Cracked your screen and staring at that spiderweb of glass? Here’s the short answer: repair or replacement usually costs less than a new iPhone, and where you get it fixed makes a bigger difference to the price than most people expect.
Apple’s official out-of-warranty screen repairs typically run from around $200 up past $600, depending on your model. Independent repair shops, including us, generally come in well under that, since we’re not carrying Apple’s overhead or shipping fees. The real number depends on your specific model, what kind of damage you’re dealing with, and whether you go direct to Apple or to a local shop.
Not All Cracked Screens Are the Same
A “broken screen” covers a lot of ground, and the type of damage changes what the repair actually involves.
Minor crack: Just the top glass layer is damaged. Touch and display both work fine. This is the cheapest and quickest fix, often just the outer glass.
Display issues: Lines across the screen, dark spots, or dead pixels mean the OLED or LCD panel itself is damaged, not just the glass on top. This needs a full display assembly swap.
Touch issues: Screen not responding, or registering touches you didn’t make. This usually points to the digitizer, which is fused to the display, so the whole assembly gets replaced as one unit.
What Drives the Price
A few things push the cost up or down more than anything else:
- Model. Newer Pro and Pro Max models use more expensive OLED panels, so they cost more to fix than an SE or an older standard model.
- Damage type. A surface crack with everything else working costs less than a display or digitizer replacement.
- Where you go. Apple’s official pricing is set nationally and doesn’t flex. Independent shops set their own rates and can usually beat it, sometimes by a wide margin, without cutting corners on parts.
- AppleCare+. If you’re covered, your out-of-pocket cost drops to a flat deductible regardless of model. Worth checking before you book anywhere.
Apple Genius Bar vs. Local Repair
Both routes get your screen fixed. The difference is in the trade-offs.
Apple Genius Bar gets you genuine Apple parts and keeps your repair on official record. The catch is wait times, and if you’re out of AppleCare+, it’s almost always your most expensive option.
Local repair shops like ours get you in and out faster, often same-day, at a noticeably lower price. We use high-quality parts that match the original in look and feel, which makes this the practical call for most phones that are already out of warranty.
What to Expect on Repair Day
Most screen jobs take 30 minutes to 2 hours. Before we touch anything, we run a diagnostic to check the frame and internal sensors, including Face ID, aren’t hiding extra damage. Once the new display goes in, we calibrate the touch sensitivity so it feels the way it did on day one.
Will This Void Your Warranty?
No, not automatically. The ACCC has been clear that independent repairs don’t void your Apple warranty unless the repair itself damages the device. Get your screen fixed by a professional, and the rest of your warranty coverage stays intact.
Quick Answers
Can I fix it myself?
DIY kits exist, but modern iPhones are glued shut and full of fragile ribbon cables. One wrong move turns a simple screen fix into a motherboard replacement. Rarely worth the risk for the money you’d save.
Will Face ID still work?
Yes, if it’s done properly. We carefully transfer your original sensors across to the new screen.
Should I back up first?
Always. We take every precaution, but backing up to iCloud or a computer before any physical repair is just good practice.
The Takeaways
- Screen repair cost depends on your model, the type of damage, and where you get it done
- Apple’s official pricing is consistently higher than independent repair
- AppleCare+ drops your cost to a flat rate no matter the model
- Independent repairs don’t void your warranty unless they cause damage themselves
- Most jobs take under two hours, often same-day
Cracked screen slowing you down? Bring it into The Mobile Hub for a fast, honest quote, we’ll tell you straight what it’ll cost before we touch your phone.