Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra – Full Teardown & Disassembly Repair Guide

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OVERVIEW:

In this teardown guide, we’ll walk you through the disassembly of the Samsung S23 Ultra, a flagship device known for its premium build and impressive camera setup. Whether you’ve cracked your screen, damaged a port, or need access to internal components, this teardown will show you each step of the process using only the tools and instructions mentioned in the video. This repair is more straightforward than Apple devices thanks to the standardized screws, but it still requires careful handling—especially around sensitive flex cables and adhesive areas. This guide will help you avoid common mistakes and safely access the internals of your device.

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REPAIR TIME & SKILL LEVEL:

This repair is estimated to take about 2 to 3 HOURS to complete and is of INTERMEDIATE difficulty, requiring careful handling of flex cables, moderate prying force, and a steady approach to glue and screw removal.

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STEPS:

Tools You Need

For this repair, you will need a heating mat set between 70 to 90 degrees Celsius, a Phillips screwdriver (1.5mm), a suction cup to help lift the rear panel, 99% isopropyl alcohol to help loosen adhesive, and a few plastic spudging tools to carefully separate parts without damage.

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Heat and Lift the Rear Panel

• Place the phone on the heating mat to soften the adhesive under the rear panel.
• Use a suction cup to gently lift the panel once heated, while sliding a spudger or plastic card to release the glue.
• Take extra care near the center of the panel, where additional adhesive may be affixed to the microphone.

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Remove the Rear Screws

• Locate and remove 17 identical 1.5mm Phillips screws around the internal frame.
• No need for multiple screwdriver types—Samsung has standardized these screws.
• Carefully place the screws in a labeled tray to keep track.

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Detach NFC and Wireless Charging Pad

• Gently begin to lift the NFC antenna and wireless charging coil using a plastic tool.
• Watch out for multiple flex cables connecting this pad to the motherboard.
• Be cautious not to damage the cable that runs from the bottom of the device to the mainboard.

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Disconnect Flex Cables

• Begin disconnecting all visible flex cables, starting with the NFC pad.
• Carefully lift the connector for the LCD-to-motherboard cable at the bottom; it’s easy to nick.
• Continue disconnecting surrounding cables to clear space for speaker and board removal.

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Remove the Lower Loudspeaker and Haptic Motor

• Pry up and remove the lower loudspeaker assembly, which also houses the vibration motor.
• This speaker contains foam balls to enhance sound projection.
• Removing it reveals the sub (daughter) board underneath.

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Disconnect the Battery and LCD Flex Cable

• Disconnect the battery connector and then the middle LCD cable that links the main board to the sub board.
• To the left, locate and disconnect a second flex cable also connecting main and sub boards.
• These steps are crucial before accessing the daughter board or charging components.

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Examine and Access the Daughter Board

• With the speaker out, inspect the sub board, including the charging port and SIM tray slot.
• Note: SIM card and S Pen should be removed before teardown begins.
• The charging port includes a rubber gasket to support water resistance.

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Remove the Top Speaker

• Gently lift the top speaker, which resembles a front-facing camera housing.
• It also includes foam balls to improve acoustic performance.
• Set it aside once freed from adhesive or pressure clips.

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Disconnect Remaining Motherboard Cables

• Begin disconnecting the last flex cables attached to the mainboard.
• These include connections to the camera array and 5G antennas.
• Proceed with patience to avoid damage to connectors or traces.

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Remove Camera Modules

• Carefully lift the periscope camera and 200MP main sensor.
• These cameras are sensitive and fixed to the board via delicate connectors.
• The main sensor allows for extra stabilization thanks to updated hardware.

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Remove the Motherboard

• With cables and cameras disconnected, lift out the motherboard, which is a sandwich-style dual-layer board.
• Identify the Qualcomm Snapdragon Gen 2 chip, custom-made for this model.
• Gently separate and set the board aside in an ESD-safe area.

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Remove the 5G Antennas

• Locate and remove both 5G antennas—one from the mainboard area and one on the opposite end.
• Take note of their orientation and placement before removal.
• These antennas provide connectivity enhancements, though reasons for dual placement are still debated.

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Disconnect and Remove LCD Flex Cable

• Finish detaching the final LCD flex cable, being mindful of its placement at the bottom of the frame.
• This cable is often accidentally damaged if pried from the bottom too early.
• Set it aside once safely removed.

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Address the Battery Pull Tabs

• Note that this model includes pull tabs for the battery, though they were not used in this teardown.
• Instead, traditional prying was applied to remove the battery.
• In future teardowns, using pull tabs may reduce adhesive strain.

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Remove Front-facing Camera

• Use a spudger or a sharp tool to carefully dig out the 12MP front-facing camera, which is glued to the frame.
• A knife may be necessary due to strong adhesive; this step must be done slowly to avoid frame damage.
• Once removed, place the camera in a secure tray.

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CONCLUSION:

The Samsung S23 Ultra teardown reveals a well-designed flagship phone with streamlined screw usage and clearly labeled connectors. While the layout is familiar to those who’ve worked on previous Samsung models, the presence of delicate flex cables and stubborn adhesive make patience and precision essential. Standardized screws simplify the process, but steps like camera removal and board extraction require care. Using the right tools makes all the difference. By following this guide, you’ll gain access to all internal components safely and effectively.

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VIDEO TUTORIAL:

Looking for a more in-depth tutorial? Check out our complete teardown video for a detailed step-by-step walkthrough.

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MAIL-IN REPAIR SERVICE:

We offer professional screen replacement services. If you’re unsure about doing this repair yourself, send your device to our expert technicians for fast and reliable repair.

REPAIR SERVICES

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SHOP PARTS:

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SHOP TOOLS:

Using precision tools ensures a safe and efficient repair. Always use the right tools to prevent damage to delicate components. From spudgers to suction cups, our curated toolkit has everything you need for a successful teardown.

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HAVE QUESTIONS?

If you have any questions, leave them in the comments below. Our community and team will be happy to help!

• Phone: 818-456-4479
• Email: [email protected]

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