Difficulty

Very difficult

Steps

17

Time Required

                          1 hour

Sections

5

  • MicroSD Card
  • 1 step
  • SIM Card
  • 1 step
  • Rear Case
  • 2 steps
  • Motherboard
  • 8 steps
  • Rear Facing Camera
  • 5 steps

Flags

2

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Introduction

What you need

Step 1

              MicroSD Card
  • The microSD card tray is located on the upper right hand side of the phone, above the volume buttons. To open the tray, insert a microSD card eject tool, or a paperclip, into the small hole in the microSD card tray.
  • Then press the tool or paperclip to eject the microSD card tray.
  • This may require a significant amount of force.
  • When reinserting the microSD card, ensure that it is in the correct orientation to the tray. The electrical connectors should be inserted first, with the microSD card face up.
  • It is normal for the microSD to sit imperfectly in the tray. The microSD card is easy to reposition within the tray.

The microSD card tray is located on the upper right hand side of the phone, above the volume buttons. To open the tray, insert a microSD card eject tool, or a paperclip, into the small hole in the microSD card tray.

Then press the tool or paperclip to eject the microSD card tray.

This may require a significant amount of force.

When reinserting the microSD card, ensure that it is in the correct orientation to the tray. The electrical connectors should be inserted first, with the microSD card face up.

It is normal for the microSD to sit imperfectly in the tray. The microSD card is easy to reposition within the tray.

1024

Step 2

              SIM Card
  • Insert a SIM card eject tool or a paperclip into the small hole besides the SIM card tray, located on the upper section of the left edge of the phone.
  • Press to eject the tray.
  • This may require a significant amount of force.
  • When reinserting the SIM card, ensure that its contacts are facing to the rear side. The tapered corner of the SIM card has to point to the outer bottom corner of the tray.

Insert a SIM card eject tool or a paperclip into the small hole besides the SIM card tray, located on the upper section of the left edge of the phone.

Press to eject the tray.

When reinserting the SIM card, ensure that its contacts are facing to the rear side. The tapered corner of the SIM card has to point to the outer bottom corner of the tray.

Step 3

              Rear Case
  • Using a plastic opening pick or a spudger, gently pry and remove the cover on top of the case.
  • Remove the two 4 mm T5 Torx screws on the top of the case.

Using a plastic opening pick or a spudger, gently pry and remove the cover on top of the case.

Remove the two 4 mm T5 Torx screws on the top of the case.

Step 4

  • Work a plastic opening pick around the perimeter of the device to separate the rear case from the display assembly.
  • The SIM card tray and Micro SD card tray must be removed before the back cover can be removed.
  • Be careful around the power and volume buttons, as they are fairly delicate.
  • Be careful when separating the body from the display assembly, as the rear-facing camera may be stuck to the body with adhesive.

Work a plastic opening pick around the perimeter of the device to separate the rear case from the display assembly.

The SIM card tray and Micro SD card tray must be removed before the back cover can be removed.

Be careful around the power and volume buttons, as they are fairly delicate.

Be careful when separating the body from the display assembly, as the rear-facing camera may be stuck to the body with adhesive.

Step 5

              Motherboard
  • Use a pair of tweezers to get underneath the white and blue cable connectors and gently push them upwards to disconnect them.

Use a pair of tweezers to get underneath the white and blue cable connectors and gently push them upwards to disconnect them.

Step 6

  • Remove the two 1.5 mm screws that secure the battery connector to the motherboard, using a Phillips #00 screwdriver.
  • Use a spudger to gently pry up the battery connector from its socket.
  • Do not apply pressure to the socket.

Remove the two 1.5 mm screws that secure the battery connector to the motherboard, using a Phillips #00 screwdriver.

Use a spudger to gently pry up the battery connector from its socket.

Do not apply pressure to the socket.

Step 7

  • Peel back the Kapton tape from the ZIF connectors.
  • Use a spudger or your fingernail to lift the hinged retainer clips on the ZIF connectors, and gently slide the cables out.

Peel back the Kapton tape from the ZIF connectors.

Use a spudger or your fingernail to lift the hinged retainer clips on the ZIF connectors, and gently slide the cables out.

Step 8

  • Using the tweezers, carefully lift the tape covering the electrical strip, as shown in the picture.
  • Be gentle when lifting the tape as it can tear easily.
  • Use a spudger or your fingernail to lift the hinged retainer clip on the ZIF connector, and slide the cable out.

Using the tweezers, carefully lift the tape covering the electrical strip, as shown in the picture.

Be gentle when lifting the tape as it can tear easily.

Use a spudger or your fingernail to lift the hinged retainer clip on the ZIF connector, and slide the cable out.

Step 9

  • Peel back the Kapton tape from the remaining three ZIF connectors, then use a spudger or your fingernail to lift the hinged retainer clips on the ZIF connectors, and slide the cables out from each.
  • The third ZIF connector is mostly underneath the motherboard. When reassembling your device, make sure it is placed back underneath.

Peel back the Kapton tape from the remaining three ZIF connectors, then use a spudger or your fingernail to lift the hinged retainer clips on the ZIF connectors, and slide the cables out from each.

The third ZIF connector is mostly underneath the motherboard. When reassembling your device, make sure it is placed back underneath.

Step 10

  • Remove the dual LED flash cover with a pair of tweezers. The cover is held on with a small amount of adhesive.
  • Using a heated pair of tweezers would ease the removal of flash cover, as the heat helps weaken the adhesive .
  • Remove the cover using a minimum amount of force. The flash cover may be glued to the antenna cable(s) below.
  • Use a pair of tweezers to disconnect the two antenna cables near the camera.
  • Some models of this phone will have only one antenna cable at this location.
  • Disconnect the antenna cable near the bottom right of the phone.

Remove the dual LED flash cover with a pair of tweezers. The cover is held on with a small amount of adhesive.

Using a heated pair of tweezers would ease the removal of flash cover, as the heat helps weaken the adhesive .

Remove the cover using a minimum amount of force. The flash cover may be glued to the antenna cable(s) below.

Use a pair of tweezers to disconnect the two antenna cables near the camera.

Some models of this phone will have only one antenna cable at this location.

Disconnect the antenna cable near the bottom right of the phone.

Step 11

  • Remove the three 4 mm T5 Torx screws that secure the motherboard.

Remove the three 4 mm T5 Torx screws that secure the motherboard.

Step 12

  • Use a pair of tweezers to lift the vibrator out of its slot.
  • Avoid damaging the wires connecting the vibrator to the motherboard. Use the minimum amount of force.
  • Use an iOpener or heat gun to loosen the adhesive at the bottom of the motherboard.
  • Refer to the iOpener Instructions for further info.
  • Use a plastic opening tool, or a spudger, along the edges of the case to gently pry the motherboard out of the case.
  • Gently lift the motherboard out of the case, beginning from the top corner (near the camera).

Use a pair of tweezers to lift the vibrator out of its slot.

Avoid damaging the wires connecting the vibrator to the motherboard. Use the minimum amount of force.

Use an iOpener or heat gun to loosen the adhesive at the bottom of the motherboard.

Refer to the iOpener Instructions for further info.

Use a plastic opening tool, or a spudger, along the edges of the case to gently pry the motherboard out of the case.

Gently lift the motherboard out of the case, beginning from the top corner (near the camera).

Step 13

              Rear Facing Camera
  • Remove the four 3 mm T5 Torx screws that secure the daughterboard.

Remove the four 3 mm T5 Torx screws that secure the daughterboard.

Step 14

  • Using the tweezers, disconnect the ribbon cable.

Using the tweezers, disconnect the ribbon cable.

Step 15

  • Using the tweezers, disconnect the ribbon cable from the daughterboard.

Using the tweezers, disconnect the ribbon cable from the daughterboard.

Step 16

  • Using the tweezers, remove the daughterboard from the device.

Using the tweezers, remove the daughterboard from the device.

Step 17

  • Flip the daughterboard over and use the tweezers to remove the back camera from the board by applying upward force to the ribbon connection.

Flip the daughterboard over and use the tweezers to remove the back camera from the board by applying upward force to the ribbon connection.

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

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Author

                                      with 8 other contributors 


                    Michael Chan

Member since: 04/14/2015

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Team

                       Cal Poly, Team 6-16, Maness Spring 2015                        

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                                            13 Guides authored

Alexander Louria - Dec 19, 2016

Reply

In an attempt to replace the rear camera, the small black insert spaces for one of the SEVERAL ribbon cables breaks, the top portion where pins are located. I didn’t discover this until after putting in the new camera. I was extremely careful when handling the cable and connector but I believe the connecting socket was already damaged and removing the ribbon and yellow tape delivered the killing blow. This resulted in the the phone not powering back on and increasing the repair cost of the phone too high (plus the connector was located on the main motherboard and I don’t know how that repair would be done or if that would just reset the entire phone) I would honestly give this phone a 0/10 repairability. This was my first attempt at repairing a phone and I feel very defeated, that the phone just wasn’t meant to be repaired with such weak connectors and rear camera glass in the first place. As for the guide, it was pretty good, more pictures and a possible video would be great.

Pascallow - May 11, 2017

Reply

Nice! I just succesfully completed the rapair of the back camera.

Thanks!!

Garnet Burton - May 11, 2017

Reply

Just fixed my camera. Don’t know why its rated as hard. As long as you are careful and follow the instructions with the recommended tools anyone with basic tool familiarity can succeed. It did take almost 1.5 hours and I would recommend a lighted position able magnifying glass to assist in seeing the small parts. Awesome instructions. thank you for giving me a working camera again.