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Announced on October 13th, 2020, the iPhone 12 mini is a smaller version of Apple's iPhone 12. It features a 5.4-inch OLED display, an A14 Bionic processor, and dual rear cameras.

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Is the magnetometer built into the display in iPhone 12 Mini?

I had Apple store replace my battery today and the rep told me their hardware diagnostic test reported that my "compass is failing." I had noticed that my compass app didn't work, but I always assumed it was a software issue. The Apple rep said it's a hardware problem, and that I need to replace the display for $229. That kind of makes sense because my iPhone has a non-Apple display, and I can imagine that the magnetometer in it failed. But I declined the repair today because I wanted to double-check before spending $229. Is the magnetometer really built into the display in the iPhone 12 mini?

Thanks.

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There is a collection of data between the magnetometer which is within an IC chip, in addition to the Accelerometer and GPS which is also present within your phone to define the compass image alignment you see.

I can’t see how the display is the issue here other than if the metals used could affect the magnetometer with a heavy magnetic field.

I can see how in the process of replacing the display something on the logic board got damaged which is effecting the magnetometer circuit.

I would refresh the compass app in case it was messed up to rule out that, or reloading the iOS.

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Thanks. I tried deleting/adding compass again, disabling/enabling compass calibration, and nothing works. Compass still not working. I tried two hardware diagnostic apps, and they both said compass has failed. So I assume the magnetometer is dead. What you say makes sense, though, that it's on the inside logic board, not attached to the screen. I guess Apple tech is mistaken! Is there a way to replace the magnetometer?

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@nosedrain - I believe Apple used a custom Bosch dual accelerometer and magnetometer I don’t have access to the schematics to check. Review the iPhone 12 mini Teardown Step 14.


You will need to proper gear to do micro soldering to replace this very tiny chip.

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