Restoring a Bent iPad Pro that was Run Over by a Car A Journey of Dedication and Precision

In the bustling workshop of Gadget Kings, renowned for their expertise in restoring broken tech, a new challenge awaited. The team had seen it all—shattered screens, water-damaged laptops, and bricked smartphones—but today’s task was exceptional. They were about to restore an iPad Pro, not just any iPad Pro, but one that had been run over by a car.

The tale began with a simple eBay purchase. For 170 Australian dollars, tablet comparison around 120 US dollars, the team acquired a heavily damaged iPad Pro 256GB model. The previous owner had shared the unfortunate story: his son had accidentally dropped the tablet while getting into the car. Oblivious to the device’s plight, they drove over it, squashing the iPad between the tire and the gutter. The original receipt, still in the box, revealed the device had cost the previous owner a hefty 1088 dollars.

As the team unpacked the broken device, they noticed the absence of a charger and a lightning cable. The iPad’s screen was temperamental, sometimes lighting up, other times showing nothing but black. When the display did decide to work, it revealed a badly smashed LCD, though the touch functionality remained miraculously intact.

The 27-centimeter display iPad Pro had suffered significant damage along its right side, evident from the countless stress marks and the bent frame. The bottom frame had bowed outward, creating a noticeable gap. This project was not just a repair; it was a restoration.

Using a heat gun, the team softened the adhesive around the display to facilitate its removal. The extensive gaps caused by the bends made it relatively easy to slide a plastic pick under the glass. Remarkably, while the LCD and screen protector were cracked, the actual display cover glass remained intact. After separating the adhesive, they carefully lifted the display to access the battery connection. A few Phillips screws later, they had the LCD bracket removed despite the short display cables and the bent frame making the process cumbersome.

Disconnecting the four connectors was delicate work. The iPad didn’t have a battery plug but a clamp-style connector, so they broke the flow of electricity by inserting a plastic pick. With the four connections disconnected, the LCD panel was finally free, revealing the extent of the frame’s bend.

Fortunately, the logic board, located in the center, was unaffected. The frame, though severely bent, was in good condition otherwise. Instead of purchasing a new housing for around 120 dollars, the team decided to attempt a manual fix. Using two old iPad housings, they bent the iPad more than necessary, hoping the metal would spring back into shape. This method, coupled with some old-fashioned muscle power and a hammer wrapped in microfiber cloth, yielded a surprisingly good result.

With the frame satisfactorily straightened, it was time to prepare the new display. The most daunting task lay ahead: transferring the Touch ID home button and camera bracket to the new screen. Apple pairs each home button to the iPad, and replacing it would disable the Touch ID function entirely, making precision crucial. Fresh adhesive was applied to the camera bracket to ensure it stuck properly to the new screen. The home button was installed with equal care, using new adhesive to prevent it from becoming loose.

Back at the iPad frame, the team meticulously removed the remaining adhesive and applied new, better-quality adhesive. The pre-installed adhesive on the replacement display was deemed too weak, so it was replaced. The new display, costing 190 Aussie dollars, was ready for installation.

Reconnecting the four screen cables was a painstaking task due to their hard-to-access design. With the cables in place and the bracket and screws reinstalled, it was time to reconnect the battery. The moment of truth arrived as they powered on the device. The touch, cameras, sound, and other aspects of the device worked perfectly.

To finalize the repair, they placed a small object under the display to hover it above the frame, allowing them to remove the protective film from the adhesive. Once the film was removed, the screen was pressed into place, sealing the two halves together. A quick clean with alcohol and a microfiber cloth, followed by the installation of a tempered glass screen protector, completed the restoration.

The once-destroyed iPad Pro now looked almost perfect. There were still a few minor flaws, but from a distance, you couldn’t tell it had been run over by a car. The restoration saved 120 dollars and prevented the housing from ending up as waste, costing a total of 360 Australian dollars, or 260 US dollars. These devices still sell for around 550 to 700 Aussie dollars on eBay, making it a worthwhile investment.

The 120-hertz display provided an ultra-fast tablet comparison experience, and contrary to expectations, the True Tone function was still enabled, unlike iPhones where it gets disabled if the old screen’s serial number isn’t reprogrammed into the new display. Satisfied with their work, the team at Gadget Kings prepared to share their success story with their audience, encouraging them to check out more repair videos and tools on their website.

And so, in the heart of Gadget Kings, another device was brought back to life, a testament to their dedication and precision. If you enjoyed this story and want to learn more about their restoration techniques, visit their website for tips, tools, and more amazing transformations. This has been a Gadget Kings production, and they’ll catch you in the next video.