I’ve been using the iPhone SE (1st generation) since it was first released (31.03.2016). It was my phone from 2016 to October 2023. The phone appears to be in very good condition, and everything functions properly. However, the battery was completely dead, so I had it replaced when Apple offered an official replacement service a few years ago. But now the battery didn’t last, and I constantly had to carry a battery pack to use the phone. I’ve replaced various parts on computers before, and a few years ago I replaced the battery in my old MacBook Air. It was simple and quick, and I also upgraded to NVMe storage. It can’t be that hard, right? I’ve replaced many parts in other electronic devices.
I checked the iFixit website to see if they sold a replacement battery for my old iPhone SE. They did, and the price seemed reasonable. I looked at their guide and video. It didn’t seem too complicated. So, I ordered the battery. When it arrived, I began the replacement process. However, when I tried to lift the screen, I pulled too hard, and the Home button cable broke. But that wasn’t the end of it. I tried to disconnect the other cables and constantly felt like a large elephant in a porcelain museum, breaking things. Fortunately, I managed to disconnect the other wires without causing any more damage. Removing the old battery was challenging because the adhesive strip, which needs to be pulled out carefully, broke. I tried to pry out the battery, but it bent a little. I had to apply some isopropyl alcohol to loosen the adhesive and then I managed to pull out the battery. Installing the new battery was easy, but connecting the cables was tricky, as I couldn’t really feel if they snapped into their sockets properly or not. Later, I had difficulty reattaching the screen and to this day, I haven’t been able to get it back in place properly. The phone’s battery is working fine and charges without any issue. But the Home button is broken, and the screen isn’t properly in place. Fortunately, my friend showed me how to enable a virtual home button on the screen; otherwise, it would be very difficult to use the old phone without a functioning home button.
The whole process took no more than 2 hours, but for me, the tech was just too delicate. I definitely won’t be doing this again next time. I had planned to replace the battery in my Apple Watch as well, but I won’t be attempting that either. For me, all this tech is just too …, and I feel like an elephant in a porcelain museum, breaking things with my large fingers.