Shattered iPhone screens is a serious epidemic and it has to be stopped! Seriously though, nothing is more annoying than a busted iPhone screen, especially if you’ve dropped it just once. There are a number of reasons why you could shatter your iPhone screen (which we discuss below) but the point is, broken iPhone screens are pretty common.
Luckily, a cracked iPhone screen isn’t the end of the world. You can most likely easily get this repaired by an iPhone repair shop. But did you know the cost varies depending on what part of your iPhone screen is broken?
That’s right, your iPhone screen has multiple parts. These parts are the LCD, the “digitizer” and the outer glass surface, and they’re all fused together to prevent dust from making its way under the glass screen.
Why all of these parts? Well, the outer glass piece protects the inner parts of your iPhone screen from damage that might be done by the elements, like a splash of water, lint, or as we mentioned, dust.
The digitizer is a thin, clear layer nestled between the LCD and the glass. This part responds to your fingers when they touch your phone and tell it what to do.
The LCD stands for Liquid Crystal Display and it’s a thin, flat component responsible for the actual display on your device.
Cut to the Chase. How Much is This Going to Cost Me?
Well, that depends on which part of your iPhone screen is broken. If you’ve only cracked the glass, it’s your lucky day. You’re looking at a quick and less expensive repair. If you’ve broken the LCD, you’re looking at a slightly heftier price tag.
How Can I Tell Which Part is Broken?
There are a few tell-tale signs of a busted LCD on an iPhone. Look for a “rainbow of colors” underneath the glass (you’ll know what we’re talking about if you see it), patterns or lines underneath the glass, black sections on your screen, a screen that is completely black, or a screen that doesn’t respond to touch.
If you’re looking at an iPhone with shattered glass only, none of these symptoms, and it’s responding to touch, you’re probably only dealing with broken glass.
Wait a Minute – You Said All of These Parts Were Fused Together – What’s the Difference?
The reason why a broken LCD will cost more to fix than broken glass only is because it’s a more complicated iPhone repair. Also, the LCD is found behind the glass and digitizer. If the LCD is damaged, that means that the glass and digitizer are too.
Third-party repair shops will often remove your iPhone screen and repurpose the LCD and digitizer components if you have only shattered the glass on your iPhone screen. Because they can make money by reselling these parts, you’ll save money on the repair.
How Do I Stop This From Happening Again?
Show Your iPhone Screen you Care
Keep your iPhone screen squeaky clean by using a wipe to remove dust and debris. If your iPhone has gone a little while without a wipe, and grime or oil has deposited onto your phone, use a piece of flannel and 70% rubbing alcohol to wipe your screen clean. Never use ammonia, window or glass cleaners, paper towels or rough cloths, because this will damage the screen.
Invest in Preventative Protection
Add a measure of protection by investing in a screen protector. Prevention is key here. A few dollars investment now can save you much more money in the future if you drop your phone again.
The screen protectant is a see-through film that has a sticky side you use to adhere it to your screen. When it gets old, you can peel it off and replace it. This will protect you from typical problems like scratches from daily use.
Get an iPhone case. Again, prevention is the name of the game. Get an appropriate case for your iPhone’s model so that it will snuggly fit on your device. While we can’t guarantee that your iPhone will survive a fall with a case on it, your screen is far less likely to crack if it does drop.
Avoid These Activities:
- Don’t carry your iPhone with you while you run a marathon or take a Zumba class. You’ll probably drop it.
- Don’t drop it while you are putting that protective case on it. The irony would be too thick.
- Don’t throw your iPhone at your television when an annoying commercial comes on.
- Don’t forget that your iPhone is in your back pocket and go to the bathroom or sit down on a chair.
- Don’t leave your iPhone on the roof of your car then forget about it as you drive off.
- Don’t kick your iPhone into the air to impress your friends.
- Don’t drop a rock on your iPhone screen to see if gravity is still a thing.
Ok, some of these “Don’ts” are just silly, But when it comes to possible ways to shatter an iPhone screen, the list is truly endless.
Well, My LCD is Broken. What Do I Do Now?
We don’t recommend waiting until your next upgrade. This is inconvenient and annoying when getting your phone fixed is easy and fast.
You can try to fix your phone screen on your own. But if you aren’t totally sure about what you are doing, this could take hours on end best-case scenario, or you could completely damage your phone beyond repair worst-case scenario.
You can head to the Apple Store, which we actually recommend if you have insurance. Might as well make the most out of your investment.
If you don’t, we suggest you head to an iPhone repair shop that is local. Apple will charge you a pretty penny to fix a busted LCD, while a third party store will be significantly cheaper. If you aren’t a fan of scheduling appointments and waiting in line, a local repair shop will be your best bet too, because you’ll get your phone fixed on your terms.
Although a shattered screen may make your heart sink, it’s a pretty quick fix whether just the glass is broken or the whole screen is shattered. Don’t just wait until the next upgrade while you squint at the screen, get your problem fixed today and get your iPhone back as good as new.
