iPhone 3GS Teardown

The iPhone is now accessible; its retrieval location was 5,400 miles distant, a shorter journey than the previous year's acquisition.
The economic downturn resulted in the company's corporate jet being decommissioned, necessitating the CEO's use of an Italian bi-plane; his arrival in London occurred 47 hours afterward.
The iPhone 3GS reportedly achieves speeds up to twice that of earlier models, attributable to its 600 MHz processor, a 50% performance increase compared to the iPhone 3G's processor.

The packaging contents are standard and unremarkable, so a detailed unpacking procedure is unnecessary.
Distinguish the 3GS model from the others, as they share the same external appearance.
Although Apple doesn't provide specific model designations on iPhones, differentiating between the iPhone 3G (model A1241) and the iPhone 3GS (model A1303) requires checking the device's model number, as both are simply labeled "iPhone."

Although the initial iPhone models presented significant opening challenges, the iPhone 3GS, mirroring the 3G's design, should be considerably easier to disassemble. Two screws remain exposed on the device's lower edge, indicating a potentially straightforward opening process.
Using a Phillips #00 screwdriver, detach the two screws located at the lower end.

Employ a small suction cup to assist with this step; a larger suction cup can be used for recreational purposes.
The 3GS model features an increased number of connectors, totaling seven, compared to the six found on the 3G. Locate connector number seven in the lower-right area of the device, positioned directly above the dock connector.

Three ribbon cables secure the LCD and digitizer assembly to the main logic board; their detachment requires a simple three-step process.
The liquid crystal display panel is designated as component number one.
Refer to the digitizer component during this step.
Identify the ear speaker component.

The 3GS boasts a significantly enhanced 3-megapixel camera, a notable upgrade from the 3G model; Richard Lai reports that close-up photography is achievable as close as 5cm, and the camera effectively manages brightness adjustments during focus selection.
Because the camera module is a distinct part, similar to its design in the initial and 3G iPhone models, it can be detached if required for security procedures.
For every visual comparison provided, the image on the left side depicts a photograph taken using an iPhone 3G, while the image on the right side shows a photograph captured with an iPhone 3GS.

You now have the component separated into its two distinct sections.
Two sizable electromagnetic interference shields obscure all integrated circuits on the logic board, and their removal will follow shortly.

Similar to the iPhone 3G, replacing the LCD screen is straightforward; it detaches from the device after unscrewing six fasteners.
Due to the higher frequency of digitizer damage compared to LCD damage observed on the iPhone 3G, replacing the digitizer involves a more complex procedure, necessitating the use of a heat gun or hair dryer to loosen adhesive.

Despite the presence of the label explicitly instructing against removal, proceed with caution as this component was previously accessed in a prior repair cycle.

The main circuit board, similar in construction to the 3G model, contains all internal components and must be detached.

This component contains numerous integrated circuits and other delicate components.
The Samsung ARM processor is identified by the Apple logo marking.
The Toshiba flash memory, with a capacity of 16 GB, is located on the circuit board, positioned directly beneath the Samsung ARM processor.
Refer to the component diagram provided in the second image, a detailed analysis of iPhone 3GS chip layouts available on the phoneWreck website.

Locate the battery connection points on the logic board’s reverse side; they are situated in the lower right area.
Fortunately, Apple has once more designed the battery to be removable from the logic board without soldering.

The 3GS model is designed by Apple to offer extended battery performance.
The battery's rated voltage is 3.7 volts, and its energy capacity is 4.51 watt-hours.
The resulting capacity is 1219 milliampere-hours, exceeding the 1150 milliampere-hour capacity found in the 3G model.
The value has risen by a mere six percent.

The iPhone 3GS now incorporates video recording capabilities.
Video recording on the 3GS is achieved at a resolution of 640 by 480 pixels, with a frame rate of 30 frames per second.
The recorded video demonstrates satisfactory quality, falling short of outstanding results.
A video demonstration, recorded with a separate iPhone 3GS, is available showing the disassembly process.

Voice Control functionality is supported on the 3GS.
The reason this functionality was not implemented through software updates on previous iPhone models remains undetermined.
It's possible the 3GS utilizes a more advanced microphone or demands greater processing capabilities for voice recognition functionality compared to previous iPhone models, or that Apple implemented this change to distinguish the device.
Richard Lai confirmed Cantonese voice control functionality, noting that identifying the required phrases was challenging due to the absence of official documentation, which wasn't available in Hong Kong until early July. He also evaluated Chinese (Mandarin) and Chinese (Taiwanese) voice control, observing that the latter performed less effectively, likely due to difficulties replicating the necessary accent.

The necessary components for this repair are now available.
Additional information and revisions will be published periodically; revisit this resource or subscribe for notifications.Using a Phillips #0 screwdriver, carefully loosen the four 6 mm screws securing the battery connector to the logic board, then detach the connector, observing that the connector is keyed to prevent incorrect reassembly.Utilize the platform accessible at twitter.com.