Published 1 July 2025. Updated 17 October 2026.
Case Study Summary
- Device: Apple iPhone X
- Problem: Dropped on concrete, no display, no touch response
- Diagnosis: Logic board contact failure between motherboard layers
- Solution: Micro soldering repair of broken contact points
- Outcome: All photos and videos successfully recovered
This iPhone X data recovery case study documents a recovery from a phone that appeared completely dead after being dropped onto concrete. The device showed no display and no response, leading the owner to believe the data may have been permanently lost.
The problem: dropped iPhone X with no signs of life
After the fall, the iPhone X would not show any image on the screen and did not respond to touch. The customer visited an Apple Store, where technicians correctly identified the fault as a complex hardware issue that required specialist data recovery rather than standard repair.
Professional diagnosis revealed the phone was powering on
During assessment, the phone was found to be powering on despite the black screen. A test display was connected to the logic board, confirming that the display output was working. However, the touch function was completely unresponsive.
This finding indicated a deeper internal issue rather than a failed screen or battery.
Why iPhone X failures can be complex
The iPhone X uses a double layer logic board design. The processor sits on one layer while the touch related components are connected through microscopic solder points between layers. A hard impact can cause these contact points to crack or separate, even when there is no visible external damage.
These contact points are extremely small and cannot be repaired using standard phone repair methods.
The iPhone X data recovery process
In this iPhone X data recovery case study, the logic board layers were carefully separated for inspection. Two broken contact pins were identified between the motherboard layers. Using specialised micro soldering equipment and working under magnification, the damaged connections were repaired.
After reassembly, the logic board was tested using professional diagnostic equipment designed for layered boards.
Recovery results
Touch functionality was fully restored, allowing secure access to the device. All photos and videos stored on the iPhone X were successfully recovered.
This case demonstrates that even when an iPhone appears completely dead after a drop, the data can still remain intact.
Why People Choose Payam Data Recovery
When an iPhone will not start, its data is locked to its own chips, so those chips have to be working again before anything can be copied. That is the work we do every day.
- We are a specialist data recovery lab, not a phone repair shop. We have been recovering data since 1998, from over 300,000 devices.
- We are listed on Apple’s data recovery provider page, one of three recommended data recovery providers.
- 500 mobile phone repair shops and over 2,000 IT companies and computer shops across Australia send us their customers’ complex cases every year.
- Board level repair under the microscope by our own data recovery engineers, here in Australia and never outsourced overseas.
- Your data stays private. Our data recovery engineers open only a few random, non-sensitive files to check the recovery worked, and we can sign an NDA on request.
- Rated 4.9 from over 2,400 Google reviews.
We are not the cheapest. We are the best in Australia at this work. We know what to do, how to do it, and we will do our very best for you. Your best chance of getting your data back is with us.
Mobile phone and tablet data recovery service
Mobile phones and tablets, including iPhone and iPad, are a fixed price service. Phones and tablets are a fixed price. Most recoveries are no fix, no fee. Some complex cases have an attempt fee, then a completion fee only if the recovery is successful. You see your files before you pay. We are successful in 99 percent of cases. Contact us for a free quote and we will confirm the price, the turnaround options and the next step. You will need to know the passcode. Pay by Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Link or PayPal, split the cost with Afterpay, Zip, Klarna or PayPal Pay in 4, or pay by bank deposit (EFT).
Frequently Asked Questions
I dropped my iPhone and now the screen is black and it will not respond. Is it dead?
Not necessarily. This iPhone X was found to be powering on despite the black screen. A test display was connected to the logic board and the display output was working. The fault was elsewhere.
Apple told me it was too complex to repair. Does that mean the data is lost?
No. In this case the Apple Store technicians correctly identified it as a complex hardware fault needing specialist data recovery rather than a standard repair. All the photos and videos were recovered.
Why are iPhone X faults harder than other models?
The iPhone X uses a double layer logic board. The processor sits on one layer and the touch related components connect through to another, so a drop can break the contacts between the layers without anything looking damaged from the outside.
The outside of my phone looks fine. Can it still be badly damaged inside?
Yes. The damage here was a broken contact point between the internal board layers, invisible from the outside, and it was repaired by micro soldering.
What does iPhone data recovery cost, and when do I pay?
Phones and tablets are a fixed price. Most recoveries are no fix, no fee. Some complex cases have an attempt fee, then a completion fee only if the recovery is successful. You see your files before you pay. The service is a fixed price. Contact us for a free quote and we will confirm the price and the turnaround options.
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About Payam Data Recovery
Payam Data Recovery works with individuals, students, families, small and medium businesses, IT companies, and organisations that need their data recovered safely and professionally. Some customers come to us with a single damaged device containing personal memories, while others rely on us for complex technical recoveries that require specialist tools and experience.
We are based in Australia and have been recovering data since 1998. Our clients also include governments, law enforcement agencies, corporations, and public figures. Every job is handled with 100 percent confidentiality and privacy.
Get a free quote
Read more about our iPhone Data Recovery Service
Email: help@payam.com.au
Phone: 1300 444 800
International customers are always welcome. The easiest way to reach us from overseas is by email at help@payam.com.au, which works in every time zone.
