Hi guys, welcome back to another Huge Jefferies video! In this episode, we’re diving into an exciting project: transforming a smashed and broken iPhone XS Max into an iPhone 12 Pro Max using a custom housing. This is not just a regular repair; we’re upgrading the look and feel of an older model to match one of Apple’s latest and greatest designs. Not only will this phone be restored to its former glory, but it will also boast the sleek look of a newer model, giving it a fresh lease on life.
Our journey starts with a custom housing in the iPhone 12 Pro’s Pacific Blue color. At first glance, this housing looks indistinguishable from the original iPhone 12 Pro Max. Inside, however, it’s designed to fit the older iPhone XS Max, complete with all the correct screw placements for the components. The housing also includes a custom flash flex cable, allowing us to reposition the flash. The iPhone XS Max originally has only two cameras, but this new casing has a fake third camera and a LiDAR sensor. Simply installing a regular iPhone 12 housing wouldn’t work, as its internal components differ significantly from the XS Max.
This custom housing presents an interesting challenge: will the final product truly look and feel like a real iPhone 12 Pro Max? Along the way, we’ll also replace the damaged display and the battery for good measure, ensuring the phone not only looks good but functions well too.
To begin, we remove the two pentalobe screws from the bottom of our iPhone XS Max. Using a suction cup, we lift up the display panel and insert a plastic pick. Surprisingly, we didn’t even need to use heat for this phone as it separated easily. Initially, we thought someone had tampered with it, but it looks like it’s never been opened. This is a great start, as it means we won’t have to deal with any previous repair issues.
We use the iHold tool to keep the display in place while we unscrew the brackets and disconnect the display flex cables. After removing the brackets, we start unplugging the flex cables. The first one is glued and forms part of the Face ID sensor. If damaged, it can’t be replaced unless done by Apple. After unplugging it, only two more display flex cables need to be detached before removing the entire display assembly. With the display removed, we get a clear look at the inside of the iPhone XS Max in its stock configuration.
Now, it’s time to tear this phone down to its smallest components, even the tiny mesh grilles in the speaker ports, and transfer them into our iPhone 12 Pro Max-style casing. We start at the lower portion of the phone, removing the Taptic Engine and speaker, along with a few other components and screws. This gives us access to the battery, which we remove next.
The bottom section of the phone doesn’t take up much space, but there are numerous screws of different types. Keeping track of these screws is crucial for reassembly. After disconnecting the flex cable underneath, we remove the Taptic Engine and speaker. With these out of the way, we access the battery removal strips. These strips are tricky as they hold the battery in place very securely and are easy to break. If pulled horizontally, there’s a smaller chance of breaking them.
With the battery out, we disconnect the front-facing camera and Face ID module. These cables are adhered into place, so we must be extra careful. After removing the logic board, we proceed to the charging port and antenna. Various screw types, including tri-wing, Phillips, and a special standoff bit, are used here, making screw organization vital.
We then move on to the microscopic level, removing the plastic retaining brackets and mesh grilles from the speaker and microphone ports. These aren’t included in our new casing, so they need to be transferred. This tedious process is often skipped by many repair technicians but is crucial for a thorough repair. The attention to detail in this step ensures that our final product will look and function as close to a real iPhone 12 Pro Max as possible.
Next, we remove the remaining antennas and the wireless charging module. The volume and power buttons are also taken out, requiring a precise pair of tweezers and a metal prying tool to handle the tiny retaining clips. These components are delicate and essential for the phone’s functionality, so this step requires careful handling.
With the iPhone XS Max fully disassembled, we now spread all the parts across two magnetic mats. It’s time to crack out our new replacement housing and start reassembling everything. We begin with the volume and power buttons, transferring the rubber o-rings to the new buttons. These o-rings help prevent debris and water from entering the phone, maintaining its durability and longevity.
Next, we install the retaining clips and springs for the buttons. We face some difficulty with defects on the replacement buttons but manage to fix them. We also switch the mute switch to match our new casing and reinstall the button assembly and wireless charging module. These small but significant steps contribute to the overall integrity of the phone.
After securing all the screws, we glue the wireless charging module into place using e8000 glue, suitable for small components like the wireless charging module or LED flash. Our modified LED flash, specific to this modified frame, is installed next. It also contains the power button and rear camera microphone, which are crucial for maintaining the phone’s functionality and appearance.
As we reassemble, we encounter a crooked new flex cable for the LED flash and power button. We manage to connect it by slightly bending the cable. However, the logic board isn’t sitting flat due to the microphone on the flex cable. We reposition the microphone, but it now sits inside the phone, muffling the sound. This is a significant challenge as it could affect the phone’s audio quality.
Despite reaching out to the seller for advice and referencing other conversion videos, we find no clear solution for the microphone placement. We continue with the build, hoping the audio quality remains decent. This part of the project highlights the unpredictability and challenges that come with DIY phone upgrades, especially when using custom components.
We reinstall the logic board and face more challenges with the microphone blocking the camera flex cable. Eventually, we connect everything and turn our attention to the new display panel. Apple pairs the display to the phone by serial number, so we transfer these numbers from the old display to retain the True Tone function. The Face ID module and earpiece flex cable are also carefully transferred to the new display.
With the new adhesive installed, we connect the new battery and test the phone. Initially, it doesn’t power on due to a completely dead battery. After charging, we proceed with final assembly, reconnecting all components and closing up the phone. This final step is crucial in ensuring that all parts are securely in place and that the phone will function as expected.
Our project concludes with a successfully converted iPhone XS Max that looks like an iPhone 12 Pro Max. Although it lacks the iPhone 12’s hardware, the visual upgrade is impressive. The fake third camera looks realistic, though the curved display gives it away. We triggered an “unable to verify battery” message due to the battery change, similar to the anti-repair mechanisms in the real iPhone 12. This is a common issue with newer iPhones when using non-genuine parts, but it doesn’t affect the phone’s overall functionality.
All buttons work perfectly, and despite the microphone being inside the phone, it still functions, albeit muffled. The modified flash works inconsistently, but overall, the housing modification is a success. This project demonstrates the potential and challenges of DIY phone upgrades, showing that with patience and attention to detail, you can achieve impressive results even with older models.
For more exciting projects and to check out used devices, visit my website at Gadget Kings PRS. If you enjoyed this video, hit the subscribe button and explore my custom tech playlist for similar content. Thanks for watching, and I’ll catch you guys next time!
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