What if i crack my iphone 4 screen

Replacing a cracked iPhone screen yourself is cheap—but challenging

So you cracked your iPhone screen. A quick Web search can turn up a host of do-it-yourself kits to replace it, most priced a lot lower than what repair shops charge. Yet many people may prefer to leave the job to the pros, we found in an informal test.

Can you really replace an iPhone screen yourself? Yes, based on our test; we replaced screens with multiple samples of a kit we bought from Amazon for $30—which is on the low side for such kits, we found. But would you really want to? Maybe not, based on the experiences of Consumer Reports staffers at geekiness levels ranging from extreme to nonexistent, who tackled the job on a sorry stack of damaged iPhone 4 s and 4S es.

ads

Our test wasn't exhaustive and aimed only to get a sense of what the repair experience is like. We ordered seven of the kits and gave each to a staffer, along with the tools needed to use them. Those included a 30-minute tutorial video from iCracked, one of many you'll find online that guide you through the replacement process. Consumer Reports engineer Bernie Deitrick stayed on the sidelines to help in case panic set in.

As you might expect, it took numerous steps to remove and replace the screen, and lots of small and fragile parts were involved. And even the tech-savviest volunteers required about an hour and a half to replace a cracked screen. The technically challenged labored away for much longer (see our video above), and most or all needed frequent hand-holding from Bernie.

In the end, the crew repaired five iPhones using seven replacement screens. One screen was defective, and one was broken during the repair process.

Bottom line: Replacing an iPhone screen yourself can save you some money, but the savings might be as little as $50 or so. And the finicky and lengthy process isn't for everyone.

You can avoid repair dilemmas entirely by buying Apple's extended warranty, called AppleCare+, which includes replacing screens damaged by accidents. But given its cost ($99 for the plan, plus $49 each time the screen cracks and the phone is replaced), we don't think AppleCare + offers great value for many people. It is, however, a better buy for the iPhone 5 than for older iPhones, since professional replacement of an iPhone 5 screen can easily cost $250—several times more than you'll pay to get a pro to replace your iPhone 4 or 4S screen.

What if i crack my iphone 4 screen

If you crack the screen on your Android phone, some DIY kits are available for popular models. They're far less numerous than those for iPhones, though, and you'll find fewer instructional videos.

What to Do When You Crack Your iPhone 4's Back

A few days ago I accidentally cracked the back of my iPhone 4. For a piece of tech that I rely on and use multiple times a day, it’s no fun to use while sharp shards of glass are sticking out of it. Here are a few tips on what you can do if the back of your iPhone 4 breaks.

%%img src="g-cdn.apartmenttherapy/1876004/101510_vk_iphoneback_rect540.jpg>

The first thing to do as soon as your iPhone back breaks is to tape it down. A clear piece of packaging tape will work just fine. If you don’t have tape on you but happen to have a screen protector on your iPhone, you can take that off and stick it onto the back. You can always buy a new back plate, but taping up the back is a quick and easy fix when you’re out and about—the last thing you want is to have shards of glass in your pocket. From here you have three options:

1. Take it to an Apple store. Apple doesn’t advertise this, but if it’s your first time breaking the glass back, they will replace it for free while you wait. Your results may vary depending on the Apple store, but make sure you make an appointment online first so you won’t have to wait too long.

What if i crack my iphone 4 screen

2. Replace it yourself. Luckily for me, the glass back that broke was actually a replacement back that I had swapped out with the original. I’ve seen more than a few people crack their iPhones, so I took some preventive measures by swapping the original back a long time ago (and it was a good thing I did). You can find an original replacement back or take the opportunity to look for something different like a metal back or a transparent one. You can check out ifixit's tutorial for how to install the rear panel.

3. Keep it as is. If you don’t live by an Apple store or don't want to go through the trouble of replacing the back plate yourself, you can always manage just fine by covering it up. Simply buy a screen protector film for the back or put it in a slider case.

What to Do When You Crack Your iPhone 4's Back

A few days ago I accidentally cracked the back of my iPhone 4. For a piece of tech that I rely on and use multiple times a day, it’s no fun to use while sharp shards of glass are sticking out of it. Here are a few tips on what you can do if the back of your iPhone 4 breaks.

%%img src="g-cdn.apartmenttherapy/1876004/101510_vk_iphoneback_rect540.jpg>

The first thing to do as soon as your iPhone back breaks is to tape it down. A clear piece of packaging tape will work just fine. If you don’t have tape on you but happen to have a screen protector on your iPhone, you can take that off and stick it onto the back. You can always buy a new back plate, but taping up the back is a quick and easy fix when you’re out and about—the last thing you want is to have shards of glass in your pocket. From here you have three options:

1. Take it to an Apple store. Apple doesn’t advertise this, but if it’s your first time breaking the glass back, they will replace it for free while you wait. Your results may vary depending on the Apple store, but make sure you make an appointment online first so you won’t have to wait too long.

2. Replace it yourself. Luckily for me, the glass back that broke was actually a replacement back that I had swapped out with the original. I’ve seen more than a few people crack their iPhones, so I took some preventive measures by swapping the original back a long time ago (and it was a good thing I did). You can find an original replacement back or take the opportunity to look for something different like a metal back or a transparent one. You can check out ifixit's tutorial for how to install the rear panel.

3. Keep it as is. If you don’t live by an Apple store or don't want to go through the trouble of replacing the back plate yourself, you can always manage just fine by covering it up. Simply buy a screen protector film for the back or put it in a slider case.

Related posts

  • Shattered iPhone screen: What would you do? The other day I was at work and all of the sudden I got a text from my wife that her iPhone had "cracked". My wife has been known to tell people that...

  • Receive a Repair Quote In Minutes Enter Your Location Choose Device Issue Talk To Your Local iTech All Devices. All Problems. People Love Us! Recent Press Includes Love from the World Peter...

  • How to replace a broken screen on your iPhone Crack the front panel on your iPhone and you have three choices: live with it, buy a new one, or get it fixed. If you have AppleCare+ or another...

  • Cracked my new iPad! What do I do? Tracilynnribble said: Hello! I'm new to the electronic world and have a iPad 3. I cracked my iPad its not shattered but I did leave a big crack. I need to...

  • What To Do When You Break Your Phone Tuesday, March 19, 2013 by Caitlin Corsetti Over the weekend, I broke my phone. And by broke my phone I mean I shattered it into almost non-existence to the...