Sony Ericsson MBW-150 OLED repairs

I have recently picked up a SE MBW-150 Music Edition... Just to be plagued with the super dim OLED screen issue.

From what I have read, there seems to be two major issues with these watches that are deal breakers for most people, as SE won't repair/replace your device unless it is still under warranty (kind of hard to do since they are out of production).

1) Battery issues. Status: solved, thanks to XDA members

2) Fading/dead OLED display. Status: doesn't appear that anyone has tackled this problem yet.

So, after being plenty pissed that the gift I had just bought myself was broken. I decided to get past it and make the best of it.... And take it apart.

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If you don't like reading, start here.
The top part is just me being long winded.
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There are two pieces of good news...
1) It still works after I got done snooping around inside and put it back together.
2) I think I have sourced replacement OLED displays.

I am waiting for the display panels I ordered to be shipped, and I will be the first guinea pig to see if my solution works.

After that (providing that everything goes well) I would be willing to offer repairs on a first come first serve basis for a nominal fee (cover parts, shipping, and buy me a beer lol).

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If you don't like reading, stop here... Lazy.
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So all in all, I really have some hope for extending the life of a product that all of us paid way to much for to get just enough life out of to get out of warranty. I really don't see how Sony Ericsson can do this to us in the first place, charge top dollar and then out right refuse to service them if they are out of warranty.

Once I get the panels in, I will post pics of before and after.

Hopefully after will be a pic of my MBW-150 Music with a working display... But there is always the chance of it being a pic of melted pieces, char marks, and bandages... Lets hope for the first one

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30-Mar-2011 Update:
4-8 week for delivery of initial order of red oled displays.
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31-Mar-2011 Update:
Added information on OLED displays I am trying
to work with. Link to post
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Just an FYI.

The displays I am getting are red OLED.
having the music edition, I wanted orange, like the OEM screen but I couldn't find them anywhere. Red seemed like it would semi match the color scheme.

The brightness rating was lower on red, but predicted lifespan was almost double that of the other colors.

JimSmith94 said:

The Executive that I have and the Classic both have white displays, so if you get it figured out, I hope you can get some of those too.

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Just checked mfg datasheet. If the displays work out, white is available.

UPDATE FROM SUPPLIER:
4-8 Weeks for delivery.

UPDATE FROM ME:
Prices are looking good. My initial order was only two displays (one for the watch, and one in case I screw up). Total price with displays and shipping was just under $30 US.

NF4LP said:

Hello nice News . Can you post a Datasheet or a Link ? Please

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Once I am certain that it will work, I will post all the info I have.
I'm not pulling a Sony and saying that I am not giving info out, just that I want to be sure that the info is actually correct first.

hausman said:

There's a set of 96x16 for $15 on Ebay; I was thinking they might be similar to the originals for my Executive edition (says blue). I haven't disassembled my 150 yet to see if they're the same display, but the specs mentioned hot bar contacts. My soldering skills wouldn't lend themselves to something like this, but definitely keep us posted on how this works. I would love to get my 150 working again. I hope you manage to solve this issue!

Click to expand...

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Just looked up the eBay one.

Those use a tab connector, not solder-on. And ribbon location is wrong. Good find though, I am constantly looking for alternatives in case mine won't work.

mathiosn said:

look at this it will help you I hope...

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Already have that. But thanks.

Their internal photos are public through the FCC. But they applied for, and received, a permanent confidentiality status on the parts list. Which, from what I can tell, only screws us on the screen as all markings on the chips and other components are readily visible.

Been thinking about why I was holding back on specs for the displays I have on order...

Mostly holding back in case I was completely off the mark on these actually working, and didn't want to look like a dumb ass if it failed... But that doesn't make any sense, if it fails I will look like a dumb ass regardless of if people know what components I was using or not lol.

So, in the spirit of XDA, and getting things done as a community, here's what I am using.

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Disclaimer!!! - I don't know if these will even work yet!
If you further break your broken watch by using these,
it is NOT MY FAULT. Proceed with caution.
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Truly Semiconductor TOB9M0023-R-E / OEL9M0023-R-E
96x16 pixel, 0.8" diagonal size, 31-pin, red OLED display.

Link to technical brief

Edit: Also, you will see in the tech brief that these are available in red, yellow, green, blue, and white... If they end up working this leaves us some new found room for customization.

Edit Edit: sample photo from manufacturer.

More info.

While I had an electrical engineer in my office today, I decided to pick his brain on this whole project... his verdict was that he is certain that the Truly displays will work, which leaves the only potential issue left to be fitting the face of the display into the black plastic behind the face of the watch. (Hopefully it fits right in)

Awesome news?