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I used to repair phones on the side back around the iPhone 4S. It was a great time, where anyone with patience and the ability to follow instructions could repl

by KMnO4 6y ago

I used to repair phones on the side back around the iPhone 4S. It was a great time, where anyone with patience and the ability to follow instructions could replace a screen (for <$10 depending on the device), camera, battery, etc. Most repairs were as simple as removing some screws, prying off the display with a plectrum, and replacing the part via its ribbon cable. Nowadays the barrier for entry is much higher. Most things are soldered on, there's adhesive and sealing gaskets EVERYWHERE (fancy heating machines help, but cost $$), and even if you get it back together you can no longer count on the device being waterproof -- which is surprisingly a big deal for a lot of people, even though waterproof phones are a recent thing.

nicoburns 6y ago
> you can no longer count on the device being waterproof -- which is surprisingly a big deal for a lot of people, even though waterproof phones are a recent thing. Waterproof phones might be a real thing, but dropping phones in water isn't. It used to be that certain clumsy friends of mine would write off a phone by dropping it in the toilet every few months. Most phones will survive this now.
- hawski 6y ago
  My wife's phone fell into water around four times. Only first time it was with original parts. Other times was after my somewhat sloppy screen replacements. Once after being underwater for half an hour I had to replace battery and eventually screen, because sometimes touch input did not work. Now the phone seem to be at the end of its life, but will probably work for another year or two.
jjoonathan 6y ago
I got comfortable with gaskets and gasket-making while working on cars. If the tech repair youtube still hasn't mastered this art I'd suggest looking at automotive youtube. Prepare the substrate, use the right silicone for your materials, use gap-preventing technique, and you can make it happen with high reliability even if you don't have an ultrasound to check your work. Your grandpa didn't have an ultrasound and his automotive gaskets had to put up with a lot more abuse than your phone ever will. There was no magic then and there's no magic now. You can do it too.
thedanbob 6y ago
I can't count how many iPhone 5, 5S, 6, and 6S's I've fixed. The golden age of iPhone repair. I've also done a 7 or two and one 8, but I think my phone repair days are pretty much over now. Even if the new ones weren't so repair-unfriendly, aftermarket replacement parts are almost impossible to get for a reasonable price. When they get the quote, most people would rather live with a cracked screen. And don't even get me started on iPads, the screens never go back on right. I flatly refuse to work on them anymore.

by KMnO4 6y ago

nicoburns 6y ago

> you can no longer count on the device being waterproof -- which is surprisingly a big deal for a lot of people, even though waterproof phones are a recent thing. Waterproof phones might be a real thing, but dropping phones in water isn't. It used to be that certain clumsy friends of mine would write off a phone by dropping it in the toilet every few months. Most phones will survive this now.

hawski 6y ago
My wife's phone fell into water around four times. Only first time it was with original parts. Other times was after my somewhat sloppy screen replacements. Once after being underwater for half an hour I had to replace battery and eventually screen, because sometimes touch input did not work. Now the phone seem to be at the end of its life, but will probably work for another year or two.

jjoonathan 6y ago

I got comfortable with gaskets and gasket-making while working on cars. If the tech repair youtube still hasn't mastered this art I'd suggest looking at automotive youtube. Prepare the substrate, use the right silicone for your materials, use gap-preventing technique, and you can make it happen with high reliability even if you don't have an ultrasound to check your work. Your grandpa didn't have an ultrasound and his automotive gaskets had to put up with a lot more abuse than your phone ever will. There was no magic then and there's no magic now. You can do it too.

thedanbob 6y ago

I can't count how many iPhone 5, 5S, 6, and 6S's I've fixed. The golden age of iPhone repair. I've also done a 7 or two and one 8, but I think my phone repair days are pretty much over now. Even if the new ones weren't so repair-unfriendly, aftermarket replacement parts are almost impossible to get for a reasonable price. When they get the quote, most people would rather live with a cracked screen. And don't even get me started on iPads, the screens never go back on right. I flatly refuse to work on them anymore.