Broken iPhone screen: repair or replace the device?

A cracked iPhone screen is often an unpleasant moment: either you grit your teeth and carry on with glass crunching under your finger, or you face the real question, is it worth repairing, or is it time to change?

For years, I've answered this question several times a week at the workshop. This guide sums up my honest reasoning: when repair is clearly the right call, when it isn't, and what it actually costs by model.

The cost of a screen replacement by model#

Prices vary a lot from one iPhone to another, mainly because the panels themselves have very different costs, high-end OLED vs entry-level LCD, screen size, parts availability.

Labour for a screen replacement is 45 to 55€. The part is added on top and varies depending on the model and the quality chosen (compatible or original). See the pricing page or ask for a free quote.

OLED vs LCD: what difference does it make to you?#

Since the iPhone X (2017), Apple has gradually dropped LCD in favour of OLED. The distinction matters when we talk about repair, because it directly affects the cost of the part.

LCD (Liquid Crystal Display): the screen is lit by a backlight. The result is acceptable, the colours a little less vivid, the black isn't perfectly black (the backlight still bleeds through). For repair, LCD panels are cheaper and easier to find.

OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode): each pixel emits its own light. Result: absolute blacks, infinite contrast, very intense colours. The screen can also be thinner. It's the technology used in high-end iPhones since the iPhone X, and in standard recent models since the iPhone 12. OLED panels cost noticeably more to produce, and therefore to replace.

Original Apple parts vs compatible parts: the real debate#

This is a subject I have a clear position on, after years of experience.

Original Apple parts (or parts via the Apple repair programme) offer the best integration: working True Tone, perfect colour matching, no iOS warning. But they cost a lot, Apple's official prices start at 260€ for a standard iPhone 13 and rise to over 500€ for an iPhone 15 Pro Max. These prices often make a refurbished iPhone the more rational option.

Premium compatible parts (what I use at the workshop): made by serious subcontractors to the same technical specifications. Display quality is very close to the original on good references. They are typically 3 to 5 times cheaper than official Apple parts. Since iOS 15–16, Apple shows a notification when non-certified parts are used, but it doesn't affect actual screen function.

Low-end parts: to be avoided absolutely. A €15 screen ordered from a generic site will give a mediocre image, a short lifespan and sometimes touch issues. It's a short-term saving that costs more in the long run.

How to decide: repair or replace?#

1. 1
   Check the age of the model: iPhone 8 or later still receives iOS updates. Older than that, repair is rarely worthwhile in the long run.
2. 2
   Check the battery state: Settings → Battery → Battery Health. Below 80%, add up the cost of a screen + battery repair and compare with the price of an equivalent refurbished unit.
3. 3
   Calculate the cost/value ratio: if the repair exceeds 50% of the price of a refurbished unit in good condition, replacement often becomes more rational.
4. 4
   Get a diagnostic before deciding: at the workshop, the diagnostic is free. I check the logic board, the internal connectors and the battery, things invisible from the outside that change the calculation completely.

The iFixit repairability score#

iFixit is a reference American site that takes smartphones apart and rates them on ease of repair. Their repairability score goes from 1 (impossible to repair) to 10 (easy to repair).

For iPhones, scores are generally modest. For example, the iPhone 12 got a 6/10, the iPhone 14 a 7/10 (Apple made a design effort towards more repairability on this model, front and back panels are more easily interchangeable). The iPhone 15 Pro is also rated 7/10.

These scores reflect the difficulty of the job for a technician, and ultimately, the labour price. A well-rated iPhone = less risk of accidental damage during opening = quicker work.

When repair is the right call#

Screen repair is clearly worth it in these cases:

• The phone is less than 3–4 years old and in good shape otherwise (decent battery, no internal damage)
• The repair cost represents less than 40–50% of the price of an equivalent refurbished unit : a solid rule of thumb
• You have important data and migration is a hassle
• The screen is the only thing damaged: no persistent touch issue after the fall, no abnormal pixelation

A concrete example: an iPhone 12 in good shape with a broken screen, repaired for 115€, against buying a refurbished iPhone 12 at 250–280€. Repair is clearly the right option.

When to consider replacement rather than repair#

Here are the signals that make me recommend moving to another device:

The model is too old. An iPhone 6 or 7 hasn't received security updates for several years. Apps are starting to drop support. Even repaired, it'll age fast. The practical limit: iOS 16 minimum (iPhone 8 and later).

The battery is also at end of life. If the screen is broken AND the battery doesn't hold a charge anymore (less than 80% capacity), the combined cost of both repairs can exceed the economic interest. I always check the battery state before advising.

There's water damage. Traces of oxidation on the logic board, revealed on opening, often indicate invisible damage that will show up later, even if the phone seems to work. In that case I always flag the risk before working.

The screen has already been replaced once or twice. Each opening stresses the ribbon cables and connectors. At some point, carrying on repairing means keeping on life support a device whose reliability is falling.

The total cost exceeds half the price of an equivalent refurbished unit. If repairing an old Pro iPhone costs more than half a refurbished iPhone from the same generation, the maths is easy.

My approach at the workshop#

I don't try to sell a repair if it isn't worth it. When a customer comes in with a broken iPhone, I always start with a full free diagnostic: battery state, general condition of the logic board, check of internal connectors. That's the basis for an honest opinion.

If the repair is worth it, I give a precise quote before touching anything. If it isn't, I say so clearly, and I can even advise on buying a refurbished unit if needed.

In my experience, in most cases, repair remains the best option financially. The exceptions are usually: too old, too damaged elsewhere, or the cost doesn't justify the work.

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In summary#

The key is never to decide blindly. A free diagnostic takes ten minutes and can save you from spending money for nothing, either way.

Repair or replace: decision tree#