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CAT S22 Teardown

Written By: William Urfer (and one other contributor)
Published: October 23, 2024
  • Comments: 4
  • Favorites: 0
  • Views: 786

CAT S22 Teardown

Written By: William Urfer (and one other contributor)
Published: October 23, 2024
  • Comments: 4
  • Favorites: 0
  • Views: 786

Teardown

Introduction

this 60$ phone has more repairability than meets the eye

Today we will be tearing it down to see how much we can repair it.

What you need

This teardown is not a repair guide. To repair your CAT S22, use our service manual.

  1. CAT S22 Teardown, the big screw: step 1, image 1 of 2 CAT S22 Teardown, the big screw: step 1, image 2 of 2

    • We first need to take off the back cover and remove the battery. I used a coin to remove the back. its important to keep this screw tight for waterproofing.

    Edit

  2. CAT S22 Teardown, Removing the back: step 2, image 1 of 2 CAT S22 Teardown, Removing the back: step 2, image 2 of 2

    • AFTER REMOVING THE SCREWS, THE PHONE WILL NO LONGER BE WATERPROOF. This is because there are tiny gaskets around the screws to ensure its ip68 rating.

    • remove the 12 screws holding on the back. It should come off without any resistance because there is no clips

    Edit

  3. CAT S22 Teardown, remove the vibration motor (optional): step 3, image 1 of 3 CAT S22 Teardown, remove the vibration motor (optional): step 3, image 2 of 3 CAT S22 Teardown, remove the vibration motor (optional): step 3, image 3 of 3

    • after we remove the back we have an optional part to take out. its the vibration motor. use tweezers or your fingers to remove it from the back

    Edit

  4. CAT S22 Teardown, a look at the supprisingly modular motherboard: step 4, image 1 of 1

    • wow look at all those connectors. even the usbc is on its own easily replacable board!

    • remove all the connectors marked in blue.

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  5. CAT S22 Teardown, motherboard screws: step 5, image 1 of 1

    • remove all the screws pictured

    Edit

  7. CAT S22 Teardown, removing small parts: step 6, image 1 of 3 CAT S22 Teardown, removing small parts: step 6, image 2 of 3 CAT S22 Teardown, removing small parts: step 6, image 3 of 3

    • remove the usbc port, action button and volume rocker.

    Edit

  8. CAT S22 Teardown, remove the mother board: step 7, image 1 of 2 CAT S22 Teardown, remove the mother board: step 7, image 2 of 2

    • just gently lift it up and take it out. after removing the heat shields we get to see the soc and the storage, as well as what I think is the modem.

    Edit

  9. CAT S22 Teardown, removing the front rubber cover.: step 8, image 1 of 2 CAT S22 Teardown, removing the front rubber cover.: step 8, image 2 of 2

    • there is a rubber cover on top of the unit that protects it. removing this shows another set of screws and a hard plastic cover

    Edit

  10. CAT S22 Teardown: step 9, image 1 of 2 CAT S22 Teardown: step 9, image 2 of 2

    • remove the eight screws and the clips on all four sides.

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  11. CAT S22 Teardown, removing the daughterboard connectors: step 10, image 1 of 1

    • disconnect the connectors labeled in blue.

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  12. CAT S22 Teardown, remove the outer screen: step 11, image 1 of 1

    • its not glued down or anything, just be careful to not get your paw prints on it

    Edit

  13. CAT S22 Teardown, remove the cameras: step 12, image 1 of 1

    • the front and back cameras come out pretty easy. be careful with the rear camera as there is some glue holding it down. using some ipa can help.

    Edit

  14. CAT S22 Teardown, the daughterboard: step 13, image 1 of 1

    • the board is taped down but doesnt put up a fight when you remove it with a pry tool.

    Edit

  15. CAT S22 Teardown, the screen: step 14, image 1 of 1

    • at first I didn't think that the screen could be taken out. this was incorrect. after using my 3d printer (you can use your own method) to heat up the screen. from there I used ifixit picks to carefully pry the screen off

    Edit

  16. CAT S22 Teardown, summary: step 15, image 1 of 1

    • although the s22 is designed competently, there appears to be little to no repair parts available. the only place I was able to find that sells repair parts is in India and does not ship outside India. here is the website

    Edit

Author

with 1 other contributor

William Urfer

Member since: 09/06/24

408 Reputation

2 Guides authored

Badges: 3

4 Comments

really apreciate the teardown, thanks william:)

joe stalin - Reply

Er zal wel ijzer inzitten, zo zwaar.

Hauman Everaard - Reply

This is very helpful. Thanks

Shivprasad Bandekar - Reply

Hi William, I don't suppose you remember if there was a wire connector near the hinge to make the upper speaker and camera work? I have this phone everything else works fine but the speaker you listen to when on a call doesn't work and the top camera as well. I was hoping it would be a simple fix like a loose connector

Shane Anderson - Reply

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