iPhone 13 mini: YouTuber fully restores worn-out model with 77% capacity

DirectorFeng, a China-based mobile-device repair/modding creator known primarily for highly technical teardowns, repairs and hardware modifications, released a video some weeks ago detailing the completely disassembly and rebuild of an iPhone 13 mini. Not only does he succeed in what is a technically difficult repair process, he even equips the restored model with 512 GB, double the earlier configuration.

The not-so user friendly teardown uses a number of specialist tools, beginning with an andhydrous ethanol to soften the waterproof adhesive surrounding the screen, thus making it easier to remove. This is followed by a smartphone screen suction/press fixture to remove the screen. Upon seeing the internals, DirectorFeng then places plastic film on the cameras for protection. A great deal of unscrewing and adhesive removal then follows in order to remove the speaker, the battery, the motherboard and the hard drive.

"Formatting" of the hard drive (starting from 8:50) is by far the most elaborate part of the whole process. Since the old hard drive is permanently soldered into the motherboard, DirectorFeng uses a bore drill machine to carefully "buff" away the hard drive out of existence. Doing this without destroying the SDD housing or circuit pad requires extreme precision. Restoring the SSD circuit pad is equally as intensive, involving a number of highly specialist steps, including eventually "baking" the new 512 GB hard drive into place.

Upon installation of the new SDD, DirectorFeng proceeds to reassemble the entire smartphone, which includes removal of old adhesive, cleaning individual parts, applying new adhesive, installation of the new battery, applying new waterproof sealant and lastly, reinstalling the screen. The reassembled iPhone is then successfully booted up and shown to have 512 GB of space and 100% battery capacity.

Watching the entire process is something of a marvel, since DirectorFeng successfully carries out a number of difficult steps with ease. Funnily enough, he notes in the comments that atomizing the hard drive is one of the safer methods. Interested readers can watch the entire video themselves below.