A cracked phone screen is the most common phone repair. The cost depends on your phone model, whether you use the manufacturer, a third-party repair shop, or attempt it yourself, and whether you choose original or aftermarket parts. Prices range from under 50 dollars for older models with aftermarket parts to over 400 dollars for flagship phones with original manufacturer screens. Understanding what drives the cost helps you make the right decision for your phone and budget.
What determines the repair cost
Phone model: Newer and higher-end phones cost more to repair because their screens are more complex and expensive to manufacture. A foldable phone screen costs significantly more than a standard slab phone. Larger screens cost more than smaller ones within the same product line
Screen technology: OLED and AMOLED screens (used in most flagship phones) cost considerably more than LCD screens (used in budget and mid-range phones). OLED screens produce their own light at each pixel, making them thinner and more vibrant but significantly more expensive to manufacture and replace
Parts quality: OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) screens match the factory original in color accuracy, brightness, touch sensitivity, and features like True Tone on iPhone. Aftermarket screens are cheaper but may have lower brightness, slightly different color temperature, reduced touch sensitivity, or missing features. High-quality aftermarket screens from reputable suppliers are much closer to OEM than the cheapest options
Repair complexity: Some phones have screens that are relatively straightforward to replace (a few screws and connectors). Others require specialized tools, adhesive removal, and careful heat application to separate fused components. Phones with curved edge screens are harder to replace than flat screens
iPhone screen replacement costs
Apple charges the following for out-of-warranty screen replacement through Apple Store or Apple Authorized Service Providers (prices are approximate and may vary by location):
iPhone SE (2nd/3rd gen): Around 130 to 150 dollars. LCD screen, straightforward repair
iPhone 11: Around 200 dollars. LCD Liquid Retina display
iPhone 12 and 12 Mini: Around 230 to 280 dollars. OLED Super Retina XDR display
iPhone 13 and 13 Mini: Around 230 to 280 dollars. OLED with Ceramic Shield front
iPhone 14: Around 280 dollars. iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max: around 330 to 380 dollars due to ProMotion 120Hz display and Dynamic Island
iPhone 15: Around 280 dollars. iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max: around 330 to 400 dollars
iPhone 16: Around 280 to 350 dollars depending on model. Pro models higher due to advanced display technology
AppleCare+ with accidental damage coverage reduces screen replacement to 29 dollars per incident (up to 2 incidents per year). If you use your phone without a case, AppleCare+ often pays for itself with one screen repair
Samsung screen replacement costs
Galaxy A series (A14, A15, A25): Around 100 to 150 dollars. LCD screens, widely available aftermarket parts keep costs low
Galaxy S23 and S24: Around 250 to 300 dollars through Samsung or authorized shops. Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with 120Hz refresh
Galaxy S23 Ultra and S24 Ultra: Around 300 to 350 dollars. Larger AMOLED display with S Pen digitizer layer adds cost
Galaxy Z Flip and Z Fold series: The inner foldable screen costs 350 to 500 dollars or more. The outer cover screen is cheaper. Foldable screen technology is the most expensive to replace
Samsung Care+ reduces screen replacement to 29 dollars per incident with active coverage
Google Pixel screen replacement costs
Pixel 7a and 8a: Around 150 to 200 dollars. OLED display but smaller and less complex than Pro models
Pixel 8 and 9: Around 200 to 280 dollars
Pixel 8 Pro and 9 Pro: Around 280 to 350 dollars. Larger LTPO OLED with 120Hz
Third-party repair shop vs manufacturer
Cost savings: Independent repair shops typically charge 30 to 50 percent less than the manufacturer for the same repair. The savings come from lower labor rates and the option to use aftermarket parts
Parts options: A good independent shop offers a choice between OEM-quality and aftermarket screens at different price points, letting you decide the tradeoff between cost and quality. Manufacturer repair uses only OEM parts at full price
Turnaround time: Independent shops often complete screen replacements in 30 to 60 minutes while you wait. Manufacturer repair through mail-in service can take a week or more. Apple Store walk-in repairs typically take one to three hours
Warranty implications: Using an independent shop does not void your phone warranty for unrelated issues (this is protected by law in the US under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act). However, if the third-party repair causes a new problem, the manufacturer may not cover that specific damage under warranty
Feature compatibility: On newer iPhones, replacing the screen with a non-Apple part may disable True Tone (automatic color temperature adjustment) and trigger a non-genuine parts notification in Settings. The screen itself works normally — only specific software features tied to Apple serialized parts are affected. Some shops can transfer the original screen IC chip to maintain these features
DIY screen replacement
Replacement screen kits for most popular phones are available online for 30 to 100 dollars depending on the phone model and parts quality. Kits typically include the screen assembly, tools, adhesive, and sometimes a guide
Risks: Phone screen replacement requires carefully heating adhesive to separate the old screen, disconnecting multiple ribbon cables without tearing them, and reassembling everything without introducing dust under the new screen. Damage to the ribbon cables, home button flex cable, Face ID components, or battery during the repair is possible and would increase the overall cost
Recommended for: Budget phones with simple designs (single flex cable, screw-only disassembly) where you are comfortable with the risk and the phone is not under warranty. Flagship phones with curved screens, multiple sensors, and tight tolerances are significantly harder
Not recommended for: Phones with water resistance you want to maintain (aftermarket adhesive rarely restores the original IP rating), phones still under warranty, or foldable phones (the folding screen mechanism requires specialized calibration)
Signs you need a screen replacement vs a screen protector replacement
If only the screen protector is cracked but the actual phone glass underneath is intact, you only need a new screen protector. Remove the cracked protector carefully and inspect the phone glass. If the glass is smooth with no cracks, apply a new protector
If the phone glass itself is cracked but the display shows images normally and touch works everywhere, you may be able to continue using it with a screen protector over the crack to prevent further spreading. However, cracked glass weakens water resistance and the crack will spread over time
If the display shows black spots, colored lines, bleeding colors, or flickering, the OLED or LCD panel underneath is damaged. This requires a full screen assembly replacement, not just the glass
If touch does not work in certain areas or the phone registers phantom taps, the digitizer layer is damaged. On modern phones, the digitizer is fused to the display panel, so this also requires a full screen assembly replacement
Screen replacement at Marion Phone Repair
Marion Phone Repair offers screen replacement for most iPhone and Android models using quality parts. We can assess the damage, explain your parts options and pricing before starting any work, and complete most screen replacements the same day.