I just bought a used AT&T GSIII described as having been dropped, with the result being that the capacitive buttons don't work. Okay, I thought, I'll buy it, fix it, and I just got a cheap phone. So I brought it home, opened it up, and I can tell right away something funny has happened to this phone. For one thing, there's scotch tape, and for another, there are obvious marks of a dremel having been used.
As best as I can figure, the guy dropped it, screen broke, and he ordered a replacement. The replacement was actually for the international version, which I'm guessing has a different chip arrangement, so the phone doesn't even fit together correctly. In an effort to fix it, he dremeled down the sticky-up parts as best he could, and then figured it was sellable at that point.
Evidence? First, it looks like the sticker with IMEI, etc, has been removed and reapplied. Second, the cutouts in the screen match the disassembly video I watched (British accent, I assume I9300), but the motherboard does not.
Now for questions for our experts out there.
Did I guess right? I9300 screen with I747 body?
The capacitive buttons don't work. Does the I9300 have different touch drivers that would be the source of this problem, or is it likely physical?
Anyone accidently have a I747 screen lying around they want to swap?
Here are some photos of the innards. I'll check back for responses tomorrow. Thanks!
Why not get your $ back and just get a non Frankenstein?
Because I got it cheap, and because it's fun to fix things.
What I'm looking for here is someone else who has taken their phone apart to tell me whether or not the screen side looks wrong. It fits wrong -- those bright shiny parts on the left part is where they dremeled away to try to get the components on the right side to fit.
Also, if there are any kernel/driver experts, what are the difference between the i9300 and the i747? Can I mix and match stuff to get a working ROM?
No hardware hackers here? I see GT-I9300 markings on the screen, but SGH-I747 and SGH-T999 markings on the main board. Can anyone confirm that my screen shouldn't have GT-I9300 markings?
the question is, what did they dremel away, and did they slip and knock some devices off one of the boards? Or did they not dremel off enough, and ended up shorting something else. Or get aluminum or magnesium dust under the BGA chips there, shorting pins that shouldn't be?
I'm all for cheap, but IDK, if I even spent $20 on it, I'd be raising cain with the seller to get my money back. there's no guarantee they didn't hose up the main board or the display in the process of trying to merge the two.
Now if you had one of each, the intl and US versions, and were able to confirm each piece worked properly on its own, I guess you could part it out.
Good comments, and those are obviously some of the risks that are present with this phone. It works fine right now -- I'm testing it out as my daily driver. With the navigation bar turned on, it works just like a Galaxy Nexus.
So obviously nothing is shorted out or vitally missing right now. Could something be jostled free or get fried later? Possibly, but any phone you get could go bad for no apparently reason. So far it seems like a good buy, though I do wonder about resellability.
The dremelled parts are all just metal protrusions that (I guess) are supposed to allow for the ICs on the board. Since the board arrangement doesn't match the protrusions, it wouldn't go together at all without cutting away some of the metal. I've actually done even more now (careful to protect the actual circuitry of course) so that it actually closes all the way. Also, the main board should be totally fine, because all dremelling and stuff have been done on the screen half of the phone. Unfortunately, the screen is the expensive half ...
Hey there oblib,
I think that the guy didn't just buy a new screen then, he probably also bought the housing for the i9300. That would be the problem here as the housing is completely different from the US side variants, thus requiring the dremel job. I think that the screen should still be fine, despite being for the i9300, but I'm not sure. Looking to buy a screen right now and I can't find any information on whether or not the screens will work (don't know if the US variants have some small differences to account for the revised chipsets).
Just in case, can i ask you a favor? Can you check if :
1. the screen works with the i747 innards? (reading on sites that they are possibly interchangable)
and
2. if where the flex cable is matches the position of where the i747 flex cable should be?
I'm pretty sure that they are the same because of the pictures and comparing, but i just want to double check =] couldnt hurt to be safe
As for your problem, not too sure about fixing the capacitive buttons, but you could always check the connection between the cables. As for repairing and fixing the poor dremel job, you can always get a i747 compatible housing. Here are a few:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Blue-Origin...112?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a78dec370
http://www.globaldirectparts.com/Samsung-Galaxy-S-III-SGH-I747-Front-Housing-p/smsng6115910.htm
I couldn't find any instructions for separating the housing from the screen. As fas as I could tell, it's glued together, isn't it? Because that was my first thought when I bought it -- just fix the connector.
Could you verify that your screen does NOT have GT-I9300 printed on the flex cable from the screen to the connector? At least I think that's where I saw it. If yours doesn't and mine does, then yes, everything fits just fine.
Until I find some instructions on separating the housing from the screen, I'm going to keep on assuming that the problem with the capacitive buttons is due to the differences in international and AT&T screens, because I would doubt that this housing has been separated from this screen, so how would any physical damage happen to the capacitive buttons?
It would be good for you if I figure this out, because if it is software and not hardware you'll have the same problem.
So I looked at your links, and that's exactly right. My front housing definitely does not look like those products. But the question still remains, how do you non-destructively separate the house and the screen? All that blue adhesion looks like a mess. Here's the global direct adhesive, by the way: http://www.globaldirectparts.com/Samsung-Galaxy-S-III-Housing-Adhesive-p/smsng6115915.htm
Edit:
Looking closer at the picture I posted in the OP, the printed "GT-I9300" is on the ribbon cable just above the battery compartment. That would indicate that the replaced the entire front assembly, cables at all...
For future record here's a side-by-side of the different housings. I believe that the right is an international body (with carvings to make it look like a I747), and the left is from a SGH-T999. They are obviously different.
From what I have read in this thread, the housings are different for all the different models of the SGH-XXXX.
Additionally, it doesn't look like it's as simple as mix'n matching the parts together to make a functioning Samsung Galaxy S3.
Does anyone have a reliable online source where someone could order front screen assemblies (the i747m / Canadian version)?
This thread has been very informative thus far. I have subscribed and will keep up with this thread. Great catches.
i9300 compatible with T747?
Looks like the i9300 screen combo isnt compatible with t747 right? I wonder if i can buy a i9300 replacement screen+digitilizer , and install on my I747 Frame? would that be possible?
Per this thread, NO.
Recently I had an issue with my i747 motherboard.
As i747 motherboard was not available, my local repair guy put i9300 motherboard and housing in my i747 body.
I am using that cell now. Nothing feels different. No hardware or software issue.
I have an i747 motherboard. Im working on fitting it to i9300 lcd housing . Everything works except the camera .
hi i have too an issue with my t999 motherborad can i put the i9300 in the t999 housing without problem !!!
Hello fellow explorers.
I have the SCH-R950 (US Cellular). The glass screen cracked and the underlying display is also damaged. I already tried replacing it with an OEM display assembly (but without the metal housing & frame) specific to my variant. This worked, but did not last (didn't settle in correctly and cracked at the first opportunity). Evidently my adhesive handling chops were not up to that challenge, though I learned a lot.
Now I've found a retail parts source for replacement Note 2 displays with the digitizer AND the metal housing attached (which is what I thought I had ordered in the first place, but not). There does not seem to be a specifically SCH-R950 option. BTW there does not seem to be a Note 2 forum specific to the SCH-R950 variant here, either, so I'm wondering what's up with that? They do, however, offer two possibilities that I think/hope are interchangeable with mine.
1. i605 (Verizon), which includes the "LCD Screen, Digitizer, Front Housing, Stylus Sensor Film and Navigator Keypad with Bezel", and
2. L900 (Sprint Nextel), which includes the "LCD screen, touch screen digitizer and front housing".
I think from the many photos, that these are actually interchangeable with each other and with my R950
.
They do not say either is compatible, but they also do not say they are not. I want to buy it, swap in all the snappy, clippy, and screwy goodies from my SCH-R950, and get back on track.
Will either work?
Thanks much for your help. I'm not a technician, but I am now confident about swapping out a complete display assembly (with the glass already sealed into the bezel), given how many times I have now had this dern thing apart.
Thanks much,
Pat
has anybody ordered and replaced the LCD screen on this phone?
i managed to crack mine after some month of abuse. anybody recommend an lcd screen assembly from ebay?
Yes. I have replaced a few as I work in a mobile phone repair shop.
Not sure if I'm allowed to post eBay links here but anyway here it is:
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Huawei-P...948322?hash=item1a172c98a2:g:jcoAAOSw6WdXidIF
The client actually bring the screen for me to replace his broken screen, came with screen and frame pre-assembled like this. While I have ordered one for a similar model for the Huawei Ascend G8 a few times it's pretty simple and hassle free when you buy it pre-assembled like that.
I could buy without frame but you get the hassle of adding adhesive manually which comes with the risk of the screen either not sitting on properly or pushing up because the adhesive was too weak or not applied properly. I've done a few G8's with and without frame, worked pretty well in my experience.
Note that the huawei P9 has two pentalobe screws on the bottom like the iPhones do and you will need to take the sim card / sd card tray out before opening it up. The whole metal back cover pretty much unclips from the screen frame. Do check iFixit disassembly guides on how to do so. Most of it is unplugging cables and unclipping stuff, the battery is a bit tricky the adhesive is usually strong for them. You gotta pull the battery adhesive tab if there is one and most likely the battery will still be stuck to the housing even with it removed because there is even more adhesive that is separate from that tab (pry carefully if you intend to do so of course, LCD cable runs under the battery if I remember correctly).
You can also buy cheaper from here but the quality as you can see is quite lower: http://www.eddogo.com/lcd-display-t...-with-frame-for-huawei-p9-eva-al00-black.html
As always make sure to match it up with model number.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDPRtzjqSlo
Hi all,
My screen is cracked on my huawei mate se and I have no luck finding a local shop that replaces the screens on these models. Is there any reputable store in the states that would replace the screens?
You will most likely have to do it yourself. It's nothing hard to do, beware and check for reviews about the LCD and maybe choose another besides the one from the link.
Here is a how to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkhtI7QhjbE
Here is where to buy it: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BF7TV94/ref=twister_B07BF95WHR?_encoding=UTF8&th=1
Hope it helps!
If you look on amazon you can find a ~45 dollar screen/lcd replacement that comes already in the frame. The option above doesn't look like it comes with the frame. Doesn't mean it's no good, just more work. You'd have to clean the glue off your frame to glue your new screen in place. I can't imagine it's terribly difficult to do but for an extra 15 bucks you can find basically a plug n play option. I just ordered one and replaced mine. Easy peasy. Took 3 days to get here. Pro tip- Install screen and boot phone before complete assembly to test functionality of screen and all other functions e.g. camera, fingerprint sensor, vol/power etc. The fingerprint option completely disappeared from my settings menu. Turns out I forgot to push down the tiny clip where the ribbon connection is. But since the phone wasn't fully assembled it was easily fixed. G/L.
This displays are very bad quality, where can I find a original one?
Hi,
I'm buying a used Moto Z Play. The first one.
I had a Samsung Note 4 before and that had an issue with the emmc (local storage) and phone would restart randomly, turn off, etc. This has a class action on it.
Then I had a LG G5. GPS will die on this model, on every unit. The screen is also prone to ghosting after you look at grey images.
Anything I should know about the first Moto Z Play? Is there a testing tool like Samsungs *#0*# (dial on dialpad and tool launches)?
Thanks!
when you first get it, look at the bottom side edge - the edge where the USB-C and headset jacks are: inscribed is your model number: it should say XT1635-02 / M1D764 - I say that because the first one I was sent was a -01 which is a verizon droid for which there is no unlock info. -02 is the Play and what most are discussing here.
- then power it up and look in settings/system/about phone/Software Channel and assure that it says what it should say for the particular phone you wanted - like mine says retus because i live in conus(continental US), etc.
- after that, enjoy your phone! It's nice!!! If you want to start modifying it spend some time in guides.
-
-Welcome!!!
You should buy a tempered glass for the camera, nothing else. Moto Z Play is a good phone, and right, check out near the usb C port, it must say xt1635-02.
The only "widespread issues" with it are the following:
-Back glass scratches easily
-Back camera glass scratches easily
Those two things are easily fixed by using a skin or a simple case, i use a silicon case, very thin but it has a protunding ring around the camera so when you put the phone on a table the camera doesnt touches it and scratches