With the modern repair technology and techniques available nowadays, mild to moderate damage to a phone can be repaired or reversed completely. Things like a broken LCD screen, a bit of water damage, or a software problem can be taken care of by almost any cell phone repair company.
However, there are certain types of damage that can make your phone unfixable. Here are some of the most common ones:
Excessive water damage
Most modern phones, especially top-of-the-line models, are water-resistant. This means that they are able to withstand a certain level of water exposure without it affecting the phone’s performance whatsoever. Some phones are even waterproof, which means they can survive even when completely submerged in water.
If your phone is only water-resistant and it is submerged for a long time (longer than a few seconds) in water, it may no longer be fixable.
Fire damage
Like water, phones can resist a certain level of heat. Flames are another story. If your phone is exposed to flames and a core component of it melts, there may be no way to fix it.
Broken completely
Cracked LCD screens are easy to replace. But if your phone is broken beyond the screen or crushed to pieces, there is virtually no way to bring it back together.
Extreme cold
Be careful about leaving your phone outside in very cold temperatures. The extreme cold can damage the internal components and brick your phone entirely. If you are going to use your phone in extreme cold, be sure that it is not exposed for long periods; keep it in your pocket whenever you’re not using it.
Excessive sand or dirt
If excessive amounts of dirt or sand get into your phone, you may very well end up with an unusable device. That said, don’t leave your phone on top of sand or soil without something underneath it. Better yet, keep it in a clear waterproof case if you’re going to use it at the beach or in the garden.
What to do about an unfixable phone
If your phone endures damage that renders it unfixable, you may be tempted to just throw it out and buy a new one. However, there are some ways your broken phone can serve another purpose beyond death.
Here’s what you can do with a totally unfixable phone:
1. Sell it for parts
People buy broken phones to take out the still-functioning parts and use them for repairs, replacements, or some other purpose. So instead of tossing your phone, post it online and advertise it as a non-functioning phone. Although you may not be able to sell it for the price of a working phone, you can get a decent amount out of its functional parts. Then, you can use the money to buy a new device.
However, this may not be a great option if there is no way to delete your personal data from the phone. But if you can wipe the hard drive, be sure to do so before putting your phone up for sale.
2. Give it to a recycling company
It is not advisable to toss your broken phone in the first place. So instead, donate your phone to a recycling company that can make use of its materials. This way, you can also help out the environment by not having your phone add to the waste in the landfill.
Moreover, your personal data is probably safer in the hands of a reputable recycling company than some buyers on the Internet. Hence, this is a great option if you can’t delete your data from the phone, although you will not be getting any money out of it.
3. Do a drop test
If your phone is not broken from the outside, consider using it for a drop test. A drop test helps users determine the durability of the phone. You can drop it from varying heights, starting from the lowest, such as waist height. Then you can drop it from higher places like from your head or from the second story of your home.
Doing a drop test can help you gain some extra money if you have a monetized Youtube channel. If you don’t have one, contact a tech Youtuber and offer your phone as a drop test prop. You can ask for the phone back after they are done to ensure that no one can access your personal data on the drive. Alternatively, you can do a drop test to determine if you want to buy the same model or the same brand for your next phone.
With how durable modern phones are nowadays, it’s not that easy to break them entirely. Nevertheless, accidents can still happen even if you are very careful. When you break your phone beyond repair, these are the things you can do with them other than throwing them out.
Meta title: My Phone is Unfixable, Now What? 3 Uses For Seemingly Unfixable Phone
meta desc: A phone that is deemed unfixable can be more than just a paperweight. Find out what you can do with a phone that can no longer be repaired.