Skip to main content

Repair information, troubleshooting tips, and guides for the sixth iteration of Apple iPhone, announced on September 12, 2012. Model: A1428, A1429

2521 Questions View all
Question Closed

Combining two broken iPhones into one rad (functioning) frankenphone?

Hello all,

I'm new to the forum but have experience working on big machines and small devices. I'm generally familiar with the iPhone inner workings and can handle intermediately complex tasks (I'd be comfortable replacing a logic board, but don't have the tools like a heating gun to replace a U2 IC). Here's my situation. I have two iPhone 5s with broken parts:

iPhone 1: 64 GB iPhone 5 in perfect condition, but won't charge. I've tried replacing the charging port and battery, and I'm 99% confident that the problem is the U2 IC.

iPhone 2: 16 GB iPhone 5 in really crappy condition. It's been dropped a lot, has bent-up outer case and a completely shattered screen. Everything internal is perfect and it works fine.

My goal: to combine these two phones to make one great-condition iPhone 5 that works and charges. My question: what's the best way to do this? And can I salvage the 64 GB memory? I can see a few options:

Option 1. The easiest thing would be to just put the nice screen (from phone 1) on the otherwise aesthetically crappy phone (phone 2). I'm left with a janky case and only 16 GB. Easy, but not preferred.

Option 2. The other (relatively) easy option would be to completely swap the logic boards between the two phones. Then I have a nice looking iPhone that works, but again has only 16 GB.

Option 3. What I would LIKE to do is to replace the logic board in iPhone 1 with the functioning one from phone 2, but somehow keep the 64 GB memory. Is there any way to do this short of just taking the U2 IC off of iPhone 2 and using it to replace the U2 IC from iPhone 1? Or un-soldering and re-soldering the memory?

Any other suggestions are welcome. I should mention that it's a USA iPhone 5, but I live in South Africa. Warranty is no good here, and there's nobody in-country who can replace the U2 IC for less than $600.

Answer this question I have this problem too

Is this a good question?

Score 0

1 Comment:

Scott, can't really swap the memory with a reball. The memory modules are BGA and again you will need to find somebody with the know-how and the equipment to change it.

by

Add a comment

1 Answer

board swap the cosmetically destroyed iPhone 5 to the Chassis of the one with the back IC. That's your easy way out.

Was this answer helpful?

Score 0

1 Comment:

Thanks William. As I understand with the board swap, I'll have to stick with the 16 GB of the cosmetically destroyed phone... is there any way to salvage the 64 GB from the bad IC phone?

by

Add a comment
View Statistics:

Past 24 Hours: 0

Past 7 Days: 0

Past 30 Days: 0

All Time: 642