A couple of days ago, I revisited the nostalgic world of audio with the Colorfly C3 and C4 players—true relics from over a decade ago. Today, let’s dive into a fascinating chapter of Android HiFi history: one of the earliest grassroots hardware modifications that sparked a DIY revolution.
Back in 2016, the LG G5 turned heads with its innovative “drawer-style” battery replacement system—a breath of fresh air in smartphone design. That same year, Apple unveiled the iPhone 7, with Tim Cook stubbornly clinging to the same tired design language. From the iPhone 6 through the 8, Apple’s cookie-cutter approach paled in comparison to LG’s bold G-series innovations.
Powered by the Snapdragon 820 chipset with 4GB RAM and modest 32GB storage, the LG G5 eventually struggled to keep up as even a backup device. But ingenious merchants in Huaqiangbei saw potential where others saw e-waste. Thanks to its built-in HiFi module co-developed with B&O, discarded G5 motherboards from broken-screen units found new life as portable DAC-amps—a brilliant example of tech recycling.
This repurposed HiFi module packed serious audiophile credentials: an ES9028C2M DAC delivering 129dB dynamic range (outperforming its ES9018 predecessor) paired with a Sabre9602C headphone amp boasting 122dB SNR and -117dB THD+N. Creative vendors crafted custom acrylic enclosures for these modules, giving them a distinctive hacker-chic aesthetic that screamed DIY passion.
This LG G5 transformation arguably pioneered the modern DIY hardware mod movement. Fast forward to today, and we see discarded motherboards from devices like the Samsung S20, Fold3, and MOTO RAZR being reborn as Snapdragon-powered Android media boxes. After witnessing such ingenious repurposing, doesn’t it make you want to crack open an old phone and tinker?
Just remember—solid DIY skills are essential. I learned this the hard way when replacing an HTC Butterfly battery: one overlong screw sent up a puff of magic smoke that nearly made me lose my lunch!
Nicole Hall 
Eli Cruz 
Audrey Ramos
I never knew the LG G5 had such potential beyond its modular design! Turning it into a portable headphone amp is a clever hack. It’s amazing how older tech can find new life through DIY mods like this.
That’s a really cool way to breathe new life into old phones! I never thought about using an LG G5 as a portable amp; it makes perfect sense given its modular design. This DIY project could be a fun challenge for anyone interested in both audio and tech tinkering.