Hardware unlocking effort results in exploded Apple iPhone - hardware hack makes iPhone go BOOM!

Posted by Will on Friday, August 31st, 2007 at 4:03 pm under iPhone

You know what they say. “If you’re not willing to brick your iPhone, don’t try the iPhone hardware unlocking hack.” Well, that’s more like something that we just said, but you get the picture.

Apparently, an enterprising hacker on the Hackint0sh forums wanted to give geohot’s hardware unlock hack a go on a locked iPhone. Just when he thought things were going smoothly (he got the antenna cover off and proceeded to pry off the battery cover), the iPhone just fried itself right into oblivion. A puff of smoke black smoke and a crapload of heat resulted in a partially dissected iPhone that is now good for little more than a prime example of what can go wrong when you don’t know what you’re doing around sensitive equipment.

iPhone explodes during hardware unlock attempt - black smoke and  burnt iPhone

From the forum:

“We were so happy, all the software part was done, so we started opening the iPhone. The antenna cover was a bit tricky but eventually it came off. Then we started to open the metal cover (after taking out the 3 screws) and PUFF, up it went in smoke, I think my collegue must have touched something. It literally went up in black smoke. It was so hot that when I tried to pick it up I burned my fingers. So, this is for sure the most difficult part of the whole process. I don’t know what he did, as I had just stepped out of the room to fetch something when I heard a scream…they got such a fright.”

The moral of this story? While the iPhone hardware unlocking method may be a provocative way to free yourself and your iPhone from AT&T hell, don’t try it unless you really know what you’re doing - and you’re willing to not only brick your iPhone, but fry it to a crisp as well. Wait for the software unlock! Seriously, be patient.

Still, we feel bad for the poor guy that “smoked” his iPhone.

[Via: Hackint0sh]


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  • 5 Responses to “Hardware unlocking effort results in exploded Apple iPhone - hardware hack makes iPhone go BOOM!”

    • iPHONE Price Drops and Unlock is OFFICIAL!! « Windows on the GO says:

      [...] unlock. The hardware unlock is very complicated and if you don’t know what your doing you may blow up your device your device. It involves taking apart the iPhone and soldering to the [...]

    • Your brain on drugs « rebekah.king says:

      [...] Holy cow! I just heard about his. It just goes to show you, don’t unlock stuff that shouldn’t be unlocked…or is also illegal. Someone actually did it- tried to unlock the new iPhone and it iPloded! Ha ha. Went up in black smoke and everything! Read about it here. [...]

    • WOWNDADI - Communication Productivity and Leadership » iPhone Hits the UK says:

      [...] There will undoubtedly be stories about people hacking the UK iPhones to work on other networks, but as at least one user has found out, this might not be a good idea unless you want a no-phone. [...]

    • drgk says:

      Would you really put it past them to build in a self destruction device? :lol:

    • UriShare - Iphone explodes says:

      [...] Iphone explodes Hardware unlocking effort results in exploded Apple iPhone. Submitted: 2 minutes ago Category: Technology Submitter: RssFeed Website: http://www.intomobile.com Report this link: Click here to report Comments: 0 [...]

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