New Home for the iHeart Repair Blog

Well, we've had a good run here on Blogspot. It's time to move on to bigger and better things! You'll find the New iHeart Repair Blog here.

Come follow iHeart Repair on Pinterest, Facebook or Twitter to see what products we like the most, and you'll get first dibs on our monthly giveaways. Last month we gave away an iPad Mini!

You can stay up to date on all of the happenings at iHeart Repair and you'll be able to read about all our favorite products for your iPhone, iPad or Android Smartphone.

See you on our new blog!

US Smartphone Market Share Infographic

I thought you all would find this to be interesting. We all hear the numbers in the news, but seeing that same information in this infograph is definitely easier to digest.

The iPhone is shown as the leading manufacturer of smartphones in the US (Though worldwide numbers show the iPhone at only 13.2%). When you look at iOS vs Android smartphones, you will notice that iOS looses to Android by a significant margin. This trend is expected to continue despite the fact that Apple continues to sell more & more iPhones each year. Credit goes to ExpressFix for the infograph.

What are your thoughts? Who do you think will end up on top? Leave me a comment below or message me on Twitter.

The Truth About Water Damage

There is a lot of misinformation out there today about water damage and how you should handle your electronics when the damage occurs.

Unfortunately most people do the all the wrong things to their cell phones in the critical hours right after the incident happens.

What you should NOT do!

• Do NOT try and turn your device on - Immediately after the water damage occurs it is important to power off the device. Do not try to turn the device back on!
• Do NOT put your device in rice - This is a very common mistake people make when trying to do water damage iPhone repair. Putting your iPhone or smartphone in rice for several days only gives the water more time to do damage to the internal components as it slowly evaporates.

Note: Some people will swear by the rice method. Though it works for many people it is not the best way to handle water damage. There are far more trusted methods for water damage repair.

What SHOULD you do?

1. Immediately power down your device after contact with water occurs!
2. Quickly get your device to a repair center  - Or if you plan on doing water damage repair on your own you can use a desiccant and a combination of compressed air to quickly get all the moisture out of the smartphone. If you use a desiccant bag, make sure you leave your device in the bag for at least 48 hours. Powering on the device before all moisture is completely removed could fry the logic board.

If you plan on doing the repair yourself, we recommend that you have a Bheestie Bag on hand as an excellent solution to combat water damage on your iPhone or other smartphone.

Corroded logic board from saltwater

If damage is from saltwater...

Do NOT put the device in a bag of rice! Sometimes the rice trick will work, but when saltwater is involved you are only encouraging the corrosion process by using rice. Bring it to one of our repair centers or disassemble the device on your own. If you decide to disassemble the device on your own, you will need to then rinse each part off with distilled water before placing the parts in a desiccant bag for 2-3 days. A device that has come into contact with saltwater needs special treatment immediately after submersion.

iPhone 5 Repair Prices Falling!

It's nearly been a year since the iPhone 5 was released here in the US, and it's taken almost that long for repair prices to come down to a reasonable level. I'm going to talk a little about why the prices stayed high for SOO long, but the real exciting news is that prices have FINALLY come down on the parts! iHeart Repair will begin offering iPhone 5 glass repairs for $159.95 beginning (7/15).

Let's talk about why the parts for the iPhone 5 have been so expensive in the past and why they continue to carry a premium over their iPhone 4S counterparts.

1. Apple is exercising greater control over their parts. Since the release of the iPhone 5 and the iPad Mini, Apple has shown greater control over the chips that are needed in the manufacturing of these parts.
2. Parts manufactures are getting smart. Instead of manufacturing as many knock off parts, (Non OEM) they have been waiting until OEM parts become available before ramping up production. Many of these OEM parts are recycled from broken iPhone 5 screens. By doing this, they create a huge imbalance in supply & demand that takes months to resolve. This means the price of the parts stays higher for longer, but the quality of parts supplied is significantly better.
3. The technology is more advanced. Apple introduced in-cell touch screen technology with the introduction of the iPhone 5. This technology combines the touch sensitive layer and the LCD layer into one. This decreases the weight and thickness of the device. This technology was harder for manufacturers to replicate & increased the demand for recycled parts instead of using brand new parts.

It's frustrating for everyone that the parts have been this expensive for so long, but the reasons behind the price increase are actually good for the environment and allows for a better quality iPhone 5 repair for the end consumer. We at iHeart Repair like this... a lot!

Top 5 iPhone Repairs that Require a Professional

If you drop your iPhone enough times, it will probably be in need of repair. While these things can happen to anybody, it's important to use a professional repair company to ensure the lasting value of your phone. We provide timely, low-cost repairs for the top five iPhone repair issues.

1. Broken screen

The screen is the most common part of the iPhone to break, as it is subjected to the most force on a regular basis and is made of the most sensitive materials. Replacing it is extremely complicated, and your friend that "knows how to fix phones" may not have the tools to do the job right or may not have quality, original manufacturers' parts. We have years of experience in Apple repairs and know how to make your phone as good as new after a drop.

2. Broken LCD

Sometimes, the external glass will be fine, but there will be an internal problem with the LCD screen. Fixing this issue requires us to remove the top layer of glass to replace the screen inside. This delicate operation requires special tools and a high level of finesse. We guarantee our work and will get your screen looking beautiful again in no time.

3. Back glass repair

Whether or not the screen is affected, the glass on the back of the iPhone often becomes cracked after a fall. This creates hazardous sharp glass shards and compromises the entire structure of the phone. Trust a reliable company with the repair of this glass, and your friend can save himself the injury. Since this glass is so close to the internal components, it's critical that a professional work on the phone to ensure no further damage occurs.

4. Speaker/microphone problems

If an iPhone is dropped in water, it may develop speaker or microphone problems. Getting the right parts to replace these isn't easy, but we have the experience and resources to get a great replacement speaker or microphone that will return peak function to the phone.

5. Battery replacement

The batteries used in the iPhone are supposed to last through 500 charges, but our experience tells us it's often less than that. Getting a battery replaced by a professional can greatly increase the life of a newer or older phone.

These five repairs may seem simple or common, but they require an expert level of care that only a professional company can provide. We specialize in Apple products and have the tools to get your iPhone repair done beautifully and without complications.