Tag Archives: repair

Smartphone Repair Myths and Common Misunderstandings

Oh no! Your smartphone is broken. Now you’re thinking about getting it fixed. But wait! You’ve heard a lot of things about phone repairs, and you’re not sure what’s true and what’s not. Well, you’re in luck! We’re here to clear up some common myths about smartphone repairs.

Smartphone Repair Myths 1: Only the Manufacturer Can Fix My Phone

A lot of people think that only the company that made their phone can fix it. But that’s not true! There are many skilled and experienced repair shops, like iFixYouri, that can fix your phone. These shops often have experts who know a lot about different types of phones. They can get the parts they need and have the right tools to do the job. Plus, they might be able to fix your phone faster and for less money than the manufacturer.

Myth 2: Repairs Are Too Expensive

Some people think that fixing a phone is very expensive. But this isn’t always the case. The cost can depend on what’s wrong with your phone. For example, replacing a cracked screen can be much cheaper than buying a new phone. Plus, some problems might seem big but are actually easy to fix. It’s always a good idea to ask a repair shop about the cost before deciding what to do.

Smartphone repair myths - do it yourself or hire a repair company
Photo by insung yoon on Unsplash

Myth 3: Repairs Will Void My Warranty

You might have heard that getting your phone fixed by someone other than the manufacturer will void your warranty. But this isn’t always true. In many places, companies can’t refuse to honor a warranty just because someone else fixed the phone. But it’s important to check the details of your warranty to be sure.

Myth 4: Repaired Phones Are Never As Good As New

Some people worry that a phone that’s been repaired won’t work as well as a new one. But a good repair shop can often get a phone working like new again. They use high-quality parts and know how to fix many different problems. After the repair, your phone might work just as well as it did before it was broken.

Myth 5: I Can Fix My Phone Myself

You might see videos online that show how to fix phones. But be careful! Phones are complicated devices. If you try to fix your phone yourself, you might end up causing more damage. It’s usually better to let an expert handle it.

So there you have it. Those are some of the most common smartphone repair myths about smartphone repairs. Remember, if your phone is broken, it’s always a good idea to talk to a repair shop. They can give you advice, tell you how much a repair would cost, and help you decide what to do. Don’t let myths and misunderstandings keep you from making the best choice for your phone.

Fix or Buy New: Smartphone End-of-Life Choices

Understanding Smartphone Damage

Before making a smartphone end-of-life decision, it’s important to know how badly your phone is broken. Small issues like a tiny crack or dent don’t usually affect how your phone works. In many cases, fixing it can be cheap and simple.

However, with some common problems like a shattered screen, water damage, or the phone not turning on, the fix might be complicated and costly. This is when buying a new phone might be a smarter choice.

Smartphone End-of-Life: Deciding to Repair or Replace
Photo by Jonas Leupe on Unsplash

Smartphone Repair Cost

The cost comparison between fixing your phone and buying a new one is an essential factor. If the repair cost is high and close to the price of a new phone, especially for older models, it’s probably a good idea to buy a new one. On the other hand, if fixing it is considerably cheaper than a new phone, repair is the way to go.

The Age of Your Phone

The age of your phone matters when making your decision. Older phones that no longer receive updates might struggle with new apps and updates that require more power. If your phone falls into this category, it might be time for a replacement.

Your Phone Usage

Consider what you need from your phone. If you’re a heavy app user and need the latest features, a newer phone might be necessary. However, if your phone usage is more basic, like calls, texts, and occasional internet browsing, getting your current phone repaired might be sufficient.

Environmental Consideration

Lastly, consider the impact on the environment. Repairing and reusing your phone is often the greener choice. The United Nations reports that a lot of electronic waste gets discarded every year, with only a small amount being recycled. Repairing your phone means you’re not contributing to this problem.

Whether you choose to fix your phone or buy a new one depends on several factors. These include the extent of damage, the cost of repair versus a new phone, the age of your phone, your phone usage needs, and your environmental impact.

Sometimes, fixing an old phone can save you money and help the environment. But if your phone is very old, heavily damaged, or doesn’t meet your needs anymore, buying a new one might be the better option.

How To: iPad Air 2 LCD Removal

Introduction

iPad Air 2 LCD removal is relatively easy to perform if you have some repair experience. Replacing requires transferring the home button, which is moderately difficult. The iPad Air 2 was a solid performer in its hey-day and still holds good value.

Proper attention should be given to safely loosening the adhesive strips with heat. Keep an eye out for the flex cable. So let’s get to it! Text directions are located below the video.

Tools Needed:

  • Metal Spudger [BUY]
  • Phillips Head Screwdriver #000 [BUY]
  • Spudger [BUY]
  • Guitar Pick
  • Dehydrator, Heat gun, or Heat mat

Recommended: Magnetic mat [BUY], screw capsules [BUY]

General Repair Guidelines:

  • Always use good lighting – smart device components are small and you’ll need plenty of light to see what you are doing.
  • Maintain a clean, organized workspace so you don’t lose or confuse any components.
  • Apply enough heat to loosen adhesive but not enough to damage the device.
  • At any point during a repair, if the adhesive becomes hard to separate, apply more heat.
  • After separating adhesive, keep the housing and screen in close proximity until flex cable is disconnected.

iPad Air 2 LCD Removal Steps

Click an image to enlarge

Heat up the device’s interior adhesive strips with a dehydrator, heat gun, or heat mat. Heat guns are the quickest, but use caution as it can be easy to overdo it and damage the device. Use the metal spudger to slowly and carefully separate the screen of the iPad from the body. Start on the bottom edge of the device and proceed slowly.

iPad Air 2 LCD Removal Step 1 iPad Air 2 LCD Removal Step 1b

Continue using the metal spudger or use playing cards or guitar picks to gently separate the adhesive up the sides and top. Don’t push too deeply towards the center of the device.

iPad Air 2 LCD Removal Step 2 iPad Air 2 LCD Removal Step 3

The screen is connected via flex cable, so do not pull the LCD far from the body. Unscrew the screw connecting the battery to the logic board.

iPad Air 2 LCD Removal Step 4 iPad Air 2 LCD Removal Step 5

Slide a guitar pick between the connection to ensure no power travels from battery to logic board during repair.iPad Air 2 LCD Removal Step 6

Unscrew the screws holding the shield over the flex cable connections.iPad Air 2 LCD Removal Step 7

Disconnect the two flex cables connecting the LCD panel and the logic board.

iPad Air 2 LCD Removal Step 8 iPad Air 2 LCD Removal Step 9

Voila! You have removed the LCD assembly of the iPad Air 2. If you have a replacement LCD, just work through the steps in reverse. You will need to switch over the home button for touch ID functionality, which is considerably more challenging.iPad Air 2 LCD Removal Step 10

For Help, Repairs, or Parts

If you need parts or tools for this repair, or if this repair is too much to attempt on your own and you need a repair professional skilled at iPad Air 2 repair, contact iFixYouri at 888-494-4349 or www.ifixyouri.com.

Why You Shouldn’t Buy Cheap Chargers

Beware of cheap chargers! It’s not just your phone you have to worry about blowing up on you (Sorry, Samsung). It’s safe to say that most of us have been caught in the wild without a charger and 2% battery and succumbed to the $8.99 iPhone charger at the gas station. You know the type; sold right next to the male-enhancement pills and questionable energy tonics, not the familiar clean white but instead a color that reminds you of bad candy. While these may be fine in a pinch, we recommend avoiding using these chargers regularly. Reports of fire, electrocutions, and (much worse) damage to phones have been widespread. These cheap chargers, sometimes blatant counterfeits designed to look similar to official accessories, are inexpensive for a reason. Let’s take a look at a MacBook charger, since its larger size makes things easier to see. The official Apple charger is on the left, the knockoff on the right.

macbook charger
Original vs. Cheap MacBook Charger

The biggest issue regarding the safety in these knockoff chargers has to do with insulation. These devices are designed to take a very powerful electrical current from your wall and convert it into something that can safely charge your laptop. As you can imagine, a lot of safeguards are required to prevent wires from crossing and to distribute the electrical load evenly. Those safeguards aren’t as numerous in the knockoff; you can see how much empty space there is compared to the official one. If you’re going to use one, make sure you’re not standing on a wet or metal floor or you might get a deadly surprise. Budget chargers for iPads and iPhones are similarly constructed: a housing the same size and shape as the official, but the electronics inside barely fill the space. Here’s another side-by-side with iPad chargers (counterfeit on the right)…

iPad Chargers
Original vs Cheap iPad Chargers

…and a $2.95 iPhone wall charger, looking like something from a vending machine.

Knockoff iPhone Charger
Knockoff iPhone Charger

Now, we’re not saying all off-brand charging accessories are bad (but a lot of them are, according to the BBC). You can save money, but don’t be tempted to save more than 50% or you might be in trouble. An iPhone charger (wall plug and cable) retails for around $25 and good alternatives, such as PureGear or AmazonBasics, can be found for close to $15. These, of course, will be of a different external design than the official Apple product, but feature similar build quality and safety. Beware of products that make an attempt to look like exact copies of official products but have a price tag one-tenth the size; these are designed to trick you into buying an inferior counterfeit while thinking it’s legit, much in the way that Ghosthunters is titled to confuse people looking to rent Ghostbusters at the local RedBox. In the interest of safety, be sure to look for logos of product-quality organizations, such as UL, CSA, and CE.

ul-csa-logo

At iFixYouri retail locations, we sell a variety of accessories for your devices, from protective and decorative cases to chargers. Our stores carry PureGear chargers, all of which carry either the CSA or CE label and are touted by our expert technicians. If your device was damaged by a faulty charger, either a charging port malfunction or a battery that suddenly doesn’t hold a charge or dies suddenly, iFixYouri can diagnose the problem and repair it quickly and with top-quality parts. We might even throw in a quality charger, too!

 

Photo credits http://www.righto.com/

The e-Waste Mountain Grows Bigger

Just because a product is in good working order, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the owner still wants to use it. Manufacturers use that theory to convince buyers to replace certain electrical and computerized goods. Our culture is permeated with consumerism and new gadgets are introduced all of the time to keep abreast of fashion. People want the latest electronic goods that combine style and convenience, not nearly enough people invest in electronics repairs when they should. While this does keep the economy moving with supply and demand, the e-waste generated from this non-sustainable practice is overwhelming.

Built to Not Last

Frequently building new models of devices creates a lot of electronic waste, but people who lust after the latest technology typically don’t take that into consideration. The latest iPhone is sleeker and more powerful and utilizes a different type of port – why keep the previous version?

This level of consumerism worries environmentalists, who know that many of the hundreds of thousands of earlier models, and all the accompanying accessories, just end up in landfills.  Electronic waste can have serious effects: electronic equipment contains dangerous and toxic metals and chemicals such as mercury, lead, and cadmium.  In addition to harming the environment, when the poisons seep into soil, people and animals are affected.

While there are often opportunities for residents of cities to recycle their electronic waste, millions of electronic devices like computers, TVs and cell phones join the rest of the garbage, perhaps due to convenience, or perhaps due to ignorance.

Is Your Old Smartphone Headed to the Trash?

When a useful electronic item, like a laptop or cell phone, becomes damaged, an easy solution is to throw it away and buy a new one.  Many people don’t consider that it is not only cheaper, but better for the environment, if the item was repaired, instead.  If you find yourself in this situation, where you have a device that is no longer working or even doesn’t look as pretty as it did when you first bought it, send it to us at iFixYouri — it’ll be like buying your item again, brand new.

New iFixYouri.com launches! New service center to be opened soon!

As ifixyouri.com continues to grow, we are proud to announce the launching of our new website for 2010! ifixyouri.com is South Florida’s premier iPhone repair specialists. We are currently located in Lake Worth, Palm Beach County, FL. We are currently in the process of expanding our facilities to a new service center located in Lake Park, Palm Beach County, FL. As the date draws closer, we will provide you with new and exciting updates about our new location that is soon to be opened!