Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
First time... damit, how I hate this type of first time.
- Thread starter jav6454
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Level of difficulty is high and there is a high chance for error. Just read the comments, people who do it themselves and succeed apparently have one or another issue.
I could do it and end with a problem to which I could cling to my warranty, but that would still mean a replacement phone, which I don't want.
At Genius Bar. Apparently, they just replaced the screen. However, me foolish (I had Cydia and stuff) I restored to 3.1.2 stock and baseband got updated.
Never saw this one coming. Lost unlock, but I guess I can still keep my jailbreak. Hope the Dev Team comes out with that 3.1.2 unlock. I would need it 2nd week of December.
Edit: iPhone repaired not replaced. Took less than 10 minutes. Got my same iPhone back, problem is, I got the updated baseband. Argh.
Never saw this one coming. Lost unlock, but I guess I can still keep my jailbreak. Hope the Dev Team comes out with that 3.1.2 unlock. I would need it 2nd week of December.
Edit: iPhone repaired not replaced. Took less than 10 minutes. Got my same iPhone back, problem is, I got the updated baseband. Argh.
My 3GS has been knocked off the table like 5 times from the cable (they REALLY need a magsafe) while syncing. It has landed face down about half the time, around a 3 or 4 foot fall. It has one small scratch on it, and that is all. So its not all 3GSs
Yes, but I am still surprises it broke this easy, where as the 1st Gen I have never ever broke with many falls and slams face down vs concrete pavement. Only to have small scratch that's not clearly visible.
In any case, iPhone repaired, now only waiting for Dev Team to release latest baseband unlock.
BTW, I did not take anymore chances. I bought an incase and a screen cover. Any future falls will now be less of a hassle.
The 2G, 3G and 3GS all have the same kind of glass screens. A lot of people with the 2G had broken screens from dropping them too. It's not about how many times it falls, it's how it falls. Any of the iPhone's screens can break if it falls the wrong way.
Dang, sorry to hear about your phone, but also glad you got it fixed! Bummer too about the BB update 
i've only dropped mine once, but it was from 1 foot off the stairs, fell up, and at an angle. Thankfully it landed and skidded across the floor case-side down (not screen-side), so there was no damages! Definitely not going to run up stairs while checking Tweetie anymore, that's for sure!
i've only dropped mine once, but it was from 1 foot off the stairs, fell up, and at an angle. Thankfully it landed and skidded across the floor case-side down (not screen-side), so there was no damages! Definitely not going to run up stairs while checking Tweetie anymore, that's for sure!
Hey, at least you got it fixed.
Yes, I did, painful lesson that was. 256 reasons to cry.
Just repair the screen yourself. You can find replacement glass on eBay and it's very easy to replace. Just make sure you get the screen AND digitizer AND LCD! Also, make sure it's specifically for the 3GS (if that's what you have) because the 3G and 3GS have different display connectors.
Good luck man! Sorry to see that this has happened.
Good luck man! Sorry to see that this has happened.
I've watched videos on how to replace the screen and it looks painstaking and long. How do the genius guys fix it in less than 10 minutes??
$256 is steep, damn. Sorry about that, jav.
$256 is steep, damn.
Sorry about that, jav.
I've watched videos on how to replace the screen and it looks painstaking and long. How do the genius guys fix it in less than 10 minutes??
$256 is steep, damn.
It's only painstaking if you ONLY order the glass part... because then you have to transfer the rest of the parts over to the new glass (home button, digitizer, ear speaker etc), but if you get the entire front glass assembly (includes home button, digitizer, LCD, speaker and connector), it's a snap to replace.
The one thing I have noticed now is that my worst nightmare with concerns to the iPhone has happened. I have a unit with a very yellowish tint. Apple Store replaced the entire LCD and glass.
However, they gave me one of those yellowish tint screen I so much hate. My last screen was on par with my brother's 3G. Both our iPhones were a bit yellowish compared to my old 1st Gen. But the yellow added made everything natural. Now I get this over yellowish tint that makes white like light yellow. I hate it
BTW, I let the Apple Store do it, because of warranty. I'd like to keep it and since it was AppleCare.
However, they gave me one of those yellowish tint screen I so much hate. My last screen was on par with my brother's 3G. Both our iPhones were a bit yellowish compared to my old 1st Gen. But the yellow added made everything natural. Now I get this over yellowish tint that makes white like light yellow. I hate it
BTW, I let the Apple Store do it, because of warranty. I'd like to keep it and since it was AppleCare.
Yup! That will work!
It's a breeze to take the screen off and replace it. 5 minutes and you're done.
1. Undo the 2 screws on the bottom
2. Use suction cup to pull the glass off
3. Disconnect 3 connectors
4. Put new screen in
5. Connect 3 connectors (make sure you hear a snap, so they're securely in place... this got me the first time... I didn't push them all the way down)
6. Put screen back into iPhone
7. Replace bottom screws.
These one's claim to be OEM: Here, here, here
DIY is best (cheap wise), but I've read the comments over ifixit.com. Some people loose one or the other things. Don't want or wanted that risk.
+1. You surely wouldn't want another problem to crop up after you have just finished settling a problem.
Do you think I wasn't nervous about opening up my iPhone and taking it apart? However, once I opened it... it was soooooooo easy. I've opened my iPhone probably 10 times now without any ill effects. The connectors are plug-n-play. There's no ungluing or soldering involved.
It's so easy to do and I promise you won't break anything.
Pop old screen off with suction cup.. place new screen in... put screws back in. It takes literally 2 minutes.
Good for you! No seriously. It's up to you to do what you please. In my case, I'd like to have no evidence that I tampered with the phone and have to pony up those $199 later on just because I wanted to DIY a screen which costed me $80. The numbers don't lie.
Also, I eliminate the risk factor. I am not nervous to do it, I build or repair computers so I have to open up hardware. But in the case of the iPhone, I'd rather let Apple deal with it. If they screw up I get a new one. If I screw up, well, I already said, costs add up.
Apple cannot tell if you've taken the screen off an iPhone. Trust me. Everything is simply snap-on connectors. There's only 3.
You'd rather pay $199 to have someone else do a simple 2 minute job, instead of paying $80 to do it yourself? Also, if SOMEHOW you screw up the first time (which you won't) the most you have to do is just order another $80 screen and try it again. Then it would only cost you $160 (still cheaper than $199).
I take my iPhone apart every once in a while to clear out the dust, and it's been fine ever since.
However, I can't make you do something you don't wanna do, but believe me, changing the screen is easier than adding RAM to your Mac.
If you take the prices of ifixit.com, the whole thing is not cheap. Just the LCD is worth ~$80 without the glass cover or adhessive to put together both pieces. The whole thing is ~$140 for a DIY repair. Not cheap and consider something you do may go wrong and cost you more. I'd rather pay does extra $50 and have Apple's warranty and gaurante.
I forgot to add that ~$140 without the costs of the tools needed to do the job.
Did you view the links I gave you? I found an OEM Glass, LCD, Home Button, Speaker assembly for only $115 on eBay.
It's a quick job with almost 0% chance of breaking anything. It's like changing RAM in a computer. Snap off... snap on. Done.
Also, the assembly comes with all the tools.