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Most phones are not glued shut, including iPhones starting all the way back to 4/5. iPhone batteries are also not glued in. Source: We run independent repair sh

Most phones are not glued shut, including iPhones starting all the way back to 4/5. iPhone batteries are also not glued in. Source: We run independent repair shops.

constantcrying 4y ago
Modern Iphones all contain a glue seal between the back plate and the rest of the body (See: https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/iPhone+14+Battery+Replacement/152966 https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/iPhone+14+Battery+Replacement/1... if you do not believe me). Phones contain these adhesives to use less screws and to keep them water tight. Batteries are behind that glue seal. This is an engineering necessity and not something done to make them hard to repair.
- Tade0 4y ago
  > This is an engineering necessity and not something done to make them hard to repair. That's not entirely true. My Galaxy S8 has a user-removable SIM tray, and yet it's rated IP68. Water has some viscosity, so it won't flow through tight gaps unless appropriate pressure is applied.
  - constantcrying 4y ago
    How is this relevant? Which phone does not have a "user removable SIM tray". Usually they are sealed as well. And in any case, how does this matter for the back of the phone?
    - alistairSH 4y ago
      He's pointing out that tight tolerances and/or non-adhesive gaskets exist. Glue/adhesive gaskets aren't strictly required to make a water-tight seal.
- ericabiz 4y ago
  OK. We literally repair these for a living. You and I may have differing definitions of “glue”, but the water seal gasket is not what I would call glue. It is a sticky gasket that is peelable and removable. It can be replaced, and in fact we replace it when we do repairs. Think of it like double-sided tape. If you watch videos of people doing iPhone screen replacements, you can watch them peel it off easily and then replace it when they put the new screen on. I am a bit surprised that someone would want to argue with a person who runs shops that do this for a living, but maybe this explanation will help other folks understand. Also, I can’t reply to your other comment, but the iPhone 14 that is sold in the United States does not have a SIM tray.
  - constantcrying 4y ago
    >It is a sticky gasket that is peelable and removable. It is a gasket with a sticky substance to keep the back from falling off. This sticky substance is, as far as I am aware called "glue". I do not know what your point is. If you want to say "phone backs are secured by sticky gaskets" instead of "phone backs are glued down", be my guest. Who cares? Still, it is done for a particular purpose and shouldn't be legislated away. >If you watch videos of people doing iPhone screen replacements, you can watch them peel it off easily and then replace it when they put the new screen on. I am aware.
    - pessimizer 4y ago
      Their point was that you were saying a thing confidently that was not true. I'm trying to figure out what your point is, other than pretending like you have inside information about the necessity of glue that isn't there.
      - constantcrying 4y ago
        What was I wrong about? What do you think the sticky substance on the gaskets is? Couldn't possibly be glue. My point is the phones are glued for a good engineering reason.
    - tpmoney 4y ago
crispyambulance 4y ago
> iPhone batteries are also not glued in. I haven't opened one myself since the 5S but that sticky substance that holds down the battery, while it might not be "glue" in a strict technical sense, adheres the battery to the case rather firmly. It's totally reasonable for someone to say that's "glue". This is especially true if they end up deforming the battery when removing it. I think it all boils down to reparability. Just doing the basics (disassembly, and part replacement) with these assemblies take A LOT more practice and skill than the vast majority of people are generally prepared for. Does it have to be this way? I think that's the key question. There's ultimately trade-offs between having something that's easy to work on vs something sleek and thin vs something that's affordable vs something that's performant. As consumers we are at the mercy of "genius designers" to decide those trade-off's for us. Personally, I don't mind having my phone be a nightmare to repair as long as it does the job I need it do and I can pay somebody to fix it if that's prudent. With other things, like appliances (that don't have borderline microscopic parts), I really want something that has a service manual.
- ericabiz 4y ago
  iPhone batteries have underneath them strips of adhesive that can be peeled up using a screwdriver rolling in a motion like you would twirl spaghetti on a fork. This isn't glue. Certain older MacBook batteries were glued down. But now, even on newer MacBooks, the batteries are held in by similar removable adhesive strips. All of this is a step in the right direction. Believe me, Apple has done a lot of things to make third-party and independent repair more difficult. I'm not super thrilled with them. But saying Apple is gluing batteries or screens down when they're not is where I feel it's important to step in as a repair shop owner and explain what is actually going on.
  - alistairSH 4y ago
    As a consumer, that adhesive strip is just foam tape with glue on both sides. You're correct that it's easier to disassemble then glue alone. But, it's still glued by most people's definition of the word.

Most phones are not glued shut, including iPhones starting all the way back to 4/5. iPhone batteries are also not glued in. Source: We run independent repair shops.

constantcrying 4y ago

Modern Iphones all contain a glue seal between the back plate and the rest of the body (See: https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/iPhone+14+Battery+Replacement/152966 https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/iPhone+14+Battery+Replacement/1... if you do not believe me). Phones contain these adhesives to use less screws and to keep them water tight. Batteries are behind that glue seal. This is an engineering necessity and not something done to make them hard to repair.

Tade0 4y ago
> This is an engineering necessity and not something done to make them hard to repair. That's not entirely true. My Galaxy S8 has a user-removable SIM tray, and yet it's rated IP68. Water has some viscosity, so it won't flow through tight gaps unless appropriate pressure is applied.
- constantcrying 4y ago
  How is this relevant? Which phone does not have a "user removable SIM tray". Usually they are sealed as well. And in any case, how does this matter for the back of the phone?
  - alistairSH 4y ago
    He's pointing out that tight tolerances and/or non-adhesive gaskets exist. Glue/adhesive gaskets aren't strictly required to make a water-tight seal.
ericabiz 4y ago
OK. We literally repair these for a living. You and I may have differing definitions of “glue”, but the water seal gasket is not what I would call glue. It is a sticky gasket that is peelable and removable. It can be replaced, and in fact we replace it when we do repairs. Think of it like double-sided tape. If you watch videos of people doing iPhone screen replacements, you can watch them peel it off easily and then replace it when they put the new screen on. I am a bit surprised that someone would want to argue with a person who runs shops that do this for a living, but maybe this explanation will help other folks understand. Also, I can’t reply to your other comment, but the iPhone 14 that is sold in the United States does not have a SIM tray.
- constantcrying 4y ago
  >It is a sticky gasket that is peelable and removable. It is a gasket with a sticky substance to keep the back from falling off. This sticky substance is, as far as I am aware called "glue". I do not know what your point is. If you want to say "phone backs are secured by sticky gaskets" instead of "phone backs are glued down", be my guest. Who cares? Still, it is done for a particular purpose and shouldn't be legislated away. >If you watch videos of people doing iPhone screen replacements, you can watch them peel it off easily and then replace it when they put the new screen on. I am aware.
  - pessimizer 4y ago
    Their point was that you were saying a thing confidently that was not true. I'm trying to figure out what your point is, other than pretending like you have inside information about the necessity of glue that isn't there.
    - constantcrying 4y ago
      What was I wrong about? What do you think the sticky substance on the gaskets is? Couldn't possibly be glue. My point is the phones are glued for a good engineering reason.
  - tpmoney 4y ago

crispyambulance 4y ago

> iPhone batteries are also not glued in. I haven't opened one myself since the 5S but that sticky substance that holds down the battery, while it might not be "glue" in a strict technical sense, adheres the battery to the case rather firmly. It's totally reasonable for someone to say that's "glue". This is especially true if they end up deforming the battery when removing it. I think it all boils down to reparability. Just doing the basics (disassembly, and part replacement) with these assemblies take A LOT more practice and skill than the vast majority of people are generally prepared for. Does it have to be this way? I think that's the key question. There's ultimately trade-offs between having something that's easy to work on vs something sleek and thin vs something that's affordable vs something that's performant. As consumers we are at the mercy of "genius designers" to decide those trade-off's for us. Personally, I don't mind having my phone be a nightmare to repair as long as it does the job I need it do and I can pay somebody to fix it if that's prudent. With other things, like appliances (that don't have borderline microscopic parts), I really want something that has a service manual.

ericabiz 4y ago
iPhone batteries have underneath them strips of adhesive that can be peeled up using a screwdriver rolling in a motion like you would twirl spaghetti on a fork. This isn't glue. Certain older MacBook batteries were glued down. But now, even on newer MacBooks, the batteries are held in by similar removable adhesive strips. All of this is a step in the right direction. Believe me, Apple has done a lot of things to make third-party and independent repair more difficult. I'm not super thrilled with them. But saying Apple is gluing batteries or screens down when they're not is where I feel it's important to step in as a repair shop owner and explain what is actually going on.
- alistairSH 4y ago
  As a consumer, that adhesive strip is just foam tape with glue on both sides. You're correct that it's easier to disassemble then glue alone. But, it's still glued by most people's definition of the word.