Unsightly green lines marring your otherwise pristine OLED or AMOLED screens has become a veritable bane in the Android sphere over the past few years. Now, Google's Pixel 9 smartphones are reportedly developing this issue after a recent update, and Google seems to have no idea what's triggering these defects.
A Redditor was able to convince Google to grant him a goodwill replacement on his Pixel 9 after its display developed unsightly green lines following a security update
A Redditor, who goes by the username u/Gold_Blacksmith_7678, has just described a troubling incident, where his Pixel 9 on Android 16 developed the dreaded green display lines after the May 2026 security update.
Upon contacting Google, the Redditor was informed that the warranty on his Pixel 9 had lapsed, and that his only recourse was to either opt for a paid repair, costing roughly $400, or go for a new device, with Google offering a 20 percent discount coupon on the purchase.
The Redditor, however, insisted on a goodwill replacement, while continuing to maintain that his device was in no way damaged, and developed the issue only after the security update.
Interestingly, the protagonist of this narration remained calm throughout the negotiation process, documented the issue extensively, and asked for a specialist review of his device. After multiple chats and emails, Google granted him a "special exemption replacement" via the standard exchange process.
Do note that smartphones often get quite hot during the update process, which sometimes weakens internal display connections, resulting in the emergence of the unsightly green lines on your display.
We do not know as yet if this issue is being specifically triggered by the May security update for Android 16, or how widespread it is. If you are experiencing something similar, please reach out to us in the comments section below.
About the author: Writing is my one incontrovertible passion. Over the past six years, he has authored over 2,200 distinct articles on financial and tech-related topics, spanning nearly 1 million words. And he has been a member of Wcctech mobile team since 2025. As an alumnus of the University of Toronto, Rotman Commerce Program, I bring nuance, in-depth knowledge, and a unique perspective to every topic that I cover. When I'm not writing, I'm traveling the world, exploring hidden confectionaries and restaurants as an aspiring food connoisseur.
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