Some iPhone users suffer from destroying their phones, but misuse of them
Here in this article are some tools to make any iPhone from the Apple company itself
Some tools to repair any iPhone for the year 2023
The right tool can make the difference between a successful repair and damage to the device.
According to the experts at iFixit, the new iPhone 14 is the best smartphone to repair since the iPhone 7. That makes sense, because Apple hasn't only worked to make it easier for owners to repair their devices, but it also helps Apple technicians when they repair iPhones.
What's odd is that the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max models aren't as easy to repair. Perhaps Apple decided to test the new design for durability first before rolling it out across the board.
There are two things you need to make successful repairs: Know-how and the right tools.
ifixit pro tech toolkit
For the past few years, the iFixit Pro Tech Toolkit has been my toolkit of choice. It contains pretty much everything I need in one place and in a convenient carrying case. I've owned - and used - my kit for many years, and it's still in good shape.
If I'd to describe the new iFixit Pro Tech Toolkit in one word, it would be "perfect".
Kit contents:
- 64-bit driver kit.
- Anti-static hand strap.
- Small suction cup.
- 3 x iFixit opening tool.
- iFixit opening tips (6 pieces).
- Reverse tweezers with nylon tip.
- Angled ESD tweezers.
- Blunt ESD tweezers.
- 2x Spudger.
- Metal knob forceps.
- Jimmy.
- Magnetic pad.
- Tool roll.
Here's a detailed listing of all the bits in the driver set:
- Phillips 000, 00, 0, 1, 2.
- Apartment head 1, 1,5, 2, 2,5, 3, 4 mm.
- Torx T2, T3, T4, T5.
- Torx safety TR6, TR7, TR8, TR9, TR10, TR15, TR20, TR25.
- Pentalobe P2, P5, P6.
- JIS J000, J00, J0, J1.
- Hexagonal 0.7, 0.9, 1.3, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5 mm.
- Triangular Y000, Y00, Y0, Y1.
- Nut driver 2,5, 3, 3,5, 4, 4,5, 5, 5,5 mm.
- Square 0, 1, 2.
- Gamebit 3,8, 4,5 mm.
- Wrench 4, 6, 8.
- Triangle 2, 3 mm.
- SIM eject bit.
- 1/4" to 4 mm driver adapter.
And iFixit has both.
You'll find know-how in the company's extensive repair guides. Simply the best information available, and all for free.
But what about tools?
Let's take a look at some of the tools I use. Not all of them are specific to the iPhone, but these are the things I use most often when diagnosing or repairing broken devices.
AVHzY USB-C power meter
USB power testers have become a staple in my testing equipment. A good tester can check if USB ports are putting out the right amount of power, check the power consumption of devices, measure the capacity of a battery, check what loads USB-C cables can carry, and more.
This is one of the easier to use USB testers on the market. It comes with a pretty good manual and there aren't too many buttons and controls that are confusing.
In addition to the display, this device can store data in a PC logger, which means you can run longer tests.
This one device can do so much that it's indispensable!
- Display: IPS 1.14-inch 240x135 pixels.
- Connectivity: full 24-pin Type-C connectors with USB3.2 Gen4 10Gbps pass-through.
- Voltage current range: DC 4-26V(0.1-26V PC) 0-6.8A.
- Resolution & Accuracy: 0.0001V 0.0001A 0.1%+2d.
- E-mark reader: Supported.
- Gravity sensor: Supported.
- VBUS oscilloscope: 8Msps, 1mV resolution.
- Fast charge trigger for PD, PD PPS, QC2.0/3.0, FCP, SCP, AFC, VOOC, SuperVOOC.
SE LED -illuminated head loupe
My eyes aren't what they used to be. Well, to be honest, my eyes were never that good, but I've managed. Since tasks involving small things are causing me more and more problems, it was time to do something about it.
That's where this cheap magnifying glass comes in, which not only has magnifying lenses, but is also illuminated by LED.
- The headband is adjustable and very comfortable.
- The two LED lights, powered by two AAA batteries, are bright and can be swiveled left and right or tilted up or down.
- Three lenses are included (a fixed 1.9x stereo lens, a fold-down 1.9x stereo lens, and a 4.5x magnifier), providing four magnifications up to 8.3x.
- The lenses are of high quality and distortion-free.
- The unit is lightweight, yet sturdy.
- I've been using my camera for over a year now and have no complaints. I really like the swivel and tilt LEDs as it allows me to direct the light to exactly what I'm doing.
Dremel VersaTip soldering iron
Once the diagnosis is complete, it's time to start the repair. And while most components are disposable these days, it's nice when I come across something that can be repaired.
Maybe it's a cable that's come loose or a component that needs to be replaced.
In those cases, a soldering iron comes in handy. I use a butane-powered soldering iron because it gives me flexibility when I'm not plugged in.
- Cordless butane soldering torch, perfect not only for soldering but also for pyrography, shrinking heat sinks, cutting plastic, heating and other hobby and craft projects.
- Built-in ignition trigger with safety lockout to prevent accidental ignition.
- Variable temperature control for precise control, from 1022° F - 2192° F.
- Flame lock mechanism provides a continuous flame for simplified operation.
Ulefone Armor 9 with built-in thermal imaging camera
My favorite Android smartphone is the Ulefone Armor 9. It's durable. It's chunky! It's rugged. And it's a built-in FLIR Lepton thermal camera!
I used to think thermal cameras were a cool toy for people with more money than sense. But after using one for a few years now, I find it invaluable to have the "superpower" of being able to see in infrared.
And why?
When it comes to electrical repairs, excessive heat means something is wrong, and with this camera I can see that overload directly.
I've used the thermal imaging camera in the Ulefone Armor 9 to detect bad connections and overheated components, and it's a great tool for detecting heat buildup in PCs. It's also useful in the home for a variety of things, from detecting heat leaks to finding air locks in the heating system.
- MediaTek Helios P90 octa-core processor, up to 2.2 GHz.
- 6.3-inch multi-touch display with 2340 x 1080 FHD+ 410 PPI LCD and IPS technology.
- 8GB LPDDR4x dual-channel RAM.
- 128GB UFS2.1 ROM.
- SD card up to 2TB.
- FLIR Lepton thermal imaging camera with -10℃ - 400℃ range (supported by 5-megapixel rear camera).
- Samsung 64-megapixel rear camera.
- 2-megapixel secondary camera on the back.
- Quad-LED flash.
- 8-megapixel front camera.
- 6600mAh battery.
- Supports 18W fast charging.
- Fingerprint unlock.
- Dual-SIM support.
- Headphone jack.
- Endoscope port.
- USB-C port.
- IP68/IP69K/ MIL-STD-810G rated.
iPhone accessories: Shiftcam's SnapGrip powerbank, light and tripod expand your photo options.
We spend some time with the Shiftcam SnapGrip family of camera phone accessories.
I've been fond of Shiftcam's add-on lenses for cell phones for some time, especially the macro lenses. Recently, the company entered a new market by launching a DSLR-inspired professional grip case for iPhones. The experience with this case has been used in a new line of consumer camera phone accessories - the SnapGrip system.
First steps with SnapGrip
The most obvious member of the Snap family is the SnapGrip. It combines a battery, wireless Qi charger, and Bluetooth trigger into one device that lets you hold your phone comfortably in your hand.
The first steps are quite simple. First, charge the battery via the USB port, and then press the shutter button to start Bluetooth pairing with your phone. Once paired, simply connect the SnapGrip to the iPhone's magnetic MagSafe ring and it's ready to go. The SnapGrip charges your battery while you take pictures: It's pretty small compared to many phone batteries, with only 3200 mAh of power, and while it's not enough to fully charge a phone, it's good enough to back you up when you find something you really need to photograph.
The SnapGrip's shutter button is mapped to your phone's shutter button; on an iPhone, that's the volume control. If you're not in the camera app and you press the shutter button, the volume will change, so be careful if you're listening to music while taking photos. There's another problem with the shutter button: it's clearly designed for right-handed users, and it's hard to use for lefties because the shutter button is at the bottom of the grip and hard to press.
Conveniently, the SnapGrip also acts as a stand for your phone so you can use it while it's charging. In this mode, the SnapGrip is a bit unstable, so be careful not to knock it over.
More than a handle
The other two accessories in the Snap family are a ring light and a handle that converts into a tripod. All three stack on top of each other, with the SnapGrip at the bottom, then the SnapPod, and finally the SnapLight. You can mix and match the devices and choose what works best for your current shot.
The SnapLight is a LED ring light with a central mirror, designed to be the last element in a stack of Snap devices. The light is attached to a rigid hinge, so it can be placed at an appropriate angle to get the best light for a selfie or as an alternative to a flash. Flipping it open also reveals the charging port, which is a bit inconvenient for desktop charging. It charges via USB-C and has four different brightness levels. Battery life is good. I've been using it for a few weeks now and am still on my first charge.
The SnapLight isn't as bright as a traditional flash, but it gives off a good amount of light and works well as a brightener in low light conditions. The mirror helps centre your face on the device, so you can use your phone's main lens for vlogging shots instead of the lower-resolution front camera.
The SnapPod uses the same magnetic handle to attach a tripod to your phone. Since it attaches with a magnet, you can attach it at any angle (a useful option if you fold up the SnapPod's legs and use it as a grip or mini selfie stick), making for a fairly convenient alternative grip. You can use it in conjunction with the SnapGrip to improve the balance and stability of your phone when using it ambidextrously for videos. Conveniently, the SnapPod's stem unscrews to reveal a standard camera mount that can be used as a tripod for any camera. Alternatively, you can attach the adapter to a regular tripod and add a MagSafe connector to your existing gear so you can use it with your phone.
Mix and match, with magnets
I've found that I use the SnapLight with the SnapPod as a standalone light for miniature and macro photography. It gives me additional lighting options beyond my phone's flash when shooting products or using my mirrorless camera with macro lenses. That's perhaps an unexpected benefit of this family of accessories: the items can be combined, so you only use the accessory you want to use when you want to use it.
Although the Snap accessory is clearly designed for iPhones and their MagSafe connector, you can also use it with other devices thanks to an included magnetic sticker. It's advisable to find out where the Qi charging coils are on your device before attaching the magnet so that you get the best possible charge. You may also want to place the sticker on the back of a case to ensure you don't lose your phone when you first pick it up with the SnapGrip or SnapPod, and have a good grip.
The different parts of the Snap system are available in five different colours: charcoal, navy, blue, champagne and coral. They match most phones, so you can choose the colour that best suits your phone or pocket.