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Fairphone 5 Top Unit Replacement

Introduction

Use this guide to replace a damaged top unit in your Fairphone 5.

The top unit includes the time of flight sensor, the camera flash, and the SD and SIM card slots.

What you need

  1. Fairphone 5 Top Unit Replacement, Prepare your phone for disassembly: step 1, image 1 of 1

    • Unplug all cables and power down your phone.

    • Press the power and volume up buttons at the same time to bring up the shutdown menu.

    Edit

  2. Fairphone 5 Top Unit Replacement, Pry up the back cover: step 2, image 1 of 2 Fairphone 5 Top Unit Replacement, Pry up the back cover: step 2, image 2 of 2

    • Insert your fingernail, or a pry tool like a spudger, under the notch at the bottom right of the back cover.

    • Pry up the back cover to release the bottom right corner clips.

    Edit

  3. Fairphone 5 Top Unit Replacement, Remove the back cover: step 3, image 1 of 3 Fairphone 5 Top Unit Replacement, Remove the back cover: step 3, image 2 of 3 Fairphone 5 Top Unit Replacement, Remove the back cover: step 3, image 3 of 3

    • Grip the bottom right corner of the back cover with one hand and brace the phone frame with the other.

    • Lift the back cover away from the phone to release the clips around its perimeter.

    • Remove the back cover.

    • During reassembly, align the back cover over the phone and press along the perimeter until all clips snap back into place.

    Edit

  5. Fairphone 5 Top Unit Replacement, Remove the battery: step 4, image 1 of 3 Fairphone 5 Top Unit Replacement, Remove the battery: step 4, image 2 of 3 Fairphone 5 Top Unit Replacement, Remove the battery: step 4, image 3 of 3

    • Use your fingernail, or a pry tool like a spudger, to lift the battery by its tab along the bottom edge.

    • Remove the battery.

    • During reassembly, slide the top edge of the battery into its recess in the frame before pressing the battery into place.

    Edit

  6. Fairphone 5 Top Unit Replacement, Unfasten the connector cover: step 5, image 1 of 2 Fairphone 5 Top Unit Replacement, Unfasten the connector cover: step 5, image 2 of 2

    • Use a Phillips driver to remove the 3.9 mm-long screw securing the top unit connector cover at the bottom left corner.

    • The connector cover is labeled with a "1" and a triangle pointing downward.

    Edit

  7. Fairphone 5 Top Unit Replacement, Pry up the connector cover: step 6, image 1 of 3 Fairphone 5 Top Unit Replacement, Pry up the connector cover: step 6, image 2 of 3 Fairphone 5 Top Unit Replacement, Pry up the connector cover: step 6, image 3 of 3

    • Insert your fingernail, or a pry tool like a spudger, under the notch at the left edge of the connector cover.

    • Pry up the cover to separate it from the top unit.

    • The cover is connected to the top unit by a plastic cord. Don't try to completely remove it from the top unit.

    Edit

  8. Fairphone 5 Top Unit Replacement, Disconnect the top unit: step 7, image 1 of 2 Fairphone 5 Top Unit Replacement, Disconnect the top unit: step 7, image 2 of 2

    • While holding the cover out of the way, use a spudger to pry up and disconnect the top unit press connector.

    • To re-attach press connectors like this one, carefully align and press down on one side until it clicks into place, then repeat on the other side. Don't press down in the middle. If the connector is misaligned, the pins can bend and cause permanent damage.

    Edit

  9. Fairphone 5 Top Unit Replacement, Unfasten the top unit: step 8, image 1 of 2 Fairphone 5 Top Unit Replacement, Unfasten the top unit: step 8, image 2 of 2

    • Use a Phillips driver to remove the six 4.9 mm‑long screws securing the top unit.

    Edit

  10. Fairphone 5 Top Unit Replacement, Remove the top unit: step 9, image 1 of 3 Fairphone 5 Top Unit Replacement, Remove the top unit: step 9, image 2 of 3 Fairphone 5 Top Unit Replacement, Remove the top unit: step 9, image 3 of 3

    • Insert the flat end of a spudger under the screw hole along the bottom edge of the top unit.

    • Pry up to release the clips securing the top unit to the phone frame.

    • During reassembly, insert the top edge of the top unit at a downward angle into the frame before pressing it down and re-engaging the clips.

    Edit
Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

Take your e-waste to an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler.

Repair didn’t go as planned? Try some basic troubleshooting, or ask our Answers community for help.

Author

Alex Diaz-Kokaisl

Member since: 01/16/22

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