Modern phones can be slippery customers. Sometimes they feel like a bar of soap in your hands and I’m not surprised by the number of people I see squinting through cracked screens in order to use their phones.
A survey showed that iPhone users were 25 per cent more likely to have cracked their screen than Android users. The same survey also found that 40 per cent of people admitted to having cracked their phone screens, yet only 12 per cent expected to have the same issue with their next device.
Of course, broken screens aren’t the only injuries that can be inflicted on your smartphone. Despite best efforts to keep a handset in good working order, there are plenty of other things that can go awry with your phone over time, such as a tired battery, broken cameras or electronic issues.
We’ll look at the more common issues of cracked screens and tired batteries in this article but for more information about getting iPhones repaired, this handy guide should answer most other questions.
Cracked screens
Broken screens can range from minor to major damage, so the first thing to do if your phone has suffered an injury is to assess the damage. Then you can figure out your next steps.
Which option best describes your broken screen?
Minor damage: small cracks, the screen still lights up and the phone still works.
Moderate damage: some cracks, the screen still lights up and the phone still works.
Significant damage: lots of cracks, the screen still lights up but touch doesn’t work well.
Severe damage: major cracks, the phone won’t turn on or the screen shows static.
If your iPhone has suffered minor or moderate damage, then you may think you’ve gotten away without real trouble. While cracked screens might look superficial, they can lead to further damage as the cracks allow dust and moisture to enter the phone. You need to cover up those cracks. The best option is to get a tempered glass screen protector. Amazon stocks a variety of glass screen protectors for as little as $7 plus shipping.
Alternatively, you could get a full screen replacement, either through the manufacturer or a third-party repairer. Cracked screens are among the most common of phone problems so you won’t have a problem finding a phone screen repairer.
iPhone screen repairs can take a couple of hours in store but others can take up to a few days. Keep in mind that broken screens are usually deemed ‘accidental damage’ and not covered under warranty, so you’ll likely have to pay a pretty penny.
Depending on your device, the cost can range from approximately $150 for older models to as much as $700 for the newest devices.
Other things to remember are:
- third-party providers often don’t use genuine parts, so they may void your warranty
- AppleCare+ cover could make you eligible for repair discounts.
When it comes to significant and major damage, you’ll almost definitely need to see a professional. When touch sensors and other hardware aren’t working the way they’re supposed to, it probably means there are problems buried inside the device that you won’t be able to fix yourself.
Your first port of call should be the manufacturer. They will be able to assess the extent of the damage and usually give you a quote for repairs. Large-scale repairs don’t come cheap, though, and if the cost of repair is too high it might be time to trade in your device.
If your phone isn’t salvageable or you can’t afford to replace the screen, then you may be able to recover some costs by trading in the device for parts. Different companies often offer varying amounts for the same phone so make sure you shop around for the best deal.
Of course, prevention is better than a cure so, to save you an expensive headache down the road, it can be worth investing in screen protectors and phone cases. And most major providers offer some kind of device protection insurance, which ‘butterfingers’ should consider.
Battery problems
All smartphones use lithium-ion batteries that degrade over time. But a weaker battery doesn’t mean you need to get a new iPhone, you can simply replace the battery. Apple says the iPhone battery is designed to retain 80 per cent of its original capacity over 500 complete recharges. Replacing an old iPhone battery with a new one will restore performance to normal, adding longer life to your handset.
If you want to check the health of your battery (available on iOS 11.3 or newer), follow these steps:
- open the Settings app
- tap Battery and then Battery Health.
This will show the maximum capacity of your battery. If your iPhone performance is throttled due to a reduced battery, you’ll be able to disable this here. Just be aware that disabling performance throttling can sometimes lead to unexpected shutdowns or app crashes.
Read: Why you need to replace your iPhone battery
Apple will typically only replace your battery if it retains less than 80 per cent of its original capacity. So, if the life of your battery is below 80 per cent and a replacement is in order, you can get one free of charge if your iPhone is still under warranty, covered by consumer law or if you have AppleCare+.
If you’re not covered by these then what you’ll pay depends on which iPhone you have. An out of warranty battery replacement for most iPhones newer than the iPhone 8 costs $199, but iPhone repair costs will vary depending on age, warranty and whether you’re an AppleCare+ customer.
Apple should be able to replace the battery of any iPhone. However, at a minimum, the company will definitely replace batteries on devices as old as the 2014 iPhone 6.
You can get your iPhone battery replaced either instore or by mailing your device to Apple.
If you choose the instore option you can either make an appointment at an Apple Store or take it to an authorised third-party Apple retailer.
If you don’t have a store nearby, Apple will send you a box that you can use to ship your device to an Apple Repair Centre. Apple estimates that you’ll typically get your phone back in about one week.
If you have a device that’s older than an iPhone 6 or iPhone 7, then you may wish to consider replacing the whole phone rather than just the battery. This is because Apple has stopped supporting software updates for iPhone 6 devices and may well do the same for the iPhone 7 in the coming year.
Do you have any iPhone tips you’d like to share with our members? Why not share them in the comments section below?
Also read: How your iPhone could save your life