HTC EVO 4G LTE Android 4.3 update voids your warranty
The official HTC EVO 4G LTE Android 4.3 update from HTC has been released, and along with it came this letter:
From Mo Versi w/HTC:
Thank you for your support on HTC EVO 4G LTE 4.3 + Sense 5MR update. Below is the link for the final software release that includes support on Win8. Please note the following as this is an RUU update (side load):
*
It is our responsibility to caution you that not all claims resulting or caused by installing this software may be covered under warranty.
*
Please understand that you will not be able to return your device to the original state or earlier software, and going forward your device may not be held covered under the warranty for all claims resulting from installing this software. HTC bears no responsibility if your device is no longer usable afterwards. We strongly suggest that you do not install this software unless you are confident that you understand the risks involved and the potential consequences both to your device and to your warranty.
*
In order to install the SW, double click the RUU file with your device connected to the PC. The upgrade process will take approximately 20 minutes. Please do not unplug the device from the PC.
*
Download link here
*Thanks,
Mo
I’ve highlighted some of the more interesting parts of the letter, but it states that if the update bricks your device during upgrade that’s your problem (even if it’s through HTC’s oversight). If the software eventually bricks your device because it screwed something up, too bad as well. You have no warranty if you upgrade and it fails, although it doesn’t claim anything else is void so we’re probably only looking at just the upgrade window.
So for all of you who have been on the fence about rooting the HTC EVO 4G LTE because it might void your warranty, HTC’s rep here seems to explicitly say that the official upgrade will void it, at least during the upgrade. If you survive it, you’re probably back to being covered by anything except an unlikely eventual ROM meltdown.
My guess is this is just to cover HTC’s behinds for the slew of people who break their phones due to a non-HTC related issue with the upgrade (cat, water, power outage, baby, etc.), but it does read as a “good luck, god speed, try not to die on the way to the mailbox.” It should however serve as a reminder that HTC’s vague warranty revoking threats (such as the bootloader unlocking warnings on HTCDev) extend even to official software.
Should you be concerned? Probably not. This is mostly corporate rump covering.
