So I dropped my phone 6 inches, and now the front camera wont work. In the camera app, the option is grayed out.

I wonder if the camera is just unplugged??

Is there a way to open the case up and check the connection ??

Does anyone have a teardown video ??

Thank you !!

mbrobich1966 wrote:

So I dropped my phone 6 inches, and now the front camera wont work. In the camera app, the option is grayed out.

I wonder if the camera is just unplugged??

Is there a way to open the case up and check the connection ??

Does anyone have a teardown video ??

Thank you !!

The fall could have 'popped' camera off its mainboard connection. Here is what phone looks like inside:

Neville is right, as always.
mbrobich1966, if you are not handy i suggest you to make someone else open the device to fix the problem (as phone repair centers).
Consider also that opening the device may void your seller's warranty.

blackview_admin wrote:

Consider also that opening the device may void your seller's warranty.

Just for information, is that kind of things taken under warranty ? Yes the phone fell (and usually it voids the warranty), but the phone is rugged, so I don't know

Aeron wrote:

blackview_admin wrote:

Consider also that opening the device may void your seller's warranty.

Just for information, is that kind of things taken under warranty ? Yes the phone fell (and usually it voids the warranty), but the phone is rugged, so I don't know

Being rugged doesn't mean that sellers will repair or take under warranty physical damages (wich also include users making devices fall from the 5th floor ). Nobody will do that, included Caterpillar with their rugged devices. So the answer is no.

blackview_admin wrote:

Aeron wrote:

blackview_admin wrote:

Consider also that opening the device may void your seller's warranty.

Just for information, is that kind of things taken under warranty ? Yes the phone fell (and usually it voids the warranty), but the phone is rugged, so I don't know

Being rugged doesn't mean that sellers will repair or take under warranty physical damages (wich also include users making devices fall from the 5th floor ). Nobody will do that, included Caterpillar with their rugged devices. So the answer is no.

Sellers don't cover accidental damage and water because the events of each incident are unique and are not controllable situations. A rugged phone is more likely to survive something that will kill an ordinary phone, but not always. The electronic circuits are made of the same stuff that goes into all smartphones, and the glass screens are still glass at the end of the day.

A fall can jolt parts inside or even affect the waterproofing. A fall can cause stress micro fractures that you can't see, but which appear the next time your phone drops.

Your phone is still subject to the laws of gravity and physics.

Still while it is true that opening your phone may void the warranty (there is a BV sticker on one of the screws), many resellers also decline warranties if any attempt is made to flash the OS. The reason for that is that resellers put a device through quality control at the time of sale and it works, then customer decides to flash or update the OS six weeks later and introduces a new bug and suddenly the camera doesn't work. Is that reseller's fault? So if their inventory sale record says IMEI number has a FW version X, and you return it for repair with version Y, you are stuffed.

Gearbest states:
The customer voids the warranty if they:
- Flash the firmware of a device or root a device
- Open the body in an attempt to fix the device
- Modify, remove, customize, or swap parts of the product
- Use the device in a way that it is not originally intended for
- Continue to use the item once a fault occurs and causes more damage

Getting a device repaired or replaced under warranty is extremely hard and expensive. But that's why this forum is so important. All these problems can be solved by crowdsourcing the troubleshooting and working with a cooperative Blackview tech team.. I would much rather find out here how to fix the fault, than waste time and money arguing with a reseller who only made a $50 margin on the phone and who won't give you a $300 refund as a result.

Treat the warranty as a fairytale. Fixing it yourself or through a repair store is a more reliable option.

Neville wrote:

Still while it is true that opening your phone may void the warranty (there is a BV sticker on one of the screws), many resellers also decline warranties if any attempt is made to flash the OS. The reason for that is that resellers put a device through quality control at the time of sale and it works, then customer decides to flash or update the OS six weeks later and introduces a new bug and suddenly the camera doesn't work. Is that reseller's fault? So if their inventory sale record says IMEI number has a FW version X, and you return it for repair with version Y, you are stuffed.

Gearbest states:
The customer voids the warranty if they:
- Flash the firmware of a device or root a device

Regarding the firmware thing, there was recently a ruling in Europe stating that software modifications are not voiding warranty unless the manufacturer can prove the new piece of software was overstressing the hardware. This was made to prevent manufacturers to force update their product (much like a certain strategy to update "older" Windows towards W10) and then claim the user voided the warranty by updating it, while still protecting (in a way) the manufacturer. This way, if you overclock your CPU and fry it, no warranty (seems normal to me) but if you do an update or install a custom ROM, you're fine. In a way, this is what is currently done on computers: you can uninstall the Windows generally provided with most computers and install a Unix system without loosing your warranty (seems normal to me too). Bottom line, if you damage your Samsung phone after flashing a LineageOS, you're a hundred percent fine regarding warranty.

As for the "droped phone, no warranty", although I agree it should be the case, I'm just wondering: if you sell a phone as rugged and a cable pops out in the inside when you drop it from a desk, is it really rugged ? I agree for such phones it is hard to really know the condition of the accident (and where to put the line), but in a way I don't think you should loose your warranty. Not talking about a 5 stories drop, but a ~1m drop from a desk or pocked is (or should be) "normal use" for such a phone. From the torture tests BlackView are presenting on their Youtube channel, you are certainly led to expect their tortured phone to whithstand a 1m pocket drop, let alone a 6 inches one.

Neville wrote:

Getting a device repaired or replaced under warranty is extremely hard and expensive. But that's why this forum is so important. All these problems can be solved by crowdsourcing the troubleshooting and working with a cooperative Blackview tech team.. I would much rather find out here how to fix the fault, than waste time and money arguing with a reseller who only made a $50 margin on the phone and who won't give you a $300 refund as a result.

Treat the warranty as a fairytale. Fixing it yourself or through a repair store is a more reliable option.

I know that and often do as you say. I'm just saying sometimes, you better know what your options are regarding warranty. I don't blame anyone, but in the precise case of the creator of this thread, I think warranty should work. At the moment he decides to open it to repop the cable in place, he loses his warranty anyway, and risks making more damage.

I'll give it a try. I had a computer shop for many years and I've repaired laptops and cell phones for many years !! I only asked about a photo or teardown video as TOO much information is never a bad thing !!

Thanx all.

I will let you know what the results are.

BTW: I still love this phone !!!!!!!

Re opening in defiance of warranty. Blackview have put their sticker on one of the motherboard screws, so you don't trigger their tampering threshold until you are unscrewing the motherboard. Opening it up to check on connections or replace charging board will be undetectable, unless you damage something during the process.

A good teardown video, in Russian, is here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gqXcHqiPQA

Well 2 nights ago I noticed my phone wasnt charging. I set it by my bed and charge overnight as having 2 SIM cards in during the day really kills the battery.

Tonight I decided to open it up to check the camera connection and the charging board connections. Took everything out including the motherboard. Pretty easy. I did not find a BV seal or sticker on the motherboard screw ??

Any way, reconnected everything back up and nothing.

Phone works, but no front camera and NO charging.

Where can I find a charging board to purchase ??

P.S. the phone does not charge when the phone is turned off either.
P.P.S. the phone still does not charge even after doing a Factory Reset.

Thanx. Marc