Rockt Science

Smartphones have become an integral part of our lives, but like any other electronic device, they can experience problems over time. In this blog post, we'll explore the top 5 most common smartphone repairs in the UK and provide tips on how to prevent these issues. Keep your device in tip-top shape and avoid costly repairs by following these simple steps.

Cracked Screens

Cracked screens are arguably the most common smartphone issue, resulting from accidental drops or knocks. To prevent screen damage:

Invest in a high-quality, shock-absorbent case that provides adequate protection for your device.

Use a tempered glass screen protector to add an extra layer of defence against scratches and cracks.

Always handle your smartphone with care and avoid placing it in precarious situations where it could easily fall.

Faulty Charging Ports

Over time, charging ports can become damaged or blocked with dust and debris, making it difficult to charge your device. To maintain your charging port:

Keep your charging port clean by using a small, soft brush or compressed air to gently remove dust and debris.

Avoid using low-quality or damaged charging cables, as they can harm the port or transfer power inefficiently.

Be gentle when plugging and unplugging your charging cable, and never force it into the port.

Water Damage

Water and smartphones don't mix well, and even devices with water resistance can still suffer damage. To protect your device from water damage:

Keep your phone away from water sources and avoid using it in the rain or near pools.

Invest in a waterproof case if you're prone to accidents or spend a lot of time near water.

If your phone does get wet, turn it off immediately and follow proper steps to dry it out.

Battery Drain

Smartphone batteries naturally degrade over time, leading to shorter battery life. To extend your battery's lifespan:

Regularly update your device's software, as updates often include battery optimisations.

Manage your screen brightness, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth settings to conserve power.

Close background apps that consume battery life and limit the use of power-hungry applications.

Non-responsive Buttons

Buttons can become unresponsive due to wear and tear or debris buildup. To keep your buttons functioning properly:

Clean around your buttons with a soft brush or cloth to remove dust and debris.

Avoid applying excessive pressure when using buttons, as this can cause damage.

If a button becomes stuck, try gently tapping or wiggling the button to dislodge any debris.

Conclusion:

Apple Embrace the Right to Repair (finally!)

Apple have announced that they will now allow “customers who are comfortable with completing their own repairs access to Apple genuine parts and tools. Available first for the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 lineups…”.

It looks like this new initiative will be starting in the US early next year, with a planned roll out across other countries throughout 2022.

Apple also state that “Self Service Repair is intended for individual technicians with the knowledge and experience to repair electronic devices.“ but they didn’t comment on an individual’s right to find a third-part repair services but do call out the growing number of Independent Repair Providers.

This is genuinely groundbreaking for those of you looking to get cost-effective repairs and third-party repair companies who are tired of sourcing expensive parts and dealing with software and hardware issues, such as Error 53 (older iPhones) and the more recent iPhone 13 LCD chip that makes it almost impossible to replace the screen, even if using genuine parts.

Rockt Science Repairs is now offering a mail-in service to ensure you stay safe and connected.

Head over to our dedicated Mail-In Repair page to submit your information and we’ll get back to you with further instructions.

We’re only offering this to a limited range of devices but we’re updating this list continuously. If your device isn’t listed, let us know and we can work with you on getting it repaired.

Genius?

The 2017 Touch Bar MacBook Pro was designed for super slick performance from a premium, trusted manufacturer. But what happens when you spill orange juice on the keyboard?

You could take it to a Genus Bar pay a cool £600-£700 (est) to be provided with a refurbished laptop or try and repair it yourself.

I took on one recently and, boy, is it a difficult job to replace a simple component! Apple do not build their machines to be fixed, that is for sure.

"Apple, we need to talk.. again. #facepalm"

The recent release of iOS 11.3 has completely disabled the touch functionality in many iPhone 8 devices with screens repaired by independent repair shops, when those phones had worked previously post-repair, according to a report Tuesday by Motherboard, . Apple is yet to comment on this issue.

The iPhone 8 update issue is the latest focus point in a series of disagreements between Apple and independent repair shops, individuals and communities like Rockt Science. We recall that in 2016, customers sued Apple over "Error 53" glitches, in which iPhones were bricked after third party repair companies replaced touch screens and the TouchID-enabled Home button, which Apple acknowledged that year was part of TouchID security. In early 2017, Apple adjusted its longtime policy and announced that third-party iPhone screen repairs would no longer violate standard warranties, as long as those repairs did not damage the casing or other related components. Apple also made their proprietary calibration device "Horizon Machine"  available to authorized third party repair shops. However, these essential tools are limited to Apple's strict and monopolized authorized repair centers. Additionally, Apple has continued to oppose "Right to Repair" laws in the US, which would force manufacturers like Apple and Samsung to provide essentials like repair manuals and repair parts to the public.

Like most of the consumer electronics industry, Apple opposes such legislation, believing that only authorized technicians should perform repairs. However, movements such as The Repair Association in the US and The Restart Project in the UK disagree and believe that if you brought it, you own it and you should have the right to repair it any way you choose. Meanwhile, for those with AppleCare+ Apple's own iPhone 8 screen repair costs £25 but this does not apply to the back glass, which costs £356.44 - the back glass is easily cracked and retained with a significant quantity of glue and is essentially fused into the case assembly itself.

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The Motorola Google Nexus 6 

The Nexus 6 (codenamed Shamu) is a phablet co-developed by Google and Motorola Mobility that runs the Android operating system. The successor to the Nexus 5, the device is the sixth smartphone in the Google Nexus series, a family of Android consumer devices marketed by Google and built by an original equipment manufacturer partner. Nexus 6 along with HTC Nexus 9 served as the launch devices for Android 5.0 "Lollipop".

The Nexus 6's design and hardware is very similar to that of the second-generation Moto X, which was released around the same time, with the Nexus 6 being larger and having higher specs while running stock Android.

Source: Wikipedia.

These solid performing devices are encased in equally solid adhesive glue which takes a lot of patience and skill removing and reapplying. The results are worth it - here's a Nexus 6 getting a fresh face from a new front screen assembly.

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The Galaxy S7

Samsung Galaxy S7 and Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge are Android smartphones manufactured and marketed by Samsung Electronics. The S7 series serves as the successor to the Galaxy S6, S6 Edge and S6 Edge+ released in 2015. The phones were officially unveiled on 21 February 2016, during a Samsung press conference at Mobile World Congress, with a European and North American release on 11 March 2016.

Source: Wikipedia.

Bloated Battery

This S7 was dropped hard, smashing the rear case and causing the battery to fail. After the drop the S7 wouldn't charge or stay on for very long, the most likely reason for bad batteries in these devices is because a small piece of foil ruptures with shock and causes the two electrodes of the battery to touch, overheat, and create problems.

Unless you're really comfortable working with at-risk lithium batteries. If the battery bends a fraction of a millimetre too much, you could rupture that same small piece of foil and start a chemical fire or explosion. This problem has only been intensified with the S7 Edge as that foil simply failed too easily.

Fortunately, there was no exploding batteries or damage apart from a very bloated battery. The S7 was back to fully working condition soon after a new battery was installed.

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The Acer Aspire One Cloudbook AO1-431-C2Q8 14 Inch.

Acer Aspire One is a diverse line of netbooks released in July 2008 by Acer Inc.

Many characteristics of a particular model of Acer Aspire One are dictated by the CPU platform chosen. Initial models were based on the Intel Atoms. Later, models with various AMD chips were introduced. Newer versions of the Atom were adopted as well.

Early versions were based on the Intel Atom platform, which consists of the Intel Atom processor, Intel 945GSE Express chipset and Intel 82801GBM (ICH7M) I/O controller, and is available in several shell colors: seashell white, sapphire blue, golden brown, onyx black, and coral pink.

Higher end models were released in June 2010 consisting of the AMD Athlon II Neo processor and ATI Radeon HD 4225 graphics controller. These are available in onyx black, antique brass, or mesh black shells depending on model. Also released was a version of the Aspire One 521 with an AMD-V105 processor running at 1.2 GHz, an ATI Radeon 4225 graphics controller, and equipped with a HDMI port.

Source: Wikipedia.

The LCD on this laptop had been damaged by a harsh drop and bled with an interesting pattern. Luckily the frame had survived along with the guts of the laptop. Replacing the LCD is straightforward enough, however, it was required to employ patience, delicacy and precaution while working around the main board.

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The iPhone 6s Plus

iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus (stylized and marketed as iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus) are smartphones designed, developed and marketed by Apple Inc. They were announced on September 9, 2015, at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco by Apple CEO Tim Cook, with pre-orders beginning September 12 and official release on September 25, 2015. The iPhone 6S and 6S Plus were succeeded by the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus in September 2016.

The iPhone 6S has a similar design to the 6 but updated hardware, including a strengthened chassis and upgraded system-on-chip, a 12-megapixel camera, improved fingerprint recognition sensor, and LTE Advanced support. The iPhone 6S also introduces a new hardware feature known as "3D Touch", which enables pressure-sensitive touch inputs.

iPhone 6S had a mostly positive reception. While performance and camera quality were praised by most reviewers, the addition of 3D Touch was liked by one critic for the potential of entirely new interface interactions, but disliked by another critic for not providing users with an expected intuitive response before actually using the feature. 

Source: Wikipedia.

Although a straight-forward procedure, with the right tools, skill and knowledge. Its important to understand a number of considerations for these devices. The quality of the part comes into question, to ensure that the brightness of the LCD, sensitivity of the touch screen and fit within the iPhone's bezel is secure, we order high quality parts. For Touch ID to work, we always transfer the original Home button assembly to the new screen, giving it a little clean before we do! A free tempered glass screen protector was provided with this repair.

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The iPad Air (first-generation)

The iPad Air is the first-generation iPad Air tablet computer designed, developed and marketed by Apple Inc. It was announced on October 22, 2013, and was released on November 1, 2013.

The iPad Air features a thinner design with similarities to the contemporary iPad Mini 2, along with the same 64-bit Apple A7 processor with M7 coprocessor. It was then discontinued with the launch of a 9.7 inch iPad Pro on March 21, 2016.

Although the Air inherits most of the same hardware components from the iPhone 5S, such as its 64-bitApple A7 system-on-chip and Apple M7 motion processor, it uses the same home button that was built in previous iPad models and therefore does not support Touch ID and fingerprint sensor.

Source: Wikipedia.

Initially this iPad came in with a broken touch screen, which was replaced and returned. Post-repair the device performed well during testing, but after general usage the customer found the touch screen to be unresponsive. Unfortunately some parts can become faulty, but that's why we offer a warranty on manufacturing defects that are otherwise missed during post-repair testing.

Often the fault is to do with exposed conductive strips on the inside of the touch screen, contact with static residue can hamper touch screen responsiveness and even cause ghost touches.

We had the iPad back in and identified the fault under further inspection, removed the faulty part to replaced it - since then it's not returned.

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The iPhone SE 

Released March 31, 2016, is Apple's successor to the iPhone 5S as a low-cost alternative to their flagship iPhone 6s/6s Plus lineup.

Like the iPhone 5S, the SE features a 4-inch, 1130-by-640 Retina display and TouchID sensor in the exact same form factor. Internally, the SE has the same A9 processor and 12-megapixel iSight camera as the 6s/6s Plus, but does lack a 3D touch display. Storage options include 16 or 64 GB flash memory, and color options include Silver, Space Grey, Gold, and Rose Gold.

The iPhone SE is distinguished from the 5S by the SE label printed on the rear case, as well as its matte chamfered edges, and the model number, A1662 or A1723, printed on the rear case. 

Source: Wikipedia.

Replacing the LCD/Digitiser assembly for this iPhone was relatively simple with the right tools and skill. The new high quality assembly came complete from our supplier fully tested. To ensure our customer had no concerns with accidental damage in future, we provided a free tempered glass screen protector with this repair.

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The Motorola MOTO G

Moto G is an Android smartphone developed and manufactured by Motorola Mobility. Released on 13 November 2013, the phone was initially aimed at emerging markets, although it is also available in developed markets as a low-price option.

After six months on the market, the Moto G became Motorola's best-selling smartphone ever, and was the top selling phone in Mexico and Brazil.

The Moto G was succeeded by the second generation Moto G in September 2014, the Moto G (3rd generation) in July 2015, the Moto G4 in June 28, 2016, and the Moto G5 in March 2017.

The phone features a 4.5 inch LCD IPS screen and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 quad-core processor clocked at 1.2 GHz, paired with the Adreno 305 GPU running at 450 MHz clock speed. The original operating system was Android 4.3 "Jelly Bean", with later updates to 5.1 "Lollipop".

Source: Wikipedia.

This MOTO G 1st generation required a new front assembly - replacing this part requires patience and a decent Torx T3 screwdriver. There are quite a few screws to remove! Included with this replacement was a free tempered glass screen protector.

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