iphone 11 lcd screen replacement cost brands

Use our “Get an Estimate” tool to review potential costs if you get service directly from Apple. The prices shown here are only for screen repair. If your iPhone needs other service, you’ll pay additional costs.

Your country or region offers AppleCare+ for this product. Screen repair (front) is eligible for coverage with a fee by using an incident of accidental damage from handling that comes with your AppleCare+ plan.

The Apple Limited Warranty covers your iPhone and the Apple-branded accessories that come in the box with your product against manufacturing issues for one year from the date you bought them. Apple-branded accessories purchased separately are covered by the Apple Limited Warranty for Accessories. This includes adapters, spare cables, wireless chargers, or cases.

We guarantee our service, including replacement parts, for 90 days or the remaining term of your Apple warranty or AppleCare plan, whichever is longer. This is in addition to your rights provided by consumer law.

Replacement equipment that Apple provides as part of the repair or replacement service may contain new or previously used genuine Apple parts that have been tested and pass Apple functional requirements.

Have a broken iPhone screen? Here are three iPhone screen repair options and how much each costs, plus a breakdown of whether you should fix it or sell it.

NOTE: If your iPhone is still under warranty, check with Apple to see if you can get your screen fixed for free. Here’s Apple’s warranty coverage checker.

You can replace your own iPhone screen with a little tech savvy and a bit of patience. The repair requires disassembly, however, so you shouldn’t attempt this fix if you’re not comfortable doing that.

Your best bet is to buy a complete screen assembly, which is a much easier repair than replacing just the front glass or digitizer. Expect to pay between $45 and $280 for a new iPhone screen, depending on your model, where you buy parts and whether you buy a standard LCD or premium OLED screen. Toolkits start at $5 if you don’t already have the necessary tools.

WARNING: This can be a difficult repair, especially if you aren’t experienced. Understand the risk of additional damage that could void any warranties and insurance policies.Rather buy a new iPhone? Save with these iPhone deals

You can find detailed step-by-step instructions on sites like iFixit and YouTube. Here are some example videos for the iPhone 12, iPhone 11 and iPhone X.

Don’t want to fix your own iPhone screen? You can opt for professional repair instead. Local repair shops can often replace your screen in a few hours, either in-store or at your location. Online mail-in repair services take longer, but they’re good options if you don’t have a local repair store.

Expect to pay between $119 and $520 for professional iPhone screen replacement, depending on your model and repair shop. Note that Apple’s own repair service tops out at $329 for out-of-warranty screen repair. Apple also uses OEM (original equipment manufacturer parts), while many repair shops use less expensive aftermarket parts.

It’s a good idea to ask about warranties on parts and labor before you choose a repair company. You should also inquire about your service tech’s experience, credentials and quality of parts.Interested in a refurbished iPhone 12? See where to get it for less

Do you have iPhone insurance? If so, you can file a claim directly with your insurance company, who might offer a choice between mail-in, in-store or on-location repair services. Some companies will overnight a refurbished replacement iPhone rather than repair and return yours.

Expect to pay a deductible ranging between $29 and $149, depending on your model and insurance company. Here are some example iPhone screen repair deductibles.InsureriPhone Screen Replacement Deductible

Should you fix your iPhone screen or sell it broken? You can base your decision on how much your iPhone is worth broken versus repaired, especially if you plan to upgrade soon.

For example, at the time of this writing, an iPhone X 64GB on the Verizon network was worth $255 in good condition. Here’s a breakdown of its net value after different repair options.

Next, compare the net value after repair to what your iPhone is worth in broken condition. At the time of this writing, a broken iPhone X 64GB on the Verizon network was worth $110.

As the table shows, our example iPhone will have significantly more value if you repair it yourself or file an insurance claim through AppleCare+ or Verizon.

Of course, your decision depends not only on the value, but also how long you plan to keep your iPhone. If you intend to hold on to it for a few years, it’s cheaper to repair it than to buy a new iPhone.

Local iPhone Repairs The impressive new features on the iPhone 11 don’t make it immune to cracks and damage. So if you’re tired of looking at your text messages and emails through shattered glass, come to uBreakiFix for our iPhone 11 repair service. Whether you need a new screen, a replacement part or a water damage diagnostic, our skilled technicians can complete any repair for an affordable price. Plus, all of our uBreakiFix locations are locally owned and operated, making it easy to find and visit your neighborhood uBreakiFix location.

iPhone 11 Screen Repair Even though the phone is technically waterproof, if your iPhone 11 is acting strangely after being exposed to water, it could have water damage. Normal wear and tear can reduce the effectiveness of water resistance resulting in water getting into crevices and cracks. If you let water sit in the key components of a device, it can begin to corrode and possibly cause short circuits. The faster you get to a repair professional once the damage happens, the better the chance at a full recovery.

We Fix it All We know how disappointing it is to break your brand new phone, but thanks to us, you have options. Don’t spend your money on a brand new phone when a repair is more affordable. We can complete your LCD replacement, charge port repair, power button repair or back glass replacement in under an hour. We also have a 1 year warranty that protects your new parts and our low price guarantee ensures that you are getting the lowest possible price for the repair. So make an appointment today for your iPhone 11 Repair.

I"ve had this installed since September with ZERO issues. Before I bore you with my story, bottom line, I bought this over other screen kits because of the opinions I got here in the reviews about the great screen quality. I honestly wouldn’t be able to tell the difference from this one and the OEM. Firstly, I had to replace this due to a common issue people come across with their screens which is these vertical, sometimes localized to a certain side, digital lines. It hinders the capability of using your phone and is just ugly to see. I’ve loaded a photo as a representation of what I mean but that isn’t an actual photo of my phone with this issue. Mine wasn’t as bad as pictured but it was enough to make things difficult as it also effects screen sensitivity and can throw the touch capabilities off. I had this problem off and on, so I didn’t approach fixing it until it became more frequent. To confirm it wasn’t a software issue I had Apple diagnose it for me first before I bought this replacement. Make sure you have them confirm this as NOT software related. If so, then there’s no point in changing the screen. You can do it online with a tech but try updating your phone (not to IOS 16, more on that later) before hand as well as restarting the phone itself. If you are having this vertical line issue (or of course have a cracked screen) I’d guess, it’s more times than not a screen problem. Once Apple confirmed it was the screen alone, I knew I was going to decline their offer to replace the screen for $300 and would buy a kit. It’s an iPhone 11 and of course they suggested just turning it in for a new one with my carrier as the cost of screen replacement was worth more than the iPhone at that point (Sept ’22). Like me, if you are looking to buy a screen and reading this review, you feel like you don"t need nor want to trap yourself into another phone bill increase for $1000+ monthly installment. I don"t need a fancy camera or the newest best tech nor do most of us. So long story long and after comparing different options here on Amazon, I landed on this because of the reviews of screen quality vs the others. So far, I am not disappointed! Face idea works flawless, screen is just like my OEM, and touch is back to normal. Your next question may be can you do it yourself? YES! There’s plenty of tutorials on the magic innerwebs that can teach you how to do most everything especially this. Since then, I’ve replaced a couple batteries and a screen in a couple of older iPhones I had lying around just in case I need a backup. Once you understand the basics, its easy to replace most anything on these phones for now. I must admit I do like to tinker and try to fix things myself but wouldn’t considered myself mechanically or technically inclined more than the next person but what makes me a bit different than the average Joe is I do my research, too much sometimes. So, trust me when I say this is a great product as it stands going on month 3. Just remember to do your research on the tutorials online before you just get after it. Prepare yourself to spend a couple hours your first time. The kit comes with everything you need, some have had issues with the screw drivers they provide so make sure not to strip your screws if you are having these problems. It should just unscrew like any other screw. It doesn’t require force or effort. Just to be safe I had purchased a 30 something piece kit for iPhones and other small electronics from my local Home Depot just in case the ones provided gave me a hard time which they did not, so I promptly returned the extra kit I bought from the store. Now as for installation I went ultra-slow because I always expect the worst so I over did it with drawing up schematics of where I unscrewed what and taping these tiny screws to my drawing so it would be placed at the same exact spot. Some screws are different than others, I recommend you do the same. Also, they will be the tiniest screws you have ever seen so be careful not to lose them. Watch several different tutorials to get the concept before installation. After you get it, you could literally replace screens and batteries while watching tv and eating dinner like I did with the other iPhones we had laying around the house. You can do it, don’t hesitate on buying this screen replacement, do some research and take your time. Don’t trap yourself into an extra 40 bucks a month for the iPhone 37 pro ultra max plus when the 11 still does everything you need. Just fix your screen.

IMPORTANT IOS16 and prompts after replacing screen: I have read in multiple places that after users had upgraded to IOS16 their aftermarket screens (not just this but any) were dead but conversely that some had no issues. I will personally keep it at the latest IOS 15 (so turn off auto update) for as long as I can to avoid the possibility or if I confirm that it’s not a real issue as more IOS16 updates role out. Another thing is, you will get prompted with after installation that “this is not a genuine apple product,” or something like that. Mine displayed this once and I never saw it again. If you go into my settings, it will be stated somewhere in there, but it has no impact on usability. At worse you will get these prompts for 3-4 days and they will stop. Just one of those push notifications the phone displays, you press ok to and move along with your day. Like I said I just had it display once when I started up the phone and that was the end of it.

Over the past decade, Apple products have become some of the most used devices by entrepreneurs and consumers alike. In fact, it"s not uncommon to walk through a public area and find that most people have iPhones.

Unfortunately, though, people drop their phones and break their screens fairly often. While they"re not impossible to fix, not everyone knows how much they should expect to pay.

How much you can expect to pay to repair your phone"s screen will heavily depend on how badly you"ve damaged it. In some cases, you"ll be able to get away with minor repairs to the broken screen.

Other times, though, you"ll need to replace the screen entirely. Additionally, there are other things to keep in mind to help you figure out the price.

For those who have Apple Care for their device, the cost of fixing the phone"s screen is relatively low (often around $49). But, this type of coverage involves either a monthly or up-front payment that will often exceed the cost of fixing your screen if you"re careful.

The drawback here, though, is that there are some companies that use low-quality glass when replacing screens. As you may expect, this will lead to even minor drops causing damage to the replacement screen.

As you may expect, the type of iPhone that you have will greatly influence the cost to repair it. In general, newer phones will be more expensive to fix than iPhones of older generations.

While this is partly due to newer phones having larger screens, there is a discrepancy in screen quality between early and contemporary devices. In fact, it"s not unlikely for an iPhone X or iPhone 11 screen to cost four or five times as much to replace as the screen of an iPhone 5.

While the following prices aren"t definitive, you can expect to pay somewhere around these prices for screen replacement by third-party servicer"s:iPhone 5/5S: $70/$80

As you can see, those who have newer iPhones will want to be extra careful with their device due to the high cost of fixing the screen. But, the cost won"t always be this high.

It"s not uncommon for the device"s touchscreen functionality to work incorrectly if the screen has been damaged badly enough. In some cases, you may also run the risk of getting shards of glass in your fingers while using the device.

Sometimes, the damage to an iPhone is serious enough to cause issues with the liquid-crystal display (LCD) or digitizer. In many cases, this type of damage will prevent the touchscreen or display from working in the affected areas.

These repairs are more involved than a simple screen replacement and will cost extra for the parts/labor. Unfortunately, the necessary materials for these repairs often run in the hundreds of dollars when it comes to cost.

A newer model iPhone with a completely destroyed screen and damage to the LCD and digitizer will likely cost $500+ to repair. Fortunately, though, this type of damage is very uncommon and often results from things like dropping the phone from a balcony, throwing it, etc.

So, although it"s a possibility, it"s not recommended that you attempt to repair your phone on your own. Instead, a reputable iPhone repair service will save you both time and money.

You can locate prices for iPhone and iPad repair right on our website. Prices are updated weekly and easy to find. Alternatively you can give us a call to speak with a represenative.

Our default warranty period for all repairs is twelve (12) months. For screen repair our premium product line has a lifetime warranty while our standard product line carries a one (1) year warranty.

Breaking an iPhone screen is never a fun experience. While nearly every electronics repair store will help you fix your iPhone, the job isn’t free, and you could walk out with a much lighter wallet. So, here are all your repair options, plus the prices you can expect to pay for an iPhone screen replacement.

I’ll get one thing out of the way right now; Apple has a stranglehold on iPhone repairs. You don’t need to visit an Apple store to replace an iPhone screen, but the company goes out of its way to make other options less appealing. So, buckle up for a bit of disappointment.

You can even mail an iPhone to Apple for repair! Of course, snail mail is rarely necessary, because Apple offers its repair service through select “Authorized Apple Service Providers” like Best Buy. These “authorized” providers follow the same repair process as Apple, so you can receive quality service even when you don’t live near an Apple Store.

But Apple overcharges for repairs. If you don’t have an AppleCare+ subscription, you can expect to pay several hundred dollars for a screen replacement.

With an AppleCare+ subscription, these repairs cost just $29. I strongly suggest paying for AppleCare+ (which is between $3.99 and $13.49 a month) if you’re super clumsy or if you’re buying an iPhone for a child.

Bear in mind that these prices apply to all Authorized Apple Service Providers. If you wander into a Best Buy looking for a screen replacement, you’ll pay the same price that Apple charges at its stores. The benefit, of course, is that Best Buy and other authorized locations follow the same repair process as Apple’s “Genius Bar.”

One last note—some carriers, including Verizon, are happy to take broken phones for trade-in. Swapping your busted iPhone for a new device may be more cost-effective than paying for repairs at an Apple Store, especially if you own a newer model of iPhone.

If you’re just looking for a screen replacement, you can save money by avoiding “authorized” service centers. Third-party repair stores charge very little for screen replacements, as their prices aren’t dictated by Apple.

Every small business is different, so I can’t tell you what your neighborhood repair shop charges for an iPhone screen replacement. That said, their prices are lower than Apple’s, often by $100 or more. And because small repair shops like to build relationships with their community, they’re often willing to cut deals with first-time or repeat customers.

Unfortunately, only Authorized Apple Service Providers can order official iPhone parts. Some independent shops salvage official parts from other iPhones, but still, there’s a decent chance you’ll end up with an unofficial replacement screen. (Which isn’t a big deal for older iPhones, but unofficial screens for newer iPhones are much less durable than the “real thing.”)

Apple also likes to restrict some repairs at a software level. Performing certain repairs without Apple’s calibration tools (which independent stores can’t access) will actually disable features like Face ID. But this is only a problem with brand spankin’ new iPhone models—historically, Apple lifts screen repair restrictions a few months after each iPhone’s release. (You can now replace the iPhone 13’s display without consequence, for example.)

You can’t save money without putting in the work. Replacing your iPhone screen at home is usually cheaper than visiting an Apple store or an independent repair shop. And yeah, there are a ton of resources to help you get the job done.

The best resource, in my opinion, is iFixit. The gang at iFixit regularly publishes repair guides and sells replacement parts for popular products. You can even buy one of iFixit’s screen replacement bundles, which includes all the parts and tools you need to fix your iPhone’s broken screen.

Unless you’re looking for a novelty, I suggest that you avoid Apple’s Self Service Repair program. It’s a great idea on the surface (official parts, repair guides, and calibration tools), but it only costs a few dollars less than a visit to the Apple Store. (Apple also sends out these massive Pelican cases for Self Service Repair orders, which is completely over the top and not very useful to customers.)

So, if you want to replace your iPhone’s screen at home, iFixit is still your best option. Just keep in mind that iFixit kits for newer iPhones are still a bit expensive, and in some cases, they may be more expensive than a visit to an independent repair shop.

You’ve dropped your iPhone and the screen is cracked. Or it’s smashed into a spider’s web of sadness. Once you’ve stopped berating yourself for dropping it, because shame isn’t going to fix the screen, you’ll need to hand it over to someone who can replace it for you. It’s okay, you think, the warranty will cover it. Think again.

The screen and LCD display are fused together, so it’s highly unlikely you can have the glass replaced without also replacing the LCD display as well. Below are costs from around the country for screen glass repairs and LCD replacement.

Apple’s service is wonderful if you have a store near you and can book your appointment ahead of time, but it won’t cover dropping your phone. According to Apple, their “Limited Warranty for iPhone covers your iPhone for one year. Warranty service for eligible repairs is available at no charge for twelve months from the date of original retail purchase ("date of purchase").

However, if your phone isn’t working because of an accident (you dropped it/your girlfriend threw it at you/your puppy thought it looked tasty), the warranty won’t cover the cost to repair it.

“To determine your warranty coverage, enter the serial number of your iPhone in the Online Service Assistant section on the Apple Support site. Apple may need to examine your proof of purchase document to verify your iPhone"s warranty status.” — Apple Support

Even if you believe your circumstances qualify you to use the warranty, if you bought your iPhone from anyone other than an authorized iPhone reseller or didn’t register your phone when you bought it, you may not be able to use the warranty on it, because Apple has no official record of the purchase date with your name in it.

The Apple support page says you might still be able to have Apple fix it through their Out-Of-Warranty (OOW) service—for things like screen burn or “an iPhone that has failed due to damage or liquid damage. ... See Apple"s Repair Terms and Conditions for further details. Refer to this article to check if the Liquid Contact indicator on your product has been triggered.” To find where to bring your phone for OOW service options, call your local carrier and they can direct you to iPhone repair shops near you.

For Apple to repair your iPhone thats out of warranty, prices start at $129 for older phones, and go up to $329 for the brand new models. Before Apple repairs your screen, you’ll need to carry out their pre-service instructions so you can protect your information. It involves things like having your ID and proof of purchase ready and, if you’re mailing it in, erasing your device. Read more about that here.

In store - The best part of having Apple repair your screen is that they have genuine Apple parts and all repairs are backed by Apple. It will probably be a same-day repair.

Be aware that if anyone other than Apple or an Apple service provider opens up your phone, any warranty or partial warranty you have will no longer apply. But if all your warranties have run out, a third-party service can be extremely helpful with prices that average $80 to $140 for screen repair. Don’t just bring it to any store though. Check out places first on sites like HomeGuide and Yelp to make sure customers have been pleased with their repair work.

Some will examine your phone for free to let you know exactly what’s broken and how much it will cost to repair. When you drop your phone, even though it might look like only the screen has cracked, there could be a lot more that’s damaged inside the phone—speakers, dock, batteries, screen, cameras, etc. Getting a thorough examination done before you fix the screen could save you the frustration of a second and third visit later at an additional cost.

Some shops will give you a same-day repair service while others will take a day or two. Obviously, it depends on how much work your iPhone needs to be fully functional again.

This can be one of the easiest ways of repairing your screen, and you don’t even have to leave your house or work to do it. Custom Computer Experts in Sheffield Lake, OH, say, “If you can"t come to us, we can come to you for $99.99 plus parts or software. $25 travel fee will be included in the final invoice for travel of 25 miles or more.”

There is also the option of repairing your screen yourself with kit repair prices ranging from $40 to $80. Considering the high price of an iPhone, we don’t recommend this if you have little experience installing phone screens. We’re not mentioning names, but one of our own at HomeGuide tried this and the phone exploded in his hands. He ran, kicking the flaming phone across the carpet and out the front door in time to prevent the whole place going up in smoke. Lithium batteries are not to be trifled with. The memory will remain with us until the carpet is replaced....

Order the DIY kit—a combo of the replacement screen, tiny tools, cables, and an instructional booklet. Here’s an article on how that turned out for oneConsumer Reports reporter.

In summary, if your iPhone is in warranty and the screen needs to be repaired because of an internal problem, have Apple fix it. If it’s not in warranty, we recommend having a mobile iPhone repair technician meet you to do the work, as most of the repair options seem to cost about the same regardless of where you bring it, and the convenience of having them come to you is amazing.

The sensor assembly on the back of the display is paired to your iPhone"s logic board and must be transferred from your old display to your new one. The sensor assembly includes the flood illuminator, a part of the Face ID security feature. If it is damaged or replaced, Face ID will cease to function.

Apple surprised us last year when it announced a new self-service repair program to allow iPhone owners to replace their own broken screens, aging batteries, and other key components.

That program finally launched last month, although, at this point, it’s limited to the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 families. Nevertheless, if you’re thinking that this may finally let you fix your own screen, you might want to take a closer look at the various other service options available. Apple’s new Self Service Repair program isn’t for the faint of either heart or wallet.

The cost is more reasonable for older iPhone models, especially those without OLED screens. For instance, while an iPhone 11 Pro screen replacement will set you back the same $279 as the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro, you can get the LCD-equipped iPhone 11 screen replaced for only $199. Set the Wayback Machine to an iPhone 5S or an iPhone 6, and it drops to $129.

Note that this assumes your screen is the only thing that’s damaged on your iPhone. You’ll pay more if there’s anything else wrong. Apple calls these “out-of-warranty prices,” but except in very rare cases, a damaged screen is never covered by a manufacturer’s warranty, so if you’re walking into an Apple Store, expect to pay. Apple Authorized Service Providers (AASPs) usually follow Apple’s repair pricing, but they aren’t bound by it, so they’re free to charge different rates.

At these prices, you might think Apple’s self-service repair program is a breath of fresh air. After all, shouldn’t it be cheaper to repair your iPhone screen on your own? You’d think so, but in a perhaps misguided desire to ensure that you have everything you need to do the job properly, Apple is making the process nearly as expensive and considerably more cumbersome than visiting your local Apple Store or AASP.

For one thing, genuine Apple parts don’t come cheap. An iPhone 12 Pro display bundle, which gives you a replacement screen and all of the pieces that go with it, costs $270 upfront. That’s only $10 less than having Apple repair it for you, although you will get a $33.60 credit after returning your old display to Apple. This still brings the out-of-pocket cost to $236.35.

A total savings of $42.65 isn’t too bad if you’re already a keen do-it-yourselfer. Still, even then, you’ll probably want to avail yourself of Apple’s repair toolkit, which the company is happy to rent to you for an extra $49 per week — plus a deposit held on your credit card for the replacement cost of the tools.

This kit comes in two separate cases, collectively weighing 79 pounds and measuring 20 inches wide by 47 inches high when stacked. They’re also specific to each iPhone model, so you won’t be able to use the same kit to repair additional phones for friends or family members unless they all happen to be using the same iPhone.

It’s almost as if Apple doesn’t really want you to repair your own iPhone, but what could possibly be its motivation for that? It’s not like it hasn’t spent years lobbying against people’s right to repair their own devices. Apple’s stated rationale for this has always been that it doesn’t want its customers to hurt themselves by trying to fix their own iPhones without the proper tools and “Genuine Apple Parts.” Apple’s new Self Service Repair Program provides both, but in doing so, it also looks like the company wants to tacitly make a case for why its repair services are so expensive.

Screen replacement costs from most AASPs are in the same ballpark as what Apple charges. Large national AASPs like Best Buy charge identical prices, while smaller local and regional AASPs may sometimes charge $10 to $20 less depending on the model and other factors.

However, AASPs generally have stringent requirements they must follow to be approved by Apple. This not only includes regular training and certifications for repair technicians ,but even things like laying out their business in a way that’s “consistent with the Apple brand.” All this drives up their costs.

In 2019, Apple introduced a new program for Independent Repair Providers (IRPs), offering a way for smaller repair shops to get their hands on genuine Apple parts without jumping through the hoops required to become a full AASP. While the Independent Repair Provider Program has been described as somewhat onerous — Apple still reserves the right to conduct surprise inspections, for instance — the lower barrier to entry allows many small businesses or even independent technicians to offer out-of-warranty Apple repairs, bringing the costs of these repairs down.

Unfortunately, these IRPs pay the same prices for genuine Apple parts and the necessary tools that AASPs do, and it’s not much less than what Apple charges in its Self-Service Repair Store. A survey of about a dozen IRPs across the U.S. revealed iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 screen repair pricing in the $230 to $300 range. Yes, some IRPs are charging more than Apple, most often those located in areas far from an Apple Store or AASP.

Some of the IRPs I’ve spoken with since Apple introduced the program have told me that it’s not worth it from a profitability point of view. Many have only remained in the program hoping to use iPhone repairs as a “loss leader” to bring in new customers.

You can shave quite a bit off your repair costs if you’re willing to seek out an unauthorized repair shop that’s not part of one of Apple’s repair programs, but you’ll also be doing so at your own risk. Apple isn’t lying when it says that genuine Apple parts work better for screen and battery replacements, but it is being slightly disingenuous. While there are dangers to using substandard parts, not all unauthorized parts fit into this category.

For one thing, many repair shops will salvage screens and batteries from iPhones that are otherwise unserviceable. Despite being used, these are still genuine Apple parts, and there’s no reason they can’t be repurposed to repair another iPhone as long as the shop is honest about it. There are networks of repair shops that work together to take advantage of trading in these types of replacement parts.

Apple’s repair costs have also created a significant gray market for genuine iPhone screens and batteries. In these cases, the parts are legitimate, but the sources of the parts aren’t. These methods, along with using parts legitimately manufactured by third parties, allow unauthorized repair shops to offer screen replacement prices significantly below those found in the AASP and IRP market. In my research, I encountered iPhone 12 screen replacements offered for as little as $120, although the median price from more reputable repair shops hovered closer to the $200 mark.

Unfortunately, to try and prevent this dealing in gray market and used parts, Apple has made it progressively more difficult each year to use “non-genuine” parts. Replacing a battery, screen, or camera system on recent iPhone models requires the service technician to pair the new component. If that’s not done, the iPhone will regularly alert you that it’s “unable to verify this iPhone has a genuine Apple part” and may even cause features like Face ID to fail entirely.

These high repair costs make a good case for buying AppleCare+ for your new iPhone. That will cover you for two incidents of accidental damage every 12 months for a deductible of only $29 per incident for a screen replacement or $99 for other types of damage.

Two years of AppleCare+ costs $199 for the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro models (and their “Max” counterparts), or $149 for the iPhone 11, iPhone 12, or iPhone 13. Compared to the screen replacement costs, which start at $279 for an iPhone 12 Pro or $229 for an iPhone 12 mini, it’s easy to see how AppleCare+ is a bargain if you break your screen even once.

Of course, like most insurance plans, unless you’re accident-prone, you’re mostly paying for peace of mind here. Apple is hoping that you don’t break your screen while you’re betting that you will break it at least once during the life of your iPhone. However, AppleCare+ isn’t the only option. Most carriers offer protection plans for an additional monthly fee on your regular bill, most of which will let you take your iPhone to an Apple Store for the same level of service you’d get with AppleCare+.

There are also independent insurance programs like Allstate’s Squaretrade that may offer better options for your individual needs. For instance, some charge a fixed deductible regardless of the type of repair; these usually work out higher for screen replacements, but can save you money for other types of damage. They may also offer a higher number of incidents or different types of coverage. So, it’s worth shopping around to see what’s available. Repairs under these programs are still conducted by an Apple Store or Authorized Apple Service Provider; either the company has an AASP it deals with, or it reimburses you directly for the cost of the out-of-warranty repairs.

What’s the takeaway here? If you break the screen on your iPhone, you’ll probably wish you had AppleCare+ or a similar extended warranty. What you may not want to do is try to repair it yourself unless you’re very handy with some rented spanners.

PO Box, APO/FPO, Africa, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Asia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Costa Rica, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Europe, French Guiana, French Polynesia, Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Libya, Martinique, Mexico, Middle East, Montserrat, Netherlands Antilles, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Oceania, Panama, Reunion, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts-Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, South America, Southeast Asia, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Ukraine, Venezuela