Unhappy Lumia 950 Camper

[CraigCole]

Hey guys,

I've got an AT&T 950 that I picked up about six weeks ago. Accordingly, I'm well beyond the 14-day return policy but I want to get rid of this piece of junk, which is easily the worst phone I've ever owned. I may have posted about this in another forum but I can't remember.

Here are some of the issues I've been facing:

• Locks up at least twice a day
• Watching YouTube videos in Edge often causes the phone to restart
• It occasionally restarts and/or locks up during phone calls, which is SUPER convenient
• Battery life is disappointing at best
• Bluetooth connectivity is iffy in different vehicles
• Speakerphone hasn't worked on several occasions, necessitating calling the person back
• With Windows Hello enabled the phone is always warm, though it randomly got hot to the touch last night for no reason (Hello was and still is turned off)
• The camera *literally* takes one minute to finish "adding the finishing touches" to photos (I timed it)
• It locked up today while I was using the flashlight ...

What should I do, take it to a Microsoft store to see if they'll exchange it? I've tried going to AT&T in the past and they're absolutely awful -- dismissive and basically unwilling to help.

Should I perform a reset? If so, how do I do that and will it make any difference?

Have any other AT&T victims ... I mean, customers received the latest firmware update, .36 IIRC? Is there a way to force this update?

I don't need 18 million apps or games. All I want is a good browser, a nice e-mail client and a decent maps application. I want a handset that's reliable, fast, smooth and simple, things that Windows Phone always used to stand for. I've owned these devices exclusively since I got my first smartphone about five years ago, the Samsung Focus if any of you remember. During that time I've been quite happy with the platform, but Windows 10 Mobile has undone all of that.

My buddy's owned every other iPhone (all on AT&T) since the original came out in 2007. He basically NEVER has issues with anything ... ever. They're rock-solid and, as Apple always claims, just work. I want that, too, and the Lumia 950, or maybe this particular device, fails to deliver on so many levels. I'm ready to switch to iPhone -- and never look back -- if things do not improve soon.

Thanks!

 

[jeetu4444]

Thou iam a happy Lumia 950 owner....i have the dual sim version and very happy with it...there are few bugs but software related..that will. Be sorted in time....
I guess format your...hard reset it and start fresh with no backup...just back up your contacts....
Many people after reset are happy with their 950...and xls...

 

[Kevin Harvell]

These are more than likely software issues you, I, and many others are experiencing.

It's like a steakhouse bringing you a live cow when you order a steak medium.

Nowhere near done sadly.

 

[KimRM]

Did you get the MicrosoftMdg firmware update?

I'm not experiencing any issues what so ever, honestly, since that update. The 950 is the best phone I ever owned. That includes IPhones(4,5 and 5s) and Samsung Galaxys.

It's truely sad that so many are experiencing issues with these devices when I know how amazing they really are. I hope Microsoft hurry up with the updates.

 

[DavidinCT]

•The camera *literally* takes one minute to finish "adding the finishing touches" to photos (I timed it)

WOW, I thought this was only a Preview version problem.... I find after a Snap a picture, I exit out of camera and go into Photos then it's normally done.

It does an ok job adding touches but, with it taking this long, it causes me problem. My wife let's me take pictures of things (my ICON) as my camera blows away her iPhone 5 and asks as soon as I take it to send it to her...

Big problem, YET another BUG with Windows 10 Mobile...

........there are few bugs but software related..that will. Be sorted in time....

Spoken like a true ******.... This should be unacceptable to have these bugs(not minor bugs) on a retail phone that people are paying money for.

Read this thread and review on the 950XL (it applies to the 950 as well)

http://forums.windowscentral.com/windows-10-mobile/403045-guy-hits-nail-head-windows-10-mobile.html

TO the OP: Sell off the phone, if you want a SOLID Windows phone, get a ICON or 930 with 8.1 on it. Or hold on to it and wait till the next 4-5 updates (3-5 months) then it SHOULD be almost bug free.

A normal trend with Microsoft, release buggy software and then fix it after 2-3 MAJOR updates...

 

[GSOgymrat]

You might want to look into switching to Sprint and trading your 950 towards an iPhone.

 

[realwarder]

The issues you mention will get fixed over the next few months. If you have the patience. And as for the iPhones having no issues statement... not really true. I remember waiting months for an iPhone firmware to fix issues I was having with poor battery life in the past. And Bluetooth issues. It's roses while you're not in that moment. When you're waiting for fixes, all phones are frustrating.

 

[Allen Rhodes]

LMBO, im forced to have an iphone for work. NOT EVEN CLOSE to issue free. Its a 6 plus, battery life is on par with my 950XL(which isnt great), at least 2-3 times a week i have to force restart it(maybe 1 time a week with my XL), tap an app and its not guaranteed to open(same as the 950, 8.1 did the same). Bottom line is lets not pretend that there is an end all be all of smartphone perfection out there somewhere. Lets also not pretend that W10m is perfect, its not by a long shot.

 

[jayramphone]

I dumped my iphone 6 because, well, it was rubbish. Constant issues. My 950 has had very few issues, certainly none of the ones you have described. It might be the unit itself is faulty... can you exchange it?

 

[poddie]

My 950 works quite well, and I have not even received the new microsoftmdg firmware yet. I maybe have to restart one a week. I have seen times where fishing touches takes a while, but usually it's more like ten seconds. As others have said, all you really have to do is wait a bit and nearly all of those things should be addressed... though I do understand the frustration.

 

[920Walker]

Exchange it. Use the manufacturer's warranty.

 

[grazy1982]

Haven't had that many issues with mine either here in the UK. I'm on .29 which has been really good for battery (2.5 days). I have a restart every few days. I normally find out when I retrieve from my pocket and it asks for the pin. It doesn't get hot (not even when charging now with glance " always on whilst charging" set to off)

I do find it can take some time to do finishing touches if you max out the photo taking. But it doesn't really matter as long as you capture the moment.

 

[smartass1379]

We Have two options:
1. Talk to customer retention specialist when you call to ATT, they will be able to get you a new phone. (if you have been a customer long enough)
2. Wait it out and hope that Microsoft gets its act together.


I'm a huge Microsoft Fan boy and will be taking route 2 but new Windows Phone users, looking for help, are not expecting a buggy OS on their phone and for other Fan Boy's to come on here and tell them to wait it out or to even insinuate that it is acceptable for Microsoft to ship out this problematic OS is not right. We are the ones giving the feedback and need to hold Microsoft to a higher standard if we want to see Windows Phone do well. Would I recommend a Windows Phone to a friend right now... HELL NO. That doesnt mean things can't change but the current state of the OS is not acceptable for an average consumer...
Just my 2 cents.
**I do understand some people are not experiencing any issues but to those who make up excuses like. I only have to cycle my phone once a day or every other day... be vocal on that Feedback app and dont blow smoke up Microsoft's butt.

 

[Jakoh]

Sounds like a defective unit.

 

[Jakoh]

You might want to look into switching to Sprint and trading your 950 towards an iPhone.

LOL nice plug.

 

[jeetu4444]

I no fan boy have used all platforms ....and now currently using LG G4 and Lumia 950 DS as main driver....My Lumia 950 is on latest firmware and os is 29...
In camera when living images are on the touches use to take time but with latest firmware it's gone...if u switch of living images it's very fast.
Thou I love living images and it's switched on my phone and touches are almost immediate...
I have simple rule with new phones...i only backup contacts that it..soo better to start fresh...
I have see dead iphones to defective android phones and Symbian for that matter...maybe u got a defective piece just exchange it...
I don't have any issues u have mention here....
I mean no company is free of issues be it software or hardware...be it cars or mobiles...
Good luck i hope after exchange your new device works perfect.
My small advice to owners of Lumia 950 and xl update to latest firmware and stay on 29 don't upgrade to 36

 

[pallentx]

I'm thinking a bad unit. I have a 950 and have had the Bluetooth issues you describe and maybe three random reboots - never on a call or while using the phone, I just picked up my phone and noticed that it said I had to use the pin because the phone had rebooted. That's it. The adding finishing touches is maybe 10-15 seconds. Battery life gets me through the day. Not spectacular, but not bad either - especially considering I've been playing with my phone a lot.

 

[CraigCole]

UPDATE:

Thanks for all the responses, guys! I hope you all have been having a better experience than I have. I also hope Windows 10 Mobile gets better, AND SOON. Fingers crossed the .36 firmware update helps, but as it stands -- and as some of you posted -- I too would NEVER recommend one of these devices to a "normal" person.

Anyway, to try and solve my 950's issues I went through the hassle of doing a "hard" reset last night, and then spent a couple annoying hours reinstalling apps and getting everything else sorted out since I opted to do a clean install. So far things seem better; it's been unplugged for about eight hours and with light usage it still has 67 percent battery remaining HOWEVER, since I'm off this week and was tied down doing chores all day I didn't leave the house so it's too early to tell if my woes are in the rear-view mirror. Tomorrow I'll be out and about for most of the day so we'll see how the phone does. Wish me luck!

 

[DavidinCT]

I no fan boy have used all platforms ....and now currently using LG G4 and Lumia 950 DS as main driver....

When tons of people (the OP here is FAR from the only one saying these problems) are claiming the same issues and you sit back and defend Microsoft by saying and I quote you

there are few bugs but software related..that will. Be sorted in time....

and here is another one...

. As others have said, all you really have to do is wait a bit and nearly all of those things should be addressed... though I do understand the frustration.

showing signs of defending Microsoft for releasing a phone, charging $600 or $650 for and it comes with buggy software. Not sure how ANYONE could be defending Microsoft for doing this. Let's go to the store and spend $600 on a device that wont work right for 3-6 months. Really ? People DONT have an issue with this ?

The 950 and 950XL should of been delayed 3-4 months to do bug fixes to get it to 8.1 levels.... Now public reviews are flaming the phone that is already suffering from poor marketshare... This just makes it far worse for a Windows Phone fan like myself.

Sorry but, Microsoft needs to see this stuff and address it YESTERDAY.

 

[coasters]

What you need to do in order to get a replacement is to visit an AT&T Device Support Center ( I believe that's what its called). They're actually very helpful and fairly easy going as far as getting devices replaced, since they go by manufacturers warranty; I've had a few 920's replace there for only minor issues so I'm sure they'll be able to assist. Though I'm not sure how many of these places are around...