Galaxy S3 Front Panel Replacement

It is recommended to use a plastic tool for opening the rear case in the next four steps in order to avoid damaging of the clips along the perimeter of the case.

On the top part of the unit, in the notch where the rear case and the rest of the phone connect, insert the plastic or any other slim tool.

Carefully twist the tool until the clips disconnect.

Once again insert the tool from the left top side and continue with gentle twisting of the tool so the the gap can widen up.

Continue to move the plastic opening tool around the perimeter of the top left corner, gently prying up along the rear case.

Lever the top right side first, and repeat the same action with the down right side of the case.

Lift up the rear part of the case and remove it from the device.

If some clips are still holding the case down at the bottom, you should carefully peel it up in order to separate it from the rest of the phone.

For this step you may not need to use any tools, but it is still recommended.

Insert the opening tool into the small notch above the battery and lever it carefully.

Take the battery out of its recess.

Push the SIM card with your fingernail deeper into the slot.

The moment you hear the click, release the card. It will come out of its slot instantly.

For the reassambly process, place the SIM card back into its slot and push it until it clicks again. This way you will be certain it is in the right position.

With your thumb slide the SIM out of the slot.

Take the SIM card out of the phone.

Note: The procedure of microSD removal is the same as the one with SIM card.

Push the microSD card with your fingernail deeper into the slot. The moment you hear the click, release the microSD card. It will come out of its slot instantly.

For the reassembly process, place the microSD card back into its slot and push it until it clicks again. This way you will be certain it is in the right position.

With your thumb slide the microSD card out of the slot.

Take the microSD card out of the phone.

Ten 4.0 mm Phillips #0 screws that secure the mid-frame to the front panel assembly should be removed carefully.

With two fingers take the left side of the plastic mid-frame and remove it from the phone gently.

Carefully lever the rear-facing camera connector from its motherboard socket by using the plastic opening tool.

Pay attention: You should lever the connector and not the socket. Otherwise you might damage the motherboard.

To remove the headphone jack/speaker assembly, insert the opening tool from the front side of the speaker portion.

Lever the headphone jack/speaker assembly gently from the front assembly.

Remove the headphone jack/speaker assembly from the device.

Lever the front-facing camera connector from its socket on the motherboard with the opening tool.

Do not try to remove the front-facing camera just yet. The cable of the camera is still routed under the motherboard assembly to the ambient light sensor.

Carefully lever the connector of the digitizer cable to disconnect it from its socket on the motherboard.

Gently disconnect the display data cable from the motherboard.

Lever the Wi-Fi antenna cable connector from its socket on the motherboard.

Gently remove the cable from the motherboard.

The 3.0 mm Phillips #0 screw that is securing the motherboard to the front panel assembly should be removed.

Carefully raise the bottom of the motherboard assembly away from the front panel assembly.

Remove the motherboard assembly from the front panel assembly, paying attention that cables do not break.

The 2.0 mm Phillips #0 screw that is securing the front-facing camera bracket to the front panel should be removed.

With tweezers, carefully raise the front-facing camera/ambient light sensor/rear microphone assembly out from its socket in the front panel assembly.

Remove the antenna cable from its channel in the front panel assembly.

Do not peel it up completely since it is still connected to the antenna board.

Insert the tip of a spudger under the earpiece speaker, pry it up and remove the earpiece speaker from its recess in the front panel assembly.

With the flat edge of a spudger remove the upper part of the earpiece/volume buttons/ambient light sensor ribbon cable from the front panel assembly.

Carefully insert the flat edge of a spudger under the ambient light sensor.

Continue removing the earpiece/volume buttons/ambient light sensor ribbon cable from the front panel assembly.

Insert the flat edge of a spudger under the earpiece/volume buttons/ambient light sensor ribbon cable connector.

Carefully move the spudger across to continue removing the earpiece/volume buttons/ambient light sensor ribbon cable from the front panel assembly.

Insert a plastic opening tool between the buttons ribbon cable and the volume button.

Push the volume out of its recess.

Remove the volume button out of the phone.

Insert the flat edge of a plastic opening tool between the the earpiece/buttons/ambient light sensor ribbon cable and slide it down to loosen the adhesive that is securing the ribbon cable.

Pull the earpiece/buttons/ambient light sensor ribbon cable and remove it out the phone.

With a metal spudger gently peel the antenna board off the front panel assembly.

Remove the antenna board from the phone.

Push the power button out of its recess in the front panel assembly.

Remove the power button.

With the tip of a spudger lift the vibrator from its recess in the front panel assembly.

Peel the vibrator assembly off the front panel assembly by using the tip of the spudger.

Remove the vibrator from the front panel assembly.

Front panel assembly remains.

In case you are replacing the front panel assembly with a new one, remember to transfer all the parts you removed to your new front panel assembly.