Phone Repair Guru examines packages from AliExpress, each holding the components that will hopefully be utilized to make a seventh-generation iPad. Sounds like a simple challenge: build a fully functional iPad with these components, primarily acquired online, and evaluate how the final cost compares to a reconditioned tablet that costs roughly $200 Canadian. However, there is a catch: the screen is purchased from eBay because the AliExpress selections were inadequate, and the housing is a bit of a mess, having arrived broken but salvageable.
The packages arrive in waves, beginning with the small components: volume buttons, side key, speakers, ringer buzzer, GPS and Wi-Fi antennas, headphone jack, microphone, home button and its flex cable, metal pins for accessories, screws, front and rear cameras, battery and white digitizer, and the motherboard with a charging port pre-soldered on it. Phone Repair Guru must sort through it all while keeping in mind that the quality of everything can vary greatly.
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The housing is assembled first, with the headphone jack installed and secured with a larger screw, and the magnet from the old configuration is pulled out and replaced once the new portion is in position. Next, the speakers are installed, held in place by screws at the bottom and a few adjacent. Antennas are attached on top of the speakers with some residual adhesive. The microphone assembly is slotted along its flexible cable, with the end poking through a hole in the frame.
Cameras are installed with care, as the front camera requires a little bracket from the old housing to secure it before being inserted underneath. The back camera is simply pushed into place and sealed with hot glue (because the preferred cold glue ran out, which I suppose is anti-rep tactics).
The battery comes next, with the motherboard being wrenched out to guide the battery connection, and then the battery is installed. The mother board is reinserted, and a little amount of adhesive is used to ensure that it is securely attached to the housing. Back in goes the motherboard, flex cables are linked, and the battery is secured with a single screw.
The digitizer layer is fitted on top of the home button using pre-applied adhesive. It is aligned using a metal back plate and a little dot for precision. Two flex cables and the home button connector click into the digitizer, and the LCD is fitted in, with the solid connector establishing contact and the bigger screws securing in each corner. The battery connector is tightly clamped down to keep everything locked in.
Finally, all of the remaining screws are inserted, and the protective adhesive removed. What happens when you push the power button? The Apple logo appears. The device boots up to iPadOS 16, the language changes from Chinese to English, Wi-Fi activates, and updates begin downloading. Function checks confirm that everything is working properly; voice memos are recorded and played back through the speaker and microphone. Charging is operating, the power, volume, and home buttons all respond, and touch input works properly. Of course, cameras work as well.
