Nothing screams more ‘despair’ than a cracked iPhone screen. It’s akin to seeing your life flash before your eyes.
Thankfully, once you’ve gone through all the five stages of grief in two minutes, you’ll find out that it’s not the end of the world and you’ve got options.
You can opt for an iPhone screen repair, or you can actually replace your iPhone screen altogether. Keep on reading for our full breakdown of the cost considerations for each option and how to pick the right one for you.
Replace iPhone Screen or Repair iPhone Screen: Start With the Warranties
In many cases, the issues that arise with iPhones may be remedied by a skilled repair crew.
There is no need to pay for all that labor if your phone is protected by a warranty. Even if you don’t recall signing up for Apple’s insurance, you may still be covered if anything happens to your device.
Even if you acquired your iPhone from a third-party vendor, you are covered by a one-year limited manufacturer’s guarantee.
Repair or replace your phone if Apple determines that it is faulty rather than a result of the manufacturer’s mistake. In this case, they’ll give you these options.
- Service your iPhone
- Getting a new phone if you trade in your old one
- Give you a refund of your money
- Apple Care extends the coverage provided by the standard warranty. This package extends your insurance coverage by a few years and lowers the cost of some forms of unintentional damage.
It’s likely that if you purchased your phone from Apple, either online or in a shop, you were urged to purchase Apple Care as well. However, if you bought your phone from a third-party vendor, you may not have been aware of this.
It’s possible that you haven’t signed up either (it happens).
Customers with a history of dropping their phones or who want to use their phones for more than two years should consider purchasing Apple Care, according to the pros. This information is useless if you neglected to purchase the protection, since Apple restricts your ability to do so depending on the date you made the purchase.
Your phone can be vulnerable if it’s not properly secured. A few seconds later, you’ll know for sure. You should enter your phone number into a field on this webpage. You’ll find out straight immediately whether your phone is protected by the original warranty, Apple Care, or a combination of both.
iPhone Screen Repair: The DIY Tech-Savvy Option
This strategy is a good option for later models.
For example, iPhone 5 screens are available for roughly $59, and a repair kit that includes the necessary equipment is available for an additional $10.
If you reside in an area where an electronic parts supply shop offers the kit, you’ll have to buy it online. So, unless you pay extra for overnight or two-day delivery, you may expect to have to wait three to five business days to get your replacement screen. In addition, you’ll invalidate your warranty and risk permanently harming your iPhone.
Fractured iPhone screens may be repaired with Displex screen polish and other “simple” treatments, however, these products are only helpful for small scratches and do not fix cracked displays.
Toothpaste, Vaseline, tape, and any other “solutions” you can make at home won’t work, either. Attempting to fix your iPhone’s shattered screen using these ways might actually cause additional harm.
Attempting to fix your iPhone’s screen on your own might be a reasonably affordable endeavor, but if you’re not a professional Apple expert, you’re likely to face hours of aggravation. Your iPhone warranty will be voided, and this might end up costing you far more than other repair and replacement options.
Have a Professional Repair iPhone Screen
A professional repair firm can replace your iPhone’s screen if you don’t have the know-how or desire to do it yourself.
It’s critical to verify that any repair work won’t invalidate your warranty before deciding to go through with it (many of the cheaper services will). Price ranges from $100 to $200 and turnaround times may range from several weeks for manufacturer repair to a few days for private parties to just a few hours for local and kiosk repairs.
You can also skip the research and go with this iPhone screen fix professional.
What to Know Before Getting an iPhone Repair
Even if your phone is unprotected, there are still options for you to take. One of them is a replacement. You may get a new phone by exchanging your damaged one with one from a replacement program. If you need a new phone, you’re more likely to get one that’s been fixed.
Apple has made it quite simple to swap out an iPhone. As a result of the Express Replacement feature, you may:
- Make sure to provide information about your current phone
- You’ll need a new phone, as well as packing for your old one
- Send in the shard
Most importantly, you’ll be able to use your current phone while you wait for the new one to arrive. This might keep you connected even if your phone is acting up.
There’s a catch, though. With Apple Care, the cost is $99, but with a newer phone and without this protection, the cost is significantly more expensive.
Replace iPhone Entirely
There is a third alternative, which is to either sell or trade-in your old damaged iPhone in order to put the money toward buying a new one. If you have an iPhone with a cracked screen, several firms are eager to acquire it and will pay you either in cash, gift cards, or a shop credit for it.
Renewing your cellular plan is a great time to trade in your cracked iPhone for cash, which may offset the $99 to $199 price tag of a new iPhone, depending on your contract service plan.
To Repair iPhone Screen or Not to Repair: Exploring Your Options
In the end, it’s up to you to decide whether to fix or replace your broken iPhone screen.
You can always trade in your damaged iPhone for a new model, unless it was recently acquired or you have a long-term cellular contract that restricts you from purchasing a new phone at discounted costs.
In this case, iPhone screen repair is the way to go. Next, you should check out our other guides and explainers in our technology section.