It happens in a second: the phone slips out of a pocket in a parking lot, and now there's a spiderweb across the glass. The first question most people ask is whether it's worth fixing or whether it's time for a new phone. For most phones the answer is a screen repair, but not always. Here's how to decide.
First, protect what's on it
Before anything else, back up the phone while the screen still works. Cracks tend to spread, and a display that works today can go black or stop responding to touch tomorrow. Once that happens, getting your photos off the phone gets much harder. On an iPhone, turn on iCloud Backup in Settings. On Android, check your Google backup and photo sync.
If loose glass is flaking off, cover the front with clear packing tape or an inexpensive screen protector so you don't cut a finger or a cheek. Keep it away from water: a cracked screen means the phone isn't sealed anymore, so rain, a spilled drink or a steamy bathroom can reach the inside.
Is it just the glass, or the display too?
What you see on the screen tells you a lot.
- Cracked glass, picture looks normal, touch works: usually a straightforward screen replacement.
- Lines, black spots, ink-like patches or flicker: the display under the glass is damaged too. The fix is still a screen replacement, but don't wait, because it usually gets worse.
- Screen is black, but the phone rings or vibrates: the phone itself is often fine, and a new screen brings it back.
- Touch works in some spots but not others, or the phone taps things on its own: the touch layer is damaged. This can open apps or send messages by itself, so get it looked at soon.
When repairing makes more sense
A screen repair is usually the smart call when:
- The phone is otherwise working well and you were happy with it before the drop.
- It still gets software and security updates.
- The battery holds up through the day. If it doesn't, it's often worth replacing the battery during the same visit (see signs your phone battery needs replacing).
- You have a lot set up on it and don't want to move everything to a new phone.
- The repair costs a fraction of what a new phone would.
When replacing the phone makes more sense
Sometimes a new phone is the better choice:
- The phone no longer gets updates, so apps will start dropping support.
- It had other problems before the drop: a dying battery, no storage space, a weak camera, a charging port that only works at an angle.
- The frame is bent or the back glass is shattered too, which adds up to a bigger repair.
- You were already planning to upgrade in the next month or two.
Even then, a cracked phone is usually worth less as a trade-in, and a working screen makes it much easier to move your data to the new one.
Don't wait too long
Small cracks grow with every bump and temperature change, and dust and moisture get in through the gaps. Fixing it soon usually means a simpler repair.
How screen repair works at 254 Repair
Bring the phone to our Killeen shop for a free diagnostic. We check the display, touch and the rest of the phone, then tell you what we find and what the repair costs before any work starts. If we can't fix it, there's no charge. We use high quality parts, and screen repairs come with our 90-day warranty on parts and labor, which covers the part we replaced but not later drops or water damage.
For iPhones, most screen jobs take under an hour when the part is in stock. For Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel and other Android phones, we order the part for your exact model, and typical parts jobs take about 3 business days. See details on our iPhone screen repair and Samsung and Android screen repair pages, and current prices on our price list. Before you come in, our guide to preparing your device for repair covers passcodes and backups.
Visit us in Killeen
254 Repair has been fixing phones, tablets, laptops, PCs and game consoles since 2012 for customers from Killeen, Harker Heights, Copperas Cove and Fort Hood. We're at 3921 East Stan Schlueter Loop, Ste 103, Killeen, TX 76542. Hours are Monday to Friday 10 to 6 and Saturday 10 to 5; closed Sunday. Walk-ins are welcome: call or stop by. Se habla español, and a military discount is available.
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