Just tried my hand at replacing the battery in my S10e with an Ifixit kit. I've had this phone since it came out in what.....2018? 2019? And at this point I don't think I have any intention of replacing it unless something happens to it or until they stop updating it. They just don't make flagship type phones in this size anymore and I really don't want a huge phone. This one still does everything I need it to. Makes phone calls. Sends text messages. Can browse the internet and stream music from it all day at work. Takes decent pictures of all the alcohol I drink and all the stupid shit I waste my money on, and my cars parked in my driveway because I don't go anywhere. What more do I need??
The whole process actually went pretty smooth. Was a little tricky to actually break open at first, but some heat applied by my heat gun, and my fingernail got it to where I could stick the little plastic sprudger tool in there to start separating all the adhesive. And then I spent a lotta time just trying to clean all the adhesive off of the phone and back plate. I purchased a new backplate from ifixit as well just in CASE i fucked up and cracked this one getting it off, since it is glass, but that didn't happen. And thats probably good because I didn't realize you need to transfer the camera bezel from your stock backplate onto the new one, which requires a new adhesive kit, that of course they sell separately!!!! But whatevs. I've got a spare at least. When I put the new adhesive on and got it all back together, it didnt quite COMPLETELY seal along the right side, which is where the adhesive is the thinnest, but its not that noticeable, and my phone is in a case anyways so it's not gonna make a difference. I just maybe shouldn't drop this phone in water any time soon now.
If this new battery works out I figure this'll last me until Samsung abandons this phone and then I'll be forced to upgrade. Maybe the S30 will be out by then
Tried taking pics of the process w/ my chromebook as I was going along, but it turns out the camera in that thing is atrocious and couldn't focus for shit. Apologies.
arstechnica.com
