Does Dropping Your iPhone Cause Internal Damage? Experts Say

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Nothing’s scarier than dropping your iPhone face down on a hard surface. You walk over to see if the screen is shattered, but everything looks fine. However, is there a chance some internal components are scratched, loose, crushed, or otherwise damaged? Much like all smartphones, iPhones are far from bulletproof.

Dropping your iPhone can cause internal damage by loosening parts connected to the logic board. The results could range from a glitched screen to a broken battery. If you dropped your iPhone and it’s not working correctly, it’s best to get it inspected by an Apple specialist to know how to repair it.

Throughout this post, we’ll cover what happens when you drop an iPhone, how you know if something’s wrong internally, and whether or not the motherboard is protected. We’ll also discuss what long-term repeated drops can do to your phone.

Can Dropping an iPhone Cause Internal Damage?

Dropping an iPhone causes internal damage because none of the components are designed to handle shocks from the impact. As a result, when your iPhone hits a hard surface, the force goes directly through the phone and harms anything in direct contact. Using a durable shockproof case like the NTG from Amazon can distribute the impact, drastically reducing the internal damage.

Here’s a list of potential internal damage issues caused by dropping an iPhone:

  • You might loosen the logic board and connected components. According to My Phillie Wireless, many of the parts are attached to the logic board. If they’re unlatched, the phone will break down and become virtually useless. It deals with the hard drive, which encompasses storage space, music playing, and more.
  • The battery could get rattled, which means you’ll have to open the iPhone to fix it. iPhones have enclosed batteries, much like the vast majority of smartphones. Many of them require special tools to open, so it’s best to keep a firm grip on the phone or use a gripped case.
  • Soldered pieces could wobble around inside of the iPhone without you knowing it. Once they disconnect, you’ll hear a rattling sound. It’s unsafe to solder pieces back into the iPhone if you don’t see what you’re doing, especially since you’d be working with heat directly on the valuable parts.

Needing another battery is the number 1 reason why you need to change your iPhone to discover the other tell-tale signs I recommend you read my dedicated article.

What Happens If You Drop Your iPhone Too Much?

Dropping your smartphone onto a hard surface can cause potentially devastating damage to the device’s internal components, camera, screen, and the charging port. Even with no visible damage you may have damaged the logic board, which has man different connectors and other components soldered to it

So, what can happen if you keep dropping a smartphone?

  • The screen and camera cover will likely break. A New Cell Phone claims the first things to go will probably be cosmetic scratches followed by shattered glass. Modern iPhones are made with durable glass, but it’s not tough enough to handle repeated drops.
  • You’ll have to replace internal components to repair the damage. Apple charges quite a bit for each part, so it’s essential only to fix what’s necessary (don’t let repair shops push the limit). It’s also worth checking your iPhone’s warranty to figure out if the damage is covered.
  • There’s a chance the charging assembly could loosen and need a complete overhaul. When the charging port is damaged, your iPhone won’t last more than the remaining battery life. The only two options are to bring it to a repair shop to have the port repaired or use a wireless charging dock.

Dropping your smartphone onto a hard surface can cause potentially devastating damage to the device’s internal components. Even if you escape the incident with a crack-free screen, you may have damaged the logic board, which has many different connectors and other components soldered to it.30 Dec 2019

Does buying from the Apple store offer any benefit vs buying online? To know for sure you should read the facts in my article.

How Do I Know If My iPhone Has Internal Damage?

To know if your iPhone has internal damage, check through all applications to notice if anything lags, blurs, or glitches across the screen. Also, don’t forget to text the charging cable and port to ensure it powers the iPhone.

Follow this three-step checklist:

  1. Turn on your iPhone and cycle through the usual apps (camera, photos, YouTube, social media platforms, etc.). You might notice cosmetic alterations, in which case there’s likely internal damage. A cracked screen is ugly, but it’s not enough to cause warped images; Something else is broken, too.
  2. Connect it to a charging cable to ensure it’s getting battery life. Much like we mentioned earlier in the post, the charging port can break. Charge your phone with a cable, then test it on a wireless charging dock if you have one. The battery should instantly respond to both of them if it’s still in good condition.
  3. Look for lines, blurriness, rapid battery loss, and strange sounds when shaking the phone. Use all of its features, including photography, filming, and streaming videos or pictures. These high-quality activities will show anything wrong with your iPhone because they’ll have horizontal or vertical lines on the screen.

Did you know using bad-quality third-party charging cables can damage your iPhone? To know what cables safely charge your iPhone please read my dedicated guide.

Can Dropping an iPhone Damage the Motherboard?

Dropping an iPhone can damage the motherboard, causing the charging ports, RAM, storage space, and other components to be harmed. The Fix Solutions shows how one drop is enough to fracture or fry the circuits running through your iPhone’s motherboard. This piece is responsible for powering almost every primary function on a smartphone.

Getting a high-quality screen protector and/or case will reduce the impact on the motherboard if you drop your smartphone. The Otterbox Defender Series Case is one of the most popular durable cases for Apple phones. It can prevent heavy hits to all sides of the phone, reducing the direct impact and stopping motherboard damage.

Sending your iPhone to have a motherboard repair or replacement can take quite a few days. Whether you have to get a case to prevent it from dropping out of your hands or practice better techniques to stop it from falling, do whatever you can to protect your iPhone’s motherboard.

Want to buy AirPods but have some questions about them? See my complete guide on Apple AirPods here.

Conclusion

Now that you know the potential damage your iPhone could suffer when dropped on the ground, you’ll know what to look out for. Remember, textured cases and proper handling will prevent these issues, as will durable glass covers. They’re minor investments that could drastically reduce internal damage, so why not give them a try?

Sources

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