14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has finally made a decision in the so-called Flickergate saga that involves screen flickering impacting a number of Surface Pro 4 units, with the company announcing that it’s going to replace all faulty devices.
Customers have been complaining about screen flickering on the Surface Pro 4 for nearly a year, and some have even considered starting a class action lawsuit against Microsoft for not launching a recall.
The company, however, says that only “a small percentage of Surface pro 4 devices” are exhibiting this problem, and explains in an announcement that all units for up to three years from the date of purchase would be replaced free of charge.
Back in February, some customers turned to extreme workarounds to deal with the issue given Microsoft’s lack of reaction to their complaints, even putting the Surface Pro 4 in the freezer to solve the bug temporarily.
Refurbished units
Microsoft says Surface Pro 4 units are eligible for the replacement program only if the damage hasn’t been caused by any other cause, like physical damage or repairs performed by other than the company or authorized retailers or resellers.
The units that the firm offers in exchange are refurbished, and Microsoft also notes that a Surface Pro 4 can be replaced only if it exhibits screen flickering. No other damage can qualify for a replacement, it says. Customer who paid for a screen replacement on their own will receive a refund.
“If screen flicker persists with all current updates installed, please contact Microsoft support. Once an agent has determined that your device is eligible for replacement, you will need to prepare your Surface for service. We will ship you a replacement device as soon as you return your existing device. Typically, it will take 5-8 business days for you to receive an exchange device from the date that you ship your current device back to us,” the firm says.
At this point, there are no specifics as to how many devices are impacted, but it’ll certainly be interesting to see if Microsoft’s exciting refurbished inventory can cover all replacement applications.