Samsung Galaxy S8 is a pricey flagship phone for a reason: it packs several premium hardware under its hood. But what if we can expose these expensive parts for everyone to see?
A YouTuber named JerryRigEverything is popular for "rigging" gadgets and dismantling them to show the internal parts. For his latest video, instead of simply disassembling a device, he did something different: he created a clear back panel for the Samsung Galaxy S8.
The DIY video shows how to make a clear back panel for the Samsung Galaxy S8. Just a warning though: doing so will void the warranty, so caveat emptor!
Removing The Back Glass
The process is very simple but takes patience and careful execution. Samsung Galaxy S8 is a sturdy, well-built device so it cannot be dismantled that easily. So the user must use the necessary tools for this task. In the video, Jerry used a cutter, plastic wedge, and screwdriver. For the removal of the paint in the back panel, he used paint and epoxy remover and a piece of rag.
First, he removed the back glass panel of the phone. He heated the back side with a blow dryer to loosen the adhesive, then used a cutter to slice through the adhesive to remove the panel. (For an in-depth tutorial on Galaxy S8 teardown, watch his other video.)
The next step is to remove the camera frame and the fingerprint scanner stuck on the back panel. Using a cutter, he carefully removed the parts from the glass.
Clearing The Paint And Putting The Panel Back
The back glass is painted on the inside. As Jerry demonstrated, the paint cannot be removed by merely scratching it as it is stuck firmly on the glass. To do this, he used paint remover which can be bought from any local hardware store.
He sprayed the paint remover onto the painted side of the glass. The remover worked like acid that loosened and dissolved the paint. After a few minutes, he scraped off the paint carefully so he wouldn't scratch the glass.
Afterwards, he removed the cloudy laminate on the glass (the paint sticks to the laminate). He peeled it off and then washed the glass to rinse the chemicals. The result: a solid, clear back glass. He cleaned it with a glass cleaner and left it to dry.
Next, he removed the back plate protecting the screws. To expose more of the parts, he completely removed the wireless charging port. Then he also cut half of the twin loudspeaker.
Finally, he put back the camera frame and fingerprint scanner using a double-sided adhesive tape. He reattached the fingerprint scanner pins using a plastic wedge. He also put tape along the side of the case before snapping the panel back in place.
Voila, a Samsung Galaxy S8 with a transparent back panel to boast its topnotch hardware!
