HTC One X catastrophic battery discharge fault
A few weeks ago I wrote about my HTC One X mobile smartphone, which I thought and still do think is a fantastic phone, if it worked. Unfortunately mine is dead.
A couple of weeks ago an Android update exposed the HTC handset to a software error. The latest Android update when applied to the HTC One X (after apparently being fully tested and approved and sent out over the air by HTC) has an incompatibility with the latest version of Google Maps and causes the battery to totally drain leaving the phone burning hot and useless.
Inconveniently this happened to me whilst driving through the centre of Paris. Totally lost with no Sat Nav and stupidly no map for back up, my five words of French left me lost, frustrated and totally disillusioned with HTC. Zut alors!
I spent about an hour and a half on the phone to HTC in the US trying to resurrect the handset without success. As soon as I mentioned I was using Google Maps when the phone died they knew what had caused the problem.
The phone has now been sent off for repair, but this just shouldn’t happen. The phone is only three months old and it would be reasonable to expect software updates to be fully tested before being rolled out. It’s also worth noting that the HTC One X has an integrated battery which can’t be replaced except in the factory.
I’m now faced with anything up to 14 days without my smartphone whilst repairs are attempted or it’s eventually replaced (or rather I’ve switched back to my previous phone, I always keep my old mobile as a back up).
Why don’t HTC check the software and hardware running on the HTC One X thoroughly enough that Google Maps (which is preloaded by default) works with their software without breaking the phone?
Mobile phones are now so much more than just a “phone”, they’re mini-computers and should be treated as such. Unfortunately it appears that HTC have attempted to squeeze so much into their flagship top-of-the-range HTC One X that it’s just too complex and that’s causing problems.
If you’re like me and totally reliant on your smartphone for business, then make sure you have a backup and keep your old mobile up to date and ready to go… you never know when you’ll need it.
sam says
4:06 pm on 31/08/2012
no problems my one x works just fine
Anurag says
4:35 pm on 31/08/2012
typical HTC stuff!! sell a phone and then forget about it!! all future R&D reserved for the next model in the line-up … which will obviously have so many phones released at such short intervals that a new phone today is near-obsolete in 6 months and totally unsupported in 9 months!! on top of that, their customer support totally sucks – all they know is to give false promises and not bother to fulfill them later, inappropriate delays in repair & replacement.
no wonder it going down down down ….
Toby says
5:41 pm on 31/08/2012
Your lucky it didn’t cause a fire, as the Lithium Batteries are lethal when exposed to heat – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jX51jVVPCSA
Gerry007 says
9:29 pm on August 31st, 2012
.
Yea, but who sets a blow torch on their phone….!!
Jimbo says
6:51 pm on 31/08/2012
I have a one X and it certainly gets hot!
Mine has turned itself off a couple of times due to overheating while being used as a satnav.
Chris Dawson says
7:26 pm on August 31st, 2012
My advice…. don’t update to the latest version of software and update Google maps!
Otherwise apart from overheating it’s a great phone
Jimbo says
7:37 pm on August 31st, 2012
I’ve already updated but use a paid for maps app (sygic). I love the phone.
Joy says
9:11 pm on 31/08/2012
I have the same problem with overheating after the update was installed. Don’t know if AT&T will exchange my phone, I had this phone for only 3 months and I am having problems with it. Not happy about it!!
Chris Dawson says
9:29 am on September 1st, 2012
Worth pointing out that the US version has significant differences to the UK version including a different processor. You’d need to check who your warranty is with (AT&T or HTC) and then ask for repair/replace.
Paul says
1:00 am on 01/09/2012
Thanks for this report. I was about to get the HTC One X. Not now. I’ll be getting a Samsung instead.
Chris Dawson says
9:22 am on September 1st, 2012
I’m kind of tempted by the Galaxy SIII which is only just out, although I think they’ve concentrated on the wrong things. I’m never going to watch a video and “minimise” it just to have it in the way on top of the email I’m trying to write just so I don’t interrupt the film.
Cute, but pointlesss… however time to give the Galaxy a try me thinks.
Paul says
10:07 am on September 1st, 2012
I was thinking more along the lines of a Galaxy SII. I think the SIII is too big.
Chris Dawson says
10:54 am on September 1st, 2012
Cheaper too, but the SIII will I reckon just about fit in a pocket
ebuyerfb says
2:36 am on September 2nd, 2012
I have an S2. Good phone. Just make sure you get ICS installed on it otherwise as the last version available of Gingerbread would drain a full battery in under 13 hours of standby.
Jimbo says
12:31 pm on 01/09/2012
In my opinion the build quality + user interface of Samsung phones is not even near that of HTC.
Clarky says
6:54 pm on 01/09/2012
I have had no end of problems with the One V, the first was D.O.A. The 2nd lasted 3 days and now the 3rd’s battery lasts 12hrs if I am lucky. Just picked up a Sensation XE for £180 which is so much better. Seems HTC have dropped the ball all round with the One series…
trish says
8:35 am on 09/09/2012
Recently bought the HTC one x … Love the phone but had the same problem and once I’d installed the new update I began to struggle to charge the battery. Eventually it stopped charging altogether rendering the phone pretty useless. Thankfully, having only had the phone for two weeks I was able to get an exchange. I haven’t installed the new update this time and so far haven’t had any problems with charging (although the google maps app seems to launch all by itself even after forcing close). Happy with the phone though. Will stick with HTC for now
Chris Dawson says
8:42 am on September 9th, 2012
Well I went to pick up my “repaired” unit to find someone else’s second hand cast off refurb unit with the bottom half of the screen flashing purple!
I’m getting very very tee’d off with the whole thing and wish I’d never bought an HTC One X now