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TURN A SMASHED PHONE INTO A WORKING LAPTOP

A cracked screen does not have to be the end if your phone can send video out of its USB-C port.

by DIY Perks

FULL CAD BOM FIRMWARE DOCS

WorkshopOpen-hardware

difficulty
●●●●○
time
a weekend-plus
license
license not specified
repo
repo 0 stars

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

Videos
1
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COMPAREE VERDICT

This is a custom fabrication project around one specific broken phone, not a design you download and print. DIY Perks walks you through the aluminium body, the stiff hinges, the sliding plate that works as a power switch, the power bank and the USB-C wiring, but the dimensions are specific to his Galaxy S8 and his panel. The hardest part is not the metalwork: it is making sure your phone outputs video over USB-C and finding a panel whose control board takes power and video over USB-C. He also stresses using a full USB-C 3.1 cable. Get that wrong and nothing will show on screen. It is a fabrication project for someone who wants to learn and has a broken phone that still works inside.

GOOD TO KNOW

  • —This is a video build guide, not a repository project. There are no CAD files, no BOM, no published plans.
  • —The video shows the process clearly but you will be measuring and adapting every part to your own phone and screen size.
  • —No licence applies because there is no published design to licence.
  • —You need a phone that outputs video over USB-C; his Samsung launches DeX desktop mode automatically.
  • —The LCD panel must have a USB-C control board that accepts both power and DisplayPort Alt Mode video on one cable.
  • —A full USB-C 3.1 cable is required; many cheaper cables will not carry the video signal.

Parts to buy

7 items

From our check of the build. Exact quantities and part numbers are in the creator’s BOM.

  • LCD panel with USB-C video/power control boardFind
  • Aluminium sheet (exact gauge not specified)Find
  • Laptop hingesFind
  • USB-C power bankFind
  • Bluetooth tablet keyboard with trackpadFind
  • SugruFind
  • Full USB-C 3.1 cableFind

Can I build this?

Printnothing required
BuyLCD panel with USB-C video/power control board, aluminium sheet (exact gauge not specified), laptop hinges, USB-C power bank, Bluetooth tablet keyboard with trackpad, Sugru, full USB-C 3.1 cable
ToolsDrill, step bit, jigsaw, files, paint, epoxy, Sugru, soldering iron for the charging wires
Skillssheet metal bending and cutting, measuring and adapting dimensions, USB-C Alt Mode verification, intermediate electronics
Timea weekend-plus if you have metalworking experience; longer if you are learning as you go or need to source the correct LCD panel
Cost$$, dominated by the LCD panel with USB-C control board and the power bank; aluminium sheet and keyboard are secondary
SafetyLithium power bank in an enclosed metal case. Sharp metal edges during fabrication. No mains voltage if you use a USB-C power delivery charger rated for the panel.

Build at your own risk. Projects involve tools, electronics and sometimes mains voltage — follow the creator’s safety notes.

Videos

Broken smartphone to working laptop transformation

Full build walkthrough. Published 24 Jul 2020. No chapter markers. Shows metalwork, hinge install, USB-C wiring, and Samsung DeX in use.

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Gallery

Start here

Navigation into the creator’s own docs — we don’t rewrite the guide, we route you to the source.

  1. 1.Verify your phone supports video-out over USB-C(He uses Samsung DeX. Many phones with USB-C do not output video, so test yours with a USB-C display or adapter before buying anything else.)
  2. 2.Source an LCD panel with a USB-C control board that accepts video AND power on one port(This is the hardest part to get right. Many panels labelled USB-C only take power that way and need HDMI separately. Confirm DisplayPort Alt Mode support.)
  3. 3.Watch the video and measure your phone and panel before cutting any metal (You will be adapting, not copying.)

KNOWN ISSUES

  • Buying an LCD panel that only takes power over USB-C but needs HDMI for video. Confirm DisplayPort Alt Mode support before ordering or the entire build will not work.
  • Using a cheap USB-C cable that does not carry video. You need a full USB-C 3.1 cable rated for Alt Mode; many budget cables are power-only.
  • Assuming your phone outputs video over USB-C without testing it first. Plug it into a USB-C monitor or adapter before you buy the panel.
  • Cutting the aluminium chassis to the video's dimensions when your phone or panel is a different size. Measure twice, cut once.
  • The keyboard frame is the trickiest cut: he drills pilot holes in the corners, opens them with a step bit and cuts between them with a jigsaw.

Will this work with another phone?

The video only shows a Samsung Galaxy S8, where plugging in launches Samsung DeX. Another phone needs to send video out over USB-C, and the desktop experience depends on the phone.

Can I use a different size screen?

Yes, but you will be redesigning the entire chassis.

How do I know if my LCD panel supports video over USB-C?

Look for 'DisplayPort Alt Mode' or 'USB-C video input' in the specifications. Many panels only take USB-C power and need HDMI separately. If in doubt, ask the seller before buying.

What happens if I use a power-only USB-C cable?

The screen will stay black. You need a full USB-C 3.1 cable that carries both power and video (Alt Mode). Test with a known-good cable first.

Is there a parts list?

No. The video shows what was used for one specific build, but panel models change and the aluminium gauge is not specified. You will be sourcing equivalents.

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Discussion1

FROM THE COMPAREE TEAM

The build claims 17 hours of battery life from the power bank, but that depends entirely on the panel's power draw and the phone's screen-off behaviour. What would you use a 17-hour Android laptop for that a regular laptop would not handle?

CompareeTEAM11h ago

We checked the video against the technical claims about USB-C video and Samsung DeX. The biggest trap is the LCD panel: many sellers list USB-C input but only mean power. The exact panel from 2020 is not named, so you will search for a current one that takes video over USB-C. The metalwork is shown clearly, but without dimensions you measure everything yourself.

DIY Perks

DIY Perks is a YouTube channel known for ambitious custom electronics and fabrication builds. Here the starting point is a Galaxy S8 so smashed up that it was not worth repairing.

Star the project on GitHub

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  • Information is provided without warranty and may become outdated as projects evolve. Prices are indicative bands only — always check the creator’s parts list for current costs.
  • Building and operating any project is at your own responsibility. Protective equipment, safe workshop practice and compliance with local regulations are the builder’s responsibility.
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