If you own an iPhone that is out of warranty, you must be aware that repairing damage to the phone could be costly. Since iPhone repairs at an Apple store are expensive, most people prefer buying the parts and doing the minor repairs at home.
Many phone repairs require special tools (or repairs are easier with them). The first step for your DIY iPhone repair is buying iPhone repair tools. Unlike using generic tools, cell phone repair tools make work more comfortable by allowing better handling of the small and delicate phone parts. When purchasing tools you can normally buy them as single items but it’s often more cost-effective to buy the tools as a mobile device tool kit. These kits generally contain the most common tools but you should ensure your kit has some of the following important iPhone repair tools.
Bit Driver
A bit driver is a part that holds the screwdriver bits to allow handling when working a screw. Unlike the traditional screwdriver, a bit driver enables the end cap to rotate independently of the handle to maintain constant pressure on the screw. The best bit driver should be made of a rigid material to allow firm handling and a good grip. The outer material should also be smooth for comfortable handling when turning the screws. You can also consider a magnetic bit holder that is mildly magnetic making it easier for the driver to retain the screw.
Angled Precision Tweezers
Handling small screws and phone parts with angle precision tweezers is easier than using your bare hands. Some Phone parts are located in hard-to-reach places in the device and trying to squeeze your finger inside can damage other parts. You may also use the tweezers to hold the components when soldering or de-soldering the small components like, for example, the ICs.
Spudger
A spudger is the best tool for opening your iPhone’s case after you have unscrewed the required screws. Since it is often made of nylon, which is anti-static, the tool is structurally hard enough to open the case without chipping or cracking it. A spudger will also help you poke the small components that you cannot handle with a bare hand. In addition, you can often use its back to hook wires.
Jimmy
A Jimmy is the ultimate electronics opening tool as it can do more than just opening the phone’s case. If you are checking something inside the cover, you can use a jimmy to hold the case open or to separate the top part from the bottom part. Jimmies have a strong, but flexible blade made of high-quality steel to help them slip into tight gaps without struggle.
Opening Tool
Opening tools make it easier to open the case, thanks to their non-slip handle with plenty of grips. The tools are made of tough, but soft material to allow the user to open the phone cases’ narrow joins without scratching or damaging the phone case or the internal parts. The opening tool also offers different options on each side. On one side, there is a hook for lifting and levering, and the other side has a wedge for breaching.
Opening Picks (Set of 6)
The picks are thinly made to allow slipping into the tight spaces between the phone and the case, or the upper case and the lower case. In addition to pricking the glued-down parts, they act as spacers to keep the parts that you have already pulled apart separated. For example, you can use a pick to keep the bottom part of the case from falling back into its position while working on the upper part.
Suction Handle
A suction handle is an invaluable tool whenever you have to pry up your iPhone’s display to access the inner parts. Unlike using your bare hands, removing the screen using a suction handle is safer and easier because of the lock and release function. The rubber part which comes into contact with the screen is also gentle on the screen and does not leave scratch marks or dents on the surface. It is also non-magnetic.
Easy-to-Open Magnetized Case
If you decide to purchase a cell phone repair kit, you may want a kit with an easy-to-open magnetised case. This way, you eliminate the need for a magnetic mat as you can use the case as the organiser for your phone components and parts. A magnetic surface ensures that the screws and other metallic parts do not roll over and fall on the floor, plus they will remain in the position you initially place them and this avoids small parts mixing.
Lid with Built-in Sorting Tray
If you plan to purchase a phone repair kit, it can help to choose a kit with a lid with a built-in sorting tray. You need this tool to sort out all the screws from the phone. Failure to sort out the screws can lead to longer hours as you have to try every screw or even cause further damage to your iPhone by trying to screw large or ill-fitting screws into a narrow screw socket.
Precision Screwdriver Bits
A screwdriver bit is a tip connected to the bit driver to drive screws. Since it is impossible to drive the screws effectively when the bits do not accurately fit the head, you need different screwdriver bits for different screw head sizes and types. If you purchase a phone repair took kit, the bit driver usually comes with several bit types to allow the screwing and unscrewing of different screw types. Some of the common screw types are:
- Phillips bits: Most phone repair kits come with this bit type because it handles the most common type of screw. The bits have a cross-shaped tip and come in different sizes to help open different screw sizes.
- Slotted bits: Most phone repair kits will have this bit type as it mostly used for brass countersunk screws. The user must ensure that the bit fits precisely in the slot since an ill-fitting bit will damage the screwhead.
- Pozidrive bits: Pozidrive is an improved version of the Phillips screwdriver, thanks to its additional four contact points. The additional four points decrease the possibility of a bit ‘cam-out’, thus allowing greater torque to be applied. Pozidrive bits come in three sizes — #1, #2 (most common) and #3.
- Torx bits: Torx bits have the shape of a 6-sided star, and are common in electronics. The shape allows better resistance to come out than slotted and Phillips bits as they were designed to accommodate the improvements in torque-limiting automatic screwdrivers.
Torx bits have a wide size range from t1 through to T20.
Other bit types include; Tamperproof Torx bits, internal hex bits, square recess bits, nut setters, drywall bits, torq bits, tri-wing bits, and many more.
Conclusion
One way to help reduce the cost of repairing an out-of-warranty iPhone is by doing the repair yourself. A DIY iPhone repair will cost you less, as good value mobile phone repair tools are available and we offer many of them in our Tools section. Replacement iPhone parts are also readily available here in our store. The above tools for repairing an iPhone should help you do simple repairs with ease. If the DIY solution seems too daunting, we are happy to handle your repair for you as part of our Send-in Service.
