If your iPhone 16 Pro screen has been scratched or slightly damaged but does not affect its functionality, refurbishing it can restore the phone to a closer "new" appearance. With some simple DIY repair methods, you can not only effectively remove scratches, but also make the phone look brand new. Phonefix team will tell you refurbishment tips and steps to help you restore your phone to its original shine and beauty.
1. Check the touch and display functions
Before starting the refurbishment, be sure to confirm that the touch and screen display of the iPhone 16 Pro are normal. This can identify potential problems in advance and avoid ignoring existing faults during the refurbishment process.
Step 2: Remove the screen
After turning off the phone, use a Pentalobe screwdriver to remove the two screws at the bottom of the iPhone 16 Pro. To protect the front camera, cover it with an opaque sticker before operation to prevent accidental damage to the photosensitive element during disassembly. Then use a suction cup or screen separation tool to gently pull up the bottom edge of the screen, insert a plastic prying pick after a gap is formed, and carefully pry it open along the edge.
After prying open the screen, note that the screen is still connected to the motherboard through the cable and cannot be directly pulled off. Open the screen to one side like turning a book to prepare for the subsequent disconnection of the battery and other cables. The whole process needs to be operated carefully to avoid scratching or damaging internal components.
Step 3: Use a UV laser machine to process the screen
Using a UV laser machine to pre-treat the screen can effectively soften the OCA glue layer and the screen printing layer, thereby reducing the difficulty of glass separation. Before operation, please select a drawing template that matches the iPhone 16 Pro to ensure that the laser coverage area is accurate. After completing the laser treatment, it is recommended to pause the operation and check whether the screen can still display and touch normally to ensure that the laser step has not affected the internal functions. This step is crucial to improve the success rate and safety of subsequent glass separation.
Step 4: Remove the front sensor ssembly and remove the frame
When removing the front sensor assembly carefully, be aware that the iPhone 15 and 16 series use injection molding technology to bond the frame, and traditional removal methods may be risky due to bending damage. After laser treatment, the frame removal is safer and easier. Next, use a soft prying knife to gently pry along the edge of the frame, and you can drop some alcohol along the way to help lubricate and reduce the difficulty of removal. Laser treatment effectively reduces the risk of damage, especially near the flex cable, ensuring more precise operation.
Step 5: Clean the adhesive residue and separate the front glass
After removing the frame, first thoroughly clean the residual adhesive to ensure that the new glass can be installed smoothly. This step is crucial for subsequent operations. Next, use a protective film and alcohol to separate the front glass, avoiding the cutting line, which is not only easier to operate, but also avoids the risks and complications that may be caused by the cutting line.
Step 6: Clean OCA residue and install new front glass
Use an electric adhesive remover to remove OCA adhesive residue from the screen. This tool provides constant pressure and steady movement, effectively reducing the risk of damage to the OLED display layer. After cleaning, install the new front glass in a dust-proof environment to ensure that there is no interference from dust particles. Use a calibration mold for alignment operations, which not only improves installation accuracy, but also effectively prevents bubbles caused by position deviation.
Step 7: Screen lamination and frame installation
Put the cleaned and front glass-attached screen into the laminator for lamination to ensure that the OCA film is tightly attached to the glass. Once completed, transfer the screen to the debubble machine to remove bubbles that may have been generated during the lamination process.
Next, use an automatic glue dispensing machine to accurately and evenly apply adhesive to the frame position to improve bonding consistency and reduce manual errors. Finally, align the new frame and put it into the heat press for hot pressing and fixing. Be sure to check whether the frame is firmly attached after lamination to lay a good foundation for subsequent assembly
Conclusion
Through the above steps, you can effectively refurbish an iPhone 16 Pro with damaged surface without affecting the original function, making it look brand new. Although the whole process has certain requirements for tools and operation details, as long as you are careful and patient, you can achieve a refurbishment effect close to the original factory. If you are not familiar with some links, it is recommended to operate under the guidance of professionals to avoid unnecessary risks. Refurbishing not only improves the aesthetics of your device, it is also an environmentally friendly choice that extends its life and reduces electronic waste.
