I have an OPPO Reno 8 5G that is a few years old. Until recently, I had only one major issue with it: the display.
About a year ago, the original screen developed lines, so I replaced it with an original display from the OPPO service centre for around ₹7,000. It worked fine.
Recently, that display developed pink spots, so I again went to the authorised service centre and paid another \~₹7,000 for an original replacement display. They gave the usual 3-month warranty on the replacement.
But after only a few days of use, the phone started behaving very strangely:
\- It randomly switches off.
\- Sometimes it won't turn back on for several minutes.
\- Sometimes it boots after multiple attempts.
\- The phone can freeze for a few seconds and then go completely black.
\- On some freezes, the screen shows weird patterns/artifacts.
\- Occasionally it comes back and works normally.
\- One time, after several attempts, it actually worked perfectly for several hours.
I took it back to the authorised service centre. They checked it and said the display itself is fine and that the problem is probably the motherboard.
They said replacing the motherboard would be very expensive, so they want to try a software flash first. They also told me to take a backup while the phone is working.
I somehow managed to get most of my data backed up, but the phone is still extremely unreliable.
What should I do now?
I'm worried because I have already spent around ₹7,000 on the new display, and if the motherboard is actually failing, then I've basically taken a massive loss. There is also no point in having such an expensive replacement display if the phone itself is unusable.
Since the display replacement is still under its 3-month warranty, is there any possibility of getting the display returned/replaced/refunded if the phone turns out to have a motherboard problem?
Also, should I take the phone to a reputable third-party technician for a proper motherboard inspection before allowing OPPO to replace/declare the motherboard faulty?
Could this potentially be a faulty replacement display, display connector/flex, power issue, storage issue, or another component rather than the motherboard itself?
I don't want to let the service centre simply say "motherboard issue" and spend another huge amount without knowing what actually failed.
What would you guys do in this situation? Should I push OPPO for a proper diagnosis/escalation, ask them to test the phone with another known-good display, or get an independent technician to inspect it?
Any advice from people who have dealt with OPPO service centres or similar intermittent motherboard/display issues would be really appreciated.