Three years ago, I got an iPhone 3GS 32 GB. I was using it until this last may (I got the new HTC One), and I must say, aside from Apple’s inconvenience (depending on iTunes and being unable to acces your filesystem), the phone worked fine. I was using it as a backup phone for my spanish SIM card, just to receive SMS and see who called.
The thing is, yesterday I tried to charge it and check the calls. Did it for a while and noticed the LCD distorted the light as if someone was pressing on it from the center (but I didn’t touch the screen). I left it overnight, and when I checked it in the morning, the phone seemed to be bursting from inside and the battery was good as dead:
Dismissing the idea of an alien face-hugger, all that I can think about is that the Li-ion battery is swelling up.
First thought was shredding it, but since it’s the 32 Gb model and worked fine (except for the battery thing and the not-very-responsive home button), I am thinking of actually trying to fix it myself, since a repair shop asked me for 1000 NT$ some time ago just for replacing the home button.
I’ve checked online, and battery replacements are really cheap (around 5 US$), same for the buttons. My problem is that most of the online stores that sell this stuff are in the US and can’t send the stuff to Taiwan.
I also found this battery replacement in eBay: ebay.com/itm/111196588617?ss … 1423.l2649
Considering that the original battery for the 3GS is only 1200 mAh, putting in a 2430 mAh battery would make it a perfect backup/emergency phone, as well as a GPS, but I don’t know if shipping a battery from Australia will incur in customs trouble.
Does anyone know if I can buy replacements in Guanghua market for fixing the phone myself?