How Much Does It Cost To Fix A Cracked Phone

Flagship mobiles are getting pricier, which means y'all could be forced to pay a hefty fee if you smash the display or damage the battery. Earlier you contact the manufacturer, it's worth looking at third-party alternatives to see if you could salve some coin. Nosotros'll help you work out the cost.

In our snapshot study on smartphone repair, nosotros've compared prices from both the mobile manufacturers and third-party repair websites. Our featured brands include Apple, Samsung, Google, Xiaomi, OnePlus and Oppo. Go on scrolling for screen and battery repair costs.

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How much does it cost to fix a cleaved screen on a mobile phone?

New features on premium smartphones are driving prices (and therefore repair costs) higher. In recent years, nosotros've seen a surge of phones with under-display fingerprint sensors and mechanical, pop-up front-facing cameras – these are intricate components that can be a pain to fix. However, check your device isn't under warranty

Screen replacement costs compared

Based on the selection of smartphones we've featured in a higher place, the boilerplate official repair cost for a cleaved screen is around £170. If your device is covered by warranty, you'll either end upwardly paying far less or zippo at all.

But if you've dug deep into your wallet for a smartphone with a high retail toll, you'll desire to be actress careful. Smash the display on Apple'due south iPhone xiii Pro Max, for example, and you can expect to pay £316.44 to go information technology stock-still by Apple tree if it's out of warranty. You lot could buy a new Which? Best Purchase smartphone for around the same price.

From the results above, you'll notice that third political party repair costs for smashed displays don't always piece of work out cheaper compared to third-party alternatives. This isn't the example 100% of the time, though – Apple charges £146.44 to ready a broken iPhone SE (2020) screen, while Phones Rescue charges less than £40 for its cheapest screen repair.

Why aren't some screen replacement repair costs listed?

In some instances, we were unable to confirm a repair cost through the official route because the brand needs more than data virtually the telephone. This might even crave sending the device to them to exist analysed.

If you're considering using third-party repair, you may be out of luck here as well. We weren't able to ostend that screens were repairable for four pop phones across whatever of the vi reputable third-party repair services nosotros checked.

If repair costs are something that might factor into your buying conclusion – or even if they only constitute 'nice to know' when you're choosing a handset — it's of import to exercise your enquiry in advance.

How much does it cost to replace a mobile phone battery?

Fortunately, replacing a battery is usually a lot cheaper, although prices tin vary hugely from brand to brand.

Battery replacement costs compared

Batteries are far cheaper to fix than smartphone displays. In fact, our tabular array above shows that the boilerplate repair cost for a broken battery (if you go directly through the manufacturer) is effectually £43. OnePlus is the cheapest of the bunch, charging just £12 to replace a dodgy battery.

That's reassuring if y'all want to give your smartphone a new lease of life, but you also need to consider back up periods if a phone is more than than a couple of years old.

Apply our mobile back up calculator to find out if the phone you ain is still getting important updates.

How can I get my mobile phone repaired?

The process for initiating the repair varies by brand. Discover out how much hassle is involved by checking your make in the listing beneath.

Samsung repair

If the unthinkable happens and you impairment your Samsung smartphone, yous have three options if yous don't want to apply a third party: doorstep repair, pick-up repair or in-store repair.

Choosing Samsung's doorstep service ways a mobile repair van volition come to you and repair your production. Repairs tin be completed on the day of the appointment, although Samsung notes that this depends on the 'realistic repair time for the issue and parts available.'

Pick-upwardly repair means a courier will choice upwards your device and take it away to be stock-still. This tin take 'upwards to 10 days' from the date of collection. Alternatively, you tin can effort in-store repair. Y'all'll need to book a slot with a Samsung Proficient via the brand'southward website.

Screen and bombardment repairs for Samsung gadgets are bundled together. In other words, if you smash your screen, both the display and the battery will be replaced.

Run into also: Samsung support page

iPhone repair

Before you can bring a broken iPhone in-store, you'll need to brand an appointment online or call and so a technician is assigned to your case. It'southward a practiced thought to back up your important files before y'all become just in case. Apple also says you should keep a record of your Apple ID and password.

If you lot'd rather send in your iPhone, yous tin arrange for a box to be shipped to you past visiting the Apple website.

An AppleCare+ program can exist used to cover screen repair costs. The scheme includes two incidents of adventitious damage embrace (but you'll have to pay an excess). If y'all don't accept AppleCare+, you'll have to pay the out-of-warranty fee.

Come across also: Apple tree support page

Google repair

Google manages broken phones through the Repair Center page on its website.

Nosotros reached out to Google for estimated repair costs and weren't able to obtain figures for the Pixel smartphone range. This is considering Google requires an IMEI number (found in your phone settings) earlier it will escalate a case and talk over pricing.

Xiaomi repair

Xiaomi lists repair costs for each individual smartphone component on its website. The cost you pay varies depending on model.

But regardless of the model you own, you'll need to pay a £26.45 'Inspection cost' and £xviii for aircraft.

Meet also: Xiaomi back up page

OnePlus repair

To gear up your OnePlus phone, fill in an application on the website and ship out your device then it can be inspected. If a specific part of your OnePlus phone is damaged, there'south a chance you can get that individual piece replaced on its own.

OnePlus has a full listing of out-of-warranty prices on its website, list both cheap models like the OnePlus Nord and pricier alternatives such as the OnePlus ix Pro.

Interestingly, each type of camera lens has a different repair price. For case, break the rear mono photographic camera on a OnePlus nine Pro and you'll pay but £1 for a new one. Meanwhile, the rear chief photographic camera is £60 to replace.

See too: OnePlus back up page

Oppo repair

On Oppo'due south support website, you tin fill in a repair asking and send in your device to Oppo to exist stock-still. Prices vary co-ordinate to which device you lot have.

Oppo recommend you perform a full backup of your personal data before sending the device in for repair.

Motorola repair

If you lot ship off your Motorola smartphone, the visitor will transport it back or swap it out for a like-new replacement. A repaired device or replacement is unremarkably sent 'within 7 days after receiving the original device'.

Broken screens or 'other physical impairment' are not covered past Motorola'southward standard warranty, so you'll have to pay for the repair separately. The brand says that phones suffering from liquid impairment tin't be repaired, although they are covered under the Moto Care Accident Protection Program.

Meet also: Motorola support page

Tertiary-party repair

Virtually tertiary-party repair websites will enquire y'all to send in your damaged smartphone past mail service and some even provide a complimentary shipping characterization. When sending your phone, ensure the device is well protected. Send it out in the original packaging if possible.

Larger companies are probable to have physical stores dotted around, which might be the more convenient option in some cases. Timpson, for case, says it has more than 1,200 locations nationwide that can take a look at your phone. Meanwhile, iSmash customers can visit one of 32 locations.

Turnaround times will vary depending on the company you trust with your mobile. Pay close attention to what the make is promising earlier yous offset the process. Also, support your important data before you lot mitt over your smartphone merely in case your device gets wiped.

How to find a reputable repair service

Assuming you opt for a third-party repair service, you'll need to decide whether or not to hitting the high street or utilize a postal service-in service. The high street is convenient, but costs can be loftier depending on where you go. A mail-in service is like shooting fish in a barrel to arrange online, but you lot could be waiting weeks for the return of your mobile.

When picking a company to handle your smartphone, remember the following:

Do your enquiryCheck customer reviews to make sure your mobile is in good hands.
Be prepared to awaitIf you're using a mail-in repair service, ask the visitor how long you lot'll exist without your phone. You might need to arrange for a temporary back-up phone while you wait.
Cheque your softwarePoor battery life could exist improved past downloading the latest software update to your smartphone. See if those changes have an effect before going ahead.

Should you repair a broken smartphone yourself?

Probably non. The process of repairing a smartphone yourself can be frustratingly fiddly, specially now that very few phones take easily removable rear covers. If you don't know exactly what y'all're doing, in that location are clear rubber concerns, and y'all could do more harm to your mobile than good.

Buying a 2nd hand or refurbished phone

If you're faced with a large out-of-warranty repair fee, buying a replacement refurbished smartphone is too an option. Phones that have been officially refurbished by the manufacturer or retailer should come up with a warranty, typically for one year, so you may find yourself in a better position than you were with your existing telephone.

Exist wary of buying phones that claim they are refurbished but don't have a warranty, or buying 2d-hand phones from individuals on resell websites like eBay. You could bag yourself a bargain but might find yourself in problem if you have problems.

Our expert guide on How to buy second-hand or refurbished mobile phone has more details.

Insuring your phone confronting loss or impairment

As nosotros've shown, repairing a mobile phone can be an expensive business. Making sure y'all're protected against loss or harm is a wise movement, so consider your options carefully.

Defended mobile phone insurance

With dedicated mobile phone insurance, you're covered for repair and replacement costs if your phone is lost, stolen or damaged. Most policies also cover phone accessories and protection away, although you should check the policy wording carefully and brand certain you don't need to add this to your holiday insurance.

For more details on what phone insurance covers and whether it'southward worth buying, encounter our expert guide – mobile telephone insurance: how to get the best cover .

Existing insurance

If you lot have contents insurance, this might already comprehend you for damage to a mobile phone, although check the terms advisedly and speak to your insurer if in any uncertainty.

Adventitious damage and comprehend away from dwelling are two fundamental terms to enquire about, also as any excess yous have to pay, which may be different for each. Also, bank check whether cover away from home includes holidays away; in some cases this can salve y'all having to take out additional protection.

Discover out how contents insurance works, what it covers and typical exclusions to lookout man out for with our contents insurance explained guide.

Which? calls for improved repair standards for consumers on mobile phones

Which? believes that smartphone manufacturers should make it easier for consumers to repair mobile phones and offer greater access to competitively priced contained repair options. This would prevent high costs from prematurely ending the lifespan of mobile phones.

This includes:

Consumers being given a legal right to repair by requiring manufacturers to make spare parts, repair tools and repair data available to 3rd-party repairers at prices that encourage repair, rather than the purchase of a new device.
Consumers being provided with warranties reflective of the typical expected lifetime of the device, which our inquiry has found could be on average v to vi years.
A labelling scheme conspicuously indicating how repairable a device is, to increase transparency at point of purchase.