Alright, so my trusty old LG V20 was starting to show its age, especially the camera. Pictures were getting kinda blurry, and the autofocus was, shall we say, “unreliable.” I figured it was time for an upgrade, but I really didn’t want to ditch the whole phone. I love that removable battery and the headphone jack! So, I decided to try and replace the camera module itself.
First, I searched around online to see if this was even possible. Turns out, plenty of folks had done it! Found some videos and forum posts, and it looked pretty straightforward. Good sign!
Finding the Parts
Next up, I needed to find a replacement camera. I checked a couple of online stores, and they are all easily orderable. Made sure to get one specifically for the V20, obviously. Didn’t want any compatibility surprises. While I was at it, I also grabbed a small toolkit with those tiny screwdrivers and plastic pry tools. Figured that would come in handy.
The Operation
Once everything arrived, I laid out all the parts and tools on a clean workspace. I put on my best DIY face – you know, the one that says, “I totally know what I’m doing” (even if I’m slightly terrified). Then, I followed the steps from one of the videos I’d found.
- Popped off the back cover. Easy peasy, thanks to that removable battery design.
- Unscrewed the tiny screws holding the camera module in place. Those things are tiny, so I was super careful not to lose any.
- Gently pried the old camera module loose with the plastic tool. It was connected by a small ribbon cable, so I made sure to disconnect that carefully.
- Snapped the new camera module into place and reconnected the ribbon cable.
- Screwed everything back together.
- Put the back cover back on.
The Result
I powered on the phone, opened the camera app, and… boom! It worked! The autofocus was snappy, and the pictures looked way sharper. I felt like a tech wizard for a solid five minutes. Seriously, it was like having a brand new phone camera. Best part? I saved a bunch of money by not buying a whole new phone. If your V20 camera is acting up, I definitely recommend giving this a try. It’s easier than you might think!