First Recommended Repairs for GSM Beginners

1. How to choose your first repairs

Before listing specific jobs, it is important to understand the criteria for a good “beginner repair”.

Low risk of permanent damage: if something goes wrong, you should not instantly destroy the board or the device.
Clear, repeatable steps: there should be good guides or videos available for the model you are working on.
Limited tools required: the job should be possible with a basic toolkit, without advanced soldering or micro-soldering.
Predictable time: you should be able to finish in a reasonable time, even if you work slowly and carefully.

A good strategy is to practice first on non-critical devices: older phones, devices with board damage, or phones that belong to you or your friends (with clear expectations).

2. Ideal first repairs for complete beginners

Simple battery replacements

Battery swaps are an excellent starting point, especially on devices where the battery connector is easy to access and the battery is not glued aggressively.

Learn to open the device without cracking the back or screen.
Practice safe battery disconnection and reconnection.
Check that everything works after reassembly (charging, percentage, performance).

Avoid heavily glued or “sandwiched” designs for your very first attempts.

Rear cover / back glass replacements (where possible)

On some models the back cover is easier to replace than the front screen. This is a good way to practice opening, heating and adhesive removal.

Focus on controlled heat, not brute force.
Use plastic picks to avoid damaging the frame.
Learn how to clean and prepare surfaces before installing new adhesive.

Screen replacements on “friendly” models

Some phone models are built in a way that makes screen replacements relatively simple. Start with devices that:

Have detailed step-by-step guides available.
Use manageable adhesive and limited hidden clips.
Do not require board-level soldering for the display connector.

Choose older or mid-range devices instead of the newest flagship as your first screen job.

Charging port or speaker modules (modular type)

Many modern phones use daughterboards or flex modules that include the charging port or loudspeaker. If these are connect-and-replace, they can be good beginner jobs.

Make sure the part is indeed modular, not soldered directly on the mainboard.
Pay attention to antenna contacts and rubber seals when reassembling.
Test microphone, loudspeaker and vibration after the repair.

3. Repairs you should avoid at the very beginning

Some jobs are attractive because they pay more, but they also carry a very high risk of failure or device death if you do not have enough experience.

Advanced board-level repairs

IC replacements and reballed chips
Short-finding with aggressive voltage injection
Complex micro-soldering around CPU or RAM

These jobs require a microscope, professional hot-air tools, a lot of training and a good understanding of schematics and board layouts. They are not beginner jobs.

Water damage “save everything” jobs

Devices that have been in liquid for a long time
Phones previously “repaired” by someone else in a very messy way

Water damage work is highly unpredictable and often involves corrosion under chips. If you accept this type of job too early, you risk spending hours with little chance of a stable result.

Repairs on very expensive flagship devices (at first)

Working on top flagship models when you are still learning is stressful for you and for the customer. One mistake can be extremely expensive.

Practice on mid-range and older devices first.
Only move to expensive flagships once you feel confident and have a good track record.

Jobs with unclear customer expectations

If a customer expects a guaranteed result on a very risky job, say “no” or explain clearly that the repair is experimental. As a beginner you should avoid such negotiations.

4. A simple practice plan for your first 10–20 repairs

Here is an example roadmap you can adapt based on which devices you have available.

Repairs 1–3: practice opening and reassembling a “sacrificial” device that already has other problems. Focus on screws, clips, connectors and cables.
Repairs 4–6: battery replacements and back cover replacements on your own phones or devices from friends (with clear agreements).
Repairs 7–10: first screen replacements on friendly models, with detailed guides open next to you.
Repairs 11–20: a mix of more screen replacements and simple modular parts (charging port modules, speakers, vibration motors) on similar devices.

Document each repair in a simple logbook: model, problem, what you did, what went well, what went wrong and how long it took. This helps you see your progress and understand where you still need practice.

5. Basic testing checklist after every repair

Every repair, even the simplest one, should end with a short but structured test.

General functions

Device boots correctly and stays on.
Touchscreen and display work in all areas.
Front and rear cameras open and focus.
Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and mobile signal look normal.

Repair-specific checks

After a battery swap: charging, percentage changes, no sudden shutdowns.
After a screen job: brightness control, proximity sensor, face ID (if applicable).
After speaker/port work: microphone, loudspeaker, vibration, headphones, charging.

6. Summary and next steps

Your first repairs do not need to be spectacular. The goal is to build good habits, consistent quality and confidence. Start with simple jobs, document your work and upgrade gradually.

Choose low-risk, well-documented repairs for your first projects.
Avoid advanced board work, heavy water damage and very expensive devices at the beginning.
Practice careful disassembly, clean work and structured testing after each repair.
Keep learning from every job – success and failure both teach you something.

Continue with a step-by-step screen tutorial See how much you can earn per repair