Chosen Solution
Does it depend at all on what part of the device I’m working on? Thanks!
I would recommend it, especially if you’re going to be working on devices often. Or if you’re working in a dry environment, on carpeted floors or using a chair that is fabric (rather than leather/imitation leather, etc that is less likely to generate an electrostatic charge). I wouldn’t say it’s NECESSARY for a one time display replacement or something like that. But there is absolutely still a risk of electrostatic discharge damaging a component if you’re working on the internals of a device.
@lewis8 Why take the risk? You may be lucky and you may not damage any components due to ESD but you won’t know until the repair has been completed and you reconnect power to the board and turn on the device and then it is too late and you have the problem of finding out which component has been damaged. Usually it is not visible. A lot of repair videos also don’t show that the battery should be disconnected as soon as it is accessible either, before commencing any further work. Again not good practice. There is always power at some points on the systemboard even when the device is turned off. The power on/off button is not a power isolating switch. Its function is to signal the OS as to what the user wants to happen. Think of the phone as being in an extremely low power state when off and not that there is no power connected to the board at all.
