Why Phone Screen Replacement Quotes Differ So Much

You crack your screen, ring around, and get three quotes that are $100 or more apart. It is easy to assume someone is overcharging, but most of the time the shops are quoting for different parts. Here is what to look for before you choose.

1. LCD or OLED: the biggest difference

Most iPhones from the iPhone X onwards, and most Samsung Galaxy S phones, were made with OLED screens. OLED screens produce their own light for each pixel, so blacks are truly black, colours are vivid, and the screen uses less battery on dark content.

A cheaper replacement for these phones is often an LCD screen. It works for calls, messages and apps, but it is usually a little thicker, less bright, uses more battery and can look slightly washed out. A replacement OLED screen costs more but is much closer to how the phone looked new.

If one quote is far cheaper than another, ask: "Is that an LCD or an OLED screen?" Neither answer is wrong, but you should know which one you are paying for.

2. Original, refurbished or aftermarket

Some shops use original manufacturer parts, some use refurbished original screens, and many use aftermarket parts made by other factories. Quality varies a lot between aftermarket suppliers. A shop that is honest about which part it uses is more useful to you than one that calls every screen "original".

3. Screen only, or screen with frame

On some Samsung and Motorola phones the screen comes glued to the phone's frame. Replacing the screen "with frame" costs more but is often more reliable than separating a screen from its old frame. Foldable phones also have two screens, the main folding screen and the cover screen, which are priced separately.

4. What is included in the price

Check whether the quote includes GST, labour, and any call-out or after-hours fee. Our prices include parts, labour and GST, and any extra fee is shown before you book.

5. Warranty and testing

A low quote with no warranty is not always the bargain it looks like. Ask what is covered if the new screen develops lines, dead spots or touch problems, and whether the shop tests Face ID, the front camera and the proximity sensor after fitting.

The Sydney Phone Repair Price Index: screens

These are our current screen replacement prices for popular models. They update automatically whenever our prices change. Where a phone has more than one screen option, the table shows the starting price.

See every model on our screen replacement page.

Common questions

Is an LCD replacement screen bad for my phone?

No. An LCD replacement won't harm the phone. It is simply a different technology from the OLED screen many newer phones shipped with. You may notice the screen is a little less bright outdoors, blacks look dark grey rather than truly black, and the battery drains slightly faster. Many people are happy with that trade-off for the lower price, especially on an older phone they plan to keep for a year or two.

Why are Samsung screens more expensive than iPhone screens?

Many Samsung Galaxy screens are sold as a complete unit with the frame attached, and curved or high-refresh AMOLED panels cost more to make. That's why a Galaxy S screen often costs more than a similar-age iPhone screen.

Will a replacement screen affect Face ID or the fingerprint reader?

On iPhones, Face ID sits above the screen and isn't part of the display, so a normal screen replacement doesn't affect it. On Samsung phones with an in-screen fingerprint reader, the reader sits under the display and has to be set up again afterwards. Some lower-cost replacement screens work less reliably with in-screen fingerprint readers, so ask about this if you use it every day.

What about True Tone and screen brightness?

On iPhones, True Tone (which adjusts colour to the room's light) can sometimes be restored after a screen replacement and sometimes can't, depending on the part and the model. Ask before you book if this matters to you.

Should I fix just the glass?

On modern phones the glass, touch layer and display are bonded together, so "glass only" repairs are rare and risky. Replacing the complete screen is the reliable option. Older iPads are an exception: their touch glass and LCD are separate, and you may only need the glass.

How do I know which part a shop is quoting?

Ask them to write it on the quote: the exact model, LCD or OLED, original or aftermarket, and the warranty. A shop that is confident in its parts will happily tell you.

Comparing quotes fairly

To compare like with like, get each shop to tell you, in writing:

• the exact model of your phone
• the type of screen (LCD, OLED, original or refurbished)
• the total price, including GST and any fees
• the warranty
• how long the repair takes

If you have a cheaper written quote for the same model and the same screen type, send it to us through Beat my quote. We'll beat it.