iPhone 16 Pro Earpiece Speaker Replacement

Written By: Nick Schultz

Comments: 1

iPhone 16 Pro Earpiece Speaker Replacement

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

1 - 2 hours

Introduction

Follow this guide to replace the earpiece speaker in your iPhone 16 Pro.

You may need to replace your earpiece speaker if the sound coming through your iPhone's top speaker, especially during phone calls, is faint or crackling.

You'll need replacement back glass adhesive to complete this repair. If your phone includes a 5G mmWave antenna (USA models only), you'll need replacement adhesive or thin, double-sided tape for it as well if your earpiece speaker doesn't include it.

Tools

Parts

Tesa 61395 Tape

Step 1

Allow the phone's battery to drain below 25%, as a charged lithium-ion battery is a potential safety hazard.
Unplug any cables from the phone.
Hold the power and either volume buttons and slide to power off the phone.

Wilson Demosthène

Demosthène Wilson -

Step 2

If the screen or back glass is badly cracked, lay overlapping strips of packing tape over the glass to protect yourself and make disassembly easier.
Make sure there's a smooth area near the bottom edge that's big enough for a suction cup to stick to.

Step 3

If inserted too far, an opening pick can damage your device. Follow this step to mark your pick and prevent damage.
Measure 3 mm from the tip and mark the opening pick with a permanent marker.
You can also mark the other corners of the pick with different measurements.
Alternatively, tape a coin to a pick 3 mm from the tip.

Step 4

Use a P2 pentalobe screwdriver to remove the two 7.4 mm‑long screws on either side of the USB-C port.

Step 5

Apply a heated iOpener to the bottom edge of the back glass for two minutes.
Alternatively, you can use a hair dryer or heat gun to heat the bottom edge of the back glass until it's hot to the touch.
Be careful not to heat the phone hotter than this—the battery is susceptible to heat damage.

Step 6

Apply a suction handle to the bottom edge of the back glass, above the USB-C port.
Pull up on the handle with a strong, steady force to create a gap between the back glass and the frame.
Insert the tip of an opening pick into the gap.

Step 7

As you slice the adhesive securing the back glass in the next steps, be careful of the following areas:
There's a delicate cable connecting the back glass to the phone, right next to the volume up button. Don't insert your pick here to avoid slicing the cable.
There are multiple spring contacts around the perimeter of the phone. Be extra careful not to insert your pick deeper than suggested in each step to avoid bending these contacts.
If you damage the spring contacts, gently bend them back with a spudger or opening pick so they align with their gold contact pads on the back glass.

Step 8

Don't insert your pick deeper than 5 mm on the bottom edge to avoid damaging the spring contact.
Slide your pick back and forth along the bottom edge to separate the adhesive.
Leave your pick inserted in the bottom right corner to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Step 9

Heat the right edge of the back glass until it's hot to the touch.

Step 10

Slide your pick around the bottom right corner and halfway up the right edge, or until you feel a hard stop at a clip securing the back glass.
Don't slice near the volume buttons to avoid damaging the wireless charging/flash cable.
Leave this pick inserted to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Step 11

Heat the right edge of the back glass until it's hot to the touch.

Step 12

Insert a second opening pick at the bottom edge.
Slide the second pick around the bottom left corner and along the left edge of the screen to separate the adhesive and release the metal clips.
You'll hear and feel the metal clips release as you pass them.
Leave this pick inserted at the top left corner to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Step 13

Heat the top edge of the back glass, including the area around the volume buttons, until it's hot to the touch.

Step 14

Don't insert your pick deeper than 3 mm along the top edge to avoid damaging the spring contacts.
Slide your opening pick across the top edge and around the top right corner to the volume up button to separate the adhesive.
You'll hear and feel clicks as the top two clips release.

Step 15

Don't try to fully remove the back glass just yet—it's still attached with a delicate ribbon cable. Follow the next few steps to remove it safely.
If the back glass doesn't swing open easily, don't force it—go back around the perimeter with your pick to check for missed sections of adhesive or stuck clips.
You may need to lift the back glass up slightly before swinging it open to fully disengage the clips.
Gently swing open the back glass towards the volume buttons.
Support the back glass with a clean, sturdy object like a small box to avoid straining the cable.
Remove the opening picks.
Consider using polyimide tape to protect the rear camera lenses while you're working inside the phone. Don't push against the lenses to avoid damaging the delicate stabilizers.

Step 16

Use a tri-point Y000 screwdriver to remove the three screws securing the lower connector cover:
Two 1.2 mm‑long screws
One 1.0 mm‑long screw

Step 17

Use tweezers or your fingers to pick up and remove the lower connector cover.

Step 18

Use the point of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the battery press connector.
During reassembly, align the connector carefully over its socket and press down with your fingertip or the flat end of a spudger—first on one side, then the other—until it clicks into place. Don't try to force the connector into place. If you're having trouble, reposition it and try again.

Step 19

Use a tri-point Y000 screwdriver to remove the four screws securing the upper connector cover:
Two 1.0 mm‑long screws
One 1.2 mm‑long screw
One 1.6 mm‑long screw

Step 20

Use tweezers or your fingers to pick up and remove the upper connector cover.

Step 21

Use the point of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the back glass press connector.

Step 22

Lift the back glass off the frame and remove it.
During reassembly:
This is a good point to test your repair before sealing up the phone. Temporarily reconnect the battery and back glass (before replacing the adhesive), power on the phone, and make sure it works as expected. Power it back down, disconnect the battery, and continue reassembly.
Use this guide to reapply adhesive and install the back glass.

Step 23

The 5G mmWave antenna is only in United States and Puerto Rico iPhone 16 Pros (model A3083). For all other models, skip the next four steps.
Use the point of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the earpiece speaker and 5G mmWave antenna press connectors, located on the top right corner of the logic board.

Step 24

Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the six screws securing the earpiece speaker:
Three 1.2 mm‑long screws
Two 1.8 mm‑long screws
One 1.7 mm‑long screw

Step 25

Insert the point of a spudger in the bottom-right corner of the earpiece speaker and pry it up to remove it.
You may feel some resistance near the top edge, where the speaker gasket seals against the frame. Pull the speaker out gently to release the seal.
During reassembly, insert the top edge of the earpiece speaker into its cutout at a downward angle before pressing it flat to the frame.
You may have to lift the front camera assembly slightly to get the earpiece speaker in its cutout. Insert the antenna and earpiece speaker cables to the right of the front camera cables, then gently press the front camera into its cutout before pushing its cables flush with the rear cameras.

Step 26

Use your tweezers to grab the stretch release adhesive pull tab, located on the edge of the 5G mmWave antenna.
Use your tweezers to pull the stretch release adhesive strip out slowly and steadily at a low angle. Give it plenty of time to stretch and un-stick from under the antenna.
For additional grip, you can twist the adhesive around the tip of the tweezers while you pull.
If the adhesive strip breaks off, try to retrieve it with your tweezers and continue pulling.

Step 27

Lift the 5G mmWave antenna off the earpiece speaker and remove it.
During reassembly:
Use tweezers or a spudger to remove the old adhesive from the top of the earpiece speaker and back of the antenna.
If your replacement part doesn't include new adhesive, use a 4 mm x 16 mm strip and pre-cut square of thin, double-sided tape to secure the antenna to the earpiece speaker.
Press the antenna onto the earpiece speaker to adhere it.