14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft launched the second-generation Band in October last year with much fanfare, and the company has released several updates since then to improve its performance and add new features.
But the device itself is suffering from several issues, and one that seems to be more widespread is cracking rubber just where the hard plastic used on the screen ends and meets the soft rubber for the band.
There are plenty of such posts on Microsoft’s forums, and a 6-page thread started in February includes photos with defective units, with the majority of customers saying that they’ve already contacted the company and are now waiting for an exchange.
“I was upset when my band cracked in under 90 days. It seems to be right at a flex point on the band where the hard plastic of the screen stops. I wear the large band, so I am not sure if it is a design issue with all the pressure of the bend point is making it crack. I feel this is a design issue,” one customer explains.
New bands made of different materials
Although there is no official statement from Microsoft regarding a design flaw on the Band 2, it appears that the company is actually replacing all these units, with support staff claiming that the new bands are made of a different material that’s supposed to last longer.
“I called Microsoft and they were very helpful and sent me a return label so I could send in my Band for a replacement. The guy on the phone said they are making the strap using a different material so I have my fingers crossed that it will last longer,” one user posted.
In some cases, the rubber band also seems to crack right where the clasp meets the strap, so it’s pretty much the same thing, but in a different place. Microsoft’s not yet acknowledging this problem, so we’ve reached out to the company for a statement and will update the article when an answer is provided.
