So the Doctor replies “then stop doing that”.
Why is this joke funny? Because we all recognize that the doctor isn’t really addressing the problem, and we’ve all shared in situations where we’ve felt an issue has been ignored or dismissed.
The Galaxy Note 5 suffers from a design flaw. If you insert the S-Pen into the stylus cavity the wrong way, it breaks the sensors in the phone which detect the S-Pen has been removed. In some cases, the Pen can become lodged in the slot, making removal extremely difficult.
Samsung’s official response to this issue?
We highly recommend our Galaxy Note5 users follow the instructions in the user guide to ensure there are no issues.
“Just don’t do that, and you’ll be fine.”
Samsung is my favorite Android manufacturer, but it would be hypocritical of me to accept their reply on this flaw. When the iPhone 4 had antenna problems, Apple’s reply was basically “you’re holding the phone wrong”. That reply was unacceptable then, as is Samsung’s reply to this issue today.
It perfectly showcases a major issue we have with mobile technology: How much effort is required to maintain the tool which is supposed to make our lives easier?
It’s on the user to make sure a phone doesn’t get bent (though it was manufactured to be as thin as possible). It’s on the user to make sure it doesn’t get scratched (though we’ve seen excellent examples of cheaper devices with more rugged build quality). It’s on the user to find power solutions (though we could easily include more battery). It’s on the user to sort out storage, the phone doesn’t get soaked, etc, etc.
We take it for granted now that quite a bit of brain power and behavior modification must be dedicated to supporting the device, effort which stands on top of the user simply trying to navigate their day.
Now Samsung’s “powerhouse” device comes with a fairly critical flaw to one of its core features. When going about your day, focusing on communication and the tasks you need to accomplish, before you re-insert your S-Pen, it’s on YOU to take a second and make sure you’re putting it back in correctly. Your punishment if you fail in this consideration even just once, or if you hand your phone off to a child for some entertainment?
A permanently damaged device.
I’m sure Samsung will honor warranty issues. They’ll likely fix the issue in a refresh of the phone. The fact that this flaw made it through testing and into production is upsetting.
Samsung’s reply to the problem however is galling.
Disassembled Note 5 pic courtesy of Android Police.
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