What price are you willing to pay as a cost for fixing or replacing a broken smartphone touch screen when the undesired happens? It’s always exciting owning a smartphone of any type, especially the very sleek, fanciful smartphones with a more prominent touchscreen. But wait till you drop one, and you go, ‘OMG,’ wishing and praying under your breath not to have a broken screen. You reach down to pick it up, and there you go, it’s broken!
I have had a similar experience and was faced with four options to choose from:
- DIY- fix the touchscreen myself using online guides, iCracked, or DirectFix.
- Get a professional to fix the screen for me.
- Get the manufacturer or smartphone mobile provider to fix it for me.
- Trade in the smartphone for a new one.
Here are some conditions to get your smartphone screen replaced:
- Some smartphone manufacturers like Apple, Samsung, Oppo, Xiaomi, Vivo, and others will offer you a free fixing service if it happens within the warranty period. But you have to purchase the screen from them.
- Warranties for some manufacturers do not cover accidents such as dropping your phones.
- You would be responsible for the total cost for phones whose warranty has expired.
For iPhone touchscreen
Applecare+
The Applecare+ plus is Apple’s way of providing affordable maintenance or replacement options for its products. Applecare+ for iPhone including 8 and older iPhone versions cost $129 with two years of coverage.
On the other hand, Apple care+ for iPhone 8+ costs $149 while the all-new iPhone X costs $199. For iPhone 13 Pro, and Pro Max, that will cost $269, and for the 3rd generation of iPhone SE $149.
To enjoy its benefit, you should purchase immediately after you acquire an Apple phone or within 60 days of making a purchase. When you purchase Applecare+ you enjoy up to two years of coverage for a new purchase.
Take note also that Applecare is valid for only two accidental damages. Each of those two times would only require a service fee of $29 for the damaged screen in addition to tax. But if you opt for express service you would have to pay more. However, please note that Apple’s warranty is for a limited period and covers any Apple device; iPod, iPad, iPhone, and accessories. The warranty on an Apple device, however, does not include all manner of defects or unexpected issues.
I always recommend you stick to all fixing and repairs with the manufacturers whether Apple or other brands as a way of retaining your warranty.
The cost of fixing or replacing an iPhone touch screen ranges from about $100 to $329 and even more for the iPhone 13 Pro Max. Also, you might need to consider the cost of shipping to the nearest iPhone maintenance center at say $6.95.
Replacing a touchscreen for an iPhone without a warranty costs $149 for iPhone 6, 7, and 8 while $169 for iPhone 6, 7, and 8 Plus. iPhone SE out of warranty costs $129. But with Applecare+ you pay $29 only for even an iPhone X.
For those under their $11 monthly insurance plan, Verizon will fix your iPhone for $75. But you can only enjoy a maximum of three screen repairs per annum.
For non-Apple Care customers Apple charges $149 to get your smartphone fixed. It’s a better deal for non-Apple Care customers compared to the initial phone swap with a refurbished iPhone at $229.
For a broken Samsung touchscreen
For Verizon users of the Samsung Galaxy S8 on a $7 or more per monthly coverage plan, your screen repairs should cost about $149 deductible.
Verizon offers Samsung users on an $11 monthly insurance plan three repairs per annum at the cost of $75. The list of specified phones includes Motorola Droid Turbo, Droid Maxx, Samsung’s Galaxy S5, S6, and S7, Note 4, and 5.
Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus on eBay cost $239 currently. You can locate a large number of sellers on eBay, but be careful in deciding to purchase as some sellers on eBay are not trustworthy.
Samsung Galaxy S Series touch screen replacement price:
- S4 & 5: $149
- S6 & S6 Edge Plus: $229
- $199 for the S22 and S21
Galaxy Note:
- Galaxy Note 3: $179
- The Galaxy Note 4 & 5: $199
- Galaxy Note 4 edge: $229
- $239 for the Galaxy Note9
- For newer versions like the Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G, the cost is $269
How much does that cost by an independent phone repairer?
Now depending on the brand of the phone and how delicate the phone is a third-party technician will charge between $150 and $400 to replace your phone’s touch screen. The above price is inclusive of the cost of the screen and labor. Labour alone could cost as much as $50, $170, and even more for newly released models such as iPhone 12 and 13.
The best places where to fix your broken phone include the following options:
- Ifixyouri.com
- Ubreakifix.com cost up to $199 for screen replacement plus an offer of a 90-day guarantee on repairs
- Quickifix.com
- Savannah repairs will replace your Samsung Galaxy Note 2 front glass only costs $129 but replacing both the digitizer will cost about $290.
Cost of fixing your phone screen yourself
Most phone screens are not so expensive to purchase if you intend to fix them yourself. It also depends on whether it is the glass, digitizer assembly frame, or LCD that requires replacement. So, the average touchscreen price could go between $15 and over $300 depending on the value or worth of the phone. The OEM iPhone 8 LCD screen, for instance, costs more than $300.
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Amazon has quite affordable accessories to pick from when trying to replace display screens.
You would also need a phone kit for dissembling the phone. Your DIY work tools include:
- Tweezers
- Screwdriver
- Phone case opening tool
- Suction cup tool
- Plastic Spudger tool
To fix the smartphone screen yourself, you can check eBay or Amazon for the price of the specific screen for your phone. But considering the cost of the screen, with a DIY you might end up spending $100 and $350 to replace the touchscreen.
Though using videos and guides to fix your smartphone is possible, some smartphones like iPhone, 12, and 13 are more delicate to fix except if you have some technical skills already. What you intend to save by trying to fix the touchscreen might eventually cost you more. Even with much caution, you might end up destroying some delicate parts of your smartphone permanently.
To make it easier to fix and reduce your risk margin, it is best you purchase both the LCD and digitizer. For some classes of phones such as an iPhone and Samsung, I always recommend you stick to the manufacturer’s service center or a qualified third-party technician to help replace the touchscreen.
