Cracked Screen: Repair It or Buy a New Phone?

A cracked screen often feels like the end of a phone, but in many cases a screen repair is the smarter choice. Here is how to decide whether to repair or replace.

Questions to ask yourself

1. How old is the phone?

If your phone is only a year or two old and still receives software updates, a screen repair usually makes good sense. Older phones that no longer get updates may be worth replacing, especially if other parts are wearing out.

2. Is anything else wrong?

Check the battery health, charging port and cameras. If the battery is also worn, doing both repairs at once can still cost far less than a new phone. Read when to replace an iPhone battery.

3. How bad is the damage?

• Cracked glass, display still works: repair soon, before the cracks spread or let in moisture.
• Lines, black spots or no picture: the display panel is damaged and needs replacing.
• Touch not responding: the digitiser or display needs repair.
• Phone bent or water damaged too: get it assessed before deciding.

4. What about your data?

Repairing keeps your phone, your apps and your settings exactly as they are. If you upgrade instead, a working screen makes transferring data far easier, so a repair can be useful even before you sell or trade in.

Why repairing is often better

• It usually costs much less than a comparable new phone
• Most screen repairs are done the same day
• You keep a phone you already know
• It keeps a working device out of landfill

When a new phone may make more sense

• The phone no longer gets security updates
• Several major parts are failing at once
• The repair cost is close to the phone’s value

If you do upgrade, you can sell your old or broken phone to us rather than leaving it in a drawer.

Get a clear price first

We check your phone and show you the price before any work begins, so you can make the decision with the facts. See our iPhone screen repairs, Samsung screen repairs and Google Pixel screen repairs.