Well, my first run at replacing my iPhone 4s screen was a success…somewhat. I ordered some screens from eBay and hoped for the best despite many warnings about what to look out for when ordering said screens.
I received the screens about a week later and dove right in on Sunday afternoon. I managed to take apart the phone, and I carefully marked what part went where. It took me about 40 minutes to take apart. It could have been faster if I had a magnetized tip on my mini-screwdriver (which came with the kit). Once apart, I was able to get the new screen in and I started to rebuild the phone. Things were looking up.
I had just replaced the motherboard when I realized I didn’t pull the tape cord connected to the screen through COMPLETELY…thus cutting the slack I needed in order to fasten the cord into the right spot. I had to take the phone apart all over again. Every screw, every step.
I got it apart and started back in. I finally got the phone back together. Going on about 2.5 hours, I was about to hit the power button and hope to the heavens the thing would fire up.
Nothing.
That could be the worst feeling ever. Work on something all day only to have the end result end in failure. I refused to give up even though day was turning to night and the time to get to bed was near (as I need to get up at 3:00am). The pressure was on.
I went and took the phone apart completely and struggled to get it together even though I was tired and sloppy. The moment of truth was once again upon me.
BOOM! It worked. Unreal. I had come a long way since I had decided to tackle the challenge in the first place.
Long story short, the quality of the LCD wasn’t as sharp as it should have been, but I chalk that up to so much abuse I put the phone through. I probably screwed up or weakened a connection somewhere. But my phone worked, and the screen was clear and fixed.
The next day I tackled my girlfriend’s shattered screen. 30 minute start to finish and the screen was perfect. Life is good.
Now I plan to order ‘back-up’ screens because it’s only a matter of time before I drop my precious device yet again.
