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Why are there not more custom built iPhones...?

Turnpike

Turnpike

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Oct 2, 2011
599
330
New York City!
Back when it was just starting to be common that people would have a PC in their homes, when someone told me they "built custom computers" I thought they were on par with brain surgeons, and I remember one guy upgrading RAM on a computer for a friend, from a whopping 2GB to 4GB (all 4GB were on ONE PIECE of RAM, wow!), and it stuck with me how impressed I was that he could confidentially reach right into the side of a computer and do that... and if my memory serves me correctly, it was common that people were a bit impressed if someone could either build a computer or actually work on one. Now, fast forwarding 100 years (seems like it) to the present, it's almost silly if you don't swap out your own HD, RAM, or video card if you need to upgrade. Even if you're 12 years old. Familiarity with computers has made them seem much more simple...

Maybe I'm missing something, but is there a reason people aren't taking apart old iPhones to make something cool or different? Like putting in whatever the equivalent of a HD with the OS of an iPhone 4 with iOs5 or something, into an iPhone 6plus? If for nothing else, it would be cool and different- plus you could have the original Google Maps app (which I still miss) or the Youtube app that came in iOs5 where there are no ads... and on a Retina screen... of course from a usability standpoint an iPhone 6plus is better with what it comes with than anything from an iPhone 4, but between Instagram, Youtube, and even on MacRumours it would be pretty cool to have something totally different to show off.... it seems that even a few generations into the iPhone now nobody out there is really making a Frankenstein type of phone with the parts from different generations, if for nothing else other than to show it off on Youtube... (let's face it, these days that's become what's considered a reasonable thing to pursue... people are cutting them in half, boiling them, blending them, burning them...) So my question is are the parts really THAT impossibly un-interchangeable? There are a zillion parts phones on Ebay everyday, and even a mint iPhone 4 or4s goes for less than a good pair of sneakers anymore... I guess I've just been waiting for something to eventually pop up, and not much by way of that has.... (and given the iPhone's small size, there's always the iPads too...)

If there are a few hurdles that I don't know about it would be interesting to know of them... or reasons you might think why nobody bothers with this...
 
SeilerBird said:
Computers are simple to upgrade, phones are impossible.
Click to expand...

That's my point- computers seemed overwhelming when they first came out... When people pay almost $1,000 for a new 6Plus to open and smash, soldering parts with the help of all the stuff on the internet doesn't sound like that much of a leap...
 
People were opening up computers way, way back when. In the mid 80's for sure. They were NOT that mysterious or difficult. You could put all kinds of stuff in the SPACE inside those boxes.

Phones are totally different story.

To start with, try to find a screw to even open the damn thing?
 
Turnpike said:
That's my point- computers seemed overwhelming when they first came out... When people pay almost $1,000 for a new 6Plus to open and smash, soldering parts with the help of all the stuff on the internet doesn't sound like that much of a leap...
Click to expand...

Computers are made up of a bunch of standard, common parts. Smartphones are not.
 
Turnpike said:
That's my point- computers seemed overwhelming when they first came out... When people pay almost $1,000 for a new 6Plus to open and smash, soldering parts with the help of all the stuff on the internet doesn't sound like that much of a leap...
Click to expand...
PC computers were never overwhelming. They are totally plug and play from beginning to end. Super easy to upgrade, no soldering needed. Meanwhile phones are the typical stuffing 10 pounds of junk into a 5 pound bag. No room for any changes or additions. And phones are definitely not plug and play.
 
yjchua95 said:
Problem is you need a microscope to do any soldering on the iPhone.
Click to expand...

Not just a microscope. Removing and installing a BGA can require specialized equipment that costs thousands of dollars.

OP, you have complete misunderstanding of how this works if you're actually comparing it to upgrading a desktop PC.
 
Applejuiced said:
Op you should stick to things you know instead of ever considering modding iPhones.
You're not just missing something, you're missing a lot...
Click to expand...

Oh, I'm not considering it... I was just surprised that someone else hasn't. But now I realize that these things really are more "once piece" than I first thought. Thanks for the input everyone, I've seen places in the mall where they replace screens, and wondered why there weren't more people tinkering with more parts of the phones... but I can see now they really are that complicated.

Thanks for the input!
 
Turnpike said:
Back when it was just starting to be common that people would have a PC in their homes, when someone told me they "built custom computers" I thought they were on par with brain surgeons, and I remember one guy upgrading RAM on a computer for a friend, from a whopping 2GB to 4GB (all 4GB were on ONE PIECE of RAM, wow!), and it stuck with me how impressed I was that he could confidentially reach right into the side of a computer and do that..
Click to expand...

Good times. I remember my old 486 DX66 machine. My dad used to pack the whole thing including monitor, tower etc into his car and take me around to my mates every weekend where we would link my computer and his using a null modem cable and play networked doom.
His computer was a Pentium 75 and I was extremely jealous

Even my poor 486's RAM upgrade from 4mb to 8mb (IIRC) costing £130 couldn't match the might of that Pentium.

And don't even get me started on the new technology of an external CD burner that i just HAD to have so spent another £160 on.

Anyway, that's totally off topic but I enjoyed the trip down memory lane. Sorry OP
 
Rlong405 said:
Good times. I remember my old 486 DX66 machine. My dad used to pack the whole thing including monitor, tower etc into his car and take me around to my mates every weekend where we would link my computer and his using a null modem cable and play networked doom.
His computer was a Pentium 75 and I was extremely jealous

Even my poor 486's RAM upgrade from 4mb to 8mb (IIRC) costing £130 couldn't match the might of that Pentium.

And don't even get me started on the new technology of an external CD burner that i just HAD to have so spent another £160 on.

Anyway, that's totally off topic but I enjoyed the trip down memory lane. Sorry OP
Click to expand...

So it's not just me who thinks back to that time... good to know! ;)
 
Turnpike said:
Oh, I'm not considering it... I was just surprised that someone else hasn't. But now I realize that these things really are more "once piece" than I first thought. Thanks for the input everyone, I've seen places in the mall where they replace screens, and wondered why there weren't more people tinkering with more parts of the phones... but I can see now they really are that complicated.

Thanks for the input!
Click to expand...

The places in the mall just replace whole parts and many do not do that very well. That is much different than exchanging components on the circuit board. Even Apple does not do stuff like that, they just toss it in the recycle bin.
 
Turnpike said:
Oh, I'm not considering it... I was just surprised that someone else hasn't. But now I realize that these things really are more "once piece" than I first thought. Thanks for the input everyone, I've seen places in the mall where they replace screens, and wondered why there weren't more people tinkering with more parts of the phones... but I can see now they really are that complicated.
Click to expand...

There's another issue to this too: the tightness of the supply chain. Apple keeps a pretty tight grip on the supplies to make iPhones, and have a lot of customization to the components. You can't just pick up an A8 chip on the open market, or build your own circuit board.

As for the screen fix shops, there are very few of them who use new, genuine Apple components, and when they do, they are usually smuggled out of the supply chain and in very short supply. For the most part, those shops are using either parts removed from other iPhones (often carrier-blacklisted for theft/nonpayment, or iCloud-bricked and most likely lost/stolen at some point), or they're using third-party knockoffs which might or might not be of the same build quality.

This is totally different from standard desktop PCs: the parts of those ARE available on the open market and easy to get your hands on new, totally legit gear.

Here's another thing to consider: When's the last time you built a custom laptop using components? You could get SOME of the parts, like RAM and hard drives, But they don't just sell new laptop enclosures and motherboards.


P.S.: Looks like there is an attempt being made at custom smartphones, called Phonebloks. Definitely not an iPhone, though, or even very sleek for an Android phone. And not yet in production.
 
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It's much harder with smaller parts, compatibility, and other factors. It's not impossible but it's highly involving work compared to modifying a computer. Most computers are slip and slot, much more soldering with a phone.
 
iPhones are only made to work with the hardware that comes with it. there aren't any replacement parts available anywhere that you could buy that would make something "better" perhaps a 3rd party battery that maybe has a higher capacity in the same size, but i doubt it. the rest you'd never find.
 
Applejuiced said:
Op you should stick to things you know instead of ever considering modding iPhones.
You're not just missing something, you're missing a lot...
Click to expand...

If everyone shared that mentality there would probably be no Iphone, or at best ios would still be using web apps.

Op went a few kilometres too far. As with Nextel in its day. There are some mods that could be done though if someone took the time.
 
OneMike said:
If everyone shared that mentality there would probably be no Iphone, or at best ios would still be using web apps.

Op went a few kilometres too far. As with Nextel in its day.
Click to expand...

Sorry but not everyone is technically inclined or understands the basics of electronics and wireless tech.
Anyone can come out and complain or rant why isn't this work like this or in their minds it's all so easy and simple to accomplish. But without having no knowledge or background of what they're talking about just makes them look clueless.
Engineers and people in charge of making wireless devices or handheld electronics know the basics, the current obstacles and limitations and work methodically to overcome and come up with new products and services.
It's not something that everyone can do.
 
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