My iPhone's LCD is slowly dying...what to do?

[996GT2]

Let me begin by saying that I have an iPhone 2G. I didn't purchase it through AT&T, so I don't think I can get warranty service (it's probably out of warranty anyways).

A few days ago, I noticed that I had about 40 dead pixels in my screen. I've tried the flashing fix for stuck pixels and it didn't get me anywhere. Today, I noticed that even more pixels are going dead, so I think my iPhone's screen is slowly self-destructing.

Is it worth it to attempt to fix this? I've heard that an LCD repair on a 2G iPhone is extremely hard to perform even with the proper equipment.

...Or should I just bite the bullet, sell my phone as-is, and buy a new phone?

If the latter, any suggestions on smartphones that

1) have WiFi and a decent browser
2) Are unlockable
3) have a capacitive touchscreen
4) work as a good media player
?

Thanks

 

[gorcorps]

You get a new phone... not worth the repair

Done and done

 

[pm]

Having personally repaired the LCD on a 1st gen iPhone, I can say that it's not at all easy. The two hardest parts are getting that black plastic thing removed without scratching badly, and then trying to replug all of the little connectors when you put the thing back together. The new LCD at the time cost me $80 on Ebay, it took about 2 hours and the repair was a complete success.

The video that I used to figure out how to replace the LCD was this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1z0pw2VK7M

But that bit at timemark 0:52 where he makes that black plastic removal thing look easy... it's not at all easy.

That said, given the stress of the thing, the price for a new LCD, and how much people are charging to do it for you ($200 typically), I would probably recommend just Ebaying it as a broken phone - you'll still likely get upwards of $100-150 for it depending on how much memory it has - and then buying a new smartphone or iPhone.

 

[996GT2]

Having personally repaired the LCD on a 1st gen iPhone, I can say that it's not at all easy. The two hardest parts are getting that black plastic thing removed without scratching badly, and then trying to replug all of the little connectors when you put the thing back together. The new LCD at the time cost me $80 on Ebay, it took about 2 hours and the repair was a complete success.

The video that I used to figure out how to replace the LCD was this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1z0pw2VK7M

But that bit at timemark 0:52 where he makes that black plastic removal thing look easy... it's not at all easy.

That said, given the stress of the thing, the price for a new LCD, and how much people are charging to do it for you ($200 typically), I would probably recommend just Ebaying it as a broken phone - you'll still likely get upwards of $100-150 for it depending on how much memory it has - and then buying a new smartphone or iPhone.

It's a 16GB first-gen iPhone, so I hope it's still worth around $150? I guess I could put that amount towards a new iPhone purchase.

Thanks for the help guys.

 

[pm]

$150 does seem to be roughly the going rate for a broken 16GB 1st gen iPhone - and for everyone reading who thinks this is an insane price, think of it as a 16GB iPod Touch with a bad screen and a cellphone radio you may or may not want and then it doesn't seem quite so crazy... sort of.

Not sure if they let us link Ebay links here nowadays but here's a completed listing for an example:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Apple-iPhone-16...emZ270495340995QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCell_Phones

 

[secretanchitman]

apple will replace the entire unit (same model, same capacity) for $199. i did this with my friends 2G iphone and they let him have a white boxed (remanufactured/refurb) iphone 2G. basically looked like new

 

[Rottie]

or you can get new 3G with 8GB for only 99 dollars. not sure if you care about 8GB

 

[996GT2]

or you can get new 3G with 8GB for only 99 dollars. not sure if you care about 8GB

Are you referring to signing a new 2 year contract with the Phone, or did you mean unlocked 3G iPhones were available for $99?

If the latter, that is a really good deal haha. I paid about $320 for my unlocked 16GB 2G 1.5 years ago.

 

[gorcorps]

Are you referring to signing a new 2 year contract with the Phone, or did you mean unlocked 3G iPhones were available for $99?

If the latter, that is a really good deal haha. I paid about $320 for my unlocked 16GB 2G 1.5 years ago.

It's for a new contract only

 

[Drekce]

I just sold a fully functional 16GB 2G iPhone for $200. They are still holding their value pretty well.

 

[Rottie]

It's for a new contract only

thank you

 

[McDoc]

Better to get a new phone. if I were you I wont go for another iphone I had the same problem with my iphones.

 

[CptCrunch]

Try bringing it to the Apple store and see if theres anything they can do for you. Sometimes they'll surprise you and give you a refurb

 

[Stueeee]

I would get another iPhone, cuz you just said 4 things of the iPhone, or at least it's unlocked in Canada...

 

[Narmer]

Are you referring to signing a new 2 year contract with the Phone, or did you mean unlocked 3G iPhones were available for $99?

If the latter, that is a really good deal haha. I paid about $320 for my unlocked 16GB 2G 1.5 years ago.

Why does it matter whether it's unlocked or not? You'll most likely be staying with AT&T.

 

[kaerflog]

I bought a couple of 2G 8gb from CL this past week for $100 each.

 

[MrX8503]

If you plan on staying with ATT for 2 years, just get a phone on contract.

If you don't plan on staying, then I can understand wanting an unlocked phone.

 

[pm]

Just a note, MrX and Kaer and Narmer - the thread is about 10 months old.