LG Wing Restoration – Repairing The Last LG Phone

Hi guys, welcome back to another Huge Jefferies video! Today, we’re diving into a unique and interesting project: repairing LG’s last smartphone, the LG Wing. This phone is quite a marvel, looking like a standard smartphone until you hinge out the display to reveal another screen beneath it. I bought this particular unit from the U.S. in its current condition, which includes a cracked screen and a badly shattered back, and had it imported to Australia. Given its unconventional design, I’m eager to see how repairable it is. Without a repair manual, we’ll have to wing it!

Initial Inspection and Parts Preparation

To start, we need a new back and display. The new screen, which cost me $163, came without adhesive and has borders that are about a millimeter too big. This means I’ll need to find a way to attach it to the existing frame. First, I’ll power down the LG Wing and prepare to open the phone by heating the back glass on a heat plate for a few minutes to soften the adhesive.

Once heated, the back panel can be worked off using a suction cup and a few picks. Luckily, there are no cables attached to the back panel, making this step straightforward. However, the more damaged the glass is, the harder it will be to remove. Oddly, some of the colored print came off during removal—something I’ve never seen before. If this happens on a non-cracked back, you might need to replace it or make the back transparent.

Accessing the Internal Components

With the back panel removed, we need to clear away the remaining adhesive and sections of the back panel to access the screws holding in the wireless charging module. After removing several Phillips head screws, we can pull the module up and out, revealing the phone’s motherboard. This gives us our first proper look inside the device and insight into how the slide-out display works. Space is limited inside a phone, but LG has managed to include a motorized pop-up camera and a sliding screen.

The main display cable routes through a hole in the motherboard. By rotating the display, we can observe how the cable has some slack to accommodate the screen’s movement. To dive deeper, we need to remove the motherboard, which allows us to detach the screen.

Disassembling the Display Mechanism

With the motherboard out, we can inspect it and see that it’s in perfect condition. This phone is equipped with a Snapdragon 765G processor, 256GB of storage, and 8GB of RAM. Now, we have a clear view of the Wing’s display mechanism, which includes a tiny shock absorber to smooth out the screen’s opening. My question is how long this shock absorber lasts before it needs replacing. It’s only held in with two screws.

The display mechanism itself is also screwed in and won’t come off until unlatched. Once removed, you can see how the latch mechanism works. There is a post preventing the screen from coming off unless the display is open slightly. Next, I can remove the bracket assembly from the back of the display panel, which is held down with several screws, including some hidden under the hinge.

After removing the display connector’s plastic bracket and unplugging the cable, we need to separate the screen from the plastic frame. This involves heating the screen and prying it from the frame, which is very thin and fragile.

Installing the New Display

With the old screen removed, we can see how it was attached. The adhesive was applied under the panel and around the edges with a thin bead of glue. I will replicate this process during reassembly. I’ll also remove all the old adhesive and ensure the magnet is reattached to its place.

Before installing the new display, I’ll test it to ensure it works. By connecting the necessary components, I power on the phone. The screen lights up, but the touch functionality is unresponsive. After checking and reconnecting everything, the issue persists. It turns out the phone thinks the display is being rotated due to the position of the magnets, disabling the touch function. Once I install the display properly, the touch works fine.

Reassembling the Phone

Now we can apply the new adhesive. I’ll use tape in the same areas LG did and add a bead of liquid adhesive around the perimeter. After removing the plastic protective film from the new display panel, I’ll ensure there’s no dust on the fingerprint reader and press the display into place. Rubber bands will help hold the display while the glue dries.

Once the glue is dry, it’s time to reassemble. I reconnect the display’s cable to the PCB and reinstall the hinge. The display module is then attached to the frame, ensuring the alignment post enters the track. After installing the motherboard and routing all the flex cables, including the display cable through the motherboard, everything is reconnected.

The final steps include attaching the wireless charging module and securing it with screws. The new back panel needs the old camera lens transferred, which involves removing it, applying glue, and positioning it on the new glass panel.

Final Touches

The pre-cut adhesive for the back panel is applied. Given the phone’s curved back, this proves challenging. Once applied, the internals are wiped down, and the back glass panel is firmly pressed into place. Any excess glue from the camera lens or display is cleaned off, and the protective film is removed from the new display.

Conclusion

And there you have it—LG’s last-ever smartphone, the LG Wing, fully restored. This unique phone now works perfectly and provides an interesting dual-screen setup. The best use folio leather case I found for this dual-screen design is watching YouTube videos while using the phone on the smaller display.

If you enjoyed this video, hit the subscribe button and check out my phone restoration playlist for more videos like this one. For those looking for used devices, be sure to check out my online store linked in the description. And if you need professional phone repairs, Gadget Kings PRS is your best option. Visit their website at Gadget Kings PRS. That’s all for this video, and I’ll catch you guys next time!