I second Jessica’s January 8 comment. I just finished a battery replacement on my iPhone 7 and this step was the most nerve-wracking part. I ended up using a sharper (but not razor-sharp) metal object to get this done with confidence (tried the spudger and guitar pick but not thin enough). The tool I used was the exact duplicate of what iFixIt calls “iSesamo Opening Tool” in their tool selection. I did the heat up with a hair dryer (after attempts with an iOpener hot pad) and the secret (as Jessica also noted) was to not use the angle of attack shown in the pictures, but to push it in more vertically along the bottom edge while pulling up on the suction cup. From there you can easily lever the tool to the lower angle-of-attack (as shown in the picture). I actually used the metal tool for most of the perimeter as well, just don’t go deep (you don’t need to). Notes: my display was intact, and I was able to pull up fairly hard with a glass screen protector still on it.
I second Jessica’s January 8 comment. I just finished a battery replacement on my iPhone 7 and this step was the most nerve-wracking part. I ended up using a sharper (but not razor-sharp) metal object to get this done with confidence (tried the spudger and guitar pick but not thin enough). The tool I used was the exact duplicate of what iFixIt calls “iSesamo Opening Tool” in their tool selection. I did the heat up with a hair dryer (after attempts with an iOpener hot pad) and the secret (as Jessica also noted) was to not use the angle of attack shown in the pictures, but to push it in more vertically along the bottom edge while pulling up on the suction cup. From there you can easily lever the tool to the lower angle-of-attack (as shown in the picture). I actually used the metal tool for most of the perimeter as well, just don’t go deep (you don’t need to). Notes: my display was intact, and I was able to pull up fairly hard with a glass screen protector still on it.
Good advice.