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
    2019-09-29T05:06:56+00:00

    I completely agree. I was hoping for a trade in program so I could get a Surface Pro 6. But this didn't happen, I got a refurbished unit with a 90 day warranty. As expected, it failed after the warranty expired. So I feel robbed. Particularly because my Surface Pro 1 is still working.

    So I opted out of the whole Surface ecosystem and got a Dell XPS. But my Surface is still laying there with my files on it. Pisses me off to no end.

    If anybody can get a class action lawsuit to actually prosper, I'm game.

    I got the same issue. I was offered a refurbished unit with a 90 day warranty in 2016 and the same flickering issue happened again one or two years after on the unit. It's a proof that the product is a failure. Yet now what we see is a "eligible replacement" within 3 year. And when I eventually found a friend who would travel back to U.S. and help me walk in and replace the refurbished product, MS staff said the 3 year would be counted from the day of my original purchase, not the day they offered me the refurbished one.

    I've never been so disappointed to a tech company like MS and my patience faded away. It seems that MS's strategy is to let time take care of everything and that we, the consumers, will forget. I used to think about getting rid of this product at any cost, but I know that wherever the product goes it will do harm to the health to the new user, and that will make me feel sick of myself. So what should I do? Keep being ripped off by MS. 

    Do I want a microsoft prodcut anymore? Never. 

    "If anybody can get a class action lawsuit to actually prosper, I'm game." Count me in.

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  2. Anonymous
    2019-09-26T16:17:27+00:00

    Same here. I am in support too. Microsoft should offer each one of us who have invested in Surface Pro 4 their latest Surface Pro offering. My device had ghosting and screen flickering issues from the day of my purchase. Even a refurbished replacement did not help.

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  3. Anonymous
    2019-09-26T14:46:51+00:00

    I completely agree. I was hoping for a trade in program so I could get a Surface Pro 6. But this didn't happen, I got a refurbished unit with a 90 day warranty. As expected, it failed after the warranty expired. So I feel robbed. Particularly because my Surface Pro 1 is still working.

    So I opted out of the whole Surface ecosystem and got a Dell XPS. But my Surface is still laying there with my files on it. Pisses me off to no end.

    If anybody can get a class action lawsuit to actually prosper, I'm game.

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  4. Anonymous
    2019-09-26T08:05:35+00:00

    It would be fair to see Microsoft issue a trade-in program specially for SP4. Is there anything we could do AS A COMMUNITY to make this happen? A petition? A lawsuit? Apparently our Flickergate forum is not making enough noise.

    I agree 100%. It's infuriating to see these comments ignored by Microsoft on their own website.

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