The straight dope
Why would you EVER pay 150$ for a new screen when you can simply give them your phone and 200$ for a brand new one?
I've done this 4 times now. paying for just a screen is a rip. get the whole new setup! minus the box of goodies.
$269 is the price for an Out-of-Warranty repair that involves replacing the entire device, like from water damage, bent frame, etc.
if you turn in the broken phone it's 200 flat
An out of warranty replacement for an iPhone 5/5C/5S is $269. The $229 replacement price was prior to the change in AppleCare+ pricing/fees last year, around the time the original screen repair program began.
The only $199 option is replacing an iPhone 4S out of warranty.
As stated in the article, the stores (except maybe some trying out a pilot programs), didn't have screens to service 5S's with so $269 was the only option.
AND just to be clear, the replacement price ALWAYS involves swapping the old device for the new one, otherwise it wouldn't be a replacement. Any option where you keep the old phone is purchasing a new one (not a service function)... and unless you have a carrier upgrade available you're paying full retail ($649+), instead of the subsidized $199+ for a 16GB 5S.
I just had this conversation in a local store yesterday... The conversation was very explicit about the options. The only phones that can get sent out for repair are those covered under some sore of extension like the
iPhone 5 Sleep/Wake button issue. Everything else is done in the store as a component repair (usually within an hour unless your store is packed or just has slow techs) if they have the part, or as a unit swap if parts aren't available.
Taking a $120 off the price to replace a display is a good thing to those of us who don't own any money trees. This lets me keep the remaining warranty on my device (if any), or gives me 90 days warranty on the repair... vs. voiding my warranty and removing my ability to have apple service the device for anything in the future. Plus I don't have to bother with setup/restore of data.