3
Score
AXiSShOOte
37
Asked
Only front display replacement or full LCD Touch Digitizer Screen?
Hi,
Today my iPhone 4 fell for the first time and my front glass broke immediately leaving an ugly mark...
I can still use the iPhone like nothing happened so probably no internal damage.
My question is, if I can just replace the glass itself, leaving the LCD (I assume the LCD didn't took any damage from the fall).
Cause I dont know if the glass is glued to the LCD or something ?
I have found some1 on ebay that is selling the Front panel glass separately, for $62 compared to $148 for the LCD Touch Digitizer Screen Full set
Edited by: oldturkey03, rj713, mayer, Phillip Takahashi, and Taylor Arnicar ( ) , AXiSShOOteR ( )
6
Score
Alex Jansen
3.8k
Answered
Accepted Answer
You cannot replace the glass and LCD separately, please do not fall prey to people of eBay trying to offload useless replacement front panels that they bought before the phone was announced.
Unfortunately Apple constantly makes decisions in design that makes repair difficult. Here they decided to glue the LCD and the front panel together to remove the issue in older iPhones of dust getting behind the glass.
Sorry for the bad news, we really wish it could be done. You can see in our original teardown's main image that we tried to separate them. (look at the scarring on the lower left corner of the screen)
So do you suggest I get a full front panel set including the LCD ? Do you know a trustworthy shop where I could buy such front panel ? Preferably the same original front panel that comes with the iPhone4 ...
2
Score
Scott Head
14.2k
Answered
As far as I know, separating the LCD from the front panel is extremely difficult at best. We here at iFixit tend to think it's not possible but a few rumors around the net indicate that it it is. We don't sell the front panel for that reason. I'll try to get someone who took apart the phone to explain it more in detail.
1
Score
Jay
13
Answered
While i appreciate that this thread is old, i have managed to repair many iphone 4 models with both lcd & digitizer 1 part versions and also just the digitizer only. I have also replaced the digitizer without surround bezel which is also quite difficult. There are many EBay sellers who supply factory bonded digitizer and lcd units but my advice is to buy what you can afford but buy genuine as the copies do not last very long and end up displaying white screens then you end up doing the job twice having paid for 2 parts & 2 fittings of course!
0
Score
engincob
1
Answered
0
Score
Answered
There is no physical, intelligent, or magical way to separate the digitizer from the lcd without breaking them. Once they have been broken apart and no longer function properly or are independent of each other, they will never work again. go ahead at that point and take them out to the trash bin. These parts that are factory fused to work in cohesion with each other, are created to perform one way and that one way is fused together. If you come across an add that sells these parts separate, veer very far away because its just some moron trying to take your cash from its nice secure living place which is in the pants pocket or wallet and make you break it away from its security to buy his ever damaged, never to work again, garbage collection of iphone 4 parts. step away...step away...go now...go now to the land of fused digitizers and LCD's where honesty abounds and you can get an honest deal on the set. If it looks too cheap and true...it &^$# sure is!
0
Score
jerry
1
Answered
I have done approximately 200 iphone4 repairs..the entire digitizer /lcd unit..I have tried very unsuccessfully on about 25 of the damaged units to remove the LCD..I have tried various methods..from heat to razor knives..and even a chemical bond breaking agent..nothing worked..I didnt do this to reuse the Lcd..I wanted to test the rumour that it could be done..I have discoved that it cannot be done, and is not worth the effort to try..it is so much simpler to replace the entire unit..there is no risk of cutting your fingers with glass shards either..they are very painful..btw...
The digitizer CANNOT BE EFFECTIVELY SEPERATED FROM THE LCD...this is for those who are not understanding the thread responses. Anyone who claims it can be done..PLEASE..P
0
Score
Answered
0
Score
Answered
0
Score
tolgar
25
Answered
I ordered one LCD Touch Digitizer Screen Front Display for iPhone 4G from prezzydeal.com , it fits my iphone perfect!
0
Score
Answered
If you don't heat it up you're going to crack it.
Just because you guys can't doesn't mean none can.
I repaired countless IPhones and none of which have i broken.
They are not factory fused or some magical thing apple does to kill the phone in case you break it.
You can just remove the assembly take out the freakin' logic board.
Heat the front casing corners and sides with blow dryer or heat gun then just stick a small flat screwdriver between the digitizer and the front casing to seperate them. Then replace it. Put some adhesive before placing it back and that's about it.
0
Score
Peter
49
Answered
Yes,that's right!All the answers are correct.That is --you need replace the Front Glass and LCD display together,they are one part.
Please ask the professional guy to repair for you.Wish you good luck.
Do not believe anybody who said he can seperate the iPhone 4/4S front screen with the lcd display.That is a jock.
0
Score
tae shin
13
Answered
Maybe a few years ago it was impossible to remove the digitizer from the LCD, but in this day and age, most things are possible.
If you know where to look, you will be surprised.
Please note that this option to REMOVE A CRACKED/NON-WORKING digitizer from the LCD is NOT for everyone. I say this as the costs to remove a single cracked digitizer isn't worth the cost of the machine.
But if you're in the business, and you didn't realize that such a machine exists (to remove digitizers from lcds), then you shouldn't imply that such a machine does NOT exist.
PROOF: (YouTube Link)
http://youtu.be/MyU4E50QX5c - iPhone 4s digitizer removal and testing
http://youtu.be/0r7hacgrIO8 - Samsung G S3 digitizer removal - no testing :(
Got questions? Ask!