Ipod Touch 7th Gen parts question
Ipod Touch 7th Gen parts question
(OP)
What I need to do: I received an iPod Touch 7th gen from a customer for repair. I don't think Apple even calls it 7th gen, I think they just call it the iPod Touch 2019. Model # is MVHW2VC/A (A217B). I need to replace the entire front assembly, LCD+Digitizer+Glass as well as the frame that snaps the top half of the screen into the iPod. I also need the front camera, the back camera and the Power/Volume button ribbon cable as the LED flash is not working and in older models, usually replacing the power/volume button ribbon cable to logic board fixes the flash.
The problem: As far as the WWW is concerned for parts, this device does not exist. I have contacted every supplier I have ever dealt with over the past 20+ years as an owner of a repair shop and none of them have ever had parts for this device and don't seem to know where to get them. I've even resorted to eBay and Amazon and nothing. I then contacted other repair shops and pretty much everyone of them said they don't fix iPods or have never had an iPod 7th gen come into their shop. Nobody anywhere has parts for this device which I find extremely odd because that would make it the only Apple device in recent memory that has no source for parts whatsoever. I also cannot take the device apart until I have at least a replacement screen as I have to give the iPod back to the customer in the same shape I received it or better but this glass is so shattered, once it's off it's not going back on. And the difficulty range for dismantling this device by technicians is considered "Very High..."
One possible solution is that one person told me that iPod Touch 5th Gen and 6th Gen parts are pretty much all the same as far as the screen and cameras are concerned and fit the 7th gen model. I checked the specs of the iPod Touch 6 vs. the iPod Touch 7 and the screen dimensions and resolution are the same. The camera specs are also the same. However, that doesn't mean the parts will fit and 6th gen parts are just as rare as 7th gen parts so I would have to resort to 5th gen parts and I just can't see parts from a device made in 2012 fitting a device made in 2019 after 2 revisions.
I guess what I am asking is 2 questions; does anybody know anyone who carries parts for this model of iPod or has anyone successfully used previous 5th/6th gen parts in this 7th gen model? Any help would be appreciated and will save me the little hair I have left on my head.
Thanks.
The problem: As far as the WWW is concerned for parts, this device does not exist. I have contacted every supplier I have ever dealt with over the past 20+ years as an owner of a repair shop and none of them have ever had parts for this device and don't seem to know where to get them. I've even resorted to eBay and Amazon and nothing. I then contacted other repair shops and pretty much everyone of them said they don't fix iPods or have never had an iPod 7th gen come into their shop. Nobody anywhere has parts for this device which I find extremely odd because that would make it the only Apple device in recent memory that has no source for parts whatsoever. I also cannot take the device apart until I have at least a replacement screen as I have to give the iPod back to the customer in the same shape I received it or better but this glass is so shattered, once it's off it's not going back on. And the difficulty range for dismantling this device by technicians is considered "Very High..."
One possible solution is that one person told me that iPod Touch 5th Gen and 6th Gen parts are pretty much all the same as far as the screen and cameras are concerned and fit the 7th gen model. I checked the specs of the iPod Touch 6 vs. the iPod Touch 7 and the screen dimensions and resolution are the same. The camera specs are also the same. However, that doesn't mean the parts will fit and 6th gen parts are just as rare as 7th gen parts so I would have to resort to 5th gen parts and I just can't see parts from a device made in 2012 fitting a device made in 2019 after 2 revisions.
I guess what I am asking is 2 questions; does anybody know anyone who carries parts for this model of iPod or has anyone successfully used previous 5th/6th gen parts in this 7th gen model? Any help would be appreciated and will save me the little hair I have left on my head.
Thanks.
RE: Ipod Touch 7th Gen parts question
So it does have a question about the 7th-5th gens and touchscreen/digitizers working but like I said above, you probably already read this: https://www.ifixit.com/Answers/View/579546/Is+iPod...
Usually when I cant find parts I look for As Is items on ebay that seem to have the parts I need. Kind of a crapshoot though as Im sure you are aware.
Hopefully those links are helpful as I haven't had to fix a 7th gen yet. Best of luck with your Google-foo sir.
Learning - A never ending quest for knowledge usually attained by being thrown in a situation and told to fix it NOW.
RE: Ipod Touch 7th Gen parts question
Normally I would just do a tear down and see for myself but, as I said, I don't want to disassemble the device without at least having a new screen to replace the broken screen because it will definitely fall apart when being removed. I've also tried looking for As Is 7th gens in the usual places but so far, I haven't had any luck. The cost of the ones I've found with shipping, once you add labor, would be far too expensive of a repair and thus not worth it to the customer. I guess I will just have to keep looking. Maybe once this model has been out for more than a year and thus will start to have more out-of-warranty repairs, parts will start showing up. But that won't be for another 6-8 months or so. But that's no help to the customer I have now. That's why I was hoping someone could give me a definitive answer on here as to whether or not previous gen parts fit or if its a case of it not being worth manufacturing parts for it until it's been out longer and more do-it-yourself types start looking for parts. I can't recall another Apple product that you could not get parts for. Even brand new models only weeks on the shelf you could always at least get a new screen for, albeit very expensive screens. But they are at least available. I've no idea what's up with this particular device.
Thanks.
RE: Ipod Touch 7th Gen parts question
Learning - A never ending quest for knowledge usually attained by being thrown in a situation and told to fix it NOW.
RE: Ipod Touch 7th Gen parts question
Thanks.