Iphone 4 Repair

[Iain.Faulkner]

Afternoon all,

 

Like a complete numpty, I recently dropped my iphone onto the road and sure enough I've shattered the glass on the back of it :-(

 

Having looked around, it's very easy to do the repair, you just need to buy the replacement part.

 

Has anyone done this themselves? Any recommendations as to where I might buy the replacement back?

 

Thanks in advance

 

Iain

[laptopsandspares]

Unless you want apple original hit "The Bay".

 

Swapping the back of the iP4's is easy, two screws at the base and then push the back up about 1mm (push in direction of headphones/on off switch), and lift out from the screwed end. some of the later models are usings a micro torx screws rather than a cross head but if I can do it, you can. there's a complete tear down of the iP4 on-line, Ifixit w/s I think. There might even be a link from another thread on here.

 

D

[philwaud]

I bought a non apple back from Professional iPhone Repairs, iPad Repairs, iPhone Screen Repairs Service , Water Damaged iPhone and iPhone Spare Parts

 

It was £14 with a couple of quid postage. Very easy to fit and you really cant tell it apart. Its just as strong and visually identical. It also comes with philips screws rather than the weird ones that Apple use on later models (they also sell a screwdriver for the proper Apple ones in case you need it.)

 

Very fast service and a company I would definitely use again.

 

They also sell lots of different colours but that didnt appeal!

 

Phil

[michael2k6]

Hi guys,

 

I did mine last week. I paid £30 for the back, which was advertised as genuine part with a 12 month warranty, came iwth the star driver, and the new back had the frame, lens and flash difusers on.

 

But, now whenever I take a photo with flash, I get a whiteout, it's like it's filling the inside of the phone with light, but it might be the drop that did it. I'm just going to take the back off and test it now... any ideas?

[philwaud]

Cant help Im afraid, like I said, I used a non Apple one (but it was absolutely identical gorilla glass etc)

 

Mine worked fine afterwards and it did get quite a knock - I fell off my bike onto my back and it was in my back pocket!

 

Phil

[michael2k6]

Fair play. Every back these guys sell can't be like this, theye got some ridiculously good feedback. I've messaged them and asked what i should do about it so we'll see what happens.

[synaesthesia]

Yeah it's a piece of cake to do, I do hundreds. I will offer one piece of advice though - do NOT get original. The cheap and cheerful replacements you can get from eBay are usually far tougher.

 

I do wonder why they call it gorilla glass. Maybe if the gorilla had brittle bone disease and ADHD but I don't see a similarity otherwise.

[philwaud]

Jobs talks about this in the Isaacson book. Apparently, the glass is hardened in a special "ionic" process that they could never find a use for until the iPhone. Jobs was a bit of a glass nut, which is why his stores have glass stairs and huge glass windows. The cupertino headquarters has a 20 foot high floor to ceiling glass window that runs right round the building.

 

Gorilla glass is certainly tough, but obviously it still shatters!

 

Phil

[Iain.Faulkner]

Unfortunately I'm going to need an Apple official back for it.

 

The main home button on the iphone has also got a fault (it's been bad for months prior to me dropping the phone) and I'm hoping that by replacing the back I should be able to take it back and have the phone replaced (my brother's iphone 4 did the same thing and they swapped his no questions asked).

 

So any sites that supply the official one would be greatly appreciated.

[philwaud]

The one I bought was absolutely identical, you couldnt tell them apart. The original iphones came with normal philips screws but if you are worried, just put the funny apple ones back in. Before I sold mine, my friend and I spent an hour examining our two iphones and the backs were absolutely the same.

 

Up to you, but it saves cash!

[michael2k6]

The back I got looked identical too so if you're swapping the phone anyway, then I'd just go with that.