Samsung Galaxy S III Front-Facing Camera Replacement

To avoid damaging clips, use a plastic opening tool if possible.

• Insert a plastic opening tool or fingernail into the notch between rear case and phone's top edge.
• Gently twist the tool to release clips securing the top of the rear case.

• Hold the plastic opening tool with one hand.
• Apply gentle pressure to slide the tool left along the top edge of the phone.
• Twist the tool back and forth repeatedly to widen the gap between the rear case and the phone.

Move the plastic opening tool clockwise along the top left corner, gently prying the rear case away.

Use a plastic spudger to pry along the top right side of the device.

• Continue applying gentle pressure downwards towards the bottom right corner of the rear case.

• Lift up the rear case to begin removal.
• If necessary, peel the case away from any remaining clips.

Use your finger to pry the battery up from its recess.

• Alternatively, insert a plastic opening tool into the small notch above the battery.

Disconnect the battery.

Push the SIM card slightly deeper with your fingernail until you hear a click.

• Release the card; it will pop out of its slot.

For reassembly, repeat this process to click the SIM card into place.

Slide the SIM card partially out with your thumb.

• Grasp the exposed part of the SIM card.
• Remove the SIM card from its slot.

Use your fingernail to gently push the microSD card deeper into its slot until a click is heard.

• The card will then pop out of its slot when released.
• For reassembly, repeat this process, pushing the microSD card in until it clicks securely into place.

Slide the microSD card out of the slot with your thumb.

• Remove the microSD card from the device.

Remove the 10 x 4.0 mm Phillips screws holding the midframe in place.

Grasp the left side of the plastic midframe using your thumb and forefinger.

Lift it away from the phone with minimal effort.

Careful not to damage the motherboard by prying on the wrong component.

• Pry the rear-facing camera connector up from its socket using a plastic opening tool.
• Aim specifically at the connector, avoiding the surrounding socket area.

Insert a plastic opening tool outboard of the speaker portion.

• Pry the headphone jack/speaker assembly up gently using the tool.
• Work from the front assembly to achieve the desired separation.

Lift the headphone jack/speaker assembly out of the Galaxy S III.

Avoid damaging the camera connector when prying it loose.

• Use a plastic opening tool to carefully pry the front-facing camera connector from its socket on the motherboard.
• The front-facing camera cable is still routed beneath the motherboard, leading to the ambient light sensor.

Remove the digitizer cable by lifting its connector away from the motherboard.

Remove the display data cable from its socket on the motherboard.

• Pry the Wi-Fi antenna cable connector up from its socket.
• Gently move the cable aside to clear the motherboard.

Remove the single 3.0 mm Phillips screw holding the motherboard in place.

Carefully lift the motherboard assembly away from the front panel assembly.

• Separate the motherboard assembly from the front panel assembly.
• Mind any cables that may snag on the motherboard assembly.

Remove the 2.0 mm Phillips screw holding the front-facing camera bracket in place.

• The screw is located at the edge of the front panel.

Use tweezers to carefully lift the front-facing camera, ambient light sensor, and rear microphone assembly out of its socket in the front panel assembly.