14 DAY TRIAL // According to the latest news on the Web, some European owners of the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1 smartphone have started to report cracks that appear in their handsets. The problem seems to be affecting mainly the silver version of the device and can be usually spotted near the stylus bay or battery compartment. According to the news, more than 24 cases have been reported as having similar issues.
Also, the handsets that present such problems might have been manufactured in or around the 08W44 to 08W46 production weeks, an assumption based on the sticker in the X1 battery compartment itself. Besides cracks, some devices are also reported to have flaking paint. Aside from the fact that the building dates are close to one another, it seems that there is no specific connection between carrier and country, as both branded and unbranded devices are reported to have issues, in countries like the UK, Germany, Netherlands and France.
Sony Ericsson NL already made an official statement on the matter, pointing towards the fact that only a small number of devices were affected by this problem. The company also said that it planned on examining the handsets on a case-by-case basis. In addition, the X1 shell or, rarely, the whole smartphone will be replaced, in situations in which the damage does not look as being done on purpose.
According to Sony Ericsson, the problem has been encountered in a small number of handsets. “We only received a relatively small amount.” The manufacturer acknowledges this problem but it will investigate every individual case like a unique one. “When a housing is completely wrecked it is obvious that the owner did something weird. When there are only a few cracks and nothing further then there is a big chance that this is covered by warranty.” When the cracks aren’t very significant, the housing will be replaced. In extreme situations the phone will be replaced” is what Sony Ericsson NL commented.
