Reasons Behind & Solutions for iPhone 6 Frame and LCD Separation Issues

Undoubtedly, OEM parts are better than refurbished or aftermarket parts whether in quality or durability. However, as the OEM parts are far more expensive and the supply is not always that stable, most repairs are done with refurbished or aftermarket parts, which can result in many irritating problems. For example, currently iPhone 6 frames are suffering from separation after being assembled with the LCD assemblies. Here we’re going to explain why this happens and how to prevent it.

 

Reasons:

 

1. Glue

 

Generally, iPhone 6 LCD assemblies and frames are held together by PUR glue, which has two types HMG (Hot Melt Glue) and CPG (Cold Press Glue). OEM factories use CPG to assemble the screen and frame, which requires 15 seconds cooling time, 2-3 hours protecting time (Protecting time: time to keep the mold to hold the glued parts). It needs higher cost, longer working time and better equipment to produce and handle. While the assembled flex or refurbished iPhone 6 screen replacements are glued with HMG which the cooling time is 10 seconds and the protecting time is only around 6 seconds. It costs less, doesn’t require a strict working environment, has a shorter working time and results in weaker stickiness.

 

HMG quality also varies by Low, Middle and High grades due to the different prices. Most third-party manufacturers use mid-grade glue for Apple products, however, it is not sticky enough to meet the higher requirements as the iPhone 6’s frame is thinner and the screen is bigger than previous models.

 

2. Frame

 

For assembled flex and refurbished iPhone screen assemblies with frames, both the frame and the front glass are high copies, and the frame is custom-made according to the size of the original front glass. After the molds of these two parts have been made, third party factories will constantly use them which means once the frame separation problems had occurred, many of the parts have already been sold in the market previously and currently.

 

The sizes of the iPhone 4/4S, 5/5C/5S and 6 frames are as follows.

 

Model

iPhone 4/4S

iPhone 5/5C/5S

iPhone 6

Frame Width

1.5 mm

1.4 mm

1.4 mm

Screen Size

3.5 inches

4.0 inches

4.7 inches

 

We can see that the edge of the iPhone’s frame has been getting progressively thinner and thinner, thus the bonding area of the screen and frame is getting smaller. As we mentioned before not only is the problem with the mid-grade glue, but also with the machinery as well as the process that is used for previous iPhone models are not applicable any longer.

 

As you can see, there’re black areas on the bottom of 5/5C/5S and 6 frames. OEM factories will apply adhesive on that area, while many third-party factories won’t apply any adhesive to those areas in order to cut costs, which results in the glass separating from the frame.

 

The quality of high copy frames and front glass are not as good as OEM ones, the surface areas of these two high copy parts may not be smooth enough to ensure sufficient contact for the adhesive. This is also a reason why the frame tends to fall off.

 

※**** ****Extended Research:**** Why the assembled flex frames have a higher refurbish rate than the OEM ones?

 

The high copy frames used in assembled flex parts are not as strong as the OEM counterparts, and third-party factories have lengthened the height of the frame in order to increase the bonding area. The height of OEM iPhone 6 frames is 0.89 mm VS 1.18 mm for the high copy iPhone 6 frame.

 

3. Glass

  iPhone 6 Frame                             iPhone 6 Glass

The assembly work put into iPhone 6 screens and frames should be done in a dust-free room, but many third-party manufacturers are unable to meet this standard. Dust easily sticks to the glass unless these conditions are met, which will affect the quality of the glue.

 

Besides, there’s a varnish on the bottom of the iPhone 6 glass, if it is not sticky enough and coming off, the frame is guaranteed to come off as well.

 

ETS Solutions:

 

1. Working Standards

  • ▪ Use high-grade HMG to assemble iPhone 6 LCD assemblies and frames
  • ▪ All work is done in a dust-free room.
  • ▪ Closely monitor the timing and temperature during the assembly work. (Cooling time: 15 seconds).

 

2. Source Standards

  • ▪ Frame thickness should be less than 1 mm.
  • ▪ Carefully select glass lenses with stickier varnish.

 

3. QC Standards

  • ▪ Daily test: add forces when testing the frame, and peel the frame off the glass to test the strength of the glue.
  • ▪ Durability test: after assembling the frame to the screen, heat the part at 50℃ for 30 minutes, then place it under 0℃ temperatures for 120 minutes.

 

 

If you have any questions, please comment below to let us know.


  1. BY Sheryl T
    |

    The left side of my iPhone 6s Plus is coming apart and no glue is going to fix the problem. Because the battery is swollen. And from what I’m reading online there are many more iPhones doing the same thing.

    • BY kaye
      |

      Hi Sheryl, if your iPhone 6s Plus apart due to the swollen battery, I suggest you change your phone battery because the swollen battery is not safe to compare with the normal. We supply OEM iPhone battery in Etrade Supply. May this can help you

  2. BY Clifford Richards
    |

    Whilst this article is useful, I cannot find any information any where on what kind of machine I need to cold press frames. someone please help?

  3. BY Herbert
    |

    in arepai service in Chile I’ve been told that he problem is a deffective battery which becomes thicker (inflatrd). Can that be possible or is it a hoax to change the battery?

    • BY kaye
      |

      actually there is the possibility that the battery expansion affected this issue.

  4. BY What
    |

    This is not true. You are either misleading or don’t know what kind of glue apple are using.

  5. BY Paul
    |

    Can I buy this glue from you? If not, do you know where?

    • BY May
      |

      Hey Paul, sorry, we don’t have the glue, you can check it on Amazon, good luck!

  6. BY Mike Brown
    |

    OMG this help me a lot as I fixed my phone independently haha! I suggest those repair guys to read this article and watch your you tube videos. Etrade just walk out a far more step than most of the suppliers.

  7. BY tony
    |

    I am interested in your parts, such as top glass for iphone assemblies. i want to beable to make a screen that is harder to break then the OEM

  8. BY Sofi
    |

    It really helps me a lot!!! As a green hand, I have been puzzled for a couple days. Now, I could save my phone by myself! !

  9. BY Chad B.
    |

    This article is extremely helpful and informative. I would recommend spreading this article to different smartphone repair companies. If I did not know of eTrade Supply or have never placed an order from eTrade, I would place an order just based on reading that article. Thanks!

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