DirectorFeng Restores an iPhone 13 Mini, Adds 512GB of Storage

A fan who still likes a phone that fits the hand mailed DirectorFeng a tired iPhone 13 Mini. Daily use had worn the battery to 77 percent health, enough that the owner charged three or four times a day. Storage sat at 256 GB and felt tight. iOS 16.2 was still on the device, a leftover most people would have overwritten years ago.

Director Feng, a China-based repair expert with a specialized in board-level work, approached the project as if it were a complete overhaul. Anhydrous ethanol was used to soften the waterproof sealant around the display, making it easier to handle. A unique suction and press apparatus was utilized to carefully peel the screen off the phone without damaging the delicate flex cables. To protect the cameras, plastic film was applied to the lenses to prevent solvents and dust from entering.

Once the screws and any remaining gunk keeping them in place had been loosened, the speaker, battery, motherboard, and soldered storage component were removed. The speaker and earphone grilles received some TLC because they had become clogged with debris and were causing strange sound effects. The effort then turned to the NAND chip, which is normally connected directly to the motherboard, so some careful drilling was required to remove the previous 256 GB chip until only the circuit pad remained. Restoring the pad to its previous splendor was not easy; it required some skillful movements. A brand-new 512 GB disk was then put on the cleaned pad.

A compact Tianyi 2520 mAh battery arrived, along with an original zero-cycle flex cable to match, so the phone would work properly with the new battery pack and not give any pairing warning nonsense. Adding that little of more capacity increased the weight by only 0.9 grams. The old adhesive was removed from all mating surfaces, making space for new glue and a nice waterproof seal. The display was then placed back in the frame.

When we turn it on, we see 512 GB of storage and 100% battery health, and the good news keeps coming, as a field test revealed that the rebuilt Mini could last 6 hours and 39 minutes without needing to be recharged, all at 50% brightness and volume. That’s what matters to someone who just wants a longer-lasting iPhone, not a bigger one.
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