Disassembly Xiaomi Redmi Note 3: a detailed guide with photos and nuances

Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 is a legendary smartphone that is still popular due to its reliability and maintainability. However, even such a “tank” can eventually fail the speaker, battery, charging connector or display module. If you are faced with the need to replace a part or just want to clean the device from dust, self-disassembly can save time and money.

In this article, you will find a step-by-step photo instruction, a list of tools you need, and critical warnings to help avoid typical errors. We will examine both the standard version of the Redmi Note 3 Pro (with a Snapdragon 650 processor) and the modification on the Mediatek Helio X10, which have nuances in the arrangement of some components.

Important: disassembling your smartphone voids your warranty (if it's still valid) and requires care. One wrong move can damage your plumes or chips. If you're not sure about your abilities, you should contact a service center.

Preparation for disassembly: tools and security measures

Before you start, make sure you have everything you need. Here's the minimum toolkit:

• 🔧 Plastic mediators (2-3 Pc.) - for careful slinging of the lid and plumes.
• ⚒️ The screwdriver (PH00 or PH0) — rear-panel.
• 🔥 Dryer or thermoair station - to soften the glue under the battery (if you plan to remove it).
• 🧲 Magnetic mat or organizer – so as not to lose small screws.
• 📸 Smartphone for photography – fix the location of parts before disconnecting.

Also, prepare the workspace: it should be well lit, without carpeting (to avoid losing parts) and with antistatic coating (for example, a wooden table). If you work with a battery, avoid metal surfaces - short circuits can lead to fire.

⚠️ Warning: Do not disassemble the smartphone if it was submerged in water or subjected to a strong vibration (for example, after a fall), microcracks on the board may form inside, and additional mechanical impact will aggravate the problem.

Step 1: Removing the back cover

The Redmi Note 3's back panel is mounted on latches and two screws under plugs. Start by turning off the phone and retrieving it. SIM-cards and memory cards (if installed:

1. Find two rubber plugs at the bottom of the case (near the charging connector) and gently tuck them with a nail or plastic mediator.
2. Under the stubs, you'll see two screws -- twist them out with a cross screwdriver.
3. Insert the mediator into the gap between the lid and the body (beginning at the top left corner where the camera is located). Smoothly drive the instrument along the perimeter until all latches are snapped.

If the lid doesn't lend itself, don't force it -- you've probably missed the latch. Check if all the screws are twisted and try again. On the Redmi Note 3 Pro, there's sometimes an extra latch near the antenna lines (see below).

Step 2: Battery disconnection

When you take the lid off, you'll see the battery glued to the body, and in no case, do not pull the wires, you first need to disconnect the power plume, which is located at the top of the battery and is attached by a small connector to the motherboard.

Carefully apply the connector with a plastic mediator (metal tools can not be used!). If the glue under the battery hardened, warm it with a hair dryer at a temperature not higher than 60 ° C for 1-2 minutes. Then tuck the battery with a thin plastic card (for example, a bank card) and slowly separate it from the case.

⚠️ Warning: If the battery is swelling (as seen from the deformation of the lid), do not attempt to pierce or bend it. There are toxic substances inside that can ignite.

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If the battery is too glued, try putting a little isopropyl alcohol (90%+) under the edge of the battery, which will dissolve the adhesive without harming electronics. Don't use acetone or other aggressive solvents!

Step 3: Dismantling the motherboard

Once the battery is removed, you can start removing the motherboard, which is mounted on 10-12 screws (depending on the modification) and several plumes.

1. Unscrew all screws (they may differ in length - fold them separately!).
2. Disconnect the plumes in that order: 📞 The plume of the touch screen (the widest, located on the right). 🔊 Dynamic plume (thin, at the bottom of the board). 📷 Chamber plumes (two thin wires at the top edge). 🔋 Power button plume (small connector next to battery).

Carefully raise the board, starting at the top edge. If it's stuck, check if all screws are twisted.

On the Redmi Note 3, there is a frequent problem with the oxidation of contacts under the board (especially if the phone has been in a wet environment). If you notice a green coating, clean the contacts with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol and dry the board with a hairdryer (cold air!).

Step 4: Replace the display module

The Redmi Note 3 screen is made up of three parts: glass, touchscreen and LCD, and most of the time they're glued together, so if you break the glass, you have to change the entire module.

1. Warm up the screen edge with a dryer (temperature not higher than 70°C) for 2-3 minutes to soften the glue.
2. Insert a plastic mediator into the gap between the screen and the body. Start at the bottom edge (where the plume connector is located).
3. Slowly move the mediator along the perimeter, separating the screen, and if the glue has hardened, reheat the problem area.
4. After separation of the screen, disconnect the plume of the touch screen (it is attached with a latch - raise it up).

To replace the speaker or camera, you just need to detach their plumes (as described in step 3) and remove the parts. New components are installed in reverse order. Note: on the Redmi Note 3 Pro, the main camera is mounted on an additional metal bracket - do not lose it when you build it!

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When soldering the charging connector, be sure to use flux (for example, LTI-120). Without it, the solder will not be evenly distributed, and the contact will be unreliable.

Assembly of the phone and checking of performance

The assembly is done in reverse order, but there are a few critical points:

1. Before installing the battery, check that there are no foreign objects under it (dust, glue clippings).
2. Twisting the screws cross-cross to avoid skewing the board.
3. After assembly, do not turn on the phone immediately - wait 5-10 minutes for all the plumes to "set" in place.

To check the performance, perform the following tests:

• 🔋 Connect the charger – the phone should start charging.
• 📞 Check the sensor across the entire screen area (for example, using the Touch Screen Test app).
• 🔊 Test the speaker and microphone (you can call another phone).
• 📷 Take a photo on both cameras and check for autofocus.

If something doesn't work, don't panic. Go back to the appropriate step and check:

• Are all the plumes connected (especially the touchscreen and cameras)?
• Whether somewhere the wire is squeezed (for example, under the battery).
• Are there any small screws or details left inside?

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even experienced craftsmen sometimes make mistakes when disassembling the Redmi Note 3, and here are the most common ways to prevent:

If the phone does not turn on after assembly, check:

1. Is the battery connected (sometimes the plume leaves when installing the board).
2. Are the contacts closed on the board (look at the subject of foreign objects).
3. Does the power button work (check its plume).

If the problem is not solved, it is possible that the board was damaged during the dismantling, in which case a diagnosis using a multimeter or a multimeter will be required. USB-oscilloscope (for example, to check supply lines).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions