kris |last=Carlon |title=LG admits G4 bootloop problem is a hardware fault, will repair affected devices |url=https://www.androidauthority.com/lg-admits-g4-bootloop-problem-hardware-fault-669603/ |website=Android Authority |date=26 Jan 2016 |access-date=11 Jul 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160127084809/https://www.androidauthority.com/lg-admits-g4-bootloop-problem-hardware-fault-669603/ |archive-date=27 Jan 2016}}</ref> LG did not offer assistance with data recovery from affected devices.


Users who had their phone replaced reported it dying a second or third time because the heating issue was never fixed.  All data is lost upon bootlooping and LG still continued selling it for over a year after finding out.{{Citation needed}}
It was identified that the fault was caused by detached solder joints between components, resulting in the loss of user data and complete interoperability issues with the affected devices.
<!-- this section is a bit repetitive, might want to consider rewriting or removing it -->


===Other issues===
Other problems included:


*Charging port death{{Citation needed}}
*Speaker function damage{{Citation needed}}
*Touchscreen not turning on with tap-to-wake, random LED-blinking notifications despite no new messages, and keyboard glitches, among other issues.<ref name=":0" />


The phone received Android 5.0 roughly two months after release, and was expected to get two major updates. This was even confirmed through a LG spokesperson in South Korea (twice) that the device would be receiving Android 6.0 Marshmallow,{{Citation needed}} but the update was never globally released, despite LG's promise for months that the phone would receive updates. At the time Android updates were not yet segmented (link to video on this topic), so updates took much longer to develop, and the decision to do so would have been made well in advance. The device was still being advertised for over 6 months after Android 6.0 was slated for release. The update was eventually released, but only in South Korea.  
==Class-action lawsuit==
LG settled one class-action lawsuit in the USA related to boot-loop issues, offering affected device owners either $425 in cash or $700 in store credit toward an alternative LG device.<ref>{{Cite web |first=Chaim |last=Gartenberg |title=LG settles bootloop lawsuit with $425 in cash or a $700 rebate toward a new LG phone
|url=https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2018/1/31/16957332/lg-bootloop-lawsuit-settlement-g4-v10-v20-nexus-5x-g5 |website=The Verge |date=31 Jan 2018 |access-date=11 Jul 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180201022442/https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2018/1/31/16957332/lg-bootloop-lawsuit-settlement-g4-v10-v20-nexus-5x-g5 |archive-date=1 Feb 2018}}</ref> 


LG only ended up settling one class-action lawsuit on the issue exclusively in the USA.{{Citation needed}} They avoided a recall that executives knew would be needed months after release (source on LG knowing the bootloop issue existed 3 months after release).
==References==
LG left the phone market in 2021.<ref>
{{Reflist}}
{{cite web
 
|url=https://www.lg.com/global/newsroom/news/corporate/lg-to-close-mobile-phone-business-worldwide/
{{DEFAULTSORT:LG G4}}
|title=LG to Close Mobile Phone Business Worldwide
[[Category:LG]]
|date=2021-04-05
[[Category:LG G4 phone]]
|access-date=2025-01-18
|website=www.lg.com
|publisher=LG Electronics Inc.
|archive-date=2025-01-18 21:03:36 (utc-5)
|archive-url=https://archive.ph/xK5is
|url-status=live
}}</ref>

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The LG G4 Android smartphone, developed by LG Electronics as part of the LG G series, was released in April 2015.

Shortly after its release, issues were found that made the device unstable or inoperable, resulting in data loss. LG released a series of forced updates, which were automatically installed without the user's consent.[1]

Issues

[edit | edit source]

Touchscreen

[edit | edit source]

In 2015, it was identified that the G4 was experiencing touchscreen issues, leading to the device becoming unresponsive or restarting.[2] LG released several patches to address the issue, though some had to be pulled due to causing more problems for the device. By November 2015, LG released a series of software updates to address the issue.[3][4]

Boot looping

[edit | edit source]

From around September 2015, users reported an issue with the device where it would continuously cycle between booting and restarting, rendering it inoperable (known as a "boot loop").[5] Initially appearing to affect only a small number of devices, the issue quickly spread, and by the end of 2015, it was apparent that it could afflict almost any model.

Users either complained that the devices were not receiving appropriate repairs or called on LG to acknowledge a major fault with the devices. In some cases, users launched online petitions calling on LG to address their concerns.[6]

In January 2016, LG acknowledged the hardware issue causing the boot loop and announced that they would repair or replace affected devices.[7] LG did not offer assistance with data recovery from affected devices.

It was identified that the fault was caused by detached solder joints between components, resulting in the loss of user data and complete interoperability issues with the affected devices.

Other issues

[edit | edit source]

Other problems included:

  • Charging port death[citation needed]
  • Speaker function damage[citation needed]
  • Touchscreen not turning on with tap-to-wake, random LED-blinking notifications despite no new messages, and keyboard glitches, among other issues.[4]

Class-action lawsuit

[edit | edit source]

LG settled one class-action lawsuit in the USA related to boot-loop issues, offering affected device owners either $425 in cash or $700 in store credit toward an alternative LG device.[8]

References

[edit | edit source]
  1. Arce, Nicole (10 Jun 2015). "AT&T LG G4 Users Complain Of Automatic Update: What's Happening?". Tech Times. Archived from the original on 12 Jun 2015. Retrieved 11 Jul 2025.
  2. Pratap, Ketan (17 Jun 2015). "Some LG G4 Users Reporting Touchscreen Issues; LG Says It's Investigating". Gadgets 360. Archived from the original on 1 Oct 2022. Retrieved 11 Jul 2025.
  3. Passary, Anu (6 Jun 2015). "LG Outs Fix For LG G4 Touchscreen Issues". Tech Times. Archived from the original on 23 Jun 2015. Retrieved 11 Jul 2025.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Gunther, Cory (25 Nov 2015). "LG G4 Touchscreen Problems Fixed in New Update". Gotta Be Mobile. Archived from the original on 5 Mar 2017. Retrieved 11 Jul 2025.
  5. Williams, Andrew (12 Apr 2018). "LG G4 Bootloop Problem: Global Software Upgrade Centre the final fix?". Trusted Reviews. Archived from the original on 4 Jun 2018. Retrieved 11 Jul 2025.
  6. Archila, Santiago (2016). "Launch a replacement program for defective LG G4s". change.org. Archived from the original on 16 Oct 2016. Retrieved 11 Jul 2025.
  7. Carlon, Kris (26 Jan 2016). "LG admits G4 bootloop problem is a hardware fault, will repair affected devices". Android Authority. Archived from the original on 27 Jan 2016. Retrieved 11 Jul 2025.
  8. Gartenberg, Chaim (31 Jan 2018). "LG settles bootloop lawsuit with $425 in cash or a $700 rebate toward a new LG phone". The Verge. Archived from the original on 1 Feb 2018. Retrieved 11 Jul 2025.