How common are dust specks/dead pixels on kindle screens?

[Solarin]

So my Voyage has quite a few dust specks under the screen, mostly outside the reading area. Most of them aren't visible the majority of the time but there's one particularly thick/large one that I do often see when reading (photo attached). I also have a small dead pixel in the middle of my screen. I'm honestly not sure how much this is bothering me. I keep asking for replacements and the replacement Voyages keep having severe screen gradients. My issue is that my current Voyage's screen is a sharp white (comparatively speaking) and I'd hate to trade it for a beige/yellow screen.

I attached a photo, they're all very visible because of the black picture in the loading screen. However, when turning pages or opening books the dust specks are still quite visible.

What does everyone think? If your kindle had this, would you keep trying for replacements? My kindle is my most prized toy, so it kind of bothers me that it has imperfections.

[dimm]

I have few on my Kindle Voyage. Can't say that it's bothering me too much.

[meeera]

I can't figure out what is bothering you from those photos and your post. Is it bright spots or dark spots? Have you cleaned your screen?

There is no such thing as a "dead pixel" on e-ink. You may have a burst e-ink capsule, which will appear dark. You may have defects or damage to the light layer, which will appear bright when the light is on, and disappear when the light is off. You may have very tiny dark spots when you look up close with excellent eyesight, like the 'grain' of deadtree paper, which is normal. You have have dirt or grease spots on your screen, which may appear as bright or dark.

[Solarin]

Originally Posted by meeera

I can't figure out what is bothering you from those photos and your post. Is it bright spots or dark spots? Have you cleaned your screen?

There is no such thing as a "dead pixel" on e-ink. You may have a burst e-ink capsule, which will appear dark. You may have defects or damage to the light layer, which will appear bright when the light is on, and disappear when the light is off. You may have very tiny dark spots when you look up close with excellent eyesight, like the 'grain' of deadtree paper, which is normal. You have have dirt or grease spots on your screen, which may appear as bright or dark.

Gotcha, thanks for the information.

What's bothering me are the bright spots you see in the lower black part of the loading screen image. These aren't dirt or grease spots on the screen, they've been there for months and have stayed on past cleaning, restarts, factory resets, etc. I'm guessing it's dust particles that are under the screen.

Maybe I'm crazy for being bothered by it, I don't know, was just wondering if it was common.

[meeera]

If the bright spots are not dirt and they were there from opening the box, they're manufacturing defects and should be covered by replacement guarantee given the number and size. If they are not dirt and appeared after opening the device, they may be physical damage to the light layer, though this is supposed to be less likely on a Voyage.

As far as I know there is no way for dust to accumulate under the screen as time goes on.

[Solarin]

Yes, they were there since opening the device. When I first noticed, I kept asking for replacements, but all the replacement Voyages sent either also had the same problem or had a severe yellow screen gradient. Some people may prefer the warmer yellow, but in my view it makes the text and images look a lot less sharp. I gave up asking after the 3rd or 4th replacement.

Now, a few months later, I've decided to pester Amazon again for replacements. Once again the Voyages being sent have these same problems. I'm starting to wonder at how stringent amazon's quality control is.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Solarin

Now, a few months later, I've decided to pester Amazon again for replacements. Once again the Voyages being sent have these same problems. I'm starting to wonder at how stringent amazon's quality control is.

Given that all devices are showing what you perceive to be issues, perhaps it's simply that your expectations of what you expect in a screen can't be met?

I really would be cautious about continuing to return devices that Amazon almost certainly don't consider to be faulty: an excessive number of returns is the primary cause of people having their Amazon account blocked. It may be better to switch to another brand of reader if Amazon can't meet your requirements.

[Dr. Drib]

I have no visible areas on my Voyage screen, as you do.

I've come to the conclusion that I'm either blind or I have a great screen.

The degree of 'white noise' from those specks would personally drive me crazy, especially that large one.

You should be cautious, however, as Harry points out. If you have a history of hardware returns with Amazon, then you should learn to live with it.

[HarryT]

Please note that I'm not saying that the OP's concerns are not real for him; just that this is precisely the type of behaviour that is likely to lead to account closure. It really would be better to decide to either keep the Voyage, or return it for a refund and buy a different type of reader.

[JSWolf]

What you should do it tell Amazon that the replacements they've sent have not been acceptable. Ask if you can return your Kindle your your money back and either buy a new one that supposedly has a better front light or buy a different brand Reader.

[Rizla]

Visible imperfections do sometimes exist on e-ink and LCD screens. It's pot-luck. If it really bothers you, return the device. Personally I could get past the speck on the bottom of your screen, but the Voyage is a premier product with premier price-tag, so I could understand if you found the imperfection unacceptable. You could certainly get away with one return no problem. Amazon should warn you via email if you return too much. But be warned, sometimes the replacements are worse, particularly regarding the uniformity of the light.

[Dr. Drib]

One solution just now comes to mind, with a lot of 'ifs' involved:

If you absolutely love reading on a kindle
If you absolutely cannot live with those imperfections
If you live in the United States
If you absolutely don't want to 'chance it' with Amazon


THEN:

Try your local Best Buy. They are very generous on their return policy and, if there is a problem, you won't be dealing with Amazon.

[rpgmaker]

Originally Posted by meeera

There is no such thing as a "dead pixel" on e-ink. You may have a burst e-ink capsule, which will appear dark. You may have defects or damage to the light layer, which will appear bright when the light is on, and disappear when the light is off. You may have very tiny dark spots when you look up close with excellent eyesight, like the 'grain' of deadtree paper, which is normal. You have have dirt or grease spots on your screen, which may appear as bright or dark.

Maybe they are not called "dead pixels" but on my PW2 I do have one spot on the screen that doesn't seem to change states when reading. It doesn't bother me much since most of the time it's undetectable but every once in a while when part of a letter falls in that particular spot then that part gets "cut-off" (it doesn't show). For all intents and purposes that is a "dead pixel" as we have traditionally understood them.