We all know that once a mobile phone is dropped on the ground, the first thing that will be damaged is the screen. This happens all the time. For example, if you don’t hold the phone firmly, or if someone knocks it down, etc. Fortunately, a broken screen does not mean that the phone is unusable. If the internal electronic components are not damaged, they can still be used normally after repair. If this is your first time experiencing iPhone screen damage, then you have come to the right place. Today we will focus on the types of screen damage and the associated costs. Today, we will take the iPhone as an example and focus on the relevant matters of screen repair. Let’s start.
1. Types of iPhone screen damage
Even though they are all called screen damage, there are many types of damage. Knowing what type of damage you have before you proceed with the repair will help you find a fix quickly. Just like a doctor prescribing the right medicine for the right condition. Here are some common types of damage:
1) Glass damage
The iPhone screen is made up of multiple layers. It is not just one layer. The outermost glass layer is the one we see. It is the most vulnerable. It is also the most common type of damage. Apple uses chemically strengthened glass to make the iPhone screen. This is a type of glass called aluminosilicate. This glass is stronger and more durable than ordinary glass. However, although it is beyond ordinary glass, it is not indestructible. It will still break when it encounters a strong impact or severe bending. In fact, this is also related to its thickness. Because the thickness of the iPhone screen is only 0.45 to 0.55 mm. This is also the reason why it is fragile.
2) Screen scratches
If you put your phone in your pocket, it is likely to be scratched by some hard objects. This scratch may cause a decrease in touch sensitivity, but it will not damage the internal components. This damage is minimal.
3) Lines or flickering on the screen
The main reason for lines or flickering on the iPhone screen is physical damage. Let’s analyze them one by one.
Before the iPhone X series, the iPhone screen was made of LED. The new iPhone is made of OLED, so this may cause line differences. When the iPhone falls to the ground, the solid glass does not break. However, due to the force of vibration, the OLED display is likely to be damaged. If the OLED display is damaged, a series of iPhone screen visual failures will occur.
- 1. Cracks or lines: If there are lines on the screen, it is likely that your OLED display has cracks. This will cause the image to distort or discolor. In serious cases, the display will be completely unusable. But don’t worry, please contact the staff for repair service support.
- 2. Dead pixels: Dead pixels are usually caused during the manufacturing process. They appear as small black dots or areas on the screen that do not emit light. They do not change color or display content as expected. So, when buying an iPhone, you should check the screen to see if this happens.
- 3. Card point: The card point maintains a constant color on the screen and does not change with the changes of the image on the screen.
- 4. Uneven brightness: Damage to the OLED display may cause the brightness of the entire phone screen to be concentrated in the same place. Or the color may shift. This will affect your experience and viewing experience.
- 5. Flickering or no response: This is most likely due to damage to the touch-sensitive layer of the display. The screen will turn on or off automatically even if you don’t do anything. Even if you tap the screen, it won’t display as you expect.
- 6. Image persistence: As the name suggests, image persistence means that a faint image always exists on the screen. Even if the content is switched, the image is still visible.
- 7. Screen burn-in: Screen burn-in and image retention both keep the image on the screen. But it is more serious than image retention. Image retention may disappear automatically after a period of time. But screen burn-in is permanent damage. It is irreversible.
4) The digitizer is damaged
The digitizer is also known as the touch screen. It is responsible for detecting and processing touch input on the screen. Its damage means no touch response. Its working principle is: touch – convert to electrical signal – send to the processor – perform the operation. Because the digitizer exists between the OLED display and the display screen. Therefore, once it is damaged, the entire display unit needs to be replaced.
2. iPhone screen repair cost
Regarding the repair costs of the iPhone, we will explain them from the following aspects.
1) Average cost
At some point, almost every iPhone user has dropped their phone and shattered the device’s screen. The average iPhone screen repair costs $220. If you have a warranty. That is AppleCare. This type of accidental damage repair is relatively cheap. Prices start at $29. But if you don’t, Apple’s costs increase significantly. Can go up to $329. Ultimately, your cost will depend on the type of phone you have, the severity of the damage, and more.
| National average cost | $220 |
| Low cost | $29-$140 |
| High-end cost | $279-$329 |
2) iPhone screen repair cost breakdown
| Model | Screen repair or replacement costs (out of warranty) |
| iPhone 5C | $129 |
| iPhone 5S | $129 |
| iPhone SE | $129 |
| iPhone SE (second generation) | $129 |
| iPhone 6 | $129 |
| iPhone 6 Plus | $149 |
| iPhone 6s | $149 |
| iPhone 6s Plus | $169 |
| iPhone 7 | $149 |
| iPhone 7 Plus | $169 |
| iPhone 8 | $149 |
| iPhone 8 Plus | $169 |
| iPhone XR | $199 |
| iPhone X | $279 |
| iPhone XS | $279 |
| iPhone XS Max | $329 |
| iPhone 11 | $199 |
| iPhone 11 Pro | $279 |
| iPhone 11 Pro Max | $329 |
| iPhone 12 mini | $229 |
| iPhone 12 | $279 |
| iPhone 12 Pro | $279 |
| iPhone 12 Pro Max | $329 |
Apple charges anywhere from $149 to $599 for issues like extra repairs and accidental damage.
3) Third-party iPhone screen repair prices
Another repair option is to have a third-party service provider fix your cracked iPhone. Third-party providers, such as Staymobile in Columbia, SC, may charge less and often have a shorter turnaround time. iPhixShop LLC iPhone and iPad repair and parts company says most repairs take less than 30 minutes. Mobile iPhone repair service will also come to your door to repair it, which can save you time.
Screen repair or replacement costs vary depending on the model. Next Tech Solutions LLC in Stonington, CT offers screen replacement and repair services. They service the iPhone Model 5, Model X, and iPad as well as other Android phones including Samsung and LG. You can check out their fees below:
- iPhone 5/5c: $70
- iPhone 6/5s: $80
- iPhone 7/6s: $90
- iPhone 6 Plus: $100
- iPhone 8/7 Plus: $120
- iPhone 8 Plus: $140
- iPhone X: $270
In contrast, iPhixShop LLC’s iPhone and iPad repair, parts service covers iPhone 4 to iPhone XR, and launched the following promotions in March 2019:
- iPhone XR: $235 + tax
- iPhone Xs: $245 + tax
- iPhone X: $225 + tax
- iPhone 8: $95 + tax
- iPhone 8 Plus: $95 + tax
- iPhone 7 Plus: $90 + tax
- iPhone 7: $90 + tax
- iPhone 6s Plus: $84 + tax
- iPhone 6s: $74 + tax
- iPhone 6 Plus: $74 + tax
- iPhone 6: $64 + tax
- iPhone 5s/SE: $60 + tax
- iPhone 5/5c: $60 + tax
- iPhone 4/4s: $45 + tax
Likewise, Break & Fix’s screen replacements range from $70 for the iPhone 5 and SE models to $125 for the iPhone 7 Plus.
4) Additional cost factors
The main cost factors for iPhone screen repairs are:
- Device model
- Whether the two layers of the screen — the glass (called the digitizer in some models) and the LCD layer — are damaged
The newer and larger the model, the more expensive it will be to repair.
3. How to hire a professional to repair a cracked screen
You can easily hire an iPhone repair expert by following these steps:
1) Obtain cost estimates from Apple and third-party technicians
For the best value for money, compare prices from Apple and third-party services. Contact several technicians and let them know your iPhone model, whether it is under warranty, and the severity of the damage. Then choose the best price for cooperation. Our suggestion is not to choose the highest price or the lowest price. The middle price is the best.
2) Read company reviews
Before choosing a suitable repair company, it is necessary to read their company reviews. Most repair companies have their own social media or company website. And they will provide a dedicated platform to display customer reviews and feedback about them. This feedback can help you learn more about the repair company. So how to distinguish? It is very difficult to have a five-star review. So when you see a company that has several five-star reviews. Then you can consider it as an option worth considering. If a company has only a few reviews, and they are all recent. Then this company is likely to be a newcomer.
3) Check the screen
Before repairing, you can ask them to check the quality of the screen first. There are two types of iPhone screens. They are OEM and aftermarket screens. Let’s first learn about OEM screens. OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer. Apple works with OME to produce the phone screen it wants. In a way, you can call the OME screen the original screen of the iPhone. Then there are aftermarket screens. Aftermarket screens are made by various manufacturers, and they are similar to the original iPhone screen in appearance and function. But the quality is not that good. Therefore, the price of aftermarket screens will be much cheaper.
In short, you need to choose which screen you need based on your actual situation. However, there is a problem here. Some repairers will use aftermarket screens to impersonate OEM screens in order to defraud you of your money. So how do you distinguish between the two screens? Here are some tips for you:
- OEM screens will have the Apple logo on them, while aftermarket screens will not.
- OEM screens will also have a white barcode and black spacer, which is not present on aftermarket screens.
- The OEM screen has a rainbow ring around the camera location, which is not present on the aftermarket screen.
4) View before and after photos
In addition to reading customer testimonials, find photos (posted by technicians or past customers) of iPhones repaired by technicians, so you can gauge their workmanship.
5) Turnaround time
If you only have one phone, you can’t afford to lose it for long. Therefore, the time it takes to complete the repair is important. Some people care more about a quick repair time than an expensive repair fee. This is why some people choose third-party repair providers instead of Apple’s official repair service.
6) Warranty service
You should choose those repair shops that provide good warranty services rather than those that do not provide any warranty services. In fact, from this point, we can see that the repair shops that provide warranty services are very confident in their screens. They believe that their screens will not break easily. On the contrary, those shops that do not provide warranty services know that their screens are of poor quality. They cannot provide strong guarantees to customers.
4. Preparations before iPhone screen repair
Before sending your iPhone screen for repair, there are some things you must do. Let’s take a look at them below.
1. First, back up the data in your phone. This can prevent file damage during the repair process. You can use iCloud or iTunes on your computer to back up your iPhone.
2. Disable “Find My iPhone”. Don’t forget this step. You need to turn off this feature before any repair. The specific steps are:
- Open Settings
- Click your name at the top of the screen
- Select “Find My iPhone” and click the Close button
3. After completing the above preparations, you can send your iPhone for repair. Tips: Please make an appointment before receiving repair service. Ensure that you can get the service in time.
5. iPhone screen repair steps
Maybe you have never experienced iPhone screen repair. So you don’t know what the repair steps are. You are very lucky to read this article. Below we will explain the iPhone screen repair process to you.
1. Assessment: When your phone is sent to the repair center, the first thing the staff will do when they pick up your phone is to assess the damage. This is to determine the specific type of damage so that they can make a corresponding repair plan. They will also give you a quote for the repair cost.
2. Disassemble the iPhone: After confirming the repair plan in the previous step, the staff will disassemble your phone.
3. Repair: At this point, the entire repair process is more than half completed. Of course, this step is the most time-consuming because it requires a variety of tools and parts.
4. Testing: After the new screen is installed, in order to ensure its normal operation, they will test the screen before returning it to you to ensure that the screen and other components can operate normally.
After the above steps, you will get a perfect iPhone. The whole process takes about half an hour to an hour.
6. Measures to protect iPhone screen
Whether you have experienced iPhone screen damage or not, you should take relevant measures to protect the screen before it is damaged. Below we will give you some common screen protection measures.
1) Use tempered glass protective film
Tempered glass is a protective layer on your iPhone screen. Tempered glass is glass that has been heat treated. Similarly, it is shock and pressure-resistant. In this way, even if your phone falls to the ground, the first thing that breaks is the tempered glass film instead of the phone screen.
2) Use a phone case
The case does not specifically protect the screen. But it protects your entire iPhone. If it falls, the case will bear most of the pressure.
3) Enhance protection awareness
Finally, you need to be aware of your own protection. Avoid placing your phone in dangerous or slippery places, such as putting it in an unzippered pocket and running.
7. iPhone screen repair FAQs
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about iPhone screen repair.
1) Should I repair the screen or get a new iPhone?
Well, I think this should be analyzed in combination with the actual damage to the screen. If your iPhone screen can still be used normally after the repair, then I suggest you only repair the screen. Because the cost of repairing the screen is only a small part of the cost of replacing a new iPhone. It can save you hundreds of dollars.
Of course, if you have enough money to support you to replace the new iPhone. Whatever you choose is fine. In addition, if you purchased warranty service for your iPhone and you are still within the warranty period. Then Apple will repair your screen for free.
2) Can I repair the damaged screen myself?
Our advice is that it is best not to repair a broken iPhone screen yourself. I have listed the following reasons:
- The modern smartphone is a very complex and sophisticated piece of technology. It is impossible for someone who is not tech-savvy to understand it.
- There are hundreds of SMDs, or surface mount devices, on the iPhone’s motherboard. If you are not a professional repairman, these devices are likely to slip or get lost under your screwdriver, which will result in higher repair costs.
- Without professional tools, it is impossible to open the phone and get inside.
- If you try to repair it yourself, you will also need to buy a lot of repair parts and expensive tools. This may cost more money than if you just hand it over to someone else for repair. This is not a wise move.
Taking all the above factors into consideration, I think the safest and most cost-effective way is to hand it over to professional maintenance personnel for repair.
3) Is it worth repairing a broken iPhone screen?
This needs to be analyzed based on your actual situation. If your iPhone has been used for many years and is an older model, then our suggestion is that it may be more cost-effective to directly replace it with a new iPhone. On the contrary, if your iPhone is a new model, then it is worth repairing.
4) Will replacing the screen affect the use of the iPhone?
Maybe. If you work with an Apple repair company or a professional repair shop, it is safe to replace the screen because they have professional skills and a proven reputation. If the repairman is inexperienced, the internal parts and functions of the phone may be damaged.
8. Conclusion
Screen damage is inevitable, even if you are very careful. But fortunately, we have found a way to save it. In order to protect your iPhone during use, you’d better buy a repair service when you buy your iPhone. When your phone has an accident, you will know how convenient it is. After reading this article, I believe you have a preliminary understanding of the types of screen damage, the cost of iPhone screen repair, etc. So if you encounter screen damage in the future, don’t worry. Deal with it calmly. I believe you can do it.
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