The mobile phone and smartphone parts market has been offering refurbished screens for several years now. But what exactly is this product? We explain what a refurbished screen is and the refurbishment process before offering it for sale.

What is refurbishment?

Refurbishment is a process that restores a device or device component to new or near-new condition.

More and more smartphone users are turning to refurbished products. However, few know how the refurbishment process works.

Which parts of a smartphone can be reconditioned?

Almost all parts of a smartphone can be reconditioned, as long as they can perform their functions in the same way as when they were new.

Some parts are excluded from this refurbishment process due to their nature, such as processors, for example.

As for parts sold separately, you will mainly find screens, chassis, batteries and rear glass panels. Refurbishment is preferred for the most expensive parts of a device. Other inexpensive parts are mainly excluded from this process, as the cost of refurbishment is not cost-effective compared to the cost of a new part.

Batteries are simply tested to check that their capacity is still high and that there are no signs of rapid discharge, damage or swelling.
Rear windows and chassis are visually inspected to check for impact damage or scratches.
The part that requires a more complex reconditioning process is the screen. The screen is made up of several components that can be replaced as needed to restore it to new condition. Here are the steps involved in reconditioning a screen.

The steps involved in refurbishing a screen

Diagnosing a damaged screen

To begin the process of refurbishing a smartphone screen, a detailed assessment of the damage to the screen is essential. This helps to determine the level of repair required.

Visual inspection
Examination of the screen surface to detect cracks, scratches or chips.
Check for black spots or dead pixels.
Functionality Test
Test the touch sensitivity and response accuracy.
Checking the display quality for discolouration or distortion.
Internal Component Analysis
Identify any internal damage, such as to connectors or cables.
Damage Documentation
Recording of all defects found for tracking and repair reporting.

Safe disassembly of the smartphone

The next step is to disassemble the device in order to isolate the screen.

Switching off the device: Always start by switching off the smartphone completely to avoid short circuits.
Removal of the SIM card and memory cards: This prevents any potential damage to data.
Opening the phone using appropriate tools.
Disconnecting the internal connectors: the screen cables are disconnected from the device to separate it.

Separating the glass and the display

Once the screen has been isolated, the next step is to separate the glass and the display. The display is the component that provides the screen's backlighting and displays the pixels. The glass covers the display to protect it and also provides touch functionality.

The glass is then separated from the display using a wire.

Replacing damaged components

Replacing the glass: If the screen is cracked but the display panel is working properly, only the glass can be replaced.

Cleaning the screen

Before reassembling the components, the screen is thoroughly cleaned. This cleaning includes:

Removing dust and residue: The screen is cleaned with a microfibre cloth and special alcohol to remove any dust, dirt or adhesive residue.
Checking for traces of glue or adhesive: If the screen has been previously glued, any glue residue is removed to prevent stains or bubbles from forming during reassembly.

Reassembly of the screen

The new glass is carefully applied to the screen. This requires the use of a special adhesive to hold the glass in place while ensuring optimal sealing and functionality.
Uniform pressure is applied across the entire screen to ensure a perfect bond.
The adhesive used must be of high quality to prevent air bubbles or image distortion. In some cases, pressurisation or heating machines are used to ensure that the screen is securely attached, that air bubbles are removed and that the adhesive hardens evenly.

Functional and aesthetic tests

Touch test: The touch sensitivity is tested to ensure that the screen responds correctly to finger pressure.
Display test: The screen is turned on to check the display quality, including brightness, contrast and colours.
Additional functional tests: Technicians check that the proximity sensor, if integrated (to turn off the screen during calls), the brightness sensor and other elements integrated into the screen are working correctly.

Product packaging

Once repaired, tested and cleaned, the refurbished screen is packaged for sale.

Is a refurbished screen reliable?

As you can see from the description of the reconditioning process, reconditioned screens are tested and repaired to restore them to the full capacity and performance of a new screen.

If you need to replace your screen, this is a choice that combines quality and price.

The price is lower than that of a new screen, while maintaining the quality of an original screen.