Introduction
Have you ever encountered the frustrating issue of an iPhone with no touch? This puzzling problem is caused by what experts call “Touch IC failure”, also known as “Ghost Touch” or “Touch Disease”. In this post, we will delve into the mechanics of the Touch IC chip, explore the reasons behind its failure, and offer insights into the microsoldering repair solution that we perform to permanently fix the issue.
What is the Touch IC?
The Touch IC chip is a vital component of the iPhone’s touch functionality. Located on the iPhone logic board, it facilitates communication between the touch screen and the device’s processor. When the Touch IC chip fails, it manifests as a lack of touch responsiveness or erratic touch behavior, commonly referred to as “Ghost Touch” or “Touch Disease”.
What causes Touch IC failure?
The Touch IC failure in iPhone 6 series devices is primarily caused by a combination of factors, including a structural design flaw and the absence of underfill. The constant bending and flexing experienced during normal device use puts strain on the iPhone’s logic board, weakening the solder joints and eventually leading to the failure of the Touch IC chip.
The lack of underfill, a protective coating that strengthens solder connections, further contributes to the problem. Without adequate support, the delicate solder balls connecting the chip to the motherboard can easily crack and break, causing the touch functionality to fail.
Similar to the Audio IC fault in the iPhone 7 series, the iPhone 6 series Touch IC failure is most commonly caused by hard impact and unintended bending (flexing) of the device, resulting in a pad or voltage line trace fracture. This fracture prevents the chip from transmitting touch information, rendering the iPhone unable to process and control touch with the rest of the device. The issue often develops gradually, and the phone may not show any signs of physical damage.
What are the symptoms of Touch IC failure?
Common signature symptoms of Touch IC failure are:
- Unresponsive touch screen
- Grey bars that jump down and flicker at the top of the screen
- Random freezing of the touch screen
- Having to bend the phone for the touch screen to work
How we repair the Touch IC failure
The permanent solution for the iPhone 6 series touch issue requires a microsoldering repair. This process involves several steps, including removing the Touch IC chip, repairing the failed M1 pad (on the 6 Plus model), reballing the IC, and resoldering it back to the iPhone’s logic board.
Specialised equipment and expertise are essential for this microsoldering procedure. A technician can reflow the chip by applying controlled heat to melt and reestablish the solder connections. In some cases, a faulty Touch IC chip may need to be replaced entirely. Regardless of the method used, the goal is to restore proper connection and functionality to the touch screen.
Conclusion
A signature fault of the iPhone 6 series is the failure of it’s Touch IC which is commonly caused by hard impact and unintended bending of the device. This causes the chip to stop transmitting touch information with the rest of the device leaving the user with an iPhone with no touch. Symptoms of this fault range from having grey bars that jump down and flicker at the top of the screen, random freezing of the touch screen, to having to bend the phone for the touch screen to work. A permanent repair involves removing and reballing the IC, repairing any failed board pads, and reinstalling it back on the board.
Because this fault is due to a logic board failure, it is not user repairable and requires an iPhone board repair specialist to offer a permanent repair solution. Seki Gadgets offers this out of warranty repair to both retail and business customers through local walk-in appointments or nationwide mail-in service. Contact Us today to learn more about our iPhone Logic Board Repair and iPhone Data Recovery services.
