Surface Pro 4, Screen Flickering, Shaking

Anonymous
2017-01-19T07:47:47+00:00

Hi All,

Update: Flickergate is now having a forum to bring all affected users at a single platform to plan for resolvement of issue. Please join at

 https://forum.flickergate.com

UPDATE: Check FlickerGate.com for videos of the problem and to submit your own. 

I purchased SP4 device a few months ago and it was working fine for a month. Then I noticed that when the CPU is at its max, the screen flickers a bit. Investigating further revealed that it flickers even if it is setting idle. It does not flicker if at least one of the following thing is done:

  1. A video being played in browser 
  2. If I keep the touch screen busy by either taping it or keeping a finger on it
  3. If I use the touchpad
  4. If keyboard is used for typing

This resulted in making the device completely unusable while reading articles or ebooks. I am a developer, most of the time I have to read the code and to do that, I have to constantly keep a finger on the touch pad or the screen. I contacted surface support in October and November and was told that the developers are working on the patch. Looking at the updates the developers are pushing since then, I don't think anyone is even aware of the problem there. 

My previous support ticket numbers are:

 ***deleted personally identifiable information***

***deleted personally identifiable information***

Just wondering if anyone else had the same problem (and the fix) and if not, what's the procedure for the refund? I will rather go for a mac then sacrificing $2000+ for a dancing screen.  

Kind Regards,

Abbas

***Personal information deleted by the moderator. Please see the Microsoft Community Frequently Asked Questions for more information on how you can protect your privacy.***

Surface | Surface Pro | Display and screen

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Anonymous
2018-05-11T17:59:00+00:00

Hey Everyone,

Creating the best products and experiences for our customers is our top priority.

We have heard your feedback and after careful examination, have determined that a small percentage of Surface Pro 4 devices are exhibiting a screen flicker that cannot be addressed with a firmware or driver update.

To support customers affected by this issue, we will replace eligible Surface Pro 4 devices for up to three years from the date of purchase, free of charge. If you believe your device is experiencing this issue, please visit our Surface Pro 4 screen flicker article for more details.

Bryan [MSFT]

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  1. Anonymous
    2017-04-17T02:46:26+00:00

    my device had been issued for 3 months and it is out of warranty replacement, first time I ready want to replace new device, but I see a lot of people have same like that, I decided to use it and don't care about issue after some time (2 month) the issue is decreasing and disappear.

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  2. Anonymous
    2017-04-16T01:31:00+00:00

    Hi Rizza,

    Here's a Dropbox link to the video as requested - https://www.dropbox.com/s/bcylro5j0pcx4vq/IMG_2188.mp4?dl=0

    Regards,

    Peter

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  3. Anonymous
    2017-04-15T18:44:37+00:00

    WHSim, do you use twitter?

    I suggest you mention that "People should avoid buying a @Surface until @Microsoft addresses the screen shaking issue https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/surface/forum/surfpro4-surfdrivers/surface-pro-4-screen-flickering-shacking/570165cb-50a0-4d71-bcb1-310ddd869d1d"

    Make the issue public and raise awareness, hopefully generate some press about it.  Then post a link to it here for people to retweet it.

    I've considered doing it myself but believe I won't get much buy in since I haven't yet submitted my own surface under warranty yet.  Your situation of having done so and then still ended up with a second lemon warrants public attention. You illustrate my exact fear and that of many on this forum that we get a replacement and then have the same issue reappear after its out of warranty (let alone the cost of shipping for those of us who aren't in the US at present).

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  4. Anonymous
    2017-04-15T15:58:03+00:00

    Hey AbbasHaroon,

    I apologize as I know this isn't the response anyone wanted to hear regarding replacement, but I don't want other international customers to go through the trouble with such low certainty of it being a solution. I find it extremely disrespectful that Microsoft is seemingly doing nothing but encouraging customers to replace the faulty devices, when they're most likely aware that the issue will recur with the replacement.

    We can just hope that they're working behind the scenes to solve this. The fact that the number of reports has gotten so large and they have yet to offer and official acknowledge or proper response irritates me to no end.

    As I stated in my prev reply I'm going to try contacting Microsoft over the phone. If they cannot acknowledge the issue and promise a fix, I'll be requesting a refund. I absolutely won't accept any suggestion of doing another replacement.

    Also I strongly agree with your suggestion to file a complaint to the CRO, or to start a petition to voice our frustration on the issue. I do not have the experience or time to do so myself, but I will definitely support any such efforts if anyone else decides to.

    Regards.

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