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DigitalAR

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Sep 30, 2022
270
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My iPhone 12 screen broke.

I see on eBay iPhone 12 screen replacements.

About $20 for the LCD screen replacement and about $60 for the OLED version.

Does it matter aside from blacker blacks?

I just want a working iPhone and would love to be able to wait to purchase a new iPhone overall when the larger capacity RAM iPhone 17 is released this September. Or if I could survive with my iPhone 12 until Jony Ive and Sam Altman release their new IO device in 2027.
 
From iFixit's guide:
If your phone's original screen is an OLED, you can still replace it with an LCD multitouch display. They offer an economical option for those trying to save while still wanting a quality product. The screen will be a little darker, the resolution a little lower, and will not have the distinct color of an OLED display. The downgrade in screen tech can save fixers, on average, $200 dollars when compared to using Apple's repair service.
 
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Don’t expect anything near your original display quality.

I had it once. 30€ LCD from ebay. It was much dimmer, colors washed out, bezel thicker and it used more battery.

Check reviews. There is a range of qualities on the market. But also 3rd party OLED can be bad.
 
Go for OLED. Even the OLED stuff varies much in quality, between rigid and flexible OLED.

Back in 2017-2019, maybe you would opt for LCD replacement. These days, OLED is so cheap.
 
My iPhone 12 screen broke.

I see on eBay iPhone 12 screen replacements.

About $20 for the LCD screen replacement and about $60 for the OLED version.

Does it matter aside from blacker blacks?

I just want a working iPhone and would love to be able to wait to purchase a new iPhone overall when the larger capacity RAM iPhone 17 is released this September. Or if I could survive with my iPhone 12 until Jony Ive and Sam Altman release their new IO device in 2027.
It matters a ton actually. With a LCD you are much more likely to get a really bad chin (bigger bezel) as well, which could just ruin your experience of using that phone entirely and completely destroy any hope of reselling.. Not to mention screen brightness and other stats manufacturers of those screens typically do not care about at all.
 
It matters a ton actually. With a LCD you are much more likely to get a really bad chin (bigger bezel) as well, which could just ruin your experience of using that phone entirely and completely destroy any hope of reselling.. Not to mention screen brightness and other stats manufacturers of those screens typically do not care about at all.
the LCD worth $20 arrives tomorrow and I’m planning on replacing the broken screen then. I’ll report back how it goes.

Just hoping I have a usable phone until I upgrade sometime in September. It’s gonna have to be miles ahead of the crappy SE Im using now that has a literally screen dangling away from the body.
 
the LCD worth $20 arrives tomorrow and I’m planning on replacing the broken screen then. I’ll report back how it goes.

Just hoping I have a usable phone until I upgrade sometime in September. It’s gonna have to be miles ahead of the crappy SE Im using now that has a literally screen dangling away from the body.
Typical ask for opinions and do the opposite. Good luck
 
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$20 means it probably sells for $6 in China. Good luck indeed.
 
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