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I recently embarked on a challenging yet rewarding project: restoring a completely destroyed iPhone 8 Plus that I got for free. The phone had been thrown at a shipping container by its previous owner, who was frustrated by a minor brightness issue in the control center. Despite the violent impact, which left the frame snapped and twisted, the camera lens and home button remained surprisingly unscathed.

Assessing the Damage

Upon receiving the phone, the first step was to check if it showed any signs of life. Connecting it to a charger yielded no immediate response, but a few minutes later, the phone vibrated, and the home button started clicking. This suggested that the display was likely dead, but the phone itself might still be functional. To test this theory, I removed the broken display and connected a new one. To my relief, the Apple logo appeared, and the phone booted to the lock screen.

Initial Preparations

With the phone working, the next step was to restore it to a pristine condition. I began by removing the logic board, followed by all smaller components. Since the phone required a full housing swap, every single screw and component needed to be transferred to the new housing. Removing the battery was particularly challenging due to the strong adhesive tabs used in the iPhone 8 Plus. Despite some difficulties, I managed to remove the battery without causing damage.

Component Transfers

I decided to replace the dock connector with a new one and removed the old one to salvage the grille pieces and the white waterproofing gasket. Next, I carefully removed the power button and volume flex cable, which were adhered to the back panel. With the smaller components out of the way, I used a heat gun to loosen the adhesive on the wireless charging coil. This step was crucial because the coil is fragile and prone to breaking during removal.

Reassembly Begins

With the old housing completely stripped, it was time to reassemble the phone in the new housing, which cost around 35 Australian dollars. Starting with the power and volume buttons, I reinstalled all the smaller parts first. I then installed the new dock connector, followed by the taptic engine, and adhered the dock connector to the frame. The loudspeaker, antenna cables, and various metal brackets were next.

Reinstalling Major Components

I moved on to the display, transferring the home button from the old screen to the new one. Since the home button is paired to each specific iPhone, replacing it would have required a costly repair from apple technology. Fortunately, the original home button was intact, so I installed it in the new display along with the earpiece and front camera.

Next, I installed a new antenna at the top of the phone, replacing the broken one from the old housing. I also installed a new wireless charging coil, as the old one was damaged during removal. With all these components in place, I reinstalled the logic board, Wi-Fi antenna, and the dual cameras.

Final Touches

After ensuring all components were securely installed, I placed a new battery into the iPhone. To improve water and dust resistance, I applied a waterproof gasket around the edges of the phone. Carefully connecting the display, I sealed it down and installed the two pentalobe screws at the bottom. Finally, I added a tempered glass screen protector for added durability.

The Result

The restoration was a success. The iPhone 8 Plus, which had been in catastrophic condition, now looked and functioned like a brand-new device. It cost me a total of 139 Australian dollars to refurbish, a significant saving compared to Apple’s retail price of 1149 Australian dollars for a new unit. Everything, including the home button and rear cameras, worked perfectly. The only feature that couldn’t be restored was the True Tone functionality, as it requires the original display, which was not available.

This restoration project was not only cost-effective but also immensely satisfying. The journey from a shattered, non-functional phone to a fully restored iPhone 8 Plus was a testament to the value of patience and meticulous work. For those interested in more phone restoration projects, be sure to check out my phone restoration playlist and follow my social media for updates.