Camera Modules

Phone Camera Modules — buyer notes (iPhone 8 to iPhone 12)

Three things must line up: sensor, autofocus type and connector layout. Get one wrong and the module is useless in the bay. Optical stabilisation depends on precisely aligned coils, and cheap modules often simulate it without holding a steady frame. Add a third-party camera app to the test, since some modules pass the stock app and fail elsewhere. Each iPhone 8 module is bench-tested for focus and stabilisation before it ships.

Connector families are not interchangeable, so a module photographed from the front can still be the wrong part for the board.

Specs and checks that matter

• Misdiagnosis: A share of "camera faults" are actually flex or software problems, not the module
• Three-way match: Sensor, autofocus and connector all have to match the handset — one mismatch reads as a fault
• Grading: Modules are graded A, B or C, and the grade is stated
• Bench test: Focus and stabilisation are checked on a handset before a lot ships
• Connector types: ZIF and board-to-board connectors are not interchangeable

Buyer questions

Does the OIS actually work?

On Grade A and OEM modules yes; on the cheapest aftermarket units it is frequently simulated.

Will it match my model?

Sensor, AF and connector all have to line up; send the model and we confirm the correct module.

How do I know the module fits?

Match the exact model and the connector type — a ZIF module will not seat in a board-to-board housing even if every other spec matches.

Will it match my model?

Sensor, AF and connector all have to line up; send the model and we confirm the correct module.

Related in this range

• back covers
• small parts
• flex cables
• All phone repair parts & batteries