Home/ Repair guides/ Fairphone 5 Top Unit Replacement

Official iFixit API visual reference

Fairphone 5 Top Unit Replacement

Use this guide to replace a damaged top unit in...

Fairphone Fairphone 5 Easy 5 - 10 minutes Guide 168823

Licensed iFixit integration

This attributed iFixit guide is displayed through Fixonic's recorded commercial API permission. iFixit remains the independent source and author of the procedure.

Guide overview

Before you begin

Use this guide to replace a damaged top unit in your Fairphone 5. The top unit includes the time of flight sensor, the camera flash, and the SD and SIM card slots.

Step 1

Prepare your phone for disassembly

⌕

TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Spudger Referenced by the iFixit guide

View item

Unplug all cables and power down your phone.
Press the power and volume up buttons at the same time to bring up the shutdown menu.

Step 2

Pry up the back cover

⌕

TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Spudger Referenced by the iFixit guide

View item

Insert your fingernail, or a pry tool like a spudger, under the notch at the bottom right of the back cover.
Pry up the back cover to release the bottom right corner clips.

Step 3

Remove the back cover

⌕

TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Spudger Referenced by the iFixit guide

View item

Grip the bottom right corner of the back cover with one hand and brace the phone frame with the other.
Lift the back cover away from the phone to release the clips around its perimeter.
Remove the back cover.
During reassembly, align the back cover over the phone and press along the perimeter until all clips snap back into place.

Step 4

Remove the battery

⌕

TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Spudger Referenced by the iFixit guide

View item

Use your fingernail, or a pry tool like a spudger, to lift the battery by its tab along the bottom edge.
Remove the battery.
During reassembly, slide the top edge of the battery into its recess in the frame before pressing the battery into place.

Step 5

Unfasten the connector cover

⌕

TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Phillips #00 Screwdriver Referenced by the iFixit guide

View item

TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Spudger Referenced by the iFixit guide

View item

Use a Phillips driver to remove the 3.9 mm-long screw securing the top unit connector cover at the bottom left corner.
The connector cover is labeled with a "1" and a triangle pointing downward.

Step 6

Pry up the connector cover

⌕

TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Spudger Referenced by the iFixit guide

View item

Insert your fingernail, or a pry tool like a spudger, under the notch at the left edge of the connector cover.
Pry up the cover to separate it from the top unit.
The cover is connected to the top unit by a plastic cord. Don't try to completely remove it from the top unit.

Step 7

Disconnect the top unit

⌕

TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Spudger Referenced by the iFixit guide

View item

While holding the cover out of the way, use a spudger to pry up and disconnect the top unit press connector.
To re-attach press connectors like this one, carefully align and press down on one side until it clicks into place, then repeat on the other side. Don't press down in the middle. If the connector is misaligned, the pins can bend and cause permanent damage.

Step 8

Unfasten the top unit

⌕

TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Phillips #00 Screwdriver Referenced by the iFixit guide

View item

Use a Phillips driver to remove the six 4.9 mm‑long screws securing the top unit.

Step 9

Remove the top unit

⌕

TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Spudger Referenced by the iFixit guide

View item

TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Phillips #00 Screwdriver Referenced by the iFixit guide

View item

Insert the flat end of a spudger under the screw hole along the bottom edge of the top unit.
Pry up to release the clips securing the top unit to the phone frame.
During reassembly, insert the top edge of the top unit at a downward angle into the frame before pressing it down and re-engaging the clips.