So you’ve just dropped your phone, and you're panicking about having to buy a whole new device.
First step: Calm down. It's probably not that bad, because unless the screen was shattered as it went under the wheel of a steamroller, it's a simple repair to sort out, although not always "cheap" depending on the make of your phone.
This is a variable question, depending naturally on the nature of the damage itself. Many phones will continue to operate with a broken screen, although you are quite likely to find other people cringing as you swipe across its broken glass fragments.
The reality with any damaged screen is that delaying a repair is just delaying the inevitable, as well as opening up the possibility of more extensive damage. A broken screen will be less water resistant and more likely to suffer additional damage if you drop it a second time, possibly damaging more expensive internal components along the way. So you can take your chances and continue to use a smashed screen phone, but it's not wise for the health of both your fingers and the phone itself.
What you really need to do is get the phone repaired, and here you have a few choices to make.
If you’re particularly keen – or just cash-strapped but willing to take a few risks – it’s entirely feasible to repair a broken phone screen yourself.
For the purposes of comparison, we’re going to assume that you’ve smashed the screen of an Apple iPhone XS. It's a popular phone, which means that there's a lot of competition for third-party replacement parts, and that means that pure hardware costs are relatively low. Apple doesn't sell spare iPhone parts itself, but then no smartphone manufacturer does, so if you opt to go down the DIY route you're automatically looking at using third party components.
A replacement iPhone XS screen part on eBay at the time of writing will run from around $150 to $400, which is likely cheaper than many repair places will charge to do the repair. Of course, you’ve got to do the actual replacement work yourself. If you’re using a different phone your pricing will vary, generally by age of the phone.
Save hundreds of dollars on service costs by picking up a DIY screen repair kit from Amazon Australia.
View detailsBear in mind that many parts sourced online are going to vary in overall quality as well as shipping time, which could be a factor if you want to get your phone back up and running quickly. You will also need to factor in the cost of tools, although some outlets will sell you a complete phone screen repair kit that includes the needed screwdrivers and lifting tools to replace a smartphone screen.
There are plenty of online guides that will run you through the basics of screen repair, including telling you which tools you’ll need if you’re possessed of both the nerves of steel and will to go down that path.
It can be markedly cheaper to replace a screen yourself, but you’re also assuming all the risk for the repair and the resultant warranty issues that may come with it. iFixit’s guide to replacing the iPhone XS screen is comprehensive if you’re inclined to go down the DIY route.
Smartphones aren’t cheap, and it’s natural to have some trepidation when it comes to messing around with internal components. Equally, you might not have the time to fix your own phone, which means it’s time to hand it over to someone who does that for a living.
Keeping with our iPhone example, there is a set replacement strategy you can adopt if you want to ensure that you’re getting properly qualified parts, and that’s to take it directly to Apple. Apple will repair or replace – and you don’t get any say in which it is – broken iPhone screens at their Apple stores, as well as through the post if you don’t live close enough to an Apple store to make that a feasible option.
Apple’s pricing varies depending on whether or not you take out its AppleCare+ extended warranty service, which allows for up to two discounted screen repairs in a given year.
It’s worth remembering that AppleCare+ doesn’t supplant standard Australian consumer protections, so if your iPhone did develop an actual screen fault through no fault of your own, you’d be reasonably entitled to a repair at no cost, although you’d need to be able to absolutely prove that nothing untoward had happened to your device and that some kind of manufacturing fault was the cause of your screen woes.
At the time of writing, Apple’s screen repair service for iPhones is priced as follows:
| Model | Screen damage (AppleCare+) | Other damage (AppleCare+) | Screen damage (out-of-warranty) | Other damage (out-of-warranty) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone XS Max | $45 | $149 | A$518.95 | A$928.95 |
| iPhone XR | $45 | $149 | A$318.95 | A$618.95 |
| iPhone XS, X | $45 | $149 | A$448.95 | A$858.95 |
| iPhone 8+, 7+, 6s+ | $45 | $149 | A$278.95 | Up to $618.95 |
| iPhone 8, iPhone 7, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6+ | $45 | $149 | A$248.95 | Up to $548.95 |
| iPhone 6, iPhone SE | $45 | $149 | A$218.95 | Up to $468.95 |
If you’re lucky enough to live close enough to one of Apple’s retail outlets, you can shave $19.95 off the asking price of a screen repair, because that’s what Apple charges for shipping and handling on screen repairs.
If you’re carrying around an iPhone not listed in this table, however, you’re somewhat out of luck if you want an official repair, because Apple doesn’t offer that service for older devices. The best they’ll offer you is a replacement device at an out-of-warranty repair price, or, not surprisingly, a new device at full price.
The pricing table gives you a decent baseline to work from, because Apple’s pricing sits at the premium end of the scale. A mobile phone repair shop will be working from cheaper parts, so you should pay less than Apple's asking price if you didn't opt for the Applecare+ extended warranty. While many extended warranties are arguably poor value, given the pricing difference for higher-tier iPhones, there's some sense in perhaps opting for it in this case.
Smartphones are an expensive proposition, so it’s not surprising that you can get insurance for them.
It may be worth checking your household or business insurance to see if your smartphone is explicitly covered, or for that matter explicitly excluded from coverage in the case of breakage accidents. It’s also worth checking your excess payment in the event of a claim, as some policies may well have excesses that are more expensive than the screen repair in the first place.
Then there are the classes of insurance that deal explicitly with damage to smartphone screens. All of the major telcos offer phone insurance schemes as detailed below.
Optus Device Protect covers mobile phones and tablets. If your device is stolen, lost, accidentally damaged or suffers an electronic breakdown or failure that is not covered by warranty, it will be repaired or replaced. This policy covers you anywhere in the world.
| How much it costs | What it covers | What is not covered | Other costs | Maximum cover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $14/month | Theft, loss, accidental damage, electronic breakdown or failure | Scratches, fire, loss of data, intentional damage, wear and tear | $100 excess for damage claims, $200 excess for loss and theft claims | Limit is $2,000, including up to $600 for reimbursement of unauthorised calls |
| How much it costs | What it covers | What is not covered | Other costs | Maximum cover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $19/month | Theft, loss, accidental damage, electronic breakdown or failure | Scratches, fire, loss of data, intentional damage, wear and tear | $175 excess for damage claims, $350 excess for loss and theft claims | Limit is $3,000, including up to $600 for reimbursement of unauthorised calls |
Telstra offers a single smartphone insurance policy: StayConnected Advanced.
| How much it costs | What it covers | What is not covered | Conditions and other costs | Limits and additional benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $15/month | Replacement, exchange or repair of your device for any valid reason | Those whose bills are not paid up to date | Service fee of up to $190 for exchange, replacement or repair. $99 fee for screen repairs of eligible devices. | Up to two claims per 12 months |
Vodafone Keep Talking and Keep Talking Pro offers cover against damage, and in the case of Keep Talking Pro, loss and theft.
| How much it costs | What it covers | What is not covered | Conditions and other costs | Maximum cover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $10/month | Accidental damage up to $3,000 | Any intentional damage, wear and tear or other deterioration, misuse of the device or damage when the phone was in the possession of a child under 14 on school grounds. | Excess for claims under $2,000: $125 or $200 where you receive a replacement device Excess for claims between $2,000 and $3,000: $150 or $300 where you receive a replacement device | $3,000 less excess for repair/replacement if lost/stolen. |
| How much it costs | What it covers | What is not covered | Conditions and other costs | Maximum cover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $15/month | Up to $3,000 or device replacement if damaged, lost or stolen. Up to $500 of unauthorised calls or data usage. Up to $300 for accessories or replacement device when travelling internationally. | Any intentional damage, theft from an unsecured place, wear and tear or other deterioration, damage or loss when the phone was in the possession of a child under 14 on school grounds, any misuse of the device. | Excess: $50-$150 for accidental damage repair, $75-$300 for refurbished replacement device, $125-$400 for new replacement device. | $3,000 less excess for replacement/refurbished device if lost/stolen. |
American Express also offers phone screen insurance as a bonus feature of its American Express Essential card, with the excess forming 10% of the claimed amount with a maximum repair cost of $500.
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