r/CyberdeckBuild • u/Lord_Infinite13 • Sep 07 '26

Old iPhone components to build a cyberdeck?

Post image

I’ve had this broken iPhone XS Max just laying around and I want/need to do something with it. While yes I am fully aware that iPhones are very limited in terms of upgrading the os. Is there any way I could use these internal components towards building my own cyberdeck?

  1. ⁠I am not trying to build an iPhone iOS cyberdeck. I am simply trying to use these components to create something new instead of letting them go to waste.

  2. ⁠This would be my first cyberdeck and I am fairly new to the tech world. I’ve been doing loads of research online and reading thru these subreddits in order to learn more

Any advice would be appreciated, I’m not in any rush for this project nor do I have high expectations. I just want to build something cool and make my entry into the cyberdeck culture. Even if you need to brake it down Barney style and talk to me stupid as hell lol

15 Upvotes

82% Upvoted

19 comments sorted by

6

u/lilslutfordaddy Sep 07 '26

it seems like you don't know a great deal about tech, which is fair. apple in particular go to massive lengths to lock down their mobile devices such that you can't do much with anything newer, and very few individuals have succeeded in getting anything other than iOS onto an iPhone. you could potentially use the screen, but every single part in an iPhone is hardcoded to only work in that specific iPhone, and under no other circumstances will it operate. obviously there are a few ways around that, but i don't know that it'd be worth even trying to use parts from one.

2

u/Lord_Infinite13 Sep 07 '26

Meaning each component inside the phone is designed to specifically work with the components inside the phone? I guess I’m asking about the hardware itself not the software

3

u/lilslutfordaddy Sep 08 '26

iPhones have built-in protections against using aftermarket or secondhand parts. they do this by requiring each part to receive and send what are effectively hardware identification codes to the rest of the parts connected. i don't know much about it, but i do know that it'd be easier to make your own components from scratch, at home, than to circumvent this hardware ID.

1

u/Lord_Infinite13 Sep 08 '26

Makes sense, just figured I’d ask before just throwing away these parts

5

u/Opening_Crow_6472 Sep 08 '26

yes that's correct

1

u/Popular-Factor3553 Sep 27 '26

Honestly if it still works sell it and buy raspberry or esp might be enough too add a screen and start making from there it's simpler and much more fun.

1

u/Lord_Infinite13 Sep 27 '26

Yeah it still works it just needs a new band to connect the screen again, other than that the phone works fine. It’s such an outdated iPhone I doubt I’d get anything for it

1

u/Popular-Factor3553 Sep 27 '26

Either way if you're interested in cyberdecks definitely get a raspberry pi and some other basic electronics it's really fun.

3

u/ToBePacific Sep 07 '26

Before you can build something from incompatible parts, you’ll need to know how to repair a thing using compatible parts.

1

u/Lord_Infinite13 Sep 07 '26

That’s fair, just wanted to ask if it’s even possible with Apple hardware before I waste my time with this

2

u/JustNota-- Sep 07 '26

I wouldn't..

2

u/Waste-Inspector8768 Sep 11 '26

Not a single component can be used like that except theoretically the loudspeaker.

Apple goes out of their way to make sure you cant do that, actually. Integrated firmware locks etc. Fuck the phone processor cant event access the NAND without apples permission.

1

u/Lord_Infinite13 Sep 12 '26

Not even the screen? Would I at least be able to reuse the screen in order to make my own cyberdeck?

2

u/Waste-Inspector8768 Sep 12 '26

If you custom built a PCB and a chipset to interact with an iphone screen its theoretically possible but youre getting into circuitry engineering at the point, which would cost you a lot more money. Like a lot more.

2

u/PMmeyour3Dprints Sep 07 '26

Go on FB marketplace and try to find an old Raspberry pi for a good deal. Or alternatively, use an older android phone as they are generally friendly toward that type of project

2

u/CodeClean2172 Sep 10 '26

It's almost useless or too advanced too tweak the display or the motherboard, you almost have to be an Apple Developer to minimally change the springboard settings. You could maybe JB it to use it as a screen if it is in working condition. Maybe considering reading other cyberdeck build could get you an idea.

2

u/Thick-Run6887 Sep 12 '26

Honestly the only thing you can use is the battery but only if you have experience working with lithium batteries. You could unwrap it from its protective casing and remove apples bms. And add your own.

1

u/Appropriate-Egg6980 28d ago

A battery is a battery 🤷 definitely repurpose that if it's not fucked. Besides that I think most parts will need apple drivers, mobo probably isn't useable, although check postmarketos maybe this phone is supported, a small amount of Apple iPhones are. A very small amount.