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
    2017-07-27T03:47:49+00:00

    Yes, that seems to happen to everyone that is replying this thread, including myself. If there is someone has a powerful status quo to boycott and get petitions, we might have a chance of getting the device replaced. I hate to say this but the thing is this issue is considered "nothing" to MS support than the light bleed issue happening to Surface 2017.

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  2. Anonymous
    2017-07-27T13:24:28+00:00

    I don't think it's considered nothing to MS support. This thread seems to be the most active unanswered topic in the Surface 4 subforum.  I'm sure they are fully aware of this which makes the lack of clear communication really annoying. But I guess it makes sense since it seems to point towards a hardware problem which might legally bind them to replace the flickering devices if they admit to it? Yeah might be there is too few of us who have this problem (including the light bleeding) for it to be really worrying for them as a company. Seems they are treating the problem of the light bleeding the same way.

    Anyway I applied for a bring-in warranty (not directly at MS) since replacement is the only solution and that way I don't have to send it in before I get the new one. I'll definitely keep looking how this scenario develops considering that people have made the same experience with the replaced devices again. It could be that I won't have warranty that time.

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  3. Anonymous
    2017-07-27T15:37:42+00:00

    Good luck mate. Hope you can actually refund it at full price than having it replaced. You sure know right you get a refurbished device that might get you the same issue.

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  4. Anonymous
    2017-07-27T16:37:09+00:00

    I have just sent my device to Microsoft for replacement, when I get the new device, I don't know how I am going to be using it, which is a shame.

    My device only has a week left of warranty, I was waiting for a solution before sending it it.

    I can see two options, using it fully, playing games and watching videos, to see if the flickering is triggered before the new extended warranty (is it 90 days?) expires, so I can send it back again, and hopefully escalate it so I can get a better replacement...

    The second option would be barely using it, only for simple tasks, hoping to avoid triggering the hardware issue.

    What do you guys think?

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