iPhone inner screen cracked....and spreading

jimbling

Okay, so my phone took a bit of a fall a few weeks ago when on holidays. It dropped about a foot, but on to a tiled floor and screen first.

At first it appeared fine, but a few hours later I noticed a hairline crack going from the bottom right to almost the top left. The crack could not be felt on the outside screen, and could not be seen when the phone was switched off

A few days later a line became visible across the bottom of the screen. Again, this could not be felt, but it could be seen when phone was switched off.
From here it has spread at a extremely fast rate. In the last few weeks it went from a few lines, to a merged chunk that is growing daily.



I presume it is just going to continue to spread up the phone. I'm wondering what I can do about it.
Can I just get the screen replaced? How much will it cost? Is it worth it?
Is it possible to do a home fix?
I am out of contract so could try and wait to get the iphone 4 when it comes out.

Khannie

I'm about half way through doing this replacement myself. What's cracked there is called the digitizer. You can get replacements on ebay for under a score that include the necessary tools to do the job. I would *highly* recommend getting the "bezel" or "mid section" also. You are almost certain to make an arse of the bezel on your first go of this. I certainly did, not knowing how easy it is to do that.

You can get the digitizer + bezel + tools for around 20 euro including delivery on ebay. Getting it done professionally costs 70+ euro as far as I know.

There are plenty of videos online on how to do it too.

Hard to say, but it looks like there might be some damage to your LCD there too. That is a lot more costly to replace but I could live with the extent of the apparent damage to yours.

bkehoe

Khannie wrote: »

Hard to say, but it looks like there might be some damage to your LCD there too. That is a lot more costly to replace but I could live with the extent of the apparent damage to yours.

There certainly is, looks like the bottom 5mm of the LCD doesn't work, and some rows of dead pixels following the crack at the right too. This will only get worse, even with the glass replaced. Handiest is just a whole replacement.

jimbling

Khannie wrote: »

I'm about half way through doing this replacement myself. What's cracked there is called the digitizer. You can get replacements on ebay for under a score that include the necessary tools to do the job. I would *highly* recommend getting the "bezel" or "mid section" also. You are almost certain to make an arse of the bezel on your first go of this. I certainly did, not knowing how easy it is to do that.

You can get the digitizer + bezel + tools for around 20 euro including delivery on ebay. Getting it done professionally costs 70+ euro as far as I know.

There are plenty of videos online on how to do it too.

Hard to say, but it looks like there might be some damage to your LCD there too. That is a lot more costly to replace but I could live with the extent of the apparent damage to yours.

bkehoe wrote: »

There certainly is, looks like the bottom 5mm of the LCD doesn't work, and some rows of dead pixels following the crack at the right too. This will only get worse, even with the glass replaced. Handiest is just a whole replacement.

Cheers for the info.


So which part is the LCD damage and which is the Digitizer?? Obviously the biggest problem is the 5mm that's completely greyed out at the bottom.... and spreading.
From Khannie's post it sounds like that's the digitizer, but bkehoe is saying that's the LCD. Can someone clarify for me?

jimbling

So, the Digitizer is the touch screen basically? Ya, I don't think there is any damage to the touch screen at all.

So, it's an LCD replacement I'm looking at then. I reckon I could have a go at replacing it myself. Any of ye guys done it before? I see there's lots of videos on youtube for it as well.

I already have an iphone tool kit, so just need to buy the replacement LCD.
Is this correct (doesn't look like it)

jimbling

Decided I might as well replace the Digitizer as well, just in case.

Purchased a combined item on ebay. LCD, Digitizer and tool kit for €35.

Now lets hope I don't feck it up

jimbling

Cheers guys, brilliant result....like a new phone


Didn't even need the digitizer and front screen glass, but I guess handy to have spare for the future.

jimbling

This great result was short lived as I waited a mere 3 days to lose my phone entirely :mad: