[CraigCole]

After three months of unending issues, I finally took my 950 to the closest AT&T warranty center last week. They checked it out and agreed to send me a replacement device, which finally arrived yesterday, hurled onto my doorstep by the U.S. Postal Service like some rain-soaked catalog.



The phone was stuffed into a dingy-looking bag that was in turn strapped to a cardboard tray. Not a very appealing presentation for a $500-plus device, but whatever. That's not what matters.





When I saw all of this I fully expected my brand-new refurbished unit to be riddled with flaws small scratches, dents, greasy fingerprints, cosmetic things like this. On the top of the tray is some corporate line about how this remanufactured device has been thoroughly inspected and passed rigorous AT&T Certification requirements. Umm hmm. Upon reading this my cynicism was nearly boiling over.



In preparation for extreme disappointment I grabbed a small flashlight and a magnifying glass to give this 950 an exhaustive going-over. Much to my chagrin the phone was perfect, exhibiting none of the expected flaws. It truly looks as good as a new unit in every way, though the fact that they exclude a battery and rear cover is a bit odd. What if these items were causing the existing devices issues? Anyway, my impossibly low expectations have thus far been wildly exceeded.

After swapping the necessary components, powering it up and restoring from a previous backup (a clean setup from my outgoing 950) the phone installed its updates and whatnot.

So far its overall performance seems snappier, ditto for the iris scanner. Maybe my previous device was a clunker, though Im not ready to declare this 950 a success without a lot more testing. Hopefully it works as advertised, though pictures still take FOREVER to receive their finishing touches.

[Elfonzerio]

Yeah you'd swear refurbished phone would be crappy but they are not. I've had some replacement 920's and HTC m8s and they showed up at the door being indistinguishable from new

[RuleOfSines]

How is the video capture? The video capture on my current AT&T phone is unbearable.

[Elfonzerio]

How is the video capture? The video capture on my current AT&T phone is unbearable.

Are you talking taking a video? With the 950 its just fine. Unbearable in the least.

[TechFreak1]

Geez, some one must have had a off day (to put it lightly) when they packaged your phone.

Keep us posted with your experience with the replacement :).

[Jazmac]

I had to almost close my eyes to read this story. You went at it with so much drama and I expected you opened the box and you had to assemble it yourself like an IKEA bookshelf. lol. Had me worried for a minute.